Ohio State’s Potential CFP Inclusion Isn’t Sitting Well With Some Analysts

The road for the Buckeyes is clear after USC’s Pac-12 title loss Friday, even though the Big Ten program isn’t playing this weekend.

Utah may have emerged last night as the Pac-12 champion, but the real winner of Friday night is Ohio State. 

The Buckeyes path to the College Football Playoff is now clearer than ever after No. 4 USC fell to the Utes 47–24 in the Pac-12 title game. The Trojans now have two losses—both to Utah—and no team with two losses has ever made the field of four. 

No. 5 Ohio State has only one loss, which came in The Game against Michigan last weekend. The Buckeyes weren’t particularly close in the matchup against their archrival, but still seemed positioned to benefit after USC’s loss.

While there’s something to be said about the fact that Ohio State has just one loss against one of the other top teams in the country, quite a few analysts have found themselves frustrated with the concept of the Buckeyes benefitting from not playing in their championship game. Because of the loss to Michigan, Ryan Day’s program will spend Saturday at home while the Wolverines take on unranked Purdue in the Big Ten title contest.

With the playoff picture starting to take shape–and Ohio State seemingly in line to earn at least the No. 4 seed–a number of college football media members took to Twitter to express their thoughts about the Buckeyes’ good fortune. 

That beeping sound is Ohio State backing into the playoff. Buckeyes have led a charmed CFP existence over the years.

— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) December 3, 2022

It offends every fiber of my core that a team could completely no-show in its final game, sit on its ass during championship weekend and be rewarded with a playoff spot.

— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) December 3, 2022

Welcome to the playoff Ohio State. Way to do it the hard way!! Not everyone can get smoked at home by 22 points, sit on their couch with their pom poms and watch other teams risk it all and back their way in!! 👏👏

— Danny Kanell (@dannykanell) December 3, 2022

Ohio State right now pic.twitter.com/cnFTfTmbrH

— Josh Pate (@JoshPateCFB) December 3, 2022

I can’t stand watching teams get byes into the playoffs that don’t deserve them. Ohio State might end up winning it all. But they didn’t deserve that chance. And they absolutely shouldn’t of been given a free pass.

— Danny Kanell (@dannykanell) December 3, 2022

That's gonna be all she wrote for USC's Playoff hopes.

Would have been better off starting 11-0, losing at home by 23 in its last game and not advancing to its conference championship game.

Obviously.

— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) December 3, 2022

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