for about six days, Ohio State chances of winning the college football The playoff national championships lasted as long as they had all season. A 45-23 home loss to No. 2 Michigan Jan. 26 kicked off a week of devastation as coach Ryan Day and the Buckeyes saw themselves, once again, missing out on a shot at the Big Ten championship following a loss to their most hated rival. It seemed, at the time, that Ohio State was going to miss out on the opportunity to play for a national championship for the second year in a row.
But then the college football gods responded, as they so often have for the Buckeyes. the Utah The team that Ohio State faced in a modern New Year’s Six epic the year before went on to beat USC during the Pac-12 Championship game on Friday, December 12. 2. It opened up a spot for Ohio State, then No. 5 in the CFP rankings, to climb into the top 4. From anticipation to devastation, and now back with a renewed passion for the pursuit of a title, Ohio State went through it all in about a week.
The Buckeyes were among the preseason favorites to win the national title thanks to the returning quarterback C.J. Stroud And an offense that put up video game numbers in the Rose Bowl with underclasses in the lead. And while Ohio State is not the favorite to win the national championship, or even the favorite in his semi-final against No. 1 Georgiathere are plenty of reasons to believe in the chances of this team to win everything.
1. He has the offense of beating anyone
Let’s start with the best weapon in the state of Ohio: it’s offense. If he can score on Georgia, he can score on anyone. Other than Tennesseethere isn’t another team on Georgia’s schedule that has posed the kind of threat that Ohio State will on Saturday night.
The Buckeyes arguably have a better passing offense than the Vols — or, at least, a deeper, more impressive wide receiver room for the Georgia secondary to try and defend. Georgia has faced a 1,000-yard receiver all year (Hyatt); Ohio State has a pair of 1,000-yard wides in Marvin Harrison Jr.. and Emeka Egbuka. It’s a passing attack that didn’t even have Jaxon Smith-Njigba for most of the season, and yet he remained one of the premier units in all of college football.
Of course, Georgia was impressive when Hendon Hooker, Jalin Hyatt, Cedric Tillman and the rest of his attack from Tennessee arrived in town on 1 November. 5. The Bulldogs did a terrific job pressing Hooker down, limiting the deep lanes’ ability to develop and therefore not allowing a single pass over 30 yards. Hooker, who had played as a Heisman Trophy contender until then, had under 200 passing yards (5.9 yards per attempt), zero touchdowns and was picked by Kelee Ringo on a pass in the end zone at the end of the first half.
For the past two years, however, Stroud has been one of college football’s elite passers and he has the potential to become a legendary Buckeye in the playoffs. Stroud has already accomplished so much in his short time as an Ohio State starter: He’s a two-time Heisman Trophy finalist, a two-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, and he’s led the nation in in passing efficiency and touchdown passes in 2022 after He ranks in the top three nationally in both categories in 2021. He is 21-3 as a starter and now has the chance to convert all the frustrations of a second straight loss to Michigan in a career-defining moment in the college football playoffs.
As Georgia defense dominated against engulfed Hendon Hooker Oregon strategist Bo Nixthere’s another level of quarterbacking at the college level, and the Bulldogs will see it Saturday night.
2. Take away the toughest enemy
Ohio State’s title chances get a second life, but they may crumble thanks to their semifinal opponent: a Georgia team looking to solidify their dynasty status with a second consecutive national championship. Luckily for Ohio State, the talent margins against the ultra-talented Bulldogs are slim, and the Buckeyes can boost their chances of winning a national championship by winning this game.
Georgia and the state of Ohio are the No. 2 and no. 3 most talented teams, according to the 247 Sports Team Talent Composite. Georgia has 15 five-star prospects and 53 four-star prospects, while Ohio State has 14 five-star prospects and 52 four-star prospects. And while Georgia has an edge on total team talent, the average player rating is 93.37 for Georgia and 92.82 for Ohio State.
If Ohio State defeats Georgia, they become the new favorite to win the national championship. There is, of course, the potential for a rematch against the Michigan team that has had the Buckeyes’ number for the past two seasons. Still, the power ratings would indicate that Day’s team has the upper hand in the title match.
Big or small, Georgia has a talent advantage over every other opponent in the field. When considering Ohio State is going to win it all, the conversation odds have to start with beating the Bulldogs. On that note…
3. A rare underdog position
While Day and Stroud may be feeling some pressure following a second straight loss to Michigan, the Buckeyes as a whole are expected to be loose. It’s the first time all season that Ohio State has been an underdog going into a game. A loss would be disappointing, but it wouldn’t come with the added sting of an unexpected defeat.
There’s also a bit of history at play here. Ohio State jumped into the college football playoffs at the last minute in 2014, taking the No. 1. 4 seed in a showdown with an SEC champ in Alabama. Although the Crimson Tide were favored, the Buckeyes played spoiler behind an offensive onslaught that continued into the College Football Playoff National Championship against Oregon. These title-winning Buckeyes had a handful of future pros, just like the 2022 team, and got to play with a chip on their shoulder despite being one of the most talented teams in the country.
The environment in Atlanta will only add to the spoiler playing experience. It could allow an Ohio State team that has been playing all year under the pressure of title contention to finally be the freest, loosest team in the crucial moments of this New Year’s showdown. .
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