Despite there being more than a month before the College Football Playoff field is announced, it feels like a formality Ohio State is going to be part of the 12-team field. The Buckeyes currently sit atop the college football rankings and have controlled each of the seven games they have played this year.
With games against Penn State, Purdue, UCLA, Rutgers, and Michigan left in the regular season, the only game Buckeye Nation might be a little bit nervous about is the clash in Ann Arbor to end the regular season only because
of the recent success Michigan has had against Ohio State.
If the Buckeyes play to their ability in those five games, there is no reason Ryan Day’s team won’t be playing in the Big Ten Championship Game for the first time since 2020.
As we saw last year, the College Football Playoff is a whole different animal. Ohio State entered the CFP wounded after losing to Michigan, but the Buckeyes would go on a magical four-game run to win the first edition of the 12-team playoff.
By comparison, Oregon looked like the favorite in the playoff after finishing the regular season undefeated and winning the Big Ten Championship Game. The Ducks probably wished they hadn’t received a first round bye after they were humbled by Ohio State in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day.
All that to say there are no guarantees in sports. Even though Ohio State will likely be the favorite heading into the playoff, we have to be aware of who can challenge the Buckeyes. There are five teams Ryan Day and company have to be leery of once the playoff kicks off.
If the Buckeyes aren’t careful, they’ll sitting at home when the title game rolls around, much like Oregon last season.
1) Indiana
Heading into the season there were questions if what Curt Cignetti did in his first season in Bloomington was a fluke. Indiana looks even scarier than they were last year, where their only two losses came to the two teams who played for the national title in January.
Right now the Hoosiers could make a strong argument that they should be the top-ranked team in the country. Indiana has what might be the best win in college football this year, going out to Oregon and beating the Ducks earlier this month.
The Hoosiers have pretty much already punched their ticket to Indianapolis in early December to play in their first Big Ten Championship Game, where they could battle Ohio State in what could be the first of two meetings between the schools this season.
Not only does the Indiana offense have a great one-two punch at wide receiver in Elijah Sarratt and Omar Cooper Jr., the Hoosiers have four running backs who have rushed for over 200 yards so far this season. Cal transfer quarterback Fernando Mendoza is looking even better than Kurtis Rourke was last season for the Hoosiers, which is scary since Rourke was really good.
On the defensive side of the football, there are strong players at each level. On the defensive line, Mario Landino has four sacks, while Mikail Kamara could be a factor down the stretch after missing a few games due to injury earlier this season. Aiden Fisher, Rolijah Hardy, and Isaiah Jones are an impressive linebacking trio, and in the secondary Louis Moore and Amare Ferrell have combined for seven interceptions.
It’d be foolish to not expect the Hoosiers to make a deeper run in this year’s playoff.
2) Alabama
The college football world was digging Alabama’s grave after the Crimson Tide lost at Florida State in their season opener. Since then, Alabama has been one of the country’s hottest teams, winning their last six games. The last four of those victories have been against ranked teams, including a win on the road at Georgia, snapping a lengthy home winning streak for the Bulldogs.
Following a rough first start, quarterback Ty Simpson has been one of the best passers in the country since. Simpson has thrown for nearly 2,000 yards and 18 touchdowns, while tossing just one interception. Ohio State’s secondary would have their hands full trying to slow down Alabama receivers Germie Bernard, Ryan Williams, and Isaiah Horton, who have combined for 13 receiving touchdowns.
There are some weaknesses with the Crimson Tide, though. Alabama’s running game is averaging less than four yards per carry, making their offense pretty one-dimensional. The Alabama defense doesn’t create a ton of pressure, either.
Even though Ohio State would be favored to win in a matchup between the two teams, the Crimson Tide have the talent to make it a game.
3) Oregon
You just know Dan Lanning is itching for another crack at Ohio State after the Buckeyes blew his team out in the Rose Bowl on the first day of 2025. Quarterback Dante Moore is just as good as Dillon Gabriel, and has the size to see over his offensive line.
Meanwhile, the Ducks feel like they have their own version of Jeremiah Smith in true freshman receiver Dakorien Moore.
The strength of the Oregon defense is at linebacker with veterans Bryce Boettcher, Teitum Tuioti, and Matayo Uiagalelei, who is currently leading the team with four sacks. A key addition from the transfer portal was Purdue safety Dillon Thieneman, who recorded over 100 tackles in each of his two season in West Lafayette. Thieneman’s interception against Penn State sealed the double overtime win over the Nittany Lions.
In a way, this year could be the quite a contrast to last season for Oregon. After going undefeated in the regular season and winning the conference title in their first year in the Big Ten, now the Ducks are on the outside looking in when it comes to the Big Ten Championship Game.
Imagine if Oregon wins their first round game in Eugene and go on to beat an Ohio State team that receives a first round bye at some point later in the playoff. It would be sweet revenge for Lanning and his squad.
4) Miami (FL)
It may seem crazy to place the Hurricanes on this list after they were just beaten at home by Louisville. Miami still has a roster loaded with playmakers on both sides of the football. The Hurricanes feel like they owe Ohio State one after what happened in the BCS National Championship Game more than 20 years ago.
Freshman receiver Malachi Toney is getting better each week. In each of the last two games, Toney recorded his first two career 100-yard receiving games. Running back Mark Fletcher is complementing Toney, ripping off 5.2 yards per carry on the ground. Despite throwing four interceptions in the loss to the Cardinals, Carson Beck is an experienced quarterback who shouldn’t be counted out.
Miami’s defense wasn’t good against Louisville, but they shouldn’t be counted out. Defensive linemen Akheem Mesidor and Rueben Bain Jr. have created havoc in opposing backfields at times this season. If there ever was a duo who could poke some holes in Ohio State’s offensive line, it would be those two. Just ask Notre Dame and C.J. Carr just how good those two can be.
5) Notre Dame
Speaking of Notre Dame, the Fighting Irish are still very much alive in the playoff race despite losing their first two games of the season. Luckily for Notre Dame, those losses came to Miami and Texas A&M by a combined three points.
Even though the Fighting Irish don’t have much more margin for error, they have taken care of business since those first two games, rarely facing challenges during their current five-game winning streak.
Quarterback C.J. Carr is looking like anything but a freshman with how he has played this season. The grandson of former Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr has thrown for 1,758 yards, 14 touchdowns, and just four interceptions. Running backs Jeremiah Love and Jadarian Price continue to be a lethal combination in the backfield, combining for over 1,200 yards and 17 rushing touchdowns already this season.
Early on the season there were questions about the Notre Dame defense. Those concerns have quieted with some of the play from the unit since then. The Fighting Irish have been great at forcing turnovers, picking off 13 passes. The defense should gain even more confidence going forward since they close out the regular season with a pretty soft schedule.
Since they aren’t part of a conference, Notre Dame knows they’ll be playing in the first round if they make the playoff. Marcus Freeman has to be sick of losing to his alma mater, so if he gets another crack at the Buckeyes he’ll make sure to do everything possible to push Ohio State to the limit.
