Maybe it is just my bias, thinking that everyone should be talking about Ohio State all the time. Or perhaps it is the fact that OSU plays in the Big Ten, and therefore does not get nearly as much coverage as their SEC (and ACC) competitors from the Worldwide Leader in Sports. But regardless of the cause, it sure seems to me like the No. 2, defending national champion Buckeyes are being a bit overlooked in the greater College Football Playoff discussion.
Sure, losing to Indiana in the Big Ten Title
Game might have contributed to that (although I’d also argue that IU isn’t getting its fair share of discussion either), and the fact that they haven’t played in 25 days likely has resulted in a little bit of out-of-sight-out-of-mind-itis. But for the team that was clearly one of the two best squads during the regular season, and played a clunky conference title game, but still had multiple opportunities to win, you’d think they’d be generating some sort of conversation heading into the College Football Playoff Quarterfinals.
Heck, even one of the most haterific voices in the entirety of the college football media, Paul Finebaum, thinks that the Buckeyes are being overlooked. And if he is pumping up anyone outside of his beloved It-Just-Means-More footprint, you know there has to be a substantially glaring reason.
In fairness, though, I don’t think that anyone inside the Woody Hayes Athletic Center has had a problem with being the forgotten juggernaut heading into this round of the playoffs. In fact, I would guess that they have viewed the lack of attention and all of the fawning over Miami’s defense as a straight-up sign of disrespect, and this program has proven that it plays best when it has a chip on its shoulder.
Coming out of last season’s 13-10 loss to Michigan, Ryan Day and company played like a team possessed, like they had something to prove, like their sole reason for waking up in the morning was to shut up everyone who doubted them. While this year’s 13-10 loss to Indiana in the Big Ten Title Game did not come with nearly as much existential dread, it has removed a bit of the shine from the Buckeyes’ image. However, there is no doubt in my mind that they have been using that as motivation during this entire bowl prep process.
By design, Ohio State has tried to remain under the radar. The Bucks have slowed down the pace at every turn on offense, opting for methodical and safe over flashy and explosive. A month ago, I compared them to Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux, meticulous in their execution, but far from the showiest giant in the sport. That is how Day and company have engineered it all season long.
But now that we are in the postseason, that script is likely to change. Gone are the restrictor plates that have purposely held this hotrod back. Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate are healthy, Ryan Day is calling plays, the OSU coaching staff has had nearly a month to prepare for this game, the talking heads are rallying against a Miami team that lost to Louisville and SMU this season; I don’t know about you, but that sounds like the perfect recipe for a return to Death Star form for the Buckeyes.
