It feels like more than a formality that the Ohio State Buckeyes are going to be in the College Football Playoff this December. If the Playoff still only had four teams, I would feel just as confident in saying that this Buckeye team would be one of four teams playing for a national championship.
It’s crazy how the Big Ten hasn’t been the conference we thought it would be this season, as for the next four games, Ohio State can use them as a ramp-up to The Game, the Big Ten Championship, and the College
Football Playoff.
With that, we’re going to use this week’s Players to Watch to look at players on teams outside the Big Ten that the Buckeyes could see in the College Football Playoff. We will include Michigan and Indiana since the Buckeyes play Michigan, obviously, and will likely face Indiana in the Big Ten Championship Game. But we’ll look at players and teams from the other Power Four conferences worth getting to know before the postseason.
Michigan Wolverines: No. 22 — Running Back, Justice Haynes
5-11, 210 lbs. Jr. Alpharetta, Ga. Buford HS
2025 Stats: 95 carries, 705 yds, 8 TD; 10 rec., 31 yds
Haynes missed last week’s game against Washington after being injured in the game at USC, but he had over 100 rushing yards in each of Michigan’s first five games. He is on The Sporting News’ Midseason All-American team.
Indiana Hoosiers: No. 15 — Quarterback, Fernando Mendoza
6-5, 225 lbs. R-Jr. Miami, Fla.; California Transfer
2025 Stats: 73.5 Cmp%, 1,755 yds, 21 TD, 2 INT
No secrets here. Mendoza could very well win the Heisman Trophy. He has been remarkable the entire regular season and is clearly the heart and soul of this Hoosiers’ team.
Georgia Tech Yellowjackets: No. 10 — Quarterback, Haynes King
6-3, 215 lbs. R-Sr. Longview, Texas
2025 Stats: 70.6 Cmp%, 1,176 yds, 4 TD, 1 INT; 101 rush, 560 yds, 10 TD
King is one of the most experienced players in the country. He may not have the most prolific passing numbers, but his running abilities boost his candidacy to potentially be a Heisman Trophy finalist.
Miami Hurricanes: No. 11 — Quarterback, Carson Beck
6-4, 225 lbs. 6th-Year, Jacksonville, Fla.; Georgia Transfer
2025 Stats: 73 Cmp%, 1,484 yds, 11 TD, 7 INT
Beck has had an erratic season, as evidenced by his performance against Louisville last Friday night. But Beck is still a really good quarterback who can make tough throws.
Virginia Cavaliers: No. 17 — Defensive End, Mitchell Melton
6-4, 256 lbs. Gr. Silver Spring, Md.; Ohio State Transfer
2025 Stats: 29 TKL, 2.5 sacks, 6.5 TFL, 1 PBU, 2 QBH, 2 FF
Melton played in 13 games last year for the national champion Buckeyes, recording 12 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and two sacks.
Louisville Cardinals: No. 50 — Defensive Lineman, Clev Lubin
6-3, 250 lbs. R-Jr. Suffern, N.Y.; Coastal Carolina Transfer
2025 Stats: 29 TKL, 4 sacks, 5 TFL, 4 PBU, 1 QBH, 1 FF
The Cardinals’ defense had a spectacular performance at Miami (FL) on Friday night.
BYU Cougars: No. 47 — Quarterback, Bear Bachmeier
6-2, 230 lbs. Fr. Murrieta, Calif.; Stanford Transfer
2025 Stats: 62.7 Cmp%, 1,386 yds, 9 TD, 3 INT; 82 rush, 359 yds, 8 TD
Bachmeier is an electric quarterback. In high school, he had nearly 7,000 passing yards and 2,000 rushing yards, while throwing for 59 touchdowns and rushing for 33.
Texas Tech Red Raiders: No. 31 — Outside Linebacker, David Bailey
6-3, 250 lbs. Sr. Irvine, Calif.; Stanford Transfer
2025 Stats: 23 TKL, 10.5 sacks, 12.5 TFL, 9 QBH, 2 FF, 1 FR
Bailey is a menace defensively. He can disrupt both the run and the pass, which can be problematic for any dynamic offense.
The Red Raiders have 25 sacks and 51 tackles for loss as a team this season.
Cincinnati Bearcats: No. 4 — Wide Receiver, Cyrus Allen
5-11, 180 lbs. Sr. New Orleans; Texas A&M Transfer
2025 Stats: 31 rec., 345 yds, 8 TD
Allen is an explosive wide receiver who can fly past any secondary.
Arizona State Sun Devils: No. 0 — Wide Receiver, Jordyn Tyson
6-2, 200 lbs. R-Jr. Allen, Texas; Colorado Transfer
2025 Stats: 57 rec., 628 yds, 8 TD
Last year’s Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year, Tyson is Arizona State’s passing game. He has eight of quarterback Sam Leavitt’s nine touchdown passes, meaning he is still elite even when opposing defenses know he is getting the ball.
Texas A&M Aggies: No. 10 — Quarterback, Marcel Reed
6-1, 185 lbs. R-So. Nashville, Tenn.
2025 Stats: 61.9 Cmp%, 1,770 yds, 15 TD, 4 INT; 51 rush, 241 yds, 4 TD
Reed may have a low completion percentage, but he is one of the country’s most dynamic quarterbacks.
Alabama Crimson Tide: No. 15 — Quarterback, Ty Simpson
6-2, 208 lbs. R-Jr. Martin, Tenn.
2025 Stats: 70.2 Cmp%, 1,931 yds, 18 TD, 1 INT
For those who wrote off Simpson after Alabama lost to Florida State, he has been spectacular since then.
Georgia Bulldogs: No. 3 — Inside Linebacker, CJ Allen
6-1, 235 lbs. Jr. Barnesville, Ga. Lamar County HS
2025 Stats: 56 TKL, 3 sacks, 5.5 TFL, 3 PBU, 2 FF, 1 FR
Allen is the star of a stout Georgia defense.
Ole Miss Rebels: No. 5— Running Back, Kewan Lacy
5-11, 210 lbs. So., Dallas; Missouri Transfer
2025 Stats: 138 rush, 618 yds, 10 TD; 16 rec., 97 yds
Lacy has three games with over 100 rushing yards this season.
Vanderbilt Commodores: No. 2 — Quarterback, Diego Pavia
6-0, 207 lbs. Gr. Albuquerque, N.M.; New Mexico State Transfer
2025 Stats: 70.5 Cmp%, 1,569 yds, 15 TD, 4 INT; 77 rush, 438 yds, 4 TD
Pavia is one of the best stories in college football.
Oklahoma Sooners: No. 32 — Defensive Lineman, R Mason Thomas
6-2, 249 lbs. Sr. Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
2025 Stats: 51 TKL, 5.5 sacks, 7.5 TFL, 1 QBH, 1 SAF, 1 PBU, 1 FF
Oklahoma’s defense cannot be overlooked, especially with a player like Thomas.
Missouri Tigers: No. 29 — Running Back, Ahmad Hardy
5-10, 210 lbs. So. ,Oma, Miss.; Louisiana-Monroe Transfer
2025 Stats: 139 rush, 840 yds, 11 TD
Hardy is maybe the best player in college football that nobody is talking about. If the Tigers keep winning, though, he will attract attention.
Tennessee Volunteers: No. 6 — Quarterback, Joey Aguilar
6-3, 225 lbs. Sr. Antioch, Calif.; Appalachian State Transfer
2025 Stats: 64.6 Cmp%, 1,948 yds, 15 TD, 6 INT
There are a lot of talented players on this year’s Tennessee team. Aguilar, though, is the engine and heartbeat of the team.
LSU Tigers: No. 18 — Quarterback, Garrett Nussmeier
6-1, 205 lbs. 5th-Year Lake Charles, La.; Marcus HS
2025 Stats: 66.4 Cmp%, 1,638 yds, 11 TD, 5 INT
Underwhelming? Maybe, but Nussmeier has still been good this season.
Texas Longhorns: No. 1 — Edge Rusher, Colin Simmons
6-3, 240 lbs. So., Dallas; Duncanville HS
2025 Stats: 19 TKL, 7 sacks, 8 TFL, 5 QBH, 1 FF, 1 PBU
This was a tough one to call between Arch Manning and Colin Simmons, but the latter is proving to be a problem off the edge. That’s problematic.
