With the start of the much-anticipated College Football Playoff right around the corner, the Ohio State Buckeyes are gearing up for a high-stakes first-round matchup against the Tennessee Volunteers.
The Buckeyes, one of four Big Ten teams in the inaugural 12-team Playoff, are hoping they can wash away the stink from their nightmare loss against the rival Michigan Wolverines in the regular season finale.
There are some who feel that head coach Ryan Day needs to at least make the national title game in order to keep his job.
Following the inexplicable loss to Michigan, there is mass confusion over what exactly we can expect from Day and the Buckeyes going forward.
Interestingly, legendary Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer, who led the Buckeyes to a national championship in 2014, offered a clear endorsement of another Big Ten team as his pick for this year’s title.
“I think (Oregon is) the fastest team in the country … But when they’re firing on all cylinders, they’re the best team in the country,” Meyer said on The Triple Option podcast.
“I think they’re the most balanced offense and defensively … That’s my favorite. I have Oregon.”
Meyer’s comments reflect a shift in sentiment after Ohio State’s loss to Michigan in the final week of the regular season.
That defeat cost the Buckeyes a shot at the Big Ten title and a first-round bye in the Playoff, leaving them with a tougher path to the championship.
Meanwhile, Oregon enters the postseason as the top seed, boasting an undefeated record and the Big Ten title after defeating Penn State.
Meyer’s endorsement of the Ducks underscores their dominance this season.
If Ohio State defeats Tennessee, a quarterfinal showdown against Oregon looms, setting up a rematch that many fans have been looking forward to.
Meyer also identified Ohio State and Texas as “underdogs” with the potential to make a deep run but emphasized the challenges of their first-round games.
Ohio State’s clash against Tennessee will surely be a dog-fight. Needless to say, line play will play an enormous factor in deciding the outcome.
We also can’t ignore the reports that a large number of Tennessee fans are expected to be in attendance after cracking into ticket inventory meant for Ohio State fans.
The 12-team Playoff field highlights the strength of the Big Ten, which placed four teams in the bracket: Oregon, Ohio State, Penn State, and Indiana.
This strong showing underscores the competitiveness of the conference in a historic season.
Having said all of that, many Ohio State fans are shocked and saddened that the always-loyal Meyer has picked against the Buckeyes.
What are your thoughts on Urban going against the family???
