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Ohio State Buckeyes don’t deserve No. 3 ranking by playoff committee

By Dustin Schutte

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The Ohio State Buckeyes remain undefeated but we haven’t seen the best from Urban Meyer’s team yet this year and as a result aren’t worthy of their No. 3 ranking by the College Football Playoff committee.

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Ohio State has struggled to earn much respect from the members of the College Football Playoff committee. At least that’s the assumption after the Buckeyes were ranked as the nation’s third-best team in consecutive weeks, being jumped by Alabama after the Tide’s convincing win over LSU last Saturday.

The reigning champions, sitting at 9-0, have failed to persuade the committee they are the best in the nation. Right now, the only reason Columbus is receiving any recognition is thanks to the 35-pound, 24-karat gold trophy that’s on display in the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.

Fair or not, the Buckeyes have secured that third-place ranking because of last season’s unpredictable championship run. Whether the College Football Playoff committee admits to it, that’s the only criteria keeping Ohio State in the race for a second-consecutive national title.

Since the season kicked off, the mentality has been “win and you’re in” for the Buckeyes. But it wasn’t assumed that this team, who returned J.T. Barrett, Ezekiel Elliott, Joey Bosa and a host of other future NFL talent, would be meandering through the season.

It’s because of the seemingly uninspired efforts and close calls – particularly to Northern Illinois and Indiana – that have some believing this team isn’t worthy of a playoff bid. That argument has validity based on what we’ve seen this season.

Nine games into the season, the Buckeyes have yet to beat a team currently ranked in the top 25. Of the nine games they have won, only three of those teams have had records better than .500. Two of those teams – Western Michigan and Northern Illinois – hail from the MAC. The only Power Five team with a winning record Ohio State has beaten is Big Ten East rival Penn State.

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Combined, the record of the opponents Ohio State has beaten is a lowly 38-45. The most significant road win was in the season-opener against Virginia Tech.

Still, the committee gives the Buckeyes a third-place ranking. The Buckeyes stand above three other lossless teams, two of which have beaten at least one ranked opponent. Still, the committee fails to acknowledge that Ohio State doesn’t play by the same rules as the rest of the field vying for one of the four coveted spots.

Last year’s championship aside and blanketing the name on the front of the jersey, a team with the same resume would be fortunate to find itself in the top 10, let alone the playoff bracket.

What is perhaps the most puzzling part of this whole ranking system is not that the Buckeyes are in but rather, where they’re positioned. Clearly, Meyer is clinging to a spot thanks to last year’s accomplishments. Whether you agree with that mentality or not, that’s the mindset of this committee. But third?

Right now, there is only one legitimate spot the Buckeyes deserve. Fourth.

It’s the same issue we saw last season with Florida State. Despite the defending champ distinction and the return of Jameis Winston, the Seminoles were docked for their lack of style points and a plethora of close calls. The committee kept Florida State at the number three spot despite being arguably the worst team in contention.

Ultimately, Florida State’s legitimacy as a repeat title contender was erased after a blowout loss to Oregon.

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Perhaps Ohio State hasn’t played a team worthy of its best effort. Maybe Meyer’s decision to start Cardale Jones of Barrett has been the key to this team’s struggles.

Regardless of what the reason might be, it’s clear that, right now, Ohio State is not playing better than any of the four teams in the College Football Playoff after the second week of rankings. The Buckeyes aren’t a bad football team, they just haven’t been as striking by the eye test.

With No. 13 Michigan State and No. 14 Michigan still left on the schedule in the final two weeks, the Buckeyes have a great opportunity to prove they are still the best team in the country.

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Wins over those quality opponents, and subsequently a win in the Big Ten Championship game, would allow the committee to disregard last year’s achievements and focus solely on the value of the 2015 team. If Ohio State runs the table, there’s no reason to disregard it as a true threat to repeat as national champions.

But right now, this team is undeserving of anything higher than the fourth seed. If it wasn’t for that trophy, the Buckeyes wouldn’t be worthy of a ranking that high.

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