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College Football Playoff 2020 projections after Week 11 action

By Michael Hanich

Nov 7, 2020; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) talks to Tigers quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei (5) in the first quarter against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium. Notre Dame defeated Clemson 47-40 in two overtimes. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 7, 2020; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) talks to Tigers quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei (5) in the first quarter against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium. Notre Dame defeated Clemson 47-40 in two overtimes. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /
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(Photo by The Columbus Dispatch)
(Photo by The Columbus Dispatch) /

2. Ohio State Buckeyes (3-0)

Ohio State was another top-10 team that was forced to miss its game this past weekend due to COVID-19. The Buckeyes were supposed to travel to College Park to take the Maryland Terrapins (2-1) and red-hot quarterback in Taulia Tagovailoa.

Unlike the other conferences, the Big Ten forced the game to be canceled rather than just postponed. This is due to the strict measures of how they handle the pandemic. While they believe this will make their teams, players and personnel safer, it puts the conference’s teams at a major disadvantage in terms of competing for awards and the College Football Playoff.

If the Buckeyes can keep the rest of their games, they will only play seven times, which is much less than the ACC and SEC. The loss of this game against the Terrapins gives the College Football Playoff committee more to ponder.

This also significantly hurts the Heisman Trophy chances of star quarterback Justin Fields. Kyle Trask’s rise continues to be a problem for Fields to potentially win the award.

These are games that the Buckeyes and the rest of the Big Ten teams could have been playing but the conference came to the conclusion that it can handle the pandemic best.

The Buckeyes are scheduled to host red-hot Indiana (4-0) on Saturday. This will be a game to decide if the Hoosiers are a legitimate contender or if they are just beating up on weaker teams.

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