College Football Playoff: Projected top 4 after Week 16

3. Ohio State Buckeyes (6-0; 5-0 in Big Ten Conference)

The #3 Ohio State Buckeyes have had a difficult season trying to adjust to a 2020 College Football season affected by COVID-19. Before the season when the Big Ten Conference allowed their teams to play, they made it clear that any team that does not have six regular-season wins, they would not be eligible for the Big Ten Conference Championship. When it comes to the Buckeyes, those rules would be adjusted.

The Buckeyes came into this game against the #14 Northwestern Wildcats as a 16.5-point favor. It was predicted that the Buckeyes would have some difficultly in the conference championship game against the Wildcats but the Buckeyes struggled significantly. Without their star wide receiver in Chris Olave, the Buckeyes could not find a rhythm against an efficient Wildcats defense.

The Buckeyes were down 10-6 at halftime as they failed to extend drives as well as encounter a turnover in the end zone. Buckeyes star quarterback Justin Fields struggled throughout the entire game as he threw for 114 yards, two interceptions, and a QBR of 34.7 on 12 completions (out of 27 passing attempts). It took a record-breaking performance from running back Trey Sermon, who rushed for 331 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries.

If it wasn’t for a terrible display of offensive production from the Wildcats’ offense throughout the entire game, the Buckeyes might have found themselves on the losing side of the spectrum. The Buckeyes come out of this game with some uncertainty of the playoff destination on Sunday. They are not likely going to fall out of the top four but they could see themselves at four having to play an elite Alabama team if the committee favors the Aggies or the Irish.