Ohio State ranked No. 12 in first playoff rankings, but path is clear

Ohio State ranked No. 12 in first playoff rankings, but path is clear

Ohio State ranked No. 12 in first playoff rankings, but path is clear

Ohio State debuted at No. 12 in the season's first College Football Playoff rankings, just outside the 12-team field, after a 30-18 loss at USC left the Buckeyes with two defeats. The top-ranked Group of Six team, No. 25 Boise State, would take the final bracket spot under the format's automatic-bid rule. Selection committee chairman Hunter Yurachek pointed to Ohio State's inefficient offense against a USC defense that had struggled, and said the team was not being penalised for injured starting quarterback Julian Sayin. The Buckeyes still control their path: win their last four regular-season games and they reach the Big Ten championship game, where a title would secure an automatic playoff berth.

Ohio State debuted at No. 12 in the season's first College Football Playoff rankings, just outside the 12-team field, after a 30-18 loss at USC left the Buckeyes with two defeats. The top-ranked Group of Six team, No. 25 Boise State, would take the final bracket spot under the format's automatic-bid rule. Selection committee chairman Hunter Yurachek pointed to Ohio State's inefficient offense against a USC defense that had struggled, and said the team was not being penalised for injured starting quarterback Julian Sayin. The Buckeyes still control their path: win their last four regular-season games and they reach the Big Ten championship game, where a title would secure an automatic playoff berth.

Ohio State debuted at No. 12 in the season's first College Football Playoff rankings, just outside the 12-team field, after a 30-18 loss at USC left the Buckeyes with two defeats. The top-ranked Group of Six team, No. 25 Boise State, would take the final bracket spot under the format's automatic-bid rule. Selection committee chairman Hunter Yurachek pointed to Ohio State's inefficient offense against a USC defense that had struggled, and said the team was not being penalised for injured starting quarterback Julian Sayin. The Buckeyes still control their path: win their last four regular-season games and they reach the Big Ten championship game, where a title would secure an automatic playoff berth.