5 reasons for optimism ahead of Ohio State’s playoff run

It’s easy to focus on the negatives following Ohio State’s 13-10 loss to Indiana in the Big Ten Championship Game. Even with the setback, the Buckeyes still posted a 12-1 record so far this season and are the two seed in the College Football Playoff. Ohio State is a top contender to win the national championship and win back-to-back titles. The loss to the Hoosiers could be exactly what the doctor ordered since it wakes the Buckeyes up ahead of the playoff after a regular season that wasn’t the most challenging.

Heading into the playoffs this year, there is a markedly different feel than last year, despite the Buckeyes entering the playoffs both years coming off a loss. While last year there was an incredible amount of negativity surrounding Ohio State, this year hasn’t seen Buckeye Nation nearly as divided as last season. So what are the reasons for the optimism? There are five key points that should have Ohio State fans confident that Ryan Day and company can win their second straight national title.

1) While different, still similar

Last year, the final game for the Buckeyes prior to the College Football Playoff was a 13-10 loss to Michigan. In this year’s final game for the Buckeyes prior to the College Football Playoff was a 13-10 loss to Indiana. Even though any loss is difficult to stomach, last year’s loss hurt infinitely more. The Wolverines were 5-6 headed into the game in Columbus last season, while both Indiana and Ohio State were 12-0 prior to the Big Ten Championship Game. In reality, the loss to the Hoosiers didn’t mean much aside from Ohio State not being Big Ten champs. The Buckeyes still were awarded a first-round bye and only dropped one spot in the rankings.

We all saw how Ohio State played in the playoff after the loss to Michigan. The Buckeyes took a deep look at themselves in between the Michigan game and the Tennessee game, and it showed on the field as Ohio State came out like a house of fire in the first quarter against the Volunteers. Even though there isn’t as much vitriol from the fan base after this year’s loss to the Hoosiers, the Buckeyes have to feel like they have a lot to prove. Ryan Day wants his team to be the best in the country, and right now, they can’t claim that since they were beaten in the Big Ten title game.

Expect Ryan Day to have his team focused when it comes time to play Miami or Texas A&M. The setback against Indiana has woken the Buckeyes up after they coasted through their regular-season schedule. Anyone who matches up with Ohio State the rest of the way had better be on notice, since they are going to get the very best version of the Buckeyes.

2) The Silver Bullets are still elite

The Ohio State defense wasn’t the problem in the loss to Indiana. The Buckeyes only gave up 13 points to one of the top offenses in the country and the quarterback who won the Heisman Trophy. If the Hoosiers can only score 13 points on the Ohio State defense, what are the hopes for the other teams in the playoff?

It starts in the trenches with Caden Curry, Kayden McDonald, and Kenyatta Jackson Jr. The trio of Ohio State defensive linemen has terrorized quarterbacks throughout the season, which is bad news for Carson Beck or Marcel Reed. Past the defensive line, Sonny Styles, Arvell Reese, and Caleb Downs will want to close out their Buckeye careers on a high note. With Matt Patricia putting together game plans, it’s hard to see any team reaching 17 points on this defense, which is a mark none of the first 13 opponents for Ohio State have been able to achieve.

3) The bear has been poked

On Friday, it was announced USC’s Makai Lemon would be the recipient of this year’s Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top receiver. Lemon winning the award is puzzling, considering the week before, he wasn’t even recognized as the top wide receiver in the Big Ten, an honor that went to Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith. Apparently, somehow Lemon wasn’t even the best receiver in his own conference a week prior, but now we are supposed to believe he is the best wide receiver in the country?

Any team that plays Ohio State the rest of the year should be even more worried about Jeremiah Smith than they already were. The sophomore receiver will have even more motivation to prove to everyone that he is the best in the country. Smith came up huge for the Buckeyes throughout their playoff run last year, and even bigger things could be in store for him this year, as not only does he want to win back-to-back national championships, he also wants to make the Biletnikoff voters know they made the wrong decision.

4) Time to evaluate what’s not working

The Buckeyes will have over three weeks to get ready for the Cotton Bowl. Offensively, there have been some frustrations over the past two games when it comes to short-yardage situations in the red zone. One particular thing that has been eating at Buckeye Nation is why Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate are being taken off the field near the end zone so much. Putting your two best offensive players on the sidelines when you are so close to scoring makes absolutely no sense. No offense to Bennett Christian, but he should not be an option ahead of Smith or Tate.

Maybe with Brian Hartline getting ready to head to South Florida after Ohio State’s season is over, Keenan Bailey is given more responsibility in putting together an offensive game plan in the remaining games this season for the Buckeyes. At least Ohio State’s offense has multiple weeks to get comfortable with any changes they make going forward. Scoring just 10 points against the Hoosiers last time out will certainly make the offense hungry to put it on anyone that is put in front of them the rest of the way.

5) The path isn’t difficult

Last year, the Buckeyes had to go through Tennessee, Oregon, Texas, and Notre Dame to win it all. Compared to that gauntlet, this year doesn’t seem too bad. Ohio State will open up with either Miami or Texas A&M on New Year’s Eve in the Cotton Bowl. While some people are concerned about the Buckeyes possibly playing the Aggies in Dallas, it can’t be any worse than playing the Longhorns in last season’s Cotton Bowl. Plus, no matter who Ohio State does play in Dallas, the Buckeyes will be playing in the Cotton Bowl for the third straight season, so they are familiar with the venue and the schedule.

The most likely opponent for the Buckeyes following the Cotton Bowl is Georgia at the Fiesta Bowl. This isn’t quite the same Georgia team that Ohio State played a few years ago. Not only will the Bulldogs not be playing in their own backyard, but Gunner Stockton and the Georgia offense will have a tough time generating much of anything against the Ohio State defense. The Buckeyes will definitely be a favorite if these teams end up squaring off in Arizona.

The title game is going to provide the biggest challenge since it likely will come down to either Indiana, Texas Tech, or Oregon. Sorry, Alabama or Oklahoma, but you aren’t getting by the Hoosiers in Pasadena. Last year, the Buckeyes avenged their loss to Oregon in the CFP, and this year, they have a chance to possibly do the same to Indiana. It would be fitting if Ohio State and Indiana met in the title game since they were the last two undefeated teams left in the country, and their first meeting was so close. Even though the Hoosiers won the first game, it would be tough to bet against the Buckeyes in the rematch.