The Ohio State football team looks to be getting its act together after some first-game mild struggles against Notre Dame — at least offensively.
Since then, OSU is averaging just over 60 points and 613 yards of total offense. I read in a college football for dummies book that those numbers are pretty good. And while the defense has given up a few big plays, when the first unit is in there, there is noticeable improvement and ability, something Ohio State needs if it wants to make the College Football Playoff and have a shot at being the last team standing at the end.
Speaking of that, ESPN likes to keep track of FBS college football teams and their chances of making it into the CFP after every week of action is complete. Ohio State started out well over an 80% chance in the preseason, but dipped a bit after the game with Toledo for reasons we’ll never know. I mean, we love the ESPN Allstate Playoff Predictor, but who knows what kind of special ingredients go into its metrics and rating casserole that determine these sorts of things?
Regardless, though the Buckeyes’ chances of dropped to 67% according to the ESPN sorcery last week, they are back up after the public flogging administered to Wisconsin this past week, in combination with the results we saw with other teams across the country.
Here is where Ohio State and other playoff contenders stand with their chances of making the College Football Playoff after Week 4 according to the ESPN Playoff Predictor.
Note: ESPN only publishes chances for teams that have a greater than 2% chance of being a part of all the fun. Because of that, there are only 15 teams represented this week. We count down from No. 15 down to the top.
No. 13 (tie) - Washington Huskies (4-0)
ESPN’s chances of making the CFP
4% (⇑)
Last Week
3%
No. 13 (tie) - Texas Longhorns (2-2)
ESPN’s chances of making the CFP
4% (⇓)
Last Week
16%
No. 13 (tie) - LSU Tigers (3-1)
ESPN’s chances of making the CFP
4% (⇑)
Last Week
NR
No. 12 - Oklahoma Sooners (3-1)
ESPN’s chances of making the CFP
5% (⇓)
Last Week
18%
No. 11 - Ole Miss Rebels (4-0)
ESPN’s chances of making the CFP
6% (⇓)
Last Week
13%
No. 9 (tie) - Tennessee Volunteers (4-0)
ESPN’s chances of making the CFP
7% (⇓)
Last Week
13%
No. 9 (tie) - Utah Utes (3-1)
ESPN’s chances of making the CFP
7% (⇑)
Last Week
3%
No. 7 (tie) - Penn State Nittany Lions (4-0)
ESPN’s chances of making the CFP
10% (⇓)
Last Week
15%
No. 7 (tie) - Minnesota Golden Gophers (4-0)
ESPN’s chances of making the CFP
10% (⇑)
Last Week
NR
No. 6 - USC Trojans (4-0)
ESPN’s chances of making the CFP
27% (⇑)
Last Week
20%
No. 5 - Michigan Wolverines (4-0)
ESPN’s chances of making the CFP
30% (⇓)
Last Week
31%
No. 4 - Clemson Tigers (4-0)
ESPN’s chances of making the CFP
43% (⇑)
Last Week
36%
No. 3 - Georgia Bulldogs (4-0)
ESPN’s chances of making the CFP
73% (⇓)
Last Week
80%
No. 2 - Ohio State Buckeyes (4-0)
ESPN’s chances of making the CFP
78% (⇑)
Last Week
67%
No. 1 - Alabama Crimson Tide (4-0)
ESPN’s chances of making the CFP
85% (⇑)
Last Week
76%
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