ESPN College Gameday is live in Baton Rouge and is previewing the LSU-Alabama battle.
As it typical, they shuffled through the top teams in the country, and Ohio State football was named, sitting No. 3 in the Coaches Poll yet No. 2 in the College Football Playoff rankings.
In looking at the Buckeyes, who are coming off their most impressive win of the season, former Alabama head coach and one of the best to ever do it, Nick Saban, spoke on Ohio State and how it might be a disadvantage to play in the Big Ten Championship Game.
“Sometimes it may be an advantage not to play in the championship game,” Saban said following the show highlighting just how impressive the Buckeyes were against the Nittany Lions. He was talking about the conference championship game.
His rationale was simple: multiple top teams in the nation will miss that game and keep being able to practice and focus on the CFP, should they make it. The other will have arguably their most important game of the season prior to that and have its momentum ripped from under it if it lost and then potentially more banged up or tired even if it wins.
He also spoke to what that type of win at Beaver Stadium can do for a team.
Asked about what the Penn State win can do for Ohio State, Nick Saban said a game like that can propel you for the rest of the season.
— Patrick Murphy (@_Pat_Murphy) November 9, 2024
The Buckeyes are on a crash course to get a rematch with the Oregon Ducks in the Big Ten Championship Game, should they win their remaining three against Indiana, Michigan and Northwestern.
That said, Saban makes a good point, although most would generally disagree with him on the matter.
