"This team is getting better and better. It’s scary."
-Tom Dienhart, BTN
It’s a debate that we are going to be having until the day final week of the season: will a one-loss Big Ten team be able to make the College Football Playoff? Right now the general consensus seems to be that the conference is too weak, and the potential playoff participants schedules too devoid of quality non-conference wins, for a Big Ten member to make the playoff.
However, according to at least one member of The Media, the Ohio State Buckeyes have a legitimate shot at making it to football’s version of the "final four."
"Without a doubt they do [have a shot at the playoff]. Look, it’s still early. Many crazy things can happen. Just look at last weekend and all of the upsets of top-10 teams. I think if the Buckeyes run the table and win the Big Ten with just one loss, they would have a a good shot to make the p layoffs. This team is getting better and better. It’s scary. The trip to Michigan State on Nov. 8 looms large."
Tom Dienhart, BTN
Sure, Dienhart works for the Big Ten conference’s propaganda wing, but he also has a point. It’s been a crazy season and we’re not even halfway to the end yet. If the Buckeyes win out, and the teams in front of them continue to go down, there’s no telling how the selection committee will see things. Is a playoff berth likely? Probably not. There are many factors working against the Buckeyes, but much stranger things have happened. Fingers crossed, eh?
"We’re going to miss him, but De’Veon [Smith] and Justice Hayes and Drake Johnson are three guys that need to step up."
-Brady Hoke, via CBS Detroit
File this one under "and the hits just keep on coming." Earlier in the day Michigan released its depth chart and talented running back Derrick Green was conspicuous in his absence. A few hours we would find out exactly why the former five-star recruit was missing. Green suffered a broken clavicle that will sideline him for the rest of the season.
Head coach Brady Hoke told the media today:
"He broke his clavicle late in the football game. Nice run on our sidelines. But Derrick’s attitude is very good. He knows an expectation of him [is] to help coach those young guys and coach guys and be integral in what we’re trying to get done."
Green had been one of the few bright spots for an abysmal Michigan offense, totaling 471 yards of rushing on 82 carries (5.7 YPC), and pounding in three touchdowns.
Team rankings are out! The wrestling Bucks are #4! #WT3 http://t.co/kXRmSrk8U4 @flowrestling
— Ohio State Wrestling (@wrestlingbucks) October 6, 2014
Flowrestling, one of the biggest names in the NCAA wrestling prediction business, released its overall team rankings for the 2014/2015 season and the Buckeyes checked in at fourth place. While fourth isn’t a bad ranking, it’s probably a bit lower than some Buckeye fans expected for a team that many see capable of winning a national title. There’s a perfectly reasonable explanation for it, though. The rankings are determined by taking the Flo weight class rankings and applying NCAA tournament points based on position. Flo only ranks wrestlers based on college accomplishments, so OSU freshman Kyle Snyder is unranked and redshirt freshmen Nathan Tomasello and Bo Jordan are ranked much lower than they will likely end up. If you pencil all three of them into fifth-place finishes, which is reasonable based on their ability, the Buckeyes would rise to the top spot in the rankings.
#CBJ have agreed to terms with C Ryan Johansen on a 3-year contract. Official announcement to come.
— NHL Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) October 6, 2014
In non-Buckeye-related Columbus sports news, the Blue Jackets made the biggest move of their offseason, agreeing to terms on a three-year contract extension with center Ryan Johansen.
Johansen held out for almost the entirety of training camp before agreeing to the deal that is expected to pay $3 million each of the first two years and $6 million in the third. Johansen scored 33 goals while also notching 30 assists in 82 games last season.
STICK TO SPORTS
- Downtown Columbus Library to receive renovation in 2015.
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