Ohio State: Back to a top 2 team in the country? Or product of beating awful teams?
What’s the board’s thoughts on OSU?
On one hand, they’ve been an offensive machine since their loss to Oregon, looking absolutely unstoppable. And Day, after about three years, finally wised up and realized Master Teague is “just a guy” and benched him, which has immensely helped their run game.
On the other hand, Indiana is ranked around 60, Tulsa 80, Akron 130, Maryland 70 and Rutgers 80.
October 24th, 2021 at 12:41 PM ^
I think they're at worst top 3. Maybe top 1, as it could also be argued that Georgia hasn't really faced a good offense yet.
I give Florida a much better shot of beating Georgia than Penn St beating Ohio St.
October 24th, 2021 at 12:56 PM ^
OSU is good. Indiana is not playing good football at the moment.
October 24th, 2021 at 12:59 PM ^
I trust OSU's defense more than Georgia's offense. But that's splitting hairs. They are clearly the two best teams in the country.
Then comes Alabama.
Then comes a pile of mushy goo consisting of Cincinnati, Oklahoma, Oregon, Michigan, Pittsburgh, Ole Miss, and Notre Dame.
October 25th, 2021 at 8:33 PM ^
Agree 100%. The only rub for OSU, IMO is that UM is a bit of a different team this year. They are flawed, as all teams are, but they are winning every week. Despite the recent lopsided scores, going on the road against an undefeated or even 1 loss team in November will be a big task. That would feel like an old-school rivalry game, where the number of five stars doesn’t have the same impact.
October 24th, 2021 at 1:28 PM ^
I think the way to have any shot at beating them is to do what Oregon did, what Minnesota did before Ibrahim went down, and what Nebraska and Kansas tried to do to Oklahoma: exploit a somewhat vulnerable defense for consistent first downs, keep the clock moving, limit their offensive possessions, and put pressure on them to score TDs when they do have the ball. Unfortunately, OSU probably will do the latter. But maybe I'm saying there's a chance?
I give a zero point zero shot for Penn State to do that this weekend -- they cannot run the ball -- and same for MSU (they can't move the ball with any consistency). Nebraska *might* have a shot to possess the ball enough to make it a little interesting, but it would take a correction to the mean on all their luck/dumbshit from the Frost era. Oh and Purdue already shot their wad against Iowa. They only get one of those every couple years.
Michigan is seemingly built to exploit that gameplan? But by late November it seems OSU has already figured everything out and Michigan is hurt in key positions. If our pass rushers are dinged up even a little, like in 2018, it might be another nightmare.
October 24th, 2021 at 2:08 PM ^
They will probably win it all. They look pretty good.
October 24th, 2021 at 2:27 PM ^
As much as I don't like to say it, I think Ohio State should be No. 3 or 4 in the AP Poll right now.
On a neutral field, I would take the Buckeyes to beat both Cincinnati and Oklahoma.
I would have Georgia and Alabama ahead of them, however.
October 24th, 2021 at 2:35 PM ^
Ohio State right now = 
October 24th, 2021 at 2:42 PM ^
Smaller point: OSU is going at least 12-1 and going to the CFP where I give them a 50% chance to win it all.
Larger point: This is a Michigan of blog and there are over 100 comments here with not a single one being made by an obvious toxic psychopath.
That is something that would be impossible at the OSU blogs which can not get two comments in without going full psycho.
The Michigan difference.
October 24th, 2021 at 5:20 PM ^
Adults in the room.
October 24th, 2021 at 9:11 PM ^
I'm just thankful this topic hasn't gone full bagman, where intelligent posts are an endangered species.
October 24th, 2021 at 4:10 PM ^
Top 3 for sure.
Georgia, Alabama, OSU. Not sure of the order. Then everyone else.
October 24th, 2021 at 9:06 PM ^
anOSU is a very good team.
When I watch OSU highlights, I see a lot of passes to open receivers. Not all, but a lot. Those passes are far easier to make than when the receiver has no separation.
McNamara is a fine QB. Our receivers are fast. We have no talent reason why we can't be making throws to more-open receivers as well.
Maybe we would benefit from a dedicated receivers coach and from plays that get our receivers more separation.