What could get OSU into playoff or keep Buckeyes out after Michigan’s ‘L’

1. Ohio State took care of business.

First thing's first: On a day of chaos around the country, the Buckeyes made another college team look like a high school unit. They only play 12-15 games per year, so it's important to stop and make note of every win. Just ask Michigan.

2. Iowa made Michigan look human.

Speaking of the Wolverines, they left the state of Michigan for the second time this season and looked little like the unit that has been bullying people at Michigan Stadium since the start of September. The exceedingly average Hawkeyes got the better of it on the line of scrimmage most of the night and won despite getting next to nothing from their passing game.

Fortunately for Kirk Ferentz, his defense made life even tougher for Michigan’s quarterback.

3. Michigan’s loss had a similar feel to Ohio State’s.

The Wolverines and Buckeyes both stumbled on the road at night despite their opponent arguably not really playing all that well. Of course, Penn State and Iowa were able to be very disruptive on defense, but that’s only half the battle. And crucial mistakes cost OSU and Michigan in terms of how the winning points were scored.

Weird.

4. Total chaos would probably be better than the rest of the schedule playing out as expected for the Buckeyes. 

But their path to the College Football Playoff could also be pretty clear. Even if they are left out of the Big Ten championship game, they could be sitting there on selection day with wins over two league champions (Wisconsin and Oklahoma) while there is only one undefeated team left. There is at least one big wild card left out there, as we’ll discuss below.

5. It was also a big day in Division III as Wittenberg beat Allegheny and got the help it needed to become NCAC champions outright. 

That also means the Tigers are going to the playoffs.

Oh yeah, and Mount Union lost.

6. Miami won it’s fifth game in a row.

The RedHawks beat Buffalo 35-24 on Saturday, giving themselves nine days to prepare to host Ball State with a chance to become bowl eligible after going 5-31 over the previous three seasons.

Not sure anyone saw that coming six weeks ago.

7. So now who is going to the College Football Playoff?

Good question. Keep in mind two things: This week’s rankings still don’t matter, and all season we have been projecting how things will end up, not how they are today.

Assuming everyone takes care of business (LOL, right?), Alabama and Clemson get the first two spots. Washington would seem to be in if it gets over its loss to USC because the Huskies could still be a one-loss conference champion.

The way it looks now, the Big Ten and Big 12 will have two-loss champions*.

Whether it is Penn State or Wisconsin, we’re betting the committee rewards the winner of head-to-head matchups. That means Ohio State fans should root for Wisconsin the rest of the way.

*Unless West Virginia wins out and is a one-loss Big 12 champion.

In that case? The committee went with Oklahoma over Ohio State in that scenario last season, but the Buckeyes should have a much stronger resume this season, so it's hard to say they would make the same choice or not.