Now that the fifth column power conference, the Pac-12, has limped back into the 2020 fold as well, it's time to create our dream playoff scenarios. Honestly, you can't create a better field than last year's, with Ohio State lined up to play their greatest modern foe, Clemson, and then their turncoat quarterback Joe Burreaux, in back-to-back games. What can we cook up this year?
Scenario 1: Restoring the schedule.
After playing some lackluster out-of-conference opponents over the last two seasons, the Buckeyes finally had a hotly anticipated trip to the Autzen Zoo to play the Oregon Ducks this season. And while September has come and gone with no feathered trophy to show for it, we could see a restoration of the game in Pasadena on New Year's Day if we're lucky (no chance of facing Oregon in the championship). Then the Buckeyes can play Alabama or whomever for the title. This would be nice, but Oregon's not so much an intriguing opponent as a brightly colored bug that it's fun to squish every decade or so. No team has lost to Ohio State as many times (nine times) without a win as the Ducks.
Scenario 2: S-E-C! S-E-C!
You've seen how the Big 12 is doing so far. Poorly. One of the disadvantages of being one of the few conferences to keep any nonconference games is that when you lose to the cupcake teams it really makes your teams' SOS look bad. The nonconference part of the schedule has likely come to an abrupt end with Baylor's game against Houston being postponed, and the Big 12 went 5-3 as a conference, including a borderline unforgivable 0-3 against the Sun Belt. And one of those three losses was dealt to Kansas State, the team that just knocked off Oklahoma. There are now three undefeated Big 12 teams: Oklahoma State, Baylor, and Texas. Anyone want to buy in to one of these contenders?
We've already discussed the Pac-12. They have zero room for error and don't really have a standout team except for Oregon or maybe USC (has to be their year sometime, right)?
The ACC is not getting 2 teams in, and the Big Ten probably isn't either.
That leaves...*ethereal cry of PAWWWWWWLLLLLLL resonates from the walls*.
Yes, despite the fact that Ohio State has won its last two big-time matchups against SEC teams, there remains a pernicious myth that the Southeastern Conference remains the Buckeyes' kryptonite. What better way to put the haters and losers in their place then by dispatching the SEC runner-up in Pasadena and the big kahuna in Miami? Triple bonus points if they're LSU and Florida.
Scenario 3: REVENGE!
No Buckeye losses in the last 20 years have stung as much as the beating Florida put on the 2006 team and the heartbreaker Clemson unleashed last December. Especially galling is that Ohio State has faced both of those teams multiple times this century but has never beaten either of them. What better sendoff for the 2020 season than for Ohio State to get sweet justice for two stolen national championships?
Or, if you prefer, since this season is shaping up to be even wackier than the nutty 2007 campaign, swap in LSU so the Buckeyes can right that wrong. (Spoiler alert: LSU is not going to the Playoff no matter how many times I say it how badly I would love Ohio State to wipe the floor with them.)
Scenario 4: In-Season Rematch
This one you can file under dream scenarios => nightmare. 9-0 Ohio State dispatches 8-1 Michigan (or Penn State or Wisconsin or whatever) and there aren't 3 other teams strong enough to nab playoff spots. Welcome to rematch city, which could even take place in the championship if the Buckeyes end up at #2 or #3. Grosssss.
