Swinney ranks OSU #11 in Coaches Poll
Link to Yahoo! Sports article.
"Swinney has a top four of Alabama, Clemson, Notre Dame and Texas A&M. You have to scroll past Florida, Georgia, Cincinnati, Oklahoma, Iowa State and Coastal Carolina before you land on the Buckeyes at No. 11."
I haven't decided how I feel about this yet.
On one hand, F OSU.
On the other, F Swinney and his opinion of how the B1G handled the season during the pandemic.
December 21st, 2020 at 12:10 PM ^
He'll be getting death threats from the Central Ohio Football School.
December 21st, 2020 at 1:55 PM ^
Clemson is going to truck OSU. Clemson by 17 is my guess. Fields looked shaky at times and NW made OSU look pedestrian. Now Dabo putting OSU so far down his list is silly. OSU should be in the bottom half of a national top ten.
December 21st, 2020 at 2:08 PM ^
Since we can't beat osu! I love osu being Clemson bitch!
December 21st, 2020 at 2:27 PM ^
So you are OK with OSU at 10 but Dabo is out of bounds placing them 11th?
December 21st, 2020 at 4:19 PM ^
Not at all what he said...he is OK with OSU at 9. /s
December 21st, 2020 at 2:07 PM ^
Um...
https://www.si.com/college/2020/10/27/michigan-fan-sentenced-threats-harm-ohio-state-players
December 21st, 2020 at 2:14 PM ^
Is it fun trolling a rival fan base blog? GTFO and get a life.
December 21st, 2020 at 2:24 PM ^
It was stupid and lacks self-awareness.
People always complain about the quality of posts then let nonsense like this pass. It doesn't make sense. There is constant complaining about cleaning things up, well, maybe stuff like this should be first.
December 21st, 2020 at 3:43 PM ^
You're very self-aware of your love for OSU. Takes no longer than 30 seconds to look at your posting history. You're not fooling anyone. This is the last time I'll engage you as it's pointless, but it's obvious what you are. Hopefully you're getting your jollies off on this.
December 21st, 2020 at 4:43 PM ^
Dude or Dudette. Google 11 warriors. Your home is there.
December 21st, 2020 at 12:10 PM ^
I agree with Swinney, OSU doesn't deserve to be in the playoff this year. They'll get smacked down by Clemson anyways so I guess it doesn't really matter.
December 21st, 2020 at 12:15 PM ^
I mean leaving them out of the top 4 is one thing but putting all those other teams in front of them, that is asinine. I mean I hate to defend OSU but there is no logical reason to rank them that low other than Sweeney being an asshat.
December 21st, 2020 at 12:16 PM ^
"I mean I hate to defend OSU"
Then don't.
December 21st, 2020 at 12:22 PM ^
Logically I have to in this case, there is no rational reason someone could come up with to leave them out of the top 10. Teams should not be punished for having games cancelled per Big Ten protocol. Also yeah in all likelihood Clemson will handle OSU, but also not very bright of Sweeney to give your opponent motivation. Then again I have always got the impression Sweeney is one of those coaches whose intelligence drops drastically when he is not on the sideline.
December 21st, 2020 at 12:29 PM ^
I love it. If he honestly doesn't believe they belong there, more power to him. He has to play them, and gave them all the extra motivation they need, if any is needed when you are playing the team that knocked you out last year. I don't think this OSU team is as good as last years, and I think Clemson is better than last years team, so when he kicks their asses, he can say it even louder that they didn't belong.
December 21st, 2020 at 12:32 PM ^
Here are some rational reasons:
- OSU played 6(!) games and most of the teams in the top 10 played at least 3 more than that and some 5 games more than that. That means in most cases OSU had 5 less chances to lose than these teams.
- In the only 2 games they played against teams with a pulse, they looked pretty meh. And Indiana and Northwesern aren't great teams in my opinion.
- When I look at the names on Dabo's list, only two(Coastal Carolina and Cinci) could I say "I think OSU would definitely win that game."
December 21st, 2020 at 12:48 PM ^
Your first point is the correct answer and in my opinion is a very good reason to rank OSU #11. They only played 6 games. Everyone else going to the CFP played 11. That's 5 less games that you might lose, 5 less games where injuries aren't a factor, etc.
Those details matter and the committee should have taken that into account.
I think Dabo is a complete tool. He's also 100% correct on this.
December 21st, 2020 at 1:04 PM ^
It's not a resume competiton though. It's the best teams. Clemson and Bama were the best two teams before they played a game. Unfortunately, that's the criteria and that's how the committee has always approached it.
There is no rational argument to make that OSU isn't in the top 10 (or even top 4 really). The argument "that they only played six games" is only a logical answer to the question, why doesn't OSU have a loss? But since everyone else that played more games also has at least one loss, that argument doesn't really matter since it doesn't eliminate a team anyway.
Can anyone with a straight face say that OSU wouldn't probably beat ND? You can't. ND is not very good. OSU wins that at least 7 of 10 times. And for the record, I think A&M should have been in ahead of ND.
December 21st, 2020 at 1:32 PM ^
ND would control the game with their running attack. It’s very good. Also, OSU’s defense is having a down year. I believe that ND would beat them due to that matchup 7 out of 10 times.
To hell with Notre Dame.
December 21st, 2020 at 1:42 PM ^
I think ND would whoop OSU's ass.
December 21st, 2020 at 3:20 PM ^
ND is not good. Mostly the same team that we beat by 100 last year. They didn't belong the field this past weekend. Haven't beaten a good team since losing to us (and no, Clemson sans a bunch of guys is not a good team - just ask Boston College).
They would be more than TD underdog against OSU. That's a verifiable, statistical fact (they're 9 points behind in FPI, 8 in Sagarin, similar in any model that closely ties to vegas spreads).
We can even verify this by actual Vegas. Clemson was a 10.5 point favorite over ND going into their game Saturday. Which was obviously too low, but OSU will be within a TD even after the information that Clemson at close to full strength is more than three TDs better than Notre Dame.
And that's essentially how the committee picks the top 4.
I'm not saying I like it. Because that's the basis by which they put OSU into the playoff ahead of PSU in 2016 despite not winning their conference and OSU losing to PSU. That's the basis by which Bama backed into the playoff in 2017 despite not winning their league. But again, it's not a resume competition. It's the committee trying to determine the best teams and there is absolutely no possible argument for thinking ND is better than OSU (less talented, ranked worse in all the metrics based rankings, etc, etc).
OSU doesn't have a championship caliber defense but ND is not even close to championship caliber on either side of the ball.
December 21st, 2020 at 4:29 PM ^
Honeslty, FPI means zero to me when ND has played almost double the amount of football games against better teams. OSU's small sample size against mostly shitty competition and very little against 'good' competition doesn't do much to move the needle.
December 21st, 2020 at 7:39 PM ^
Why do people think ND played a good schedule? It ranks 53rd at Massey and that's if you (like his computer) forget that one of the Clemson games was against a covid-decimated team. Five of their wins were outside the top 80.
There weren't many OOC games this year so it's hard to judge, but the few the ACC had went badly.
December 22nd, 2020 at 9:52 AM ^
Now do OSU.
December 21st, 2020 at 7:44 PM ^
OSU has beaten two teams that weren't complete tire fires: Indiana and Northwestern by a combined 19 points. They have oodles more talent than both of those teams.
Northwestern's defense embarrassed Fields. Indiana's offense did the same to the OSU defense.
I think ND would beat OSU. They would run the ball on them and ND would do what they did against Clemson in their first game--stop the run.
But more than anything it's hard to judge how good Ohio State is since they haven't played enough games to form a full opinion. I can tell you one thing, they are clearly, CLEARLY worse than last year's team.
December 21st, 2020 at 12:55 PM ^
I hate having to write something defending OSU but who exactly did Clemson play this season? Notre Dame and then who else? Please don't try and make an argument for how good Miami is. So basically, Clemson went out and played a bunch of Illinois, Purdue and Nebraska as well as a FCS team and now that is something to brag about?
December 21st, 2020 at 1:03 PM ^
They played a team in the CFP twice. That is 1/3 of OSU's entire 6 game schedule against a team in the CFP.
December 21st, 2020 at 1:08 PM ^
And I believe Clemson was 1 - 1 against that team. Sure Lawrence was out, but the results are what they are. Maybe the real argument is that ND should not be in the playoff. Who did they beat other than Clemson without their best player?
December 21st, 2020 at 1:30 PM ^
North Carolina.
8.5.5December 21st, 2020 at 1:47 PM ^
I'd say North Carolina is worse than Indiana and probably on par with Northwestern.
December 21st, 2020 at 3:07 PM ^
I mean, maybe? I do know OSU hasn't played anyone close to Clemson's talent, let alone beat them. Unless you think No Trevor Lawrence Clemson is on par with Indiana.
December 21st, 2020 at 3:41 PM ^
They were missing a lot more players than just Lawrence. Clemson had a lot of defensive players out. You saw the difference in how they completely shut down ND Saturday right?
The Clemson team that lost in OT to ND barely beat Boston College. Totally different team. So yes, that Clemson team was worse than the IU team OSU beat.
December 21st, 2020 at 3:58 PM ^
Well, I wasn't talking about Clemson. If your question is whether or not OSU has played a team as talented as Clemson then no. By that same logic, Clemson hasn't played a team as talented as OSU. There are only a handful of teams that talented.
December 21st, 2020 at 4:21 PM ^
No you weren't talking about Clemson, you were implying that if anyone should be left out it was Notre Dame and not OSU. Because OSU beat teams in NU that is "on par with UNC", AND Indiana, "who is better than UNC"! (which again... maybe?) I think ND should be in over OSU because they not only had a much tougher schedule(playing Clemson twice), they played 5 more freaking football games than OSU. OSU's resume is, "Whooped 4 awful opponents" and "looked not great beating the only decent teams they played, but hey, we're undefeated(playing a fraction of the games everyone else did)!"
December 21st, 2020 at 8:38 PM ^
FWIW:
Sagarin:
- Indiana -3.5 vs North Carolina
- Northwestern pick vs. North Carolina
Massey:
- Indiana -4 vs. North Carolina
- Northwestern -2.5 vs. North Carolina...and, as long as I'm here:
- Ohio St. -10 vs. Notre Dame
Massey would also favor 5 SEC teams over ND, as well as Oklahoma and Iowa. They both had Georgia at #4 if you look at the rating they use for predictions.
December 21st, 2020 at 1:04 PM ^
If OSU crushed a few more B1G teams and a couple of warmup cupcakes and just happened to lose one game along the way, would they not still be in the playoff? A loss in any of those other five games would not have disqualified them. It is such a stupid argument to make when everyone who could have made the playoffs has one loss except Bama. Every team except Bama has at least one flaw; Clemson - losing to ND, ND - getting crushed by a fully weaponized Clemson, OSU - fewer games played, Texas A&M - crushed by Bama. Turning OSU's games played flaw into a loss would not change the Committee's decision to include them over A&M since they are a conference champion.
December 21st, 2020 at 2:16 PM ^
The reality is if OSU actually played Maryland, Illinois and Michigan who actually believes any of those teams would have actually been able to beat them? Would have changed nothing. And everybody behind them may have played more games but those teams also have weak resumes. Coastal's best win was over a BYU team who had a joke of a schedule. The committee was not about to put teams with weak resumes who had pretty much a 0% chance of beating Clemson in over a OSU team who could at least potentially give Clemson a game if healthy.
December 21st, 2020 at 1:40 PM ^
No reason to lose sleep over it, he was just making a point. Logic has nothing to do with it.
December 21st, 2020 at 4:51 PM ^
LIke Alabama’s new senator?
December 21st, 2020 at 2:03 PM ^
Dude, it's just stupid to pretend that they aren't one of the best teams. They didn't play fewer games by choice, they played fewer games for the same reason we all did, harsher protocols and dumb decisions by the Big10.
December 21st, 2020 at 2:41 PM ^
troll
December 21st, 2020 at 4:01 PM ^
I think Swinney is a sacrimonious twat, but I kinda admire the balls on display in openly dissing the team you're about to play. Could backfire a bit, after all, but I'm still hoping that Clemson dismantles OSU, myself.
December 21st, 2020 at 12:16 PM ^
And when they do get smacked down by Clemson, they'll find a way to blame Michigan...because we deprived them of a needed tune-up game.
December 21st, 2020 at 12:31 PM ^
I dunno, OSU vs. Clemson is another Meteorite Strike game! As much as I HATE the inbreds from Central Ohio, Dabo & crew are also wearing on me.
How about OSU win by one point and lose to Bama by 49???
December 21st, 2020 at 12:35 PM ^
Nah, I like to see that streak continue as a team OSU has never beaten.
December 21st, 2020 at 12:47 PM ^
The two biggest PHONIES in college coaching: Mr. "praise the lord" Swinney and the supreme a-hole Izzo
December 21st, 2020 at 12:47 PM ^
I see your point, but...nah, crushed in the first round is better. It'll reinforce they had no business being in the playoffs.
December 21st, 2020 at 12:59 PM ^
I see your point, but YOU just jinxed it! Just to mess with us they will squeak by Clemson and Spicoli and then get CRUSHED by Bama.
December 21st, 2020 at 1:11 PM ^
:-) I can live with that result.
December 21st, 2020 at 12:59 PM ^
If the criteria is just "best 4", which it is, then they deserve to be in. There is no min number of games required so tell me two teams that deserve to be in ahead of them (aside from Bama and Clemson of course).
Notre Dame isn't very good. They got crushed by Clemson and their win over Clemson was obviously pretty meaningless given how many guys were out (it was a lot more than just Lawrence). We know ND doesn't belong on the field with the top two teams, we don't know that about OSU.
Similar with A&M which was destroyed by Bama. They only had two wins against teams with winning records. They beat Vandy by only 5. I think they should have been in over ND, but very hard to make the argument they deserve it over OSU.
No one else even comes close. Despite playing more games, Cinci still has an inferior SoS and barely squeaked by their final two opponents. I was hoping they'd blow out Tulsa to make things interesting. Definitely could have made that argument in that case that they should have been the 4th. I think you still could make an argument for them over ND and A&M since they have't lost, let alone haven't been blown out.