Joel Klatt: Ohio State still has a path to making the College Football Playoff

Although they’re currently at No. 6 in the nation, everyone knows how small the chance is that Ohio State finds its way into the College Football Playoff. While it’s very much a long shot, though, Joel Klatt does still see the path for the Buckeyes to be one of the four teams in the field.

Klatt broke down Ohio State’s chances of making the playoff during his show earlier this week. He started by crediting them for still having a more than quality resume that’s up for consideration, especially considering how good their one loss will look to the committee.

“I think Ohio State still does have a path to the playoff. It’s very small but it is there,” said Klatt. “For all intents and purposes? Last week was a play-in game – or an elimination game, I think, is a better way to put it. If you really look at this? I do think that there is a narrowing path right now for Ohio State.”

“Remember, it’s tough to win on the road in a top-five environment. Top-five teams are 31-1 this year in their home stadium. Alabama was the only loss. The way that they played and that game being such a great game? They’ll be alright,” Klatt continued. “They still have the Notre Dame win, they still have a very good resume.”

That’s when Klatt laid it out for the Buckeyes. In his opinion, it’s going to take losses from the three other factors in the equation for them to make it. Under the assumption that Michigan and the winner of the Pac-12 Championship will be in, he says it will require no less than losses from Florida State at No. 4, Texas at No. 7, and Alabama at No. 8 to do the trick.

“This would be it – I believe that they would need a three-team parlay this week. Then they would be in a position to potentially get included in the College Football Playoff,” explained Klatt.

“They need the following three teams to lose – Alabama, Florida State, Texas. If those three teams lose? I think Ohio State goes if those three teams lose,” Klatt said. “I know it’s small. But they need Georgia to win, they need Louisville to win, and they need Oklahoma State to win. If those three things happen? Then they’ve got a shot. I would even say, like, a pretty good shot. If only two of those three things happen? I think they do not have much of a shot at all.”

There you have it, Buckeye fans. It’s a far bigger leap than last season but, as of this weekend, you’ll need to be Bulldog, Cardinal, and Cowboy fans. Then, assuming Klatt’s scenario actually comes true, all Ohio State can do from there is let the chips falls where they may when it comes to the selection committee.