Paul Finebaum believes Ohio State has most pressure in first round of College Football Playoff
Columbus, OH is just a few days away from hosting what ESPN’s Paul Finebaum believes to be the most pressure-filled first-round College Football Playoff game. Ohio State is hosting Tennessee, with more than just quarterfinal advancement on the line. After what happened Nov. 30 against Michigan, Finebaum says the Buckeyes need to win.
“They have enormous pressure because of what happened in the previous game and that was obviously the 13-10 loss at home to Michigan,” Finebaum said on ESPN’s First Take. “They have Tennessee Saturday night, I think they’re in a must-win situation.”
Losers of four straight to Michigan, it felt as if Ohio State hit a new low after losing The Game once again. They were massive favorites heading into the matchup and would have clinched a spot in the Big Ten Championship with a win. While there is still a CFP at-large bid to fall back on, the displeasure around the fan base is palpable.
This brings questions to head coach Ryan Day‘s future. Day is 66-10 in his career but four of those losses are to Michigan and three are in the College Football Playoff. Finebaum knows the price tag to fire Day is a hefty one but might come into play if Tennessee can win on Saturday.
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“There’s a lot of speculation about what’s going to happen to Ryan Day but remember a couple things should they lose,” Finebaum said. “There’s a $37 million price tag… That’s serious money for Ohio State. Ultimately, I think this is a must-win game for Ryan Day.”
Ohio State has not hosted an SEC team in the Shoe since 1988 when LSU came to town. Tennessee will break the nearly four-decade drought but the stakes will be a whole lot higher. The Vols will feel the need to advance for their own program’s sake is there as well.
Oregon will be waiting on the other side, playing the winner on New Year’s Day in Pasadena. If Day does not find himself leading Ohio State onto the field at the Rose Bowl, the pressure might finally collapse according to Finebaum.