Scarlet Sunrise: Ohio State ranks fourth in ESPN end-of-season power rankings
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Ohio State ranks fourth in ESPN end-of-season power rankings
There’s no debate over which team deserved to win the national title. Georgia thumped TCU by 58 points in the College Football Playoff final, en route to becoming the first school to win back-to-back national championships in the CFP era. Georgia is undoubtedly atop the college football world right now.
But who was the second-best team in the country this season? That’s the question. It certainly didn’t feel like the Horned Frogs Monday night in SoFi Stadium.
ESPN released its final power rankings for the 2022 season this week, and, believe it or not, TCU still clocked out at No. 2, despite suffering the largest defeat in bowl history.
Michigan, which lost to TCU in a turnover-heavy Fiesta Bowl CFP semifinal, followed at No. 3. Then came Ohio State at No. 4. Yes, the Buckeyes infamously dropped their head-to-head matchup with the Wolverines at home (first time that happened since 2000) in the regular season finale. But Ohio State was a 50-yard field goal away from knocking off top-ranked Georgia in the Peach Bowl CFP semifinal.
Here’s what ESPN writer Adam Rittenberg wrote:
“There have been tough Buckeyes losses over the years, but perhaps none as painful, given the stakes, as the 42-41 setback in the CFP semifinal against Georgia. Ohio State outplayed the defending national champions, twice had 14-point leads, received a heroic performance from C.J. Stroud and still lost. A win would have made the Buckeyes favorites to win their first national title since 2014. Instead, Ohio State’s national title drought extends alongside its shorter Big Ten title drought (two years). Coach Ryan Day must replace Stroud and other key contributors, and ultimately get a defense on track that hasn’t been right for most of his tenure. Day is 45-6 at Ohio State but will face palpable pressure entering the 2023 season.”
And here’s the complete top 10 of ESPN’s end-of-season power rankings:
- Georgia
- TCU
- Michigan
- Ohio State
- Alabama
- Tennessee
- Penn State
- Washington
- Tulane
- Florida State
Should I stay or should I go: RG Matthew Jones sticking around, RT Dawand Jones departing for NFL
The third Ohio State offensive lineman in the last two days declared for the NFL Draft Wednesday. Right tackle Dawand Jones, a first-team All-American who accepted an invitation to the Reese’s Senior Bowl last month, made his departure official.
The 6-foot-8, 359-pound Jones had one year of eligibility remaining, but ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. ranks him the No. 10 overall offensive tackle prospect in the 2023 class.
READ: Ohio State RT Dawand Jones declares for NFL Draft
It could be worse for Ohio State, though. The Buckeyes aren’t losing all of their draft-eligible offensive linemen. Right guard Matthew Jones announced that he’s running it back for a sixth and final year with the program.
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Jones’ Pro Football Focus marks took a dip this season from a 2021 campaign that saw him play 459 snaps while filling in for holes across the Buckeyes’ O-Line. But a “lingering” right foot injury certainly factored in this time around. Even so, he was still a second-team All-Big Ten selection as a full-time right guard.
Jones’ positional versatility will come in handy in 2023. Without Luke Wypler, who started the last two seasons at center, Jones could move to the middle of the O-Line.
READ: What Matthew Jones returning for another season means for Buckeyes
The Foundation signs NIL deals with five Ohio State early enrollees
Brian Schottenstein hosted a signing event for the newest members of The Foundation — a Buckeyes-focused NIL collective — Tuesday night. Five of Ohio State’s 11 mid-year enrollees (Carnell Tate, Jermaine Mathews, Jelani Thurman, Noah Rogers and Malik Hartford) signed with the collective.
“It’s very important to make sure the freshmen are successful not only on the field but off the field,” Schottenstein said. “When you work with The Foundation, our word is good. You’re going to get exactly what we speak about once you’re a student-athlete here at Ohio State.
“I can’t really speak to the other schools [NIL activity]. I only hear stories about the ‘Wild, Wild West.'”
For the full story from On3’s Pete Nakos, go here.
Counting down
Buckeyes vs. Indiana: 233 days
Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 317 days
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