Justin Fields Says Ohio State Deserves to Be in CFP: We're 1 of the 4 Best Teams
Dec 19, 2020
Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields throws during the first half of the Big Ten championship NCAA college football game against Northwestern, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
When the College Football Playoff committee releases its selections for the postseason Sunday, Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields expects the Buckeyes to be among them.
"Do we deserve to be in the playoff? Yes, because we're one of the top four teams in the country," he said, via Kyle Rowland of the Toledo Blade.
Playing through a thumb injury, Fields led No. 4 Ohio State to the Big Ten championship with a 22-10 victory over No. 14 Northwestern on Saturday. He ended the day with 114 yards on 12-of-27 passing and was intercepted twice while failing to throw a touchdown. In addition, he added 35 rushing yards on 12 attempts.
Through five games before Saturday, Fields tallied 1,407 yards and 15 touchdowns on 78.1 percent passing while adding 239 rushing yards and five scores. He made it through four of those five games without throwing an interception, with all three of his previous picks on the year coming in a 42-35 win against Indiana.
Leading into Selection Sunday, 6-0 Ohio State rounds out the top four teams in the College Football Playoff rankings, behind No. 1 Alabama (10-0), No. 2 Notre Dame (10-0) and No. 3 Clemson (9-1).
Notre Dame and Clemson play Saturday afternoon for the ACC championship, and Alabama plays No. 7 Florida (8-2) for the SEC championship Saturday night, with every game likely having playoff implications.
The Buckeyes went to the Fiesta Bowl as part of the College Football Playoff last season, where they fell to Clemson 29-23.
OSU's Justin Fields Says He Suffered Thumb Injury in Big Ten Title Game
Dec 19, 2020
Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields drops back to pass during the first half of the Big Ten championship NCAA college football game against Northwestern, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields led the No.4 Buckeyes to the Big Ten championship on Saturday with a 22-10 victory over No. 14 Northwestern, but he revealed afterward that he was not 100 percent healthy.
Fields said in a postgame interview that he thinks he sprained the thumb on his throwing hand.
The junior finished with 114 yards on 12-of-27 passing, was picked off twice and failed to throw a touchdown pass. He also rushed for 35 yards on 12 carries.
Fields and the Buckeyes got off to a slow start and trailed the Wildcats 10-6 after they failed to find the end zone in the first half. But two rushing touchdowns by Trey Sermon made the difference in the final two frames, and the Ohio State defense held Northwestern to secure the victory.
Fields, who threw for 3,273 yards and 41 touchdowns with just three interceptions while also scoring 10 rushing touchdowns last season as a first-year starter, also engineered a comeback win in the 2019 Big Ten Championship Game. In a 34-21 victory against Wisconsin, he threw for 299 yards and three touchdowns. The Badgers led 14-0 and 21-7 at halftime.
Leading up to Saturday, Fields had collected 1,407 yards and 15 touchdowns with three interceptions on 78.1 percent passing in addition to 239 rushing yards and five scores. He hadn't thrown a pick since Nov. 21, when he tossed three in a 42-35 win against Indiana.
Fields and the Buckeyes will await their postseason fate, with the College Football Playoff committee making its selections Sunday.
Trey Sermon Makes History as No. 4 OSU Beats Northwestern to Win Big Ten Title
Dec 19, 2020
Ohio State running back Trey Sermon (8) scores past Northwestern defensive back JR Pace (5) during the second half of the Big Ten championship NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
No. 4 Ohio State made a final statement to the College Football Playoff selection committee Saturday with a 22-10 victory over No. 14 Northwestern in the 2020 Big Ten Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
The Buckeyes, who've been a hot topic of conversation since they entered championship week with just five games played compared to at least eight for all the other serious CFP contenders, will likely be hard to leave out of the playoff field given their 6-0 record and conference title win over a ranked opponent.
Northwestern reached the Big Ten Championship for the second time in three years to highlight the program's continued growth under head coach Pat Fitzgerald. The Wildcats' quest for their first conference title since 2000, and first outright title since 1995, continues, though.
Sermon Saves Day As Fields Struggles Amid Key Absences
Ohio State announced shortly before kickoff it would be without 22 players, including star wide receiver Chris Olave, in the title game. The school didn't provide details about absences, but ESPN's Adam Rittenberg reported the program registered multiple positive COVID-19 test results this week.
The result of the lineup shuffling was the Buckeyes' least explosive performance of the season. They entered the contest averaging 46.6 points with at least 38 in each of their five games.
Fields looked out of sync with his receivers for most of the day without Olave available. His second interception of the game was a direct result of a miscommunication with Jameson Williams about the route that was being run early in the third quarter.
The only time Ohio State was able to find consistent success is when it kept the ball on the ground, and the coaching staff finally started pounding the ball on the ground late in the third quarter down 10-6.
OSU embarked on a seven-play, 71-yard touchdown drive to take the lead. All seven calls were runs, highlighted by a 33-yard scamper by Sermon, who also scored the TD on a nine-yard run.
Although the Buckeyes are never going to abandon the pass completely with Fields directing the aerial attack, Saturday was an example of almost waiting too long to alter the game plan. The running game was far more successful in the title game and should have become the focal point earlier in the contest.
Sermon came to the rescue, but the fact Ohio State survived the upset shouldn't be lost on the staff as it begins planning for a likely spot in the national semifinals. It's OK to lean heavily on the rushing attack and offensive line to carry the unit.
That said, Fields is going to need more efficient performances in the playoffs if the Buckeyes are going to capture a championship. A more healthy roster would certainly help his cause.
Defense Provided NU With Serious Upset Opportunity
The anatomy of any major upset usually involves a couple of turning-point plays defensively, and the Wildcats were able to get those with a pair of interceptions off Fields.
Northwestern also didn't allow the dynamic Ohio State offense to find the end zone until late in the third quarter, coming up with several crucial stops in the red zone to force field-goal attempts.
It always felt like the Wildcats were one big offensive scoring drive away from truly turning the game in their favor, though.
Most notably, they were up by four when they picked off Fields five minutes into the third quarter. A time-consuming touchdown drive there could have changed the game's entire dynamic. Instead, it was a three-and-out that saw them lose nine yards.
That wasn't the only chance for NU to take a firm grip on the game, but it was the most notable as the underdogs failed to score any points in the second half.
Cameron Mitchell, Brandon Joseph and the rest of the Wildcats defense still deserve a lot of credit for keeping Ohio State on upset alert all afternoon, though.
What's Next?
The College Football Playoff selection show is set for Sunday at 12 p.m. ET on ESPN. After the CFP teams are finalized, the other bowl games will begin announcing their participants, as well.
What Urban Meyer started at Ohio State nearly a decade ago has continued under current head coach Ryan Day : The Buckeyes can recruit...
Big Ten Championship Game 2020: Early Preview for Ohio State vs. Northwestern
Dec 13, 2020
Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields, left, scrambles against Michigan State's Antjuan Simmons during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in East Lansing, Mich. Ohio State won 52-12. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)
A week ago, the Big Ten wasn't even sure whether its best team would be able to participate in the conference championship game Dec. 19.
After deciding on a six-game minimum for teams to make the Big Ten title game before the season, the league reversed course—with the blessing of its member schools—to allow the 5-0 Ohio State Buckeyes to represent the Big Ten East in the title game. If they win, they will likely make the College Football Playoff as well, which would be a reported $40 million-50 million revenue boost to the league in a year wherein schools have collectively lost hundreds of millions of dollars because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The league got smart, though, and the Buckeyes will face a Northwestern team ranked No. 14 and coming off of a commanding win over Illinois. Ohio State is likely to be a double-digit favorite, and the Buckeyes will need to be at least that convincing to get the CFP committee to put them into the playoff ahead of teams with eight, nine and 10 games under their belts.
Let's begin by breaking things down a little further.
Key Matchups
Justin Fields vs. Northwestern Defense
Despite only getting to play in five games, Justin Fields has again shown why he's considered a Heisman contender and prospective top-five overall NFL draft pick. He's completed nearly 74 percent of his throws, tossed 15 touchdowns to just three interceptions, and he's run for five more scores. He's the straw that stirs Ohio State's offensive drink, and Northwestern's biggest challenge will be getting pressure on him and forcing him to win the game with his legs.
The Wildcats rank 15th in the country in total defense, but they rank No. 3 out of 127 teams in points against, No. 6 in yards allowed per play and are among the top 25 in turnovers gained. They have been particularly elite against the pass, allowing just a 51 percent completion rate among opposing quarterbacks, while forcing 10 interceptions in eight games.
Ohio State will put them to the test with Fields, who utilizes the Buckeyes' skill players to get the ball out quickly and avoid sacks that would put OSU in long-yardage situations.
Northwestern Run Game vs. Ohio State Defense
One of the biggest keys for Northwestern's defense has nothing at all to do with that side of the ball. Ohio State has the fourth-highest scoring offense in college football (46.6 points per game), and if the Wildcats get into a shootout, this one will be over quickly. Northwestern quarterback Peyton Ramsey has been serviceable this year, but he's completed just 59 percent of his passes and averages just 5.8 yards per attempt.
On the ground, though, Northwestern has six players with more than 100 yards rushing this season, and their success mainly comes through ball control. The Wildcats won't gauge Ohio State—or anyone—with eye-popping runs, but they are physical up front and will do everything they can to make this a 14-10 or 10-7 game in the final minutes.
Whether they can do that is a different story. While it isn't an elite unit like it has been in previous years, Ohio State's defense still ranks among the top 45 nationally in total defense, and the Buckeyes have been especially good (No. 13) at getting off the field on third down and getting their offense the ball back. Simply put, the Wildcats have a steep hill to climb to keep this a low-scoring affair.
Early National Signing Day 2020: Announcement Schedule, Predictions and More
Dec 12, 2020
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day coaches against Penn State during an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020. Ohio State defeated Penn State 38-25. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
With the recent shifts in college football recruiting—namely players committing earlier in their process—the buzz that used to surround National Signing Day in February has largely faded. Not only has an early signing day in December pretty much replaced it in importance, but most elite-level players have already decided on their school as a way to ensure their spot isn't given to another prospect.
Of the top 25 prospects in the 2021 class, according to 247Sports, 22 have already committed to a program. Of the top 55, just 10 aren't already spoken for.
In a recruiting year that has been completely upended by the COVID-19 pandemic, with prospects unable to take official visits to schools since March, most of the recruiting has been done by coaches via Zoom, Twitter and text messages. Prospects have been able to visit campuses on their own accord, but the usual pomp and circumstance of a blue-chipper coming to town has been largely eliminated because coaches are prohibited from "hosting" them.
There won't be a shortage of intrigue on signing day, as there are still a handful of top prospects committed, and there are always a few players with a surprising flip up their sleeves.
4-star DB Damarius McGhee (No. 185, 247Sports) Decision: Wednesday, Dec. 16 at 5:00 p.m. ET Considering: Ole Miss, LSU, Tennessee Prediction: LSU
Barring a shocking turn of events on signing day, we will yet again see Alabama, Ohio State and Georgia reigning atop the college football recruiting world. One of those programs had brought in the No. 1-ranked recruiting class every year since 2010, and it doesn't appear that will be changing any time soon.
Of the 34 5-star recruits in the 2021 class according to the 247Sports rankings, 14 are committed to either the Crimson Tide, Buckeyes or Bulldogs, and it's likely that at least two more will commit to one of those three schools on signing day.
Behind them are defending national champion LSU, Oregon, Clemson, Florida, Notre Dame, Michigan and Oklahoma. The Wolverines have been able to hold on to their stable of committed players, despite rumors about head coach Jim Harbaugh's future in Ann Arbor being in doubt.
Of the aforementioned uncommitted prospects, two are among the top four players in the country, according to 247Sports. Korey Foreman, a defensive end from California and the No. 1 overall player in the class, committed to Clemson in late January but backed off that pledge by April. Most recruiting analysts opined that he wanted to be closer to home, and the two schools thought to be in contention for his commitment are USC and LSU.
The No. 3 overall player in the class is another defensive end, J.T. Tuimoloau, a 6'5", 277-pound lineman from Washington. The hometown Huskies were thought to be a serious contender for him, but all signs point to him ending up at Ohio State, which has produced Joey Bosa, Nick Bosa and Chase Young, all top-3 NFL draft picks at the defensive end position in recent years. It's tough to argue with that pedigree.
Follow Keegan on Twitter @ByKeeganPope.
5-Star Emeka Egbuka, No. 1 WR in Class of 2021, Commits to Ohio State
Dec 11, 2020
Top wide receiver prospect Emeka Egbuka announced Friday he has committed to the Ohio State Buckeyes.
The 5-star recruit is considered the No. 1 wideout and the ninth-best player overall in the 2021 class, according to 247Sports composite rankings.
Egbuka has excellent speed, running a 40-yard dash in 4.42 seconds at the All-American Combine in 2019. The 6'1", 190-pound player can make an impact in several other ways, including his ability to score from nearly anywhere in the field and win 50-50 balls in the air.
The Steilacoom product from Washington has produced incredible numbers at the high school level the past three years, totaling 199 catches for 3,907 yards and 61 touchdowns. He had at least 23 touchdown receptions as both a sophomore and junior in high school.
Egbuka has also excelled as a defensive back, although he will most likely play on offense for Ohio State.
He caught the attention of nearly the entire college football landscape, getting dozens of scholarship offers from some of the top programs in the country. He eventually narrowed his decision down to Clemson, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Washington.
Egbuka eventually picked the Buckeyes, giving the team another elite weapon offensively and getting a chance to contend at a national level.
"I have a great relationship with the entire coaching staff, and they develop wide receivers really well," he said in May, perBrandon Huffmanof 247Sports. "I talk with all the Ohio State coaches, but especially coach (Brian) Hartline and coach (Ryan) Day."
He also called Hartline "one of my favorite coaches."
The Buckeyes' development of recent receivers like Michael Thomas, Terry McLaurin and Parris Campbell likely also helped.
Egbuka should have an opportunity for early playing time with Ohio State as he tries to live up to his lofty expectations.
Ohio State HC Ryan Day Responds to Big Ten Changing Title Game Requirements
Dec 9, 2020
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day talks to his players during an NCAA college football game against Indiana, Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
The only Big Ten team to actually win all its games on the field is going to the conference championship game, and its head coach is "appreciative" of the opportunity.
After the Big Ten announced its members voted to change the one-year rule put in place before a shortened 2020 season requiring a team to play six games to be eligible for the title game, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day released a statement saying he is "appreciative of our Big Ten Conference colleagues for reconsidering."
Nicole Auerbach of The Athletic shared the statement:
The Buckeyes are 5-0 and have a head-to-head victory over Indiana, which is the second-place team in the Big Ten East. However, they fell short of six games because contests against Maryland, Illinois and Michigan were all canceled because of COVID-19 outbreaks.
The conference ultimately recognized that if Ohio State played and lost to Michigan this coming Saturday it would still have qualified for the title game, so it decided not to punish the Buckeyes for not playing the game at all.
In essence, Day's team would have been better off playing and losing to the Wolverines than not playing at all under the six-game rule, at least in terms of its Big Ten championship chances.
This means the Buckeyes will play Northwestern in a rematch of the 2018 Big Ten title game. The Scarlet and Gray won that matchup 45-24 and have won the last three conference crowns.
Indiana Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Scott Dolson released a statement saying he and head coach Tom Allen are "disappointed" the Hoosiers were left out of the title game but recognized "we had a chance to earn our spot ... but ultimately fell a touchdown short on the road against a great Ohio State team."
IU Vice President & Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Scott Dolson Statement… pic.twitter.com/ByOMRiS75B
That game between Ohio State and Indiana was one of the most entertaining ones of the season, as the powerhouse Buckeyes went ahead 35-7 before the Hoosiers dramatically closed the gap in a 42-35 final.
The biggest question now is whether the Buckeyes can reach the College Football Playoff, which does not have a minimum-game requirement.
They are in playoff position at No. 4 in the rankings, and they likely will make the CFP with a win over Northwestern unless Florida upset Alabama in the SEC Championship Game and set up a realistic scenario where two SEC teams would be in the four-team field.
Ohio State to Play Northwestern for Big Ten Title After Conference Vote
Dec 9, 2020
Ohio State players celebrate with Haskell Garrett (92) after his touchdown on an interception during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Michigan State, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)
The Big Ten has removed the six-game requirement to qualify for the Big Ten title game, which will allow 5-0 Ohio State to play in the game vs. Northwestern:
The conference announced the decision in a statement Wednesday:
In collaboration with #B1G COP/C & Conference office, ADs & SWAs ✅ vote to eliminate game requirement in 2020 #B1GFCG.@NUFBFamily vs. @OhioStateFB in #B1GFCG 🏆 Decision based on competitive analysis regardless of 🏈 Ws or Ls this weekend.
"The Big Ten Conference Administrators Council, which includes the Directors of Athletics and Senior Women Administrators from all 14 member institutions, voted today to eliminate the minimum-game requirement for participation in the 2020 Big Ten Football Championship Game.
"The decision was made in collaboration with the Big Ten Council of Presidents and Chancellors and the conference office. The decision was based on a competitive analysis which determined that Ohio State would have advanced to the Big Ten Football Championship Game based on its undefeated record and head-to-head victory over Indiana regardless of a win or loss against Michigan."
The Buckeyes will be taking the place of 6-1 Indiana.
Because the Buckeyes beat the Hoosiers 42-35 earlier in the season, they would have won the Big Ten East even if they had lost to Michigan this weekend on a head-to-head tiebreaker. Instead, a COVID-19 outbreak in the Wolverines program forced the cancelation of that game.
Allowing Ohio State to play in the Big Ten title game will also be important for its College Football Playoff resume. The Buckeyes are currently No. 4, behind Alabama (9-0), Notre Dame (10-0), Clemson (9-1) and ahead of Texas A&M (7-1), Florida (8-1) and Iowa State (8-2).
The Big Ten had initially deemed that teams must play at least six games to qualify for the title game. The Buckeyes have seen three of their eight games (Maryland, Illinois and Michigan) canceled, however. The cancellations in the Maryland and Michigan games came after coronavirus breakouts at those schools, while a breakout at Ohio State caused the Illinois game to be canned.
There will no doubt be critics of the Big Ten's decision to change its own rules to cater to Ohio State. Fair or not, the perception will exist that the conference is trying to help out its most visible school to boost ratings for its title game.
Defenders of the decision will note that Ohio State would have qualified anyway were it not for the Michigan cancellation, or that the Buckeyes are the highest-ranked team in the conference and it would have been a disservice to them to keep them out of the title game for reasons beyond their control.
