What’s the ultimate goal for college football teams, no matter which conference they play for? To punch the College Football Playoff tickets. However, only 12 of those teams’ dreams will come true in the 2025 campaign. Now, more than the other programs, fans must be already looking for an answer for th defending champions, Ryan Day and the Ohio State Buckeyes’ playoff fate. Nine weeks to go in the regular season, and anything can happen. But given the current state, Day’s Ohio State holds an edge after their 14-7 win over Steve Sarkisian’s Texas Longhorns. However, an Alabama came up with a blunt take on the Buckeyes’ fate.
On October 3, Courtney McKinney wrote on X, “Crazy Ohio State is basically a lock for the CFP yet over here in the SEC it’s a war zone every single weekend #AllSchedulesAreNotEqual.” She shared his opinion by resharing Polymarket Sports’ tweet. The original tweet read, “We have a BIG weekend of CFB ahead. What team is a lock to appear in the NCAA Playoffs???” It had a picture of Day with “88% odds to make CFB playoffs” written on it.
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Before Polymarket, it was FOX Sports lead college football analyst Joel Klatt took a crack at projecting the CFP field. And in his list, Day’s Buckeyes acquired the most attention. After toppling Texas in Week 1, Klatt thinks the Buckeyes could steamroll the Big Ten and reach the championship unscathed, especially since they dodge Oregon this season. “Oregon and Ohio State, up to this point, have been the two best teams in the Big Ten,” Klatt said. “All due respect to Indiana, obviously, but those two would be my championship game participants.”
Day and co. hits the road twice in three weeks. Illinois on Oct. 11 and Wisconsin on Oct. 18. Illinois, rebounding from its Indiana loss, edged USC to stay in the top 25, giving the Buckeyes a prime chance to notch another ranked win if Texas struggles or the Big Ten title slips away.
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However, while Ohio State’s path looks “easy” with fewer week-to-week challenges, SEC teams endure brutal competition every weekend. That’s what the “#AllSchedulesAreNotEqual” is for. So, Day’s Buckeyes could rack up impressive wins in a relatively less punishing schedule, while SEC squads fight constant battles. We can get a look at the odd percentages to have a clear view.
While Day and co. stands strong at 88% odds, SEC programs like Ole Miss has a 68.5% shot at the Playoff, as per ESPN’s FPI numbers. ESPN projects Alabama with a 69% shot at an FPI berth and the Georgia Bulldogs with a 56% Playoff chance. Talking about things looking easy breezy on Day’s part, Klatt had to say something about it.
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Joel Klatt’s Usain Bolt analogy for Ryan Day’s Ohio State
On the CFB on FOX podcast, host Colin Cowherd stirred the pot, claiming, Ohio State “looks like a team that’s going to play for the national championship.” Klatt then chimed in to share his views on Day and co.’s playoff fate. He said, “You remember watching Usain Bolt run the hundred? And he was the fastest, but it looked like he was running the easiest. Remember that? And like everybody else is like, you know, like this. And he’s just kind of gliding through the line, looking back at people. Well, that’s what Ohio State feels like to me right now ’cause they haven’t even gotten into fourth gear offensively.”
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So, to the analyst, Day’s boys have yet to shift to the fourth gear. According to Klatt, they are still in “conservative” mode. Even though there have been some glaring issues like uneven red zone efficiency, blunt special teams, Day and co. have been blessed with some big weapons like Sonny Styles, Arvell Reese, who emerged during their feat against Washington.