Can the Buckeyes Still Make the College Football Playoff? Analyzing Ohio State’s Playoff Chances

The Ohio State Buckeyes faced a disappointing defeat of 30-24 against the Michigan Wolverines in their 2023 regular season finale, marking their only loss after an impressive 11-win streak. The defeat led to the Buckeyes falling from the second-ranked team to No. 6 in the rankings. Despite this setback, fans are interested in whether the Buckeyes still have a chance to reach the College Football Playoff after their loss to Michigan.

As things stand, Ohio State is not completely out of the College Football Playoff picture. They have a slim chance of re-entering the No. 4 rankings through specific scenarios. The Buckeyes will need key match outcomes, such as No. 3 Washington defeating No. 5 Oregon in the Pac-12 championship game, and No. 15 Louisville winning against No. 4 Florida State in the ACC championship game. They will also need No. 2 Michigan to defeat No. 18 Iowa in the Big Ten championship. Additionally, the Buckeyes must hope for No. 1 Georgia to beat No. 8 Alabama and No. 19 Oklahoma to defeat No. 7 Texas. If these scenarios align, Ohio State might secure a College Football Playoff berth. However, it ultimately rests with the playoff committee’s final decision.

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