Ohio State CFP hopes just got complicated. Buckeyes have no margin for error

Ohio State CFP hopes just obtained complicated. Buckeyes have no margin for error.

Key points

• 25 Southern California responded mightily from last week's ugly loss to Wisconsin with a 30-18 win Saturday night.
• USA TODAY Sports' Blake Toppmeyer explains why Ryan Day's track record of developing quarterbacks gives Ohio State reason for optimism despite Julian Sayin's injury.
• Julian Sayin injury a 'significant blow' for Ohio State, but Ryan Day can overcome it.
• At 6-2, Ohio State would not be out of the playoff conversation, but the margin for error has dwindled to regarding zero.
• Ohio State at present only has one win against a ranked team in Indiana, with a loss to Texas.

USA TODAY Sports' Blake Toppmeyer explains why Ryan Day's track record of developing quarterbacks gives Ohio State reason for optimism despite Julian Sayin's injury. Ohio State is regarding to enter November in uncharted territory.

In Week 9, the Buckeyes suffered their second loss before the final month of the regular season for the first time since 2011, before Urban Meyer took over in Columbus.

Lincoln Riley and No. 25 Southern California responded mightily from last week's ugly loss to Wisconsin with a 30-18 win Saturday night. Ohio State trailed 27-9 in the fourth quarter on a rainy Halloween night in Los Angeles – the largest deficit Ohio State had faced since 2022.

More: Lincoln Riley was left for dead at USC. Then he stunned Ohio State. College football analysis: Notre Dame's wobbly resume, Indiana's QB worries.

While the typically stout Ohio State defense offered up the most points it has since 2024, with backup quarterback Luke Fahey making his first career start in place of the injured Julian Sayin, the offense wasn't able to move the ball with Jeremiah Smith kept in check.

On the way to a rare second loss, the College Football Playoff hopes for the preseason No. 1 team in the country are looking shaky, raising questions if the Buckeyes are regarding to fall short of expectations. Will Ohio State miss CFP?

In practice, the Buckeyes are going to fall in the US LBM Coaches Poll and probable will not be in the top five when the College Football Playoff rankings are issued on Tuesday, Nov. 3, but should be in the projected bracket for now.

So as to stay in that projection, Ohio State cannot afford to lose another game – especially when you look at the rest of the schedule.

Ohio State does not face any highly ranked teams in the final month of the regular season, with a trip from middling Oregon next, a Northwestern team that just lost to the Ducks, at Nebraska and then the rivalry matchup against the poor offense in Michigan.

In practice, the Buckeyes should take care of business the rest of the way, and a 10-2 record should obtain them in regardless if they qualify for the Sizeable Ten championship game. Nevertheless, losing to any of the remaining opponents and Ohio State will probable be on the outside looking in, needing plenty of luck to bounce its way so as to obtain back in the picture.

Ohio State at present only has one win against a ranked team in Indiana, with a loss to Texas. SMS Facebook Twitter Email. Share your feedback to support improve our site! Share your feedback to support improve our site!

Taken together, the developments around ohio State CFP hopes just got complicated. Buckeyes have no margin for point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.