Josh Pate predicts how Ohio State’s College Football Playoff path will go, and the teams they will have to face
We are a couple of weeks out from Ohio State being back in action in the College Football Playoff.
The Ohio State Buckeyes have their big goal in front of them despite losing the Big Ten Championship to the Indiana Hoosiers.
Ohio State scored just 10 points against Indiana, much like they finished the regular season last year against the Michigan Wolverines. Regrouping before getting back into action in the College Football Playoff on Dec. 31 is key for the Buckeyes. Before the CFP begins, college football analyst Josh Pate has predicted what Ohio State’s path will look like.
College Football Playoff Quarterfinals
Ohio State is no stranger to playing big games in Texas; an example is last year’s semifinal game against the Texas Longhorns. Pate believes Texas A&M will get past Miami for its shot at the Buckeyes.
The Aggies have the athletes to match Ohio State at most positions, and this will be a tough game against one of the SEC’s best. It has to be one game at a time for Ohio State, and they can’t afford to let two straight losses end their season after falling to Indiana.
College Football Playoff Semifinals
Pate has the Buckeyes playing Georgia in the semifinal, and that’s the expectation as long as both teams can get through the quarterfinal. Georgia hasn’t lost since Sept. 27 against Alabama, and it’s undoubtedly one of the best teams in the country.
Georgia isn’t the typical unit it is, but it still runs the ball well and defends just as well. Ohio State was defeated in the College Football Playoff in 2022 by the Bulldogs, and here’s a chance to correct that.
College Football Playoff National Championship
While the Buckeyes didn’t have to play the Oregon Ducks during the regular season, Pate has them matching up with Dan Lanning’s team for a chance to win it all. Oregon and Ohio State split their two games last season, but the Buckeyes won when it mattered in the quarterfinal. Oregon will have to play four CFP games if it’s playing in the national championship, due to the first-round game against James Madison.
Facing Oregon would be a big-time quarterback battle between Ohio State’s Julian Sayin and the Ducks’ Dante Moore. In the end, Pate has the Buckeyes repeating, and Day winning his second title in Columbus.
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