This afternoon I thought about how we were about 24 hours from kickoff between our beloved Buckeyes and the vaunted Crimson Tide for the freakin National Championship Game and noticed how odd it seemed to me in comparison to the lead up for the past three NCGs.

I was thrilled like all of you watching the Men of the Scarlet & Gray run through Dabo, Sunshine and the Tigers in the first round of the CFP, but for some reason my mood is muted.  It’s probably a combination of all the ridiculous uncertainty and lowered expectations for any type of event this past year and the a bit to do with all talk about potentially shortened roster for the game. I bet I’ll wake up tomorrow and the game day juices will start flowing; it’ll be tough to focus on work for sure.

So, where are you all at heading into this game?  Just as hyped heading into 2002, 2006, 2007 and 2014, or do you have measured excitement?

I feel that at full strength the Buckeyes have an equal or better chance of winning, but if they’re down key contributors at a key position group as rumored it could be tough sledding against Bama.

Note: I’m not superstitious (not even a little stitious) but tomorrow I will be wearing the new Ohio State long sleeved 1/4 zip shirt I wore for the Sugar Bowl and I’ll be making pulled pork chili with the pork butt I smoked that day.  You’re welcome.