This season began with Natty or bust talk. All of this team's goals remain in their own destiny, but I've always hated the "Natty or bust" type expectations. Last night's injury isn't damning, but the road just got tougher.

So let's be real honest about NC expectations. Since integration in the South, OSU has won 2 NCs over 50 plus years. I'd argue neither 2002 nor 2014's hype would land amongst preseason expectations going into those seasons as the most likely candidates either. In fact, there were likely 5 to 10 teams that were superior to those 2002 and 2014 teams in the last 50 years. 1973, 1975, 1996, 1998, 2015, and 2019 all have reasonable claims as superior teams. 2005, 2006, 2010, 2016, 2022, and others may as well.

2 NCs on paper sounds meager. But if you look deeper over the last 50 years of NCs, totaling 56 NCs awarded across 22 programs, you'll find: 

Nebraska, despite their excellence over 3+ decades has 3. All of which occurred in a 4-year run of dominance in the 90s. Sure they have 2 more that just pre-date the 50-year window, but so do we.

Notre Dame, despite their storied history and media fanfare has just 2.

PSU has 2 from their days as an Independent.

Michigan has (as of now) 2***.

Texas and Tennessee each have 1.

The following (all of which lie in football talent hot beds) each have 3: Florida, FSU, UGA, Clemson, and LSU.

Only 4 programs have more than 3:

Oklahoma has 4. 2 of those came in 1974 and 1975, so in another 2 seasons they will be down to 2 in 50 years as well, similar to how OSU and Nebraska sit currently.

Miami won 4 in 9 years by dominating the 80s and added a 5th in 2000.

USC who was dominant in the mid 2000s collected 2 then to add to 2 other shared titles during their excellence in the mid 70s.

Alabama - the exception of dominance, has 9. 6 of those came in 12 years under Saban. They had one in 1992 and back to back titles in 1978 and 1979.

Ohio State has been one of - if not the - most consistently excellent programs over 4 of the last 5 decades. But I'd also argue we've never reached an era of dominance like the U of the 80s, Nebraska of the 90s, or USC of the 2000s. Not to mention Saban. You could certainly argue that a break here or there (no slip in '96, beating MSU in '98, getting a TTUN rematch in '06, avoiding Wisconsin on the 2010 schedule, a weaker playoff field or a win over MSU in '15, a weaker playoff field in '19, no Stallions in '22) could have added one, two, or more to reward our consistent excellence over time. But USC, Nebraska, OU, and others could play the same game, even if with fewer "what if" darts to throw. Bottom line - it takes a lot of luck in addition to being excellent. The only exception has been Saban, but he has had tremendous luck in addition to talent and has had the benefit of ESPN opening doors in years like 2011 and 2017.

Michigan had to cheat to do it.

UGA required every officiating break in the Peach Bowl and a backdoor entry after losing to Bama in the previous year's CCG to win back to back.

LSU needed an OSU transfer QB and avoided the dreaded 2-3 semifinal matchup that season.

Clemson needed the opponents signals in 2016 and 2018

OSU needed the committee in 2014

Bama benefited from the McCoy injury in 2009, a rematch wish in 2011, and ineligible OSU opening a door for them in 2012, missing OSU in 2015, and a backdoor to the playoff in 2017.

LSU in 2007 made it in with 2 losses after some wild CCG results.

Urban's Gators got the voting nod over an OSU-Michigan rematch in 2006.

LSU got OU instead of USC in 2003.

We got the holding call (the right call btw) ...and a ton of breaks like Holy Buckeye in 2002.

Each of those teams was excellent. But each also got the luck they needed. So just enjoy the journey. In any given year of college football there are usually 3 to 6 teams good enough to win it all. With the new CFP it will be even more of a crap shoot between close outcomes, breaks, and injuries from a prolonged season. If your only goal is to see your team win a NC, your going to be disappointed 95% of the seasons you follow. Enjoy the big wins and huge clashes. Enjoy The GAME - which for the first time in 5 years should be a fairly played event! Enjoy the pursuit of the Big Ten title (even though we got used to them being as readily available as bread for two decades). Anything else is a cherry on top.