Since the Big Ten postponed the fall football season, Ohio State fans (and Big Ten fans at large) have been put in a tough position as the ACC, Big 12 and SEC continue moving forward to playing football in the fall.
Head coach Ryan Day and the Buckeyes football program are in a tough spot. A tipping point exists now where things could go right for Ohio State, or on the flip side, very wrong.
The Buckeyes were one of a handful of favorites to contend for the national title this fall. With fall competition being cancelled in the Big Ten, here are the best case and worst case scenarios for Ohio State during these unprecedented times.
Best-Case Scenarios
All Power 5 Conferences Postpone their Seasons to the Winter
Imagine if the ACC, Big 12 and SEC make the late decision to push their seasons back to the winter.
At this point it seems highly unlikely, but both North Carolina and North Carolina State have already had to send students home due to coronavirus outbreaks. Alabama recently experienced a surge in positive cases, and both Oklahoma and LSU have near entire position groups in quarantine at the moment.
It's a possibility that the major conferences come to the same decision the Big Ten and Pac-12 did, giving Ohio State a chance to compete alongside the rest of the country.
Ohio State Finishes with the Greatest Recruiting Class of the Modern Era
During most of the pandemic, Day and Ohio State were surging on the recruiting front and assembling one of the most talented recruiting classes in recent memory.
Alabama has closed the gap over the last couple months and overtaken the Buckeyes for the top spot, but the Buckeyes still have several high-profile prospects on their board.
The two primary targets, 5-stars J.T. Tuimoloau (defensive end) and Emeka Egbuka (wideout) are favored to end up in Columbus. Their commitments could lead the way to a big signing day in 2021.
Worst-Case Scenarios
The ACC, Big 12 and SEC Successfully Implement Their Fall Seasons
The further the ACC, Big 12 and SEC get in their preseason prep, the more likely it is that they'll actually play their seasons as scheduled.
This would obviously be devastating for the Buckeyes, who checked in at No. 2 in the preseason rankings. It'll be especially difficult as the College Football Playoff is still expected to move forward as scheduled.
Mark your calendars!
— College Football Playoff (@CFBPlayoff) August 24, 2020
The dates for the 2020 @CFBPlayoff selection committee rankings have been announced!
It all leads up to #2021Miami. Whos in?
Details https://t.co/gRe4sLdwKX#CFBPlayoff #NationalChampionship pic.twitter.com/EyaJg4TMuV
The impact this will have on the 2020 Buckeyes, and on the recruiting front moving forward, could be significant.
Trevor Lawrence Wins the Heisman Trophy & Clemson Wins the National Title
Ohio State's historic 2019 season ended as heartbreakingly as possible — at the doorstep of the national title game via a last-minute loss to Trevor Lawrence and Clemson.
The biggest storyline for Ohio State coming into 2020 was its shot at redemption. Justin Fields returning behind center to lead the Buckeyes back to the playoff was the expectation, where he'd likely see Clemson — a team the Buckeyes have lost to in devastating fashion three times since 2014.
The Buckeyes don't currently have that chance to get even, and it'd be painful to watch Clemson win it all while Lawrence wins college football's highest individual honor, which Fields was the favorite to win.
We Never See Justin Fields in an Ohio State Jersey Again
Fields put together one of the most dominant seasons in Ohio State football history last fall, throwing for 3,273 yards and 41 touchdowns (against just three interceptions) to complement 484 rushing yards and 10 more scores on the ground.
As a sophomore transfer from Georgia, he had two more seasons of eligibility heading into 2020 — but as one of the top NFL prospects in the country, most expected him to forgo his senior season in favor of the 2021 draft.
With the Big Ten pushing its season back and Ohio State no longer able to compete for a national title, it's possible that Fields could opt out of playing in a winter season.
Getting to see Fields behind center in Columbus for just one season doesn't feel right.
