Ohio State is coming off of its closest game of the season to date, the Buckeyes are back in the top spot of the College Football Playoff rankings and it's rivalry week.
Those three topics gave us no shortage of material for this week's episode of Real Pod Wednesdays.
We start out this week's episode by reviewing Saturday's 28-17 win over Penn State, in which the Buckeyes had to grind out a win in the second half for the first time this season after three costly fumbles. We discuss whether there's anything to be concerned about from Saturday's game for future weeks, debate whether the Buckeyes' run-heavy game plan was smart and of course, highlight another spectacular performance by Chase Young and consider where he should end up in the Heisman Trophy race.
Ohio State's move up to No. 1 in the College Football Playoff rankings on Tuesday night caught both of us by surprise, but that doesn't mean we disagree with it. We discuss why the committee decided to move the Buckeyes up to No. 1 now, why they should be in the driver's seat for the top seed in this year's four-team field if they win out and why the top speed could provide a distinct advantage this year.
The primary topic of focus this week, of course, is Saturday's rivalry game at Michigan. We debate whether this week's game is more important to Ryan Day and Ohio State or to Jim Harbaugh and Michigan and break down why this – though it feels like we've already said it five times this season – could be the toughest test of the season to date.
Finally, we answer your reader questions including why Young will have more sacks than Shea Patterson throws interceptions on Saturday, why Utah would be our choice for the No. 4 seed in the playoff if it wins out and why mashed potatoes are our favorite Thanksgiving side dish.
Listen to this week's episode in the audio player above or on your audio streaming platform of choice (iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn).
