Skull Session: Ohio State Could Fall in the CFP, Sherrone Moore Takes Michigan's Histrionics to New Levels and Paul Finebaum Calls Wolverine Fans "Obnoxious" and "Comical"

By Chase Brown on November 14, 2023 at 5:00 am
Ryan Day
Brooke LaValley / USA TODAY Sports
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Welcome to the Skull Session.

Nick Bosa and Chase Young are about to be a fun duo in San Francisco.

Let's have a good Tuesday, shall we?

 FALL, FALL, FALL. On Oct. 31, Ohio State debuted as the No. 1 team in the CFP Rankings ahead of Georgia, Michigan and Florida State because of their stellar résumé, which includes top-10 wins over Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, and Penn State in Columbus. On Nov. 7, the Buckeyes, Bulldogs, Wolverines and Seminoles remained the top-four teams.

Yet, with the CFP set to release at 9 p.m. on Tuesday, there's a solid chance Ohio State falls to No. 2 in the rankings.

On Saturday, the Buckeyes took care of business with a 38-3 win over Michigan State. Georgia, meanwhile, defeated No. 9 Ole Miss, 52-17. To me, that feels like the statement Kirby Smart needed for the CFP committee to propel the back-to-back national champions into the No. 1 spot as the top college football team in America.

ESPN's Heather Dinich agrees.

GEORGIA BULLDOGS (10-0)

WHY THEY COULD MOVE UP: Not only did Georgia beat the committee's No. 9 team in Ole Miss, it did so with style, giving the Bulldogs the nation's best combination of résumé and eye test. For two weeks, that distinction belonged to Ohio State, but the Bulldogs' wins against the Rebels and No. 14 Missouri now trump Ohio State's victories against No. 10 Penn State and No. 20 Notre Dame. The Buckeyes' win against the Nittany Lions will be devalued somewhat because the committee will likely drop the Lions out of the top 10 following their loss to Michigan. Meanwhile, Georgia's win against Mizzou looks even better after the Tigers beat Tennessee and could now be the committee's top two-loss team.

WHY THEY COULD STAY NO. 2: With Georgia's résumé now more impressive, the top two would only stay the same if the committee simply still believes Ohio State is the better team.

OHIO STATE BUCKEYES (10-0)

WHY THEY COULD MOVE DOWN: Ohio State's convincing win against a 3-7 Michigan State team won't do anything to impress the committee -- especially on a Saturday when Georgia manhandled a top-10 team and the rest of Ohio State's résumé took a hit. Last week, committee chair Boo Corrigan cited "the win at Wisconsin, seven wins over teams with winning records really drove the day." That all changed Saturday, as Wisconsin fell to 5-5 after losing to a 5-5 Northwestern team. Notre Dame, Maryland, Penn State and Rutgers are the only Ohio State opponents over .500. And Rutgers getting blanked 22-0 by offensively inept Iowa didn't do the Buckeyes any favors. That's the same Rutgers team that held a 9-7 lead over Ohio State in the first half last week. Still, the Buckeyes' win against Notre Dame, which had a bye this week, should continue to give it the edge over rival Michigan.

WHY THEY COULD STAY NO. 1: As stated above, the only reason would be because a majority of the committee members still believe Ohio State is better. The committee has singled out the play of Buckeyes standout wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., running back TreVeyon Henderson and the top-20 defense -- and all were on display again in the lopsided win against Michigan State.

Yes. No. Yes.

Do I like it when Ohio State is ranked No. 1? Yes.

Does it matter if Ohio State is ranked No. 1 with three polls left? No.

Will Ohio State fall in the CFP Poll on Tuesday? Yes.

Whatever the outcome, Ohio State is one of the best teams in college football. The SP+ and FPI confirm that, as do the rankings compiled by the CFP committee, the Associated Press and the American Football Coaches Association.

SP+

  1. Michigan: 30.8 overall score, 39.2 (7) offense, 8.7 (1) defense, 0.4 (6) special teams
  2. Georgia: 27.9 overall score, 40.9 (5) offense, 13.3 (5) defense, 0.4 (8) special teams
  3. Ohio St.: 26.2 overall score, 35.9 (15) offense, 9.9 (3) defense, 0.3 (31) special teams
  4. Oregon: 24.3 overall score, 44.4 (1) offense, 20.0 (22) defense, -0.1 (80) special teams
  5. Penn St.: 22.1 overall score, 33.9 (23) offense, 12.1 (4) defense, 0.2 (29) special teams

COLLEGE FOOTBALL POWER INDEX

  1. Michigan: 27.8 FPI, 48.4% win out, 66.1% make CFP, 38.4% make CFP final, 22.3% win CFP final
  2. Ohio State: 27.2 FPI, 38.4% win out, 63.7% make CFP, 36.3% make CFP final, 20.7% win CFP final
  3. Oregon: 24.9 FPI, 55.3% win out, 39.8% make CFP, 19.4% make CFP final, 9.1% win CFP final
  4. Alabama: 24.9 FPI, 41.5% win out, 40.9% make CFP, 21.9% make CFP final, 11.5% win CFP final
  5. Penn St.: 24.5 FPI, 89.4% win out, 0.1% make CFP, 0.0% make CFP final, 0.0% win CFP final

ALLSTATE PLAYOFF PREDICTOR

  1. Ohio State vs. Minnesota: 97% chance to win
  2. Ohio State at Michigan: 43% chance to win

BOWL PROJECTIONS FOR OHIO STATE

  1. ESPN: Cotton Bowl vs. Texas (Kyle Bonagura) and Orange Bowl vs. Louisville (Mark Schlabach)
  2. CBS: Orange Bowl vs. Louisville
  3. Bleacher Report: Orange Bowl vs. Louisville
  4. 247Sports: Orange Bowl vs. Louisville
  5. Sporting News: Peach Bowl vs. Alabama.

The OG truth of the CFP remains: Win and you're in. If Ohio State can defeat Minnesota and Michigan before a trip to Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship Game, the Buckeyes will compete for a national championship in 2023.

Just keep winning. Just keep winning. Just keep winning.

 CRY MOORE. ATTENTION BUCKEYE NATION: If you or a loved one has interacted with a Michigan fan on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, or seen Michigan fans write "CRY MORE" toward people who mention the Wolverines' sign-stealing operation the NCAA can prove occurred, you are entitled to financial compensation use "CRY MOORE" as a response.

On Saturday, Sherrone Moore, Michigan offensive coordinator and interim head coach as Jim Harbaugh serves a suspension from the Big Ten, sobbed and swore on national TV after Michigan beat Penn State into submission in a 24-15 win at Beaver Stadium.

While I understand emotions can be high for a person who won his first game as a head coach, Moore's salute to Harbaugh almost felt like a parody. The tears, the "I love the s— out of you, man," the "I did this for you" — it gave the impression that Harbaugh was locked up for life or on his deathbed. In reality, however, Harbaugh was suspended (for the second time in 2023) and watched the game from a luxury hotel room in Pennsylvania.

Last week, the Big Ten suspended Harbaugh for the final three games of the regular season due to former Michigan staffer Connor Stalions’ sign-stealing scheme, which performed impermissible, in-person scouting of Michigan opponents. Harbaugh and Michigan requested a TRO that would allow him to coach, but it will not be heard in court until Friday. The Michigan head coach sat out the Penn State game, his fourth absence of the season after a school-mandated suspension for three games to start the year for another, still ongoing NCAA investigation.

When Harbaugh served his first suspension, Michigan responded in a... unique fashion. J.J. McCarthy wore a “Free Harbaugh” shirt before the team's season opener with East Carolina. On the Wolverines' opening drive of that contest, all 11 Michigan players lined up in a "centipede" formation, their hands raised toward the Ann Arbor sky before a shift into a conventional look.

If Michigan's histrionics were at critical levels after that suspension, it makes sense that the Wolverines' melodramatics would become even more severe with Harbaugh now sidelined for their most important games of the regular season.

Still, it's ridiculous that Michigan has made itself out to be a victim in a situation where accountability lies at its feet. The Wolverines and their fans can go "CRY MOORE" about it. They are in the wrong, plain and simple.

Another note: Harbaugh's Monday press conference was chock full of comedic gold. Among the memorable moments, Harbaugh called Michigan "America's Team," recanted his statement that chickens are "nervous birds" and called his immune system an "iron wall that viruses bash against and shatter."

THAT'S GOLD, JERRY! GOLD!

 NO LIES DETECTED. Some people love Paul Finebaum. Some people hate Paul Finebaum. Some people are in between. Opinions are mixed. That's the reason I've never known what to think of the ESPN radio host over the years.

However, after weeks of hearing Finebaum ridicule Michigan and its fan base for what the Wolverines now call their "Michigan vs. Everybody" mindset, I've started to love the #content he cooks up for the Worldwide Leader in Sports.

Some of Finebaum's more recent #content came from The Matt Barrie Show over the weekend. Have a watch, listen and read:

"(Michigan has) turned it into a movie. Whether it's 'Footloose' or 'Remember the Titans,' it doesn't matter. It was bush league the whole way. But then again, that's what we're talking about here with Michigan. This is the most obnoxious fan base in America. This is a fan base that literally thinks the world revolves around the University of Michigan football program. You can't judge a university by those who tweet about it, but I am going to. Michigan has won one-and-a-half national championships in about 70 years — I mean, Alabama and Georgia won one while we were talking here — snd (Michigan) looks down on everyone. Michigan is a very fine academic institution. Great. That's good. It's not as good as Harvard. It's not as good as Yale. It's not as good as Stanford. It's just a good state school. Big deal. But the football program is becoming comical.

"They're also not Ohio State. Ohio State is a much better program overall. It has tremendous tradition. I mean, if you walk the streets of New York and you get into a college football conversation on days when Jim Harbaugh is not page one news, Ohio State's part of the front row of college football. Michigan is not. Yeah, if you want to go back 100 years in history or 150 years, but it's not that big of a deal (now). But they take themselves so seriously up there. ... I've never come across a fan base that is as insecure and consumed with their own self worth in a false way. And I really mean that. There's no more sniveling fan base in America that Michigan."

Well said, Paul. Well said.

After that, I don't believe I have more to add.

Yeah, no, I don't have more to add.

 THE BEST OF THE BEST. This week, ESPN's Billy Tucker and Craig Haubert reranked the top 25 prospects from the class of 2021 three years later. No surprise here: Marvin Harrison Jr., JT Tuimoloau and Emeka Egbuka made appearances on the list. Here is where the duo ranked those Buckeyes and what was written about them:

No. 2 Marvin Harrison Jr.

2021 ESPN 300 ranking: 82 (No. 13 WR)

We questioned Harrison's breakaway speed after he clocked a 4.6 40 as a high school junior. We were wrong. Harrison has all the elite physical traits and the dominant production to match. He caught 77 passes for 1,263 yards and 14 touchdowns last season amid a breakout All-American performance. There has been no dip in production this year. Harrison is averaging more than a yard more per catch amid what is turning into a Heisman Trophy campaign. The top receiver in college football had 12 prospects rated ahead of him at his position coming out of St. Joseph's Prep (Pa.) in 2021.

No. 13 JT Tuimoloau

2021 ESPN 300 ranking: 4 (No. 1 DT)

The five-star was our fourth-ranked overall prospect and No. 1 DT when he signed with Ohio State. The headline name in OSU's class at the time was DE Jack Sawyer, who ranked No. 1 overall in the ESPN 300, but Tuimoloau has made the biggest impact, particularly early. He started all 13 games in 2022 after playing in 11 games as a true freshman in 2021. He tallied 15.0 tackles for loss, 6 sacks and 5 quarterback hurries and pass break-ups in his first two seasons. He has added four more sacks this season for the top-ranked Buckeyes and is a projected first-round NFL draft selection.

No. 25 Emeka Egbuka

2021 ESPN 300 ranking: 30 (No. 2 WR)

When healthy, Egbuka plays up to his projection as the No. 2-ranked receiver in the class. He was an electrifying player in high school who totaled more than 2,200 yards as a receiver and kick returner.

He caught 74 balls for 1,151 yards and 10 touchdowns as a sophomore in a breakout season for the Buckeyes. He has flashed great versatility in Columbus playing outside, in the slot and as a returner. The top-ranked Buckeyes will need a healthy Egbuka down the stretch to contend for a national title

I think I will forever be confused about the fact that so. many. recruiting experts. missed the mark on Marvin Harrison Jr. I mean, he is the son of a Pro Football Hall of Famer. He had a 6-foot-4 frame. He showed out at several prospect camps. Harrison seemed destined for greatness from the moment he set foot on Ohio State's campus.

At any rate, I'm glad Brian Hartline and the Buckeyes secured his talents out of St. Joseph's Prep, as Harrison will go down as one of the best prospects and players to ever come through the university when all is said and done.

 SONG OF THE DAY. "Unknown / Nth" - Hozier.

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