Welcome to the Skull Session.
The People. The Tradition. The Excellence.
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) October 1, 2024
Have a good Wednesday.
THE COMPUTERS! It's Wednesday. You know what that means. It's time to examine Ohio State's place in the SP+ and College Football Power Index. It's also time to hear what Heather Dinich, the person most connected to the College Football Playoff selection committee, thinks about the Buckeyes.
This week, Ohio State ranks No. 1 in SP+ but No. 3 behind Texas and Alabama College Football Power Index. Here's a closer look at the Buckeyes' numbers in both metrics:
SP+
| TEAM | SP SCORE | OFFENSE | DEFENSE | SPECIAL TEAMS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OHIO STATE | 30.3 | 39.4 (9) | 9.5 (2) | 0.3 (17) |
| TEXAS | 28.8 | 43.4 (3) | 14.5 (8) | -0.1 (84) |
| ALABAMA | 28.7 | 44.6 (1) | 15.8 (13) | -0.1 (89) |
| OLE MISS | 26.5 | 41.8 (5) | 15.6 (10) | 0.3 (24) |
| TENNESSEE | 26.2 | 38.9 (10) | 13.0 (6) | 0.3 (20) |
Ohio State's remaining 2024 opponents in the SP+: Iowa (17), Oregon (8), Nebraska (28), Penn State (6), Purdue (89), Northwestern (79), Indiana (29), Michigan (15)
College Football Power Index
| TEAM | FPI | WIN OUT | WIN CONF | MAKE CFP | WIN CFP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TEXAS | 27.9 | 21.7% | 38.2% | 92.1% | 20.8% |
| ALABAMA | 27.9 | 15.3% | 31.8% | 91.3% | 19.7% |
| OHIO STATE | 26.9 | 21.4% | 52.3% | 84.8% | 17.6% |
| GEORGIA | 25.2 | 5.8% | 5.3% | 71.7% | 9.4% |
| TENNESSEE | 23.6 | 5.5% | 15.3% | 78.2% | 9.4% |
Ohio State's remaining 2024 opponents in the College Football Power Index: Iowa (24), Oregon (9), Nebraska (29), Penn State (8), Purdue (99), Northwestern (86), Indiana (16), Michigan (26)
Heather Dinich's CFP Power Rankings
No. 1 Texas, No. 2 Alabama, No. 3 Tennessee, No. 4 OHIO STATE
WHY THEY COULD BE HERE: The Buckeyes earned their first road win and their first conference win on Saturday at Michigan State, putting together a fourth straight dominant performance. There's no question Ohio State has a playoff roster, but it still doesn't have the résumé. Entering Week 5, Ohio State was ranked No. 131 in the country in schedule strength, according to ESPN Research. Three straight home wins against unranked Group of 5 opponents Akron, Western Michigan and Marshall won't impress the committee, but beating Michigan State on the road is at least a step in the right direction.
WHY THEY COULD BE HIGHER: The Buckeyes have been lights-out statistically, entering Saturday ranked No. 2 in the country with 7 yards per carry, No. 1 in the country in red zone efficiency, No. 5 in yards per game (552) and equally as good defensively. The committee takes into account the quality of opponent those numbers came against, but that's also balanced out with the fact Ohio State left no doubt in any of those games that it was the better team.
NEED TO KNOW: Iowa had a bye week to prepare for Saturday's trip to Columbus, a game ESPN Research gives Ohio State an 88.1% chance to win. The Buckeyes have the best chance of any team in the country (23.4%) to win out.
Again, as I have said in recent weeks, Ohio State is one of the best teams in America, no matter how ESPN computers and humans shake it. After wins over Akron, Western Michigan, Marshall and Michigan State, the Buckeyes will get to prove that again this week against a well-respected Iowa team.
"I LOVE THIS TEAM" With Chip Kelly as Ohio State's offensive coordinator, Ryan Day has become more of a CEO for the Buckeyes in 2024. However, that doesn't mean he's been more reserved or restrained. In fact, Day has been more animated on the sidelines than in recent years. On Tuesday, the sixth-year head coach said his emotion and passion comes from his love for Ohio State's players and staff.
"I think with this team – and just in my role – you can target things a little bit better. You can be on things a little bit better," Day said. "You can give more thought to how you're addressing the team, how you're addressing the coaches and your overall approach. (I've been) focusing on what really matters, like how hard you play, fundamentals and big-picture stuff.
"But it's also this team. I love this team. I love the way they play. Every day when I wake up, I put two feet on the ground and do all I can to help this team reach their dreams and goals. These kids are unbelievable. They're giving all they possibly have. We have to keep pushing them as coaches. That's our job. It's their job to take the coaching and continue with the great chemistry we have and the great effort. We have to put a great gameplan together, give it to the players and then have a great week of practice. But yeah, we're all coaching aggressively."
Man, that answer is chef's kiss.
Day loves Ohio State. He loves his coaches. He loves his team.
Because all that is true, he will offer the Buckeyes all he has so the program can succeed.
That fires me up!
PRESS CONFERENCE HILARITY. While Day's "I love this team" comment was, to me, the standout moment of Ohio State's Tuesday press conference, there were also a handful of other moments – hilarious moments – for Kelly and Jim Knowles that deserve some attention in the Wednesday Skull Session. I'll share them in order of their occurrence below:
Kelly on how Will Howard can improve
In four appearances as Ohio State's QB1, Howard has completed 72 of 105 passes (68.6 percent) for 1,039 yards, eight touchdowns and two interceptions. He has also run the football 14 times for 36 yards and three scores. When Rob Oller of The Columbus Dispatch asked how Howard could improve after an impressive start to the season, Kelly offered a quick-witted response.
"Complete every pass. I mean, that would be one," he said. "Jared Goff did it last night. I think he went 18-for-18, and then Amon-Ra St. Brown went one-for-one, so the (Detroit Lions) were 19-for-19 as a team."
(It's true: Goff went 18-for-18 passing with 292 yards and two touchdowns in his team's win over the Seattle Seahawks on Monday).
Kelly on what he's liked about being an offensive coordinator
Kelly has been a college football coach for 34 years and a head coach for the past 15, including stints at Oregon (2009-12), the Philadelphia Eagles (2013-15), the San Francisco 49ers (2016) and UCLA (2018-23). Now that he's an assistant at Ohio State, Adam King of 10TV asked Kelly to share what he's liked about being a coordinator rather than a head coach. The 60-year-old offered another humorous answer.
"You can go to the bathroom between series if you have to," he said. "That's about the only difference, I think."
Jim Knowles on Ohio State leading the nation in scoring defense
Ohio State's defense has been as advertised this season, ranking No. 1 in scoring defense (6.8 points allowed per game), No. 2 in total defense (196.5 yards allowed per game), No. 14 in passing defense (134.8) and No. 3 in rushing defense (61.8).
While that's all good and well, Knowles doesn't want to hear it. When Oller told him the Buckeyes lead the nation in scoring defense, Knowles interrupted him with a comment I know Skull Session readers will love.
"That's two people who have said something about leading the nation. Both of you get out! It's rat poison! It's rat poison!" Knowles said.
Jim Knowles on being "nitwhacked" by his father
Not long after that Knowles' "rat poison" comment – in fact, it was immediately after – Oller asked Knowles if Ohio State's defense could be better in specific areas and if Knowles has "ever been nitpicked as much as you've been here." The second part of Oller's question sparked a rather comical response from the defensive coordinator.
"My father was pretty tough. He was a Philly cop, so I got more than nitpicked; I got nitwhacked. Yeah, so I'm used to it," Knowles said.
Then he shared what it would take for him to be satisfied with Ohio State's defensive performance.
"Zero points, under 100 yards a game, four turnovers, score twice on defense, and then it'd be fine," Knowles said. "Then I'd be satisfied."
FIRE ME UP, COACH DIEBLER. Like Day, Ohio State men's basketball coach Jake Diebler fired me up on Tuesday. That emotion came from a video of Diebler Mic'd Up at practice last week:
The intensity is just
— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) October 1, 2024
See how Coach Diebler leads the squad micd up during our first week of practice #Team126 | #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/fhYIVzkApo
Anyone got a brick wall?
SONG OF THE DAY. "Heaven's On Fire" - KISS.
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