If you’ve been paying attention to the College Football Playoff picture, you might’ve noticed something a little odd: there’s been a surprising lack of buzz around the defending national champions. Ohio State, the No. 2 seed and a team that looked like one of the most complete units in college football all season long, is flying under the radar heading into the CFP Quarterfinals. And frankly, that’s not something we’re used to seeing from a program of this caliber.
Let’s be clear - this isn’t a case of a team limping into the postseason. Ohio State had a dominant regular season and, despite a clunky showing in the Big Ten Championship Game against Indiana, they were right there with multiple chances to win.
A 13-10 loss in a defensive slugfest doesn’t erase what they’ve done over the last few months. But between that defeat, a 25-day layoff, and the media’s fixation on other storylines - namely Miami’s defense - the Buckeyes have slipped into the shadows a bit.
Even Paul Finebaum, a guy who rarely misses an opportunity to prop up the SEC, has acknowledged that Ohio State might be getting overlooked. When someone that entrenched in the “It Just Means More” conference starts giving props to a Big Ten powerhouse, you know there’s something bigger brewing.
Inside the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, though, don’t expect anyone to be complaining. In fact, this is probably exactly how Ryan Day and his staff want it. This is a program that thrives on doubt - and history tells us they play their best football when they feel disrespected.
Just look back at last year. After a gut-wrenching 13-10 loss to Michigan, the Buckeyes came out in the postseason like a team on a mission.
They didn’t just want to win - they wanted to silence every critic who questioned their toughness, their coaching, their championship mettle. This year’s loss to Indiana doesn’t carry the same emotional weight, but the impact is similar: it’s given Ohio State a reason to refocus, to reload, and to get back to the brand of football that brought them a national title.
That brand, by the way, has been a bit different this season. Ohio State has leaned into a more deliberate, methodical style on offense.
Think Greg Maddux on the mound - not overpowering, but precise, calculated, and brutally effective. They’ve traded tempo and flash for control and execution.
It’s been by design. Ryan Day has kept the offense in second gear, focusing on protecting the ball, managing the game, and letting the defense do its thing.
But that might be about to change.
With the postseason here, the Buckeyes are primed to take the training wheels off. Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate are healthy.
Ryan Day is back calling plays. And the coaching staff has had nearly a full month to prepare for this matchup.
That’s a dangerous combination - especially for a team that’s been quietly stewing over the lack of attention and the praise being heaped on a Miami squad that, let’s not forget, lost to both Louisville and SMU this season.
This isn’t just about flipping a switch - it’s about unleashing a version of Ohio State we haven’t seen in weeks. The version that can stretch the field, impose its will, and remind everyone why they were crowned champions last year. The version that doesn’t just win games - it dominates them.
So while the spotlight might be elsewhere right now, don’t be surprised if Ohio State steps back into it with force. The Buckeyes have been lurking in the shadows, but with the stakes at their highest and the doubters growing louder, this team looks ready to remind the college football world exactly who they are.