Ohio State’s canceled game causes shift in ESPN’s Playoff picks after SEC’s Week 10
By Keith Farner
Published:
Ohio State’s canceled game against Illinois caused a shift in ESPN’s College Football Playoff picks for the first time since Notre Dame beat Clemson earlier this month.
The Buckeyes were a consistent unanimous selection alongside Alabama and Notre Dame in each week since the Big Ten announced its return, but sentiment changed when their game against Illinois was canceled. This puts the Buckeyes at risk to miss the 6 games needed to qualify for the Big Ten title game, which would hurt their CFP chances. Ohio State will have to get its next 2 games in to hit the 6-game threshold set forth by the Big Ten at the start of the condensed season.
Those available votes shifted to a pair of SEC teams on the outside of the top four, and Cincinnati. Florida and Texas A&M both jumped into the ranks after big wins on Saturday.
There were only two unanimous selections this week, and both teams impressed during the holiday weekend. Alabama turned the Iron Bowl into a rout as Mac Jones threw 5 touchdown passes in a 42-13 win. Notre Dame also knocked off North Carolina and held Sam Howell to only 58 yards in the second half of a 31-17 victory at Chapel Hill.
Clemson has recovered a bit since the loss to Notre Dame and missing a game itself last week against Florida State. The Tigers had 13 of 14 votes from the ESPN reporters.
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
