An expert thinks out loud while explaining the topic: 'What makes this particularly fascinating is how expanding the College Football Playoff to 24 teams could have reshaped the landscape for Ohio State teams. Let’s explore how the structure of the playoffs might have changed the game for some of the most underdog teams in history.'
Personally, I think the expanded format would have allowed more talented players to reach national prominence. For instance, the 2005 Buckeyes, who lost two games by combined points, might have had access to a broader bracket that included more opportunities to compete against top-tier teams. This would have created a more competitive environment, even if their overall performance didn’t meet expectations.
What makes this particularly fascinating is how the 2005 team’s fate was tied to a narrower bracket. Narrowing the field to five teams was difficult, and arguments could be made for the 2017 and 2010 Buckeyes to crack the list. However, which of the five teams below would you remove?
- 2005: Record 9-2, Final BCS No. 4.
This raises a deeper question: What if the expanded format had given more flexibility to teams that historically struggled? It might have opened doors for teams like the 2018 49-20 loss to Purdue, who rebounded to beat Northwestern in the Big Ten Championship Game and Washington in the Rose Bowl. If the Buckeyes had access to a 24-team bracket, they might have faced a rematch against Texas or played off the field against Notre Dame, potentially leading to a national championship.
If the Buckeyes pulled it off, a rematch would have awaited them in the championship game. The other semifinal would have featured No. 2 Texas against No. 3 Penn State, and Ohio State came painfully close to winning both matches during the regular season. A real-life example of this could be seen in 2024, where the Buckeyes proved they could still achieve a national title despite playing in a bracket that included challenges like Clemson and LSU.
In my opinion, the 2024 Buckeyes’ path suggests that even with limited resources, there is always a chance to build up a strong program and make a difference. This highlights how the expanded format could have helped the seven teams listed above achieve their goals. However, it’s also worth noting that the 2002, 2014, and 2024 teams might not have won the title if the playoffs had been a 24-team format. These are topics for different articles, perhaps on another day.
