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Heather Dinich makes the case for Ohio State at No. 1 in initial CFP rankings

IMG_0985by: Griffin McVeigh10/31/23griffin_mcveigh
day (1)
Ohio State coach Ryan Day leaves Notre eDame Stadium. (Photo by Chad Weaver)

Just a few hours away from the first College Football Playoff rankings, there is no consensus No. 1 overall team. Georgia, Michigan, and Ohio State are likely the three vying for the top spot, all having different arguments in their favor. If you ask ESPN’s Heather Dinich, she believes the Buckeyes have a real chance.

If history tells us anything about the College Football Playoff, two things are really being considered by the committee — the eye test and resume. Ohio State has both going for the right next, especially the resume. Two big ranked wins have propelled Ryan Day’s team eight games into the season.

“If you are looking for a team that might have the best combination of resume and eye test, they would at least have to seriously consider Ohio State,” Dinich said Tuesday on ESPN’s CFB Live. “Pay attention to where Penn State and Notre Dame are ranked tonight. If they are two top-15 teams, as I expect them to be, Ohio State arguably has the best resume in the country.

“Plus, they’re coming off a road win against a respectable Wisconsin team above .500 — 5-3 right now. That matters to the committee.”

Georgia nor Michigan have the resume to stack up with the Ohio State. Both will close out the year with a difficult stretch, including The Game taking place on Nov. 25. They would be relying on dominant performances (the eye test) for the No. 1 spot but Dinich says the Buckeyes have a case there as well.

“Then, you have the eye test,” Dinich said. “Marvin Harrison Jr., TreVeyon Henderson coming back after a month and rushing for 162 yards, plus a defense that has held opponents to no more than 17 points in each game. So Ohio State, are they the most complete team in terms of resume and eye test? Or, do they look elsewhere?”

Opponents are averaging just 10 points per game against Ohio State. Maryland‘s 17 points is the highest total anybody on the schedule has scored. Day and his offensive mind have rightfully been praised in the past but this season, Jim Knowles‘ defense is getting the job done.

The College Football Playoff rankings are set to be released on Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET. Ohio State fans would love to see their team with the No. 1 spot, a place they have not been since Week 14 of the 2019 season.