I admire your confidence but come on man, Buckeyes will be a very tough game. Don't look at the Indiana game and assume that is a gimme. OSU historically plays down in their first game. Didn't they lose to VT at home then win the natty? You think you're going from 8-4 with two bad losses to an easy game against OSU and rolling in the playoff? Freeman is Nick Saban if that is the case. Your team is improved, particularly at QB, and I root for any power that is not in the SEC, so I would not be upset if you are right, but come on.
You have to look at the 4 losses. What was THE issue. It was one thing, QB. We had a very average, serviceable QB. OSU and USC where really close games even with that. OSU we took the lead into the 4th. USC we were walking in for a late tie when Pyne (QB) just fumbles the ball at the 20ish.
Stanford was coaching, kick the FG ,take the win instead of going for it on 4th and 2 from the goal. Marshall was just unexplainable. I would say coaching, MF owns that one.
Buckeyes will be very tough, they are top 5. Those games are tough but its the reverse of 22. Home, at night, ND has the elite QB this time. OSU has a first time starter. Gonna be tough in that environment.
USC, our defense is better than theirs and our offenses are the same. Again, home, night, gonna be a great game but I like the setup there.
Clemson, i think that's a loss. Late season, at night, at Clemson, we stomped a mud hole in their ass last year so they got that game circled. You are going to get Clemson trying to save an entire season. That one I think is the toughest draw.
The rest of our games, we "should win". No disrespect, NCC and Duke can ABSOLUTELY win. Its CFB. There are lots of things that happen between the ears of 18 year olds. If it was up to "on paper", there would be no upsets or dogs and they happen weekly. On paper, the only teams that have our talent are Clemson, OSU and USC and 2 of those 3 have intangibles that I like.
What we dont know, what kind of coach is MF. The dude is 15 games in.....I think he is a fantastic human, has a great pedegree, has every box checked except the experience and record.
Its going to come down now to the coaches, Nick Saban would have this team in the playoffs. That is the level of players we have this year. Last time we had even close to this was 2015, that team was devastated by injuries and lost to Clemson at home and Stanford on a penalty late. The lost 2 games by a total of 4 points. I think in that Stanford game something like 11 starters were out or that probably is a championship team.