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By Matthew Couden
Contributing Writer
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The College Football Playoff selection committee released its first rankings on Tuesday, sparking backlash from Ohio State Buckeyes fans over where their team landed.
Ohio State just recently suffered a 30-18 loss against the USC Trojans, with backup quarterback Luke Fahey starting for the injured Julian Sayin. The loss dropped the Buckeyes' record to 6-2, and they were No. 11 in this week's AP Top 25 poll.
That's not all, as they ranked even lower by a spot in the first CFP rankings: No. 12. Under the playoff's selection format, that position would leave the Buckeyes outside the projected 12-team field. As ESPN's Heather Dinich explained, Ohio State would get bumped out for the "highest Group of 6 team," which is No. 25 Boise State.
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Many fans were clearly frustrated over what they felt was an unfair ranking, suggesting the committee was punishing the school for starting quarterback Sayin's injury. That has left inexperienced backup Luke Fahey trying to guide the team through a challenging stretch.
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"Wow... committee is really punishing Ohio St. for losing Sayin sort of like FSU in '23," a commenter wrote on the CFBPlayoff's X post.
"For anyone laughing at us, just try to have our roster work with a backup QB and no O-line, just try," another commenter said.
"Wow the Playoff committee is punishing OSU hard for the Sayin injury," a commenter said on a separate X post.
Others commented around X, "Getting dinged for Sayin injury" and "To me, it's nothing more than the QB situation."
Some mentioned that a precedent was set in 2023 when Florida State was left out of the four-team CFP. The school went undefeated for the season and defeated Louisville in the ACC Championship Game.
However, they were excluded, while Michigan, Washington, Texas, and Alabama received CFP spots. The Crimson Tide had suffered a loss during their season. Meanwhile, FSU's perceived snub from the four-team CFP stirred up controversy.
The committee placed significant weight on the loss of FSU star quarterback Jordan Travis, who suffered a season-ending injury that November. According to a CNN report, the committee indicated the Seminoles were a "different team" without Travis compared to how they performed in the previous 11 weeks.
Some commenters suggested Ohio State would make this year's projected field if the CFP were expanded beyond its current 12-team format. Others criticized Ohio State for scheduling a challenging out-of-conference game against the Texas Longhorns, which they lost earlier this season.
The Buckeyes held a commanding 23-3 lead going into the fourth quarter, but Arch Manning and Texas staged an impressive comeback, scoring 21 points in the final quarter to win a thrilling game 24-23.
Julian Sayin was hurt on Oct. 17 during the fourth quarter of his team's 19-15 win over defending national champion Indiana. The Ohio State quarterback was hit in the end zone by Hoosiers defenders, injuring his throwing shoulder. He was later seen on the sideline wearing a sling.
Sayin's injury has dealt a major blow to Ohio State, which previously looked like a national championship contender while wide receiver Jeremiah Smith was considered the Heisman Trophy frontrunner.
Fahey made his first start of the season against USC last weekend. He completed 21 of 38 passes for 260 yards and a touchdown pass to Smith. Ohio State's star wide receiver finished with 80 yards in the loss.
Without Sayin, the Buckeyes are relying on a freshman backup in a tough spot, with ESPN's Dinich saying they have "no margin for error." Their remaining schedule features matchups against Oregon, Northwestern, Nebraska, and Michigan.
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