COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State football coach Ryan Day gave his team two examples this week of how one late-season loss does not necessarily ruin a season.
The Buckeyes were likely well aware of the first one. Georgia went into last season’s SEC championship game undefeated before taking a 41-24 loss to Alabama. The Bulldogs had to win their way back to a rematch in the national championship game, where they avenged their loss to Nick Saban’s team.
The other example, though, is even more instructive for what the Buckeyes want to accomplish over the next five months. And that one involves Saban, too.
Ohio State assuming they will see their name in the top four on today’s Selection Sunday reveal at noon on ESPN. That was far from a guarantee five nights earlier, when OSU was ranked No. 5 and would not be playing on conference championship weekend. A 45-23 home loss to Michigan had bumped the Buckeyes out of the playoff picture.
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Alabama was in the same position five years earlier. It was 11-0 and No. 1 in the CFP rankings prior to a 26-14 loss in its own rivalry game, at Auburn. The Crimson Tide fell all the way to No. 5, behind 11-1 Clemson, 10-2 Auburn, 11-1 Oklahoma and 12-0 Wisconsin.
Saban’s team needed some help, and a two-loss OSU team delivered some by beating Wisconsin in the Big Ten championship game. Auburn also lost to Georgia in the SEC championship game to take a third loss.
When the Selection Sunday broadcast rolled around, both Georgia and Alabama were in the top four.
Then Alabama set out to prove itself deserving of that controversial second chance. It started with a stellar defensive performance against No. 1 Clemson. Kelly Bryant threw two interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown, and the Tigers managed only two field goals in a 24-6 loss.
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That set up a national championship game against their rival from across the SEC, Georgia. Former Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs controlled the first half and built a 13-0 lead.
Saban benched Jalen Hurts at halftime in favor of Tua Tagovailoa, and the rest is history. The then-freshman’s touchdown pass to DaVonta Smith in overtime secured a 26-23 victory.
A late-season loss. A series of events working out in their favor. A selection that was far from universally approved. A semifinal victory over the No. 1 team and a championship win over the champion of their own conference.
Ohio State has already started down that path, and each of those other steps could still unfold as well.
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