Post-Miller Injury Skies Are Clearing Up

According to ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI), Ohio State is still the team to beat in the #BigTen. pic.twitter.com/aTgLAdMlUd

— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) August 21, 2014

Playing Devil's Advocate

     So Ohio St recently lost its starting QB, Braxton Miller, for the season with a shoulder injury. Many have said that this is/was a devastating injury to tOSU national title hopes. Initially, I was inclined to agree with everyone. I still do. But I want to play devil's advocate for a second. Why are tOSU's hopes dashed but Alabama is still in the running? Both teams are replacing a lot of talent, in particular breaking in rookie QB's. The real difference is that tOSU has an immensely easier schedule than Alabama. Ohio State plays one team ranked in the pre-season top 25, Alabama plays the other 24 teams. Okay, maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration but you get my point. Alabama gets to play Florida, Texas A&M, LSU, and Auburn. Ohio State gets to play Virginia Tech, Cincinnati, Michigan State, and Michigan.

     Ohio State plays Virginia Tech September 6th. Virginia Tech very well might beat them that game, but should tOSU win then they could easily be 8-0 heading in to the Michigan State game. Undefeated in November certainly sounds like a playoff contender to me. Add on top of all that, tOSU's backup QB was a 4* recruit coming out of high school, and maybe all hope isn't lost in Columbus. 

     I think you could apply this argument to many teams throughout not only the SEC, but the entire nation. There are a lot of fresh faces at QB this year. That makes having a veteran QB all the more important to a title run. So losing an experienced QB weeks before the season starts does appear devastating, but is merely just placing you at par for the course. You're now like many other teams with a fresh face at QB. Just another obstacle to overcome.