🏈 Ohio State Might Just Be Unbeatable

The Ohio State Buckeyes seem to be an inevitability for the CFB Playoff. But that’s only because they may be one of the best CFB teams ever. [View in browser]( [FOX SPORTS INSIDER WITH MARTIN ROGERS] In today’s FOX Sports Insider: Ohio State seems like the only certainty in this chaotic CFB Championship Week ... Maryland basketball may actually give its fans a reason to hope this season ... and the GOAT Messi shows off his unbelievable skill. Of the 32 possible permutations for the results of this weekend’s five college football conference championship games that truly matter, there are a handful that would provide a neat and tidy outcome. If Ohio State, LSU, Clemson and Oklahoma all win, especially coupled with a Utah defeat against Oregon, the playoff committee can relax and look forward to a quick chat followed by sipping cocktails at the poolside of their luxury resort. Any other combination — anything from a couple of mild upsets all the way to outright chaos — and the discussions at the Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine are going to be fraught and frenetic, tinged with the certainty that heartbreak will touch at least one program on the shoulder by the time it’s all done. Yet as it prepares to enter its Big Ten title showdown against Wisconsin (FOX, 8 p.m. ET), Ohio State is the one contender immune to the cruel grasp of a late-season falter that wipes out all the good work that came before it. A defeat certainly dooms Georgia, Oklahoma, Baylor or Utah. Losing probably sinks defending national champion and still undefeated Clemson. And, given a gnarly combination of outcomes, a Saturday setback could leave LSU on the outside, too. Ohio State, however, have made themselves bulletproof; their body of work and level of performance under Ryan Day so strong, their resume of victories so powerful, that they’re essentially voided from the chatter. Even with a loss, Ohio State has done enough to clinch its place in the top four. As for the likelihood of such a result, if you’re expecting it, you’re seeing something everyone else is missing. According to [FOX Bet]( the top-ranked Buckeyes are a resounding +475 favorite to repeat their 38-7 mauling of No. 8 Wisconsin on Oct. 26 — favored to win by 16 points this time around. Don’t expect them to be taking things lightly, however, says former head coach and FOX college football analyst Urban Meyer. [STORY IMAGE 1] “I can promise you the amount of respect (for Wisconsin) is immense in the locker room and offices at Ohio State,” Meyer told the Big Ten Network. “(But) what can they do? “(Wisconsin) have to play darn-near-perfect football, which they're capable of doing. They can't turn the ball over one time. Can't do it. They can't give away free yardage. That means a bad snap or a stupid sack — just the things that happen. They can't do that. “And they obviously have to execute very well. I know that sounds simple, but I've been in those types of game, and the type of mentality and focus your team has to have to win a game like this ... I don't know if they have the horses.” The closest anyone got to Ohio State this season was when Penn State held them to 28-17 ... and in truth, even that one wasn’t particularly close. They have crushed everyone, ranked opponents and easy fodder alike, culminating in last week’s 56-27 beatdown of Michigan in the Big Game. It has been dominant enough that people are starting already to begin the discussion as to where they might fit among the all-time great teams in college football history. “They re an extremely balanced team,” FOX analyst and college football Hall of Famer Matt Leinart said. “Offensively, they can beat you running the ball or throwing, and Justin Fields’ ability to run makes it tougher. Defensively, they have the best player up front in the country (Chase Young) who makes the whole side go.” The Buckeyes have stars, but their collectivity and organization on the field is at stratospheric levels. They are ranked at the top for a reason and they have backed it up every step of the way. Instead of pressure breathing on their neck, it is the possible call of immortality. [STORY IMAGE 2] “If this Ohio State team goes 15-0 and wins the national championship, they will be an all-time top five college football team,” FOX college football expert Joel Klatt told The Herd on FS1. “To be historically considered one of the best teams of all time, you’ve got to have played great opponents. “You can’t just be like, ‘We won a lot of games.’ Yeah, everyone wins a lot of games in college football. You’ve got to beat really quality opponents. You’ve got to dominate those guys. It’s going to matter how many guys are drafted off of that team.” In terms of beating up on opponents and the draft stock of their roster, Ohio State have both boxes ticked. They have thumped 11 of their 12 opponents by 24 or more points, with an average winning margin on the season of 38.1 per game. The personnel is scary. Young had two games off due to a suspension for an NCAA rules violation, but is still one of the leading contenders for the Heisman Trophy thanks to his marauding defensive prowess. Fields is currently seen as being the second-best quarterback in the 2021 class, while cornerback Jeff Okudah has a shot at being a top 10 pick, and running back J.K. Dobbins likely has a bright pro future. That’s all just part of what Wisconsin is up against. Wisconsin knows what’s up. “(Ohio State) can do everything really well,” senior linebacker Chris Orr told reporters. “They have good players in the right positions.” It seems all set up for Ohio State to continue its march, but best-laid plans have faltered before. Teams supposedly headed for destiny have crashed, stumbled or been out-thought. That’s the best thing about early December in college football: the most anyone has is hope and promise. But the Buckeyes have the opportunity to secure greatness for themselves and it’s a clearer chance than most. The journey starts here. [STORY IMAGE 3] Here’s what others have said ... Andrea Adelson, ESPN: “Recruiting rankings are not the be-all and end-all, because it is an inexact science. Talent development comes next, an area where Ohio State also excels. Some of that has to do with the makeup of its respective coaching staffs, which is integral in talent development. Ohio State is running virtually the same scheme on offense it did when Meyer first arrived, one that has a nearly 100 percent success rate in turning out highly productive and oftentimes game-changing quarterbacks.” Nathan Baird, Cleveland.com: “Ohio State may not need (Justin) Fields the runner to beat the Badgers, a top-10 team in both rushing and passing defense. To beat potential College Football Playoff opponents, however, a more mobile Fields seems like a necessity. He would have until Dec. 28 to rest and rehab and bring the knee closer to full strength. In the interim, he will keep strapping on the brace and pushing through the pain. He may be a less mobile quarterback, but he hopes it makes him a more impactful leader.” Mitch Albom, Detroit Free Press: “The Buckeyes are better. Say it and get it over with. Say it and spit the bad taste out of your mouth. It’s not a shame to admit, not when it’s true, and it doesn’t have to be true forever but it’s undeniably true now. On a day when Michigan put up a darn good offensive effort, a day when they completed big passes and escaped big pressure and held off Chase Young, maybe the best player in college football, on a day when they had every motivation in the world and a home field sellout crowd behind them, on a day a like that, they still lost 56-27.” [IN OTHER WORDS] - Believe it or not, Maryland basketball fans should actually be optimistic this season. [Matt Ellentuck at]( [SB Nation]( [explains](. - Patrick Mahomes isn’t just good at football — he’s good at everything. [Tyler Dunne at Bleacher Report]( chronicles the legend of Mahomes. - Allow [Ross Dellenger at]( [Sports Illustrated]( to introduce you to the man who has been behind LSU football for the last 45 years. [THE INTERNET IS UNDEFEATED] [THE INTERNET IS UNDEFEATED]( As sports fans, we get to see Lionel Messi in action so often that sometimes we can lose sight of the fact that the man is an actual, living unicorn. The above video is just a glimpse at how effortless his ability still is. It’s a sheer delight to watch him clown professional football players in practice with minimal effort, and you get the sense that everyone around him is just as thrilled to be able to see his ability up close. One of a kind. [VIEWER'S GUIDE] WWE SmackDown (FOX, 8 p.m. ET) Roman Reigns will face Dolph Ziggler in a singles match, but Reigns’ head will be on a swivel since King Corbin has threatened to “humiliate” him this week. No. 1 Ohio State at No. 8 Wisconsin (FOX, Saturday, 8 p.m. ET) The Big Ten Championship game comes to FOX during Championship Week, with the 10-2 Badgers hoping to ruin the Buckeyes’ perfect season. San Francisco 49ers at New Orleans Saints (FOX, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET) It’s a battle of 10-2 NFC forces as the Niners visit the Superdome. San Francisco has a chance to knock the Saints out of the No. 1 seed with a road win on Sunday. [BET OF THE DAY] [BET OF THE DAY] Odds provided by [FOX Bet]( Colin’s Marquee Three — Oregon (+6.5), LSU (-7), Wisconsin (+15.5) all to cover: +650 For Championship Week, you can choose to go with Colin Cowherd and test the waters of this big parlay. You’re wagering that the No. 2 team in the nation, LSU, can beat Georgia by more than seven points, that the PAC-12 championship between Oregon and Utah will be close, and that Wisconsin won’t be blown out too badly by Ohio State. (Although keep in mind that Ryan Day’s squad beat Wisconsin on Oct. 26 by a final score of 38-7.) If you need another reason to get invested in this massive football weekend, here it is. [WHAT THEY SAID] “To uncover your true potential, you must first find your own limits — and then you have to have the courage to blow past them.” — Picabo Street [FOLLOW FOX SPORTS] [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [YouTube]( [Instagram]( Download the FOX Sports app for live scores and streaming [App Store]( [Google Play]( Available on: [tvOS] [Roku] [fireTV] [androidtv] [XBOX] [Google chromecast] [tvOS] [Roku] [fireTV] [androidtv] [XBOX] [Google chromecast] Forwarded this message? [Sign up](. Trademark & Copyright Notice: ™ and © 2019 FOX Media LLC and FOX Sports Interactive Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Please do not reply to this message. If you do not wish to receive emails like this in the future, please [unsubscribe](. FOX Sports respects your privacy. Click [here]( to view our Privacy Policy. FOX.com Business & Legal Affairs - Manager Digital Media P.O. Box 900 Beverly Hills, CA 90213-0900