Not this year...

After some contemplation, I have come to the realization that Ohio State will not get a shot at the national title this year.

I know that many have already accepted that fate and frankly, playing in the national title game is a rare priviledge, not a given. That fact is of course is what has made that last two title games so hard to swallow. Consider of course that Ohio State won the national title in 1968 and didn't win another until 2002.

Although it's actually easier for a school like Ohio State to win it in the BCS era then otherwise. That's another discussion though.

My point here is the following.

There is no doubt that the Buckeyes have to win all of their remaining games to get to Miami. They removed all margin for error when they got clowned by Southern Cal.

Here is the problem facing the Buckeyes this season. Normally one early loss would not quash all possibility of getting back in the mix. However, what is different this year is the fact that Michigan stinks.

Yep, the enduring image left with voters at the end of the season this year will be Ohio State beating Michigan at home. That victory (and this is meant as no guarantee at all) will hold little weight with the voters this year.

And after the Michigan-Ohio State game? There will be two more weeks of regular season and conference title games. It's unlikely that even an impressive win over Michigan will be perceived as significant in the eyes of the voters.

Unfortunately the Buckeyes have used up all the benefit of the doubt at this point. The last two years of polling have shown us that when final ballots are due, you can somewhat dismiss what we've seen previously.

It ain't happenin' this year.

That's not the end of the world though.

The future is bright.

Terrelle is a freshman after all.

We'll see where the season takes us.