The objectives remain the same for the team that invests heavily in talent.

But let me pause: could Ohio State’s aspirations for a national championship actually hinge on their game this weekend against Penn State, rather than stretching all the way to the championship on January 20, 2025?

I’m not suggesting we overlook upcoming challenges against Michigan, the Big Ten championship, or the College Football Playoff, but current pressures mount for Ohio State and Coach Ryan Day.

A loss to Penn State this Saturday in a heavyweight matchup could derail Day’s tenure before it even reaches 2025. And Ohio State would waste its hefty $41 million investment for this season alone.

If Ohio State loses to Penn State, their chances for the College Football Playoff would be questionable, relying on a single win against the revitalized Indiana, assuming they sweep their remaining games.

All this for a roster that costs $20 million and a coaching staff earning a combined $21.4 million—totaling $41.4 million, which breaks down to $20 million for players, $10 million for Day’s salary, and $11.4 million for his assistants.

Hey, kids! You could also beat teams like Akron, Western Michigan, and Northwestern, all while spending $41 million!

In essence, Ohio State is one loss away from a return on investment that echoes the disastrous launch of new Coke.

In a span of just two months.

2. Trust the strategy

The odd aspect of this high-stakes situation at Ohio State is how Day has shifted away from what made him and the program distinct.

This change is primarily about one goal: defeating Michigan.

No one in college football excels at developing quarterbacks and offenses quite like Day. His ability to recruit top-tier players and put them in offensive positions has been second to none since he came to Columbus in 2017 as Urban Meyer’s offensive coordinator.

Prior to Kyle McCord’s struggles last season, Day’s quarterbacks averaged an impressive 41 touchdown passes each year. Forty-one!

However, after Michigan secured three consecutive wins in this heated rivalry and became the last Big Ten team to earn a national championship, Day reacted to the pressure. He appointed his former coach and mentor, altering the offensive strategy.

Wanting to adopt a more physical approach, he shifted to a run-first strategy, attempting to mirror Michigan’s style. Therefore, he hired Chip Kelly from UCLA as the offensive coordinator, emphasizing the need for toughness.

Ohio State then invested heavily, recruiting top running back Quinshon Judkins from Ole Miss, center Seth McLaughlin from Alabama, and quarterback Will Howard, a dangerous runner, from Kansas State.

Fast forward to last weekend’s narrow victory over Nebraska in Columbus: the Buckeyes managed just 64 rushing yards on 31 carries. The offensive line has not lived up to expectations and recently lost tackle Josh Simmons to a season-ending injury.

In four Big Ten games, Ohio State is averaging 148.3 rushing yards per game, which is only slightly above last season’s average of 139.4 across nine games. Meanwhile, Day is now discussing the importance of expanding their passing game.

This is something he has done consistently since 2017.

3. Ohio State’s make-or-break moment: The Conclusion

This situation isn’t solely about Day and Ohio State; if they lose to Penn State, the College Football Playoff committee will also face pressing decisions.

The committee, led by former Lieutenant General and CFP director Rich Clark, will scrutinize Ohio State through a critical lens.

Ohio State is undoubtedly one of the top three most skilled teams in the nation and commands a massive television audience.

Is it feasible to host a first-ever 12-team playoff without Ohio State’s presence?

The initial CFP poll is just six days away, and a potential two-loss Buckeyes team—with losses in their most challenging contests—doesn’t seem playoff-worthy. Yet, there’s little doubt they will be included.

The selection committee faces a dilemma: while formidable SEC teams battle it out during the season’s final month, the Big 12 and ACC may each have undefeated teams in their championship games (more on that soon). Ohio State will finish with competitions against Purdue, Northwestern, surprising Indiana, and an underperforming Michigan.

That’s a daunting path.

Ohio State can resolve this period of uncertainty in this high-stakes season by defeating Penn State, which might be without their starting quarterback Drew Allar (due to a knee injury).

Alternatively, they could fall to the Nittany Lions and rely on the College Football Playoff committee to salvage their postseason.

And perhaps Day’s job as well.

4. Contender or pretender?

As we step into November, it’s time to engage in the familiar college football debate of “who have they defeated?”

Penn State (7-0)

The good: The Lions have achieved a 7-0 record for the first time since 2019.

The bad: The total record for teams like West Virginia, Bowling Green, Kent State, Illinois, UCLA, Southern California, and Wisconsin stands at 25-30.

Iowa State (7-0)

The good: This is the Cyclones’ first 7-0 start since 1938.

The bad: Their opponents, including North Dakota, Iowa, Arkansas State, Houston, Baylor, West Virginia, and Central Florida, have a combined record of 29-27.

Indiana (7-0)

The good: The Hoosiers are at 8-0 for the first time since 1967.

The bad: The aggregate record of their opponents—Florida International, Western Illinois, UCLA, Charlotte, Maryland, Northwestern, Nebraska, and Washington—is 26-37.

Pittsburgh (7-0)

The good: The Panthers have started 7-0 for the first time since 1982.

The bad: The teams they faced, including Kent State, Cincinnati, West Virginia, Youngstown State, North Carolina, California, and Syracuse, have a combined record of 25-31.

Clemson (6-1)

The good: Clemson has won six consecutive games after a tough loss to Georgia in Week 1.

The bad: The collective record of opponents such as Appalachian State, North Carolina State, Stanford, Florida State, Wake Forest, and Virginia is 19-29.

5. The Weekly Five

Here are the five most crucial games to watch in November:

1. Tennessee at Georgia, Nov. 16.

2. Ohio State at Penn State, Nov. 2.

3. Texas at Texas A&M, Nov. 30.

4. Kansas State at Iowa State, Nov. 30.

5. Clemson at Pittsburgh, Nov. 16.

6. An NFL scout’s perspective on East Carolina’s CB Shavon Revel Jr.

An NFL scout provides insights on a draft-eligible player while remaining anonymous to protect the team’s preparatory strategies.

“He’s in a unique position. After tearing his ACL in September, he’s likely a couple of months away from fully recovering by draft time. Prior to the injury, he could’ve been considered the top cornerback in the draft. Standing at 6-feet-3, he has a long, physical build and exceptional speed. Recovery varies from person to person, and each ACL injury is distinct. The question remains: how early would you select him in the first round? He might go off the board within the first 16 picks because of his exceptional talent when fully healthy.”

7. Power Play: Notre Dame makes its mark

This week’s CFP power rankings feature four outsiders, along with one major takeaway.

1. Georgia: How many teams can visit the No.1 team, throw three interceptions, and still win by 15? The answer: one.

2. Oregon: The game against Michigan could be a challenge if the Wolverines can control the pace with their strong running game.

3. Miami: In the final month, they will face Duke, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, and Syracuse. If the Canes aren’t 12-0, they’ve really missed the mark.

4. Brigham Young: They have two weeks to prepare for a major clash against a struggling Utah team.

5. Ohio State: A win against Penn State likely sets them up for a rematch with Oregon in the Big Ten Championship.

6. Texas: Their bye week gives QB Quinn Ewers extra time to recover fully from a core injury.

7. Penn State: Oregon managed to beat Ohio State using an efficient passing attack. That could pose a challenge for Penn State, regardless of whether Allar plays.

8. Tennessee: They must improve their passing game against Kentucky and Mississippi State to prep for Georgia.

9. Texas A&M: This week presents a tricky situation at South Carolina, where strong defensive pressure can lead to turnovers.

10. Notre Dame: Simply put, they cannot afford another loss if they want to reach the CFP.

11. Indiana: The Hoosiers face a tough challenge on the road against an improving Michigan State team.

12. Boise State: Keep an eye on one of college football’s underrated players: QB Maddux Madsen, all 5-feet-10 of him.

13. Iowa State: When Texas Tech’s QB Behren Morton is on his game, the Red Raiders are one of the most dangerous teams in the Big 12.

14. Clemson: We will have a clearer understanding of both Clemson and Miami once Louisville challenges them in Death Valley.

15. Kansas State: The Wildcats may not excel in any one area, but they have maintained a perfect 3-0 record in tight contests.

16. Pittsburgh: Their objective is to disrupt the impressive SMU QB Kevin Jennings. Duke managed to do so last week, forcing 3 interceptions, yet they still lost.

8. Mail bonding: Miami compares to Michigan, 2021

Matt: Can we truly assess how good Miami is? Will we gain clarity even if they finish 13-0 in the ACC? — David Drake, Orlando.

David: Miami resembles 2021 Michigan quite a bit: a young and talented squad embarking on a championship pursuit after years of absence. While their playing style differs from Michigan’s, they indeed pose challenges for anyone.

The Michigan team faced a defeat in late October and had not managed to defeat a ranked opponent until the final game of the regular season, where they finally ended an eight-game losing streak against Ohio State.

What separates this young Michigan squad from Miami is their quarterback, Cam Ward. His dynamic abilities and capacity to change the game’s course with a single exceptional throw make him a game-changer. In contrast, Michigan relied on a more conservative quarterback (Cade McNamara) in a crucial role, highlighting their limitations during the CFP semifinal loss to Georgia. With Ward as their QB, Miami is unlikely to face such significant losses this season.

9. Numbers game

We’re approaching a potential championship Saturday where all eight power conference teams might secure spots in the CFP, regardless of their outcomes.

Nonetheless, the outcomes of the four conference championship games in the SEC, Big Ten, ACC, and Big 12 would still carry considerable significance for the 12-team CFP. Why? Because of seeding.

Winners earn first-round byes, and losing teams could drop significantly in the final CFP rankings — possibly even behind at-large teams from the SEC and Big Ten, thus missing out on hosting first-round games.

How’s that for creating a day of major importance?

The assumption that championship games will become trivial with a 12-team playoff format is far from reality. In fact, they may evolve into a football equivalent of conference basketball tournaments, greatly influencing NCAA tournament seeding and stirring up interesting debates.

10. The last word: Army’s CFP aspirations

If you believe Florida State was justified in their bid for last year’s CFP, just wait and see.

The tension grows as Army stands at 13-0 and claims the title of American Conference champions.

If Army were in a less challenging conference compared to Boise State, they would be undefeated. They also boast a more impressive victory (against Notre Dame) than the Broncos.

Keep a close eye on the CFP (College Football Playoff) rankings. Boise State is expected to be the top-ranked Group of Five team in the initial poll of the season next Tuesday. Army, with a combined opponent record of 18-35, will likely come in second — but at a lower rank.

A victory over Notre Dame at Yankee Stadium on November 23 would elevate Army to the No.12 spot in the CFP rankings, regardless of Boise State’s performance.