It felt oh so close, yet oh so far away. The Ohio State football team faced a lot of challenges and a lot of adversity in the 2020 college football season and got past them all but one. Alabama was just too good and too dominant in the national championship game to expect a storybook ending.
However, upon reflection, in the midst of a global pandemic, it was a truly remarkable season. One in which the Buckeyes won their fourth-straight Big Ten title, beat Clemson in the Sugar Bowl semifinal of the College Football Playoff, and pushed through a season that almost didn’t happen.
And now, for their efforts, the AP Poll has recognized Ohio State as the No. 2 team in its final rankings for the year.
Alabama is No. 1 of course, and the rest of the top ten behind the Buckeyes were Clemson (3), Texas A&M (4), Notre Dame (5), Oklahoma (6), Georgia (7), Cincinnati (8), Iowa State (9), and Northwestern (10).
POLL ALERT: Alabama, Ohio State and Clemson top final AP Top 25 of the season, Texas A&M and Notre Dame round out top five.
Full poll >> https://t.co/jQQboegVpi
More coverage >> https://t.co/2qlqqZS1qM pic.twitter.com/TWsBWlXCvY
— AP Top 25 (@AP_Top25) January 12, 2021
And now, it’ll be an interesting offseason for OSU. It more than likely loses Justin Fields and Chris Olave, and will have to replace several starters on the offensive line as well as find a way to retool on the defensive side of the ball that did not live up to Ohio State standards.
Stay with us over the next few days as we begin a look ahead to next college football season for The Ohio State University football program.