Ohio State (15-10) (NET: 26)
5-7 (Q1), 3-3 (Q2), 1-0 (Q3), 6-0 (Q4)
Jake Diebler’s first full season with the Buckeyes has been an up and down affair, but he has this team in decent shape to get to the Big Dance. There are certainly questions to be answered in Columbus by this team in the coming weeks, but Ohio State has shown they can hang in this version of the Big Ten.
A win over Texas on opening night was the first of five Quad 1 wins on their record, though December’s 20-point win over Kentucky is one of the best of the bunch. Their major upset at Purdue nearly a month ago is actually their top win, while early February provided more action with a nice win against Maryland.
Having three Quad 2 losses isn’t ideal but there’s no terrible loss weighing down this resume. They had a tough close loss to Pittsburgh in nonconference play before picking up two more tough home losses to Oregon and Indiana during league play.
The last six games on their schedule present chances, but Ohio State needs to deliver. They have a great opportunity against Michigan this weekend and need to bring their A-game on the West Coast trip against the Los Angeles schools the following week. It’ll be hard to keep these Buckeyes out if they get up to six or seven Quad 1 wins.