The Verdict Is In: Desmond Howard Declares Ohio State's Playoff Hopes Done and Dusted

Well, there you have it, folks. For anyone holding out a glimmer of hope for Ohio State's College Football Playoff aspirations after that game, Desmond Howard has, in truth, delivered what many might call the final nail in the coffin. And honestly, it’s not exactly a shocking development if you’ve followed his rather consistent — you could say, unwavering — takes on the Buckeyes over the years.

Howard, the former Michigan star and current ESPN analyst, didn't mince words, not one bit. Appearing on 'College GameDay,' he laid it out rather plainly: the Buckeyes’ playoff chances? Done. Finished. Kaput. His reasoning, for once, was pretty straightforward: you simply cannot lose to your biggest rival, Michigan, and then expect to waltz into the playoffs, especially when you’re not even going to be playing for your conference championship. That, to him, is a non-starter.

Think about it. The premise, the unwritten rule almost, was always there: win out. That was the path. And winning out, for Ohio State, absolutely, unequivocally meant beating Michigan. It was the linchpin. Losing 'The Game' wasn't just a loss; it was, in Howard's estimation, the end of their playoff narrative. "They needed to win out," he stated, cutting right to the chase, "and the most important game of their season was The Game. And they lost The Game. So, they're done." Simple, direct, almost brutal in its finality.

Now, we know Desmond. His takes on Ohio State often lean... well, let's just say they're painted with a very distinct shade of maize and blue. And while some might argue the College Football Playoff committee has, in the past, shown a willingness to consider a one-loss team even without a conference title, Howard seems to believe this particular scenario is different. Maybe it’s the optics of losing to a rival, or perhaps the sheer weight of that rivalry. Either way, his message couldn't be clearer: for Ohio State, this year, the dream is over.

It really does boil down to the reality of the situation, doesn't it? A season filled with such high expectations, a truly talented squad — and then, one slip, one crucial defeat, and suddenly, the landscape changes entirely. And for Desmond Howard, a man whose roots run deep in the Michigan rivalry, that single loss was all the evidence he needed to close the book on the Buckeyes' championship hopes. A tough pill for Columbus, no doubt, but perhaps, a dose of harsh reality from a man who's seen it all in college football.