Ohio State‘s quarterback Braxton Miller is out for the season with a shoulder injury. Meanwhile, Notre Dame has suspended 4 players due to academic misconduct. As a result of this, both teams have basically lost any chance to play for a national championship before the season even begins.
Miller was supposed to be one of the front runners to win the Heisman trophy this season. So now they will have to turn to redshirt freshman J.T. Barrett. Going from the 2-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year to a redshirt freshman should be devastating, except they still play in the weak Big Ten Conference.
The only game in Ohio State’s regular season that is against a team ranked in the Preseason Top 25 is against defending conference champion Michigan State. But even if the Buckeyes manage to get past Michigan State, and somehow be ranked high enough to get into the inaugural college football playoff, they will get smoked by whoever qualifies to play them.
Last year they won their first 12 games until Michigan State beat them 34-24 in the Big Ten Championship Game. Then they lost in the Orange Bowl to Clemson 40-35, and Miller played in both of those games. Ohio State also lost most of their offensive line to graduation, which makes life even harder on new starter Barrett.
Before the devastation to Ohio State occurred, Notre Dame suspended four of their players due to academic misconduct. The investigation is ongoing, but all four players are suspended indefinitely. Three of the four are starters, including KeiVarae Russell, one of the best cornerbacks in the nation.
The other starters suspended were wide receiver DaVaris Daniels, and linebacker Ishaq Williams. Kendall Moore was the other suspended player. If all four of these players is suspended for the entire year, head coach Brian Kelly will need all the luck the Irish can get, for his team to earn a spot in the college football playoff.
Notre Came also has one of the toughest schedules in the nation, including 5 games against teams in the Preseason Top 25. On October 18th, the Irish have a road game against defending national champion and #1 ranked Florida State. That’s tough enough with all of Notre Dame’s starters, let alone missing 3 key players.
It’s sad and rare to see 2 teams virtually eliminated from competing for the national championship before they even play a game, but that’s the way this 2014 college football season is starting. Of course new stars could emerge, but don’t count on them being able to replace the absences of Miller and the 3 starters for Notre Dame. Will this keep me from watching as much college football as I can? No way!
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