Did Ohio State Blow Opportunity to Improve Playoff Standing Against Minnesota?

Ohio State battled the frigid conditions and a tough Minnesota team last Saturday, overcoming three uncharacteristic turnovers in a 31-24 victory. And while Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes were happy to come out with a win, they may have missed a golden opportunity to improve their standing with the College Football Playoff selection committee.

Ranked No. 8 after a 49-37 victory on the road against Michigan State two weeks ago, the Buckeyes suddenly found themselves on the national stage once again when they took the field in Minneapolis. Their challenge came in the form of No. 25 Minnesota, who had thrashed a surging Iowa team 51-14 the previous week.

It was another chance for Ohio State to show its strength, but a sloppy performance turned what could have been an impressive showing into a close (but respectable) win. 

The Buckeyes looked to be rolling in the first quarter—up 14 with possession after forcing Minnesota's offense into its third consecutive three-and-out. That's when J.T. Barrett went for the kill with an ill-advised deep pass that was intercepted. Five plays later, Gophers running back David Cobb was racing into the end zone to make it a one-score game. 

Later in the second quarter, H-back Jalin Marshall was diving for a seven-yard touchdown when he fumbled the ball into the end zone. The Gophers recovered and then marched 80 yards in 11 plays, turning what should have been a 14-point Buckeyes lead into a tie game.

Ohio State seized control, though, scoring the game's next 17 points to gain a 31-14 lead midway through the fourth quarter. But another gaffe from Marshall—who muffed a punt inside the Buckeyes' 15-yard line—helped Minnesota tack on another score. A garbage-time Gophers field goal provided a seven-point difference that is now serving as a mirage that the game was closer than it really was. 

Ann Heisenfelt/Associated Press

On Saturday, Ohio State offensive coordinator Tom Herman defended his team, saying that it performed well given the conditions and opponent, according to Doug Lesmerises of The Plain Dealer. But he also admitted that the turnovers were costly.

"Obviously, we're not gonna be able to go where we want to go turning the ball over like that," Herman said, via Lesmerises.

The Buckeyes are in line to move up at least one spot thanks to Oregon State's 35-27 upset win over No. 6 Arizona State. But poor performances from other higher-ranked teams opened the door even further for the Buckeyes.

No. 4 TCU was coming off a big win over seventh-ranked Kansas State when it traveled to play a dreadful 3-6 Kansas team. The Horned Frogs looked a step slow, however, trailing by 10 midway through the third quarter before rallying for an uninspired 34-30 victory.

Top-ranked Mississippi State looked completely overmatched on the road against Alabama, falling behind 19-0 before settling in. The Bulldogs surged in the second half before eventually losing 25-20.

The Buckeyes will have to wait until Tuesday night to see how far they move up, but it's safe to assume they'd be much more confident if they had taken care of the ball against the Gophers. Because the selection committee now has a measuring stick between Ohio State and TCU—both have beaten a strong Minnesota team this season.

The difference, though, is that the Horned Frogs dominated in a 30-7 rout. 

Cooper Neill/Getty Images

Will the selection committee keep TCU ahead of Ohio State because it beat Minnesota in a more convincing fashion? Does a 23-point victory prove that the Horned Frogs are superior to the Buckeyes, who could only manage a seven-point win over the same team?

Minnesota linebacker De’Vondre Campbell offered his opinion on Saturday.

“Ohio State was probably the second-best team we’ve played this year, behind TCU,” Campbell said, according to Ryan Gerbosi of The Dallas Morning News. “I think TCU was a lot better."

Asked of his opinion about Minnesota and the Buckeyes performance in the driving snow and 20 degree weather, Meyer kept it simple.

“I’d like to see anybody in the country come up here and do this, come up here in November on Nov. 15," Meyer said, according to Patrick Maks of Eleven Warriors. "I challenge any team in the country that wants to go ahead and schedule this one in November against a very good team. Have at it. That’s our message.”

He's hoping the selection committee gets that message before it releases its rankings this Tuesday.

David Regimbal covers Ohio State football for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @davidreg412.