Ohio State Football: How Upset Loss Will Hurt Buckeyes' BCS Hopes

Despite entering the game as underdogs in terms of the betting line, the Ohio State Buckeyes' 24-6 loss to the Miami Hurricanes was an upset with regards to the impact it is sure to have on the AP Top 25 and the BCS landscape.

Ohio State barely survived a scare against the Toledo Rockets last week and had little momentum entering the game dubbed as the "Ineligi-Bowl" due to both Ohio State's and Miami's issues with players receiving improper benefits.

The Hurricanes lost their opener against Maryland, but a number of players returned from their suspensions in time for the Ohio State game, including quarterback Jacory Harris. Although Harris didn't exactly put on a clinic, his presence was vital to Miami's win.

The loss will likely drop Ohio State out of the Top 25 and shake up the Big Ten race, while re-installing Miami as a contender in the ACC.

Who's the Biggest Winner?

Aside from Miami, the biggest winner in this instance is likely the Wisconsin Badgers. Ranked No. 7 in the nation, the Badgers were favored to win their division of the Big Ten, but knocking Ohio State down a peg will certainly be advantageous to them.

While the loss has no direct effect on the Big Ten standings, it could come into play in the result of a tie. Because of that, it also helps the likes of Illinois, Penn State and Purdue who are all 2-1 or better overall.

Does Ohio State Still Have BCS Chance?

While one loss doesn't officially eliminate Ohio State from BCS contention, the odds look quite low at this point. There are a host of difficult Big Ten teams still on the schedule for the Buckeyes, including nationally-ranked programs like Wisconsin, Nebraska and Michigan State.

Ohio State can still go to a BCS Bowl if it runs the table, but the Buckeyes can barely beat MAC teams at this point, so it doesn't seem likely that they could run the tables in the Big Ten.

What it Means

Ohio State's convincing loss essentially means that the team's run of dominance in the Big Ten is over for the time being. It would be very surprising if the Buckeyes won the Big Ten this season, especially with the way they have played the past two weeks.

It also means that Miami may, in fact, be the team that people thought they were prior to the season. Miami was expected to make a nice run in the ACC this season, but with the scandal they faced and the opening-week loss to Maryland, things looked bleak. If the Hurricanes play like this, though, they could possibly put themselves in BCS contention.

Biggest Thing to Fix

There is no doubt that Ohio State's Achilles' Heel in this game was its rush defense. Miami running back Lamar Miller gashed the Buckeyes defense from the onset as he ran for a whopping 184 on 26 carries. The Buckeyes were fine against the pass, however, as they held Harris to 123 yards and intercepted him twice.

This was in stark contrast to the previous week when the Buckeyes struggled against the pass, but were able to stop the run. Ohio State's quarterback play on offense was also absolutely incompetent as Joe Bauserman and Braxton Miller combined to complete just four of 17 passes for 35 yards. No team in the nation is going to win with that type of play from the most important player on the field.

Pivotal Turnaround Game

The Buckeyes will host the No. 15 Michigan State Spartans on Oct. 1 to open Big Ten competition. The Spartans may no longer be ranked at that point, but they will still be a stiff test for Ohio State. If the Buckeyes can somehow win that game, it will be huge for their psyche as the season wears on.

A loss would be crushing, though, and it would be very difficult to rebound from. I'm not prepared to completely count out the Buckeyes, but major changes need to be made on both sides of the ball.

Who They Play Next

The Buckeyes will take on the Colorado Buffaloes of the Pac-12 next week before embarking upon Big Ten play. The Buffaloes are just 1-2, but they narrowly lost to the California Bears last week. It is certainly a game that Ohio State should and must win, but if they play at the level they did against Miami, they don't have a chance.

A loss to Colorado would end Ohio State's season for all intents and purposes and put them on a slippery slope heading into the Big Ten schedule. Any win would be a huge confidence boost at this point, so Ohio State has to work out some kinks and prevail over Colorado.