Ohio State does not belong in this game

Considering that Ohio State is playing for the College Football Playoff championship, we might as well go back to a two-team playoff.

The Buckeyes were declared dead in September for a reason but somehow are alive in January for no reason.

Google provided “The 37 Greatest Comebacks in All of Human History.”

I was thinking Robert Downey Jr. after rehab, Germany after World War II and Chrysler after bankruptcy.

But another type of comeback came up.

George Bernard Shaw: “I am enclosing two tickets to the first night of my new play; bring a friend. If you have one.”

Winston Churchill: “Cannot possibly attend first night; will attend second … if there is one.”

“The 37 Greatest Comebacks in All of Human History” consisted of amusing exchanges instead of sports rallies.

OK, then, take this for amusing if not hilarious: Seriously, Ohio State is playing Oregon for the CFP title.

Go ahead, Buckeyes' fans, be angry with me if you want but this is a joke.

The Big Ten was counted out four months ago because the schedule couldn't possibly allow a conference team back in.

The conference squandered its chances by losing the nonconference games that mattered.

The Big Ten's best victory out of the league was, what, Indiana beating Missouri? Really, that was the best?

Wisconsin lost to LSU, Michigan State to Oregon, Ohio State to Virginia Tech and everyone else to everyone else of consequence.

Nobody of substance remained to be beaten. So the league would have to wait until next year.

Then, after the regular season ended the Buckeyes — as if this were a slasher movie — were one of the four qualifiers.

Now, look, Ohio State did beat Alabama on New Year's Day and very well could beat Oregon. Heck, the Buckeyes very well might be the best college football team in America right now.

Still, there's no way Ohio State should have climbed out of the September hole by merely winning a mediocre-at-best Big Ten.

All Ohio State accomplished in October and November was to beat teams that hadn't beaten anybody outside the league ... and that includes Wisconsin and Michigan State.

The Badgers beat Western Illinois, Bowling Green and South Florida. The Spartans beat Jacksonville State, Eastern Michigan and Wyoming.

Yet the CFP's debate club awarded Ohio State the final playoff invitation anyway.

Great. Maybe the Buckeyes deserved it under the current system. TCU and Baylor would disagree, but they didn't beat anyone either.

So let's return to the premise: If Ohio State was a qualified semifinalist, the game should go back to a two-team tournament or simply declare one team the champion.

Then all players can enjoy their bowl trips and souvenir wristwatches.

Unfortunately, the CFP semifinal games drew such high TV ratings that a clamor will grow to expand the field to eight teams and then 16 and then 64 and then ...

No, no, no, two was more than enough and still is if it means a team with Ohio State's flimsy resume can still win the title.

The Buckeyes are being congratulated for winning a game it wasn't qualified to play and the Big Ten is for going a 5-5 in bowl games.

Wouldn't you love to hear the comeback Churchill would have for those comebacks?

mimrem@dailyherald.com