In 2014, Cardale Jones and the Ohio State Buckeyes etched their names in history by becoming the inaugural national champions of the 4-team College Football Playoff. Their journey to the top included a victory over the No. 1 seed Alabama in the semifinals.
The following year, both Ohio State and Alabama appeared poised to be the leading contenders once more. However, while Alabama clinched the championship, the Buckeyes were conspicuously absent from the final Playoff field. Jones, looking back, believes Alabama was fortunate to avoid facing that formidable Ohio State team in 2015.
Recently, the former Ohio State quarterback appeared on Greg McElroy’s “Always College Football” show, where various topics were discussed. McElroy concurred that the 2015 Ohio State team could have thrived in a 12-team Playoff system. Jones wholeheartedly agreed, confidently asserting that the Buckeyes would have “demolished” the 2015 Alabama champions led by Nick Saban.
“100%, 100%. With all due respect to Alabama winning that year: We would’ve destroyed you guys. We would’ve obliterated you,” Jones proclaimed with conviction.
Jones recounted his time with Reggie Ragland, a linebacker from Alabama, with whom he was drafted to the Buffalo Bills. They often reminisced about the 2014 game and speculated on a potential 2015 clash.
“I became really good friends with Reggie Ragland. We were drafted together to the Buffalo Bills, and we had many laughs about the 2014 game,” Jones explained. “I told Reggie, ‘Oh, you’re lucky we didn’t meet in 2015. What we would have done to you that year would have set your program back.'”
But why didn’t the 2015 matchup happen? Ohio State spent most of the season ranked as the No. 1 or No. 2 team but was stunned by Michigan State in a 17-14 home defeat late in November. This game still haunts the Buckeyes, as Ezekiel Elliott was limited to just 33 rushing yards, and Ohio State amassed only 132 total yards of offense. Michigan State clinched the win with a last-second field goal.
Ohio State finished the season with dominant victories over Michigan and Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl but didn’t get a chance to face Alabama. Meanwhile, Alabama routed Michigan State 38-0 in the Playoff and won a thrilling 45-40 CFP final against Clemson.
Would Ohio State have decimated Alabama in that Playoff? It’s a bold claim, but one we’ll never have the chance to witness.
