Ohio State defeated Michigan State 52-12 on Saturday, despite not having head coach Ryan Day and multiple other assistants due to COVID-19.

It was an impressive beatdown, especially considering the Buckeyes have had limited practice time due the virus over the last couple weeks.

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Count Paul Finebaum amongst those who were dazzled by Ohio State’s performance.

“I thought what Ohio State did yesterday was courageous and fantastic,” Finebaum said on the Sunday morning edition of SportsCenter. “Without so many players, without coaches, including the head coach. I really think that’s significant when you consider how far this team has come. Right now, I think they’re very close to the playoff.”

The College Football Playoff rankings committee agrees. Even despite the relative lack of games played, the committee has continued to rank Ohio State in the top four.

With the report that the Big Ten is likely to send the Buckeyes through to the Big Ten Championship Game even without a sixth game, it seems not much is standing in the Buckeyes’ way. Ohio State will be heavily favored vs. its Week 8 opponent (if it has one) and vs. Northwestern in the conference title game.

Ohio State is scheduled to face Michigan this week, although that game is in jeopardy due to COVID-19 within the Wolverines’ program.