With the B1G announcing its return to the fall football season, we can finally start talking about actual things related to the field. Ad what better way to start than with the College Football Playoff picture.

Thursday, just a day after the B1G reinstated a fall season, SEC Network host Paul Finebaum was asked which teams he thought would be in the College Football Playoff picture at the end of the season. With Ohio State back in the fold, he believes the Buckeyes are a lock to earn one of the four spots.

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“I start with Clemson,” Finebaum said during an appearance on ESPN’s Get Up. “They are there every single year and they will be again this year. Alabama is next. Nothing changed yesterday that affects Alabama’s attempt to regain the crown. And then, here comes the new entrant. It is Ohio State. I have no doubt whatsoever that they are one of the three best teams in the country. They may be even better. They ended the season last year in the semifinals blowing a big lead to Clemson.

“The fourth one is very difficult, but I’m going with Oklahoma because I think that league is diminished. If they get through the league undefeated, which I think they have a good chance of doing, they’ll sneak in. The big losers yesterday were the ACC and SEC — Georgia, possible loser in the SEC (Championship Game) or even Notre Dame. They have gotten edged out by Ohio State’s entry into the playoff.”

Ohio State finished last season with a 13-1 record, winning a B1G title and earning a spot in the College Football Playoff for the first time since 2016. With Justin Fields back under center and Ryan Day entering his second season, there are high expectations for the Buckeyes in 2020.

They were one of the favorites to win the national championship before the season was postponed. And now that football is back in the B1G, the Buckeyes are back in the picture.