Will Ohio State make the playoffs? Looking at Buckeyes' chances of making 12-team field after Michigan loss

The Ohio State Buckeyes lost to eternal rivals, the Michigan Wolverines in Week 14 of college football action at the Ohio Stadium. The 13-10 loss for the previously No. 2 ranked Buckeyes extended coach Ryan Day's horrendous record against the Wolverines to 4-1 despite his team being 20.5-point favorites for the game.

Despite the Wolverines' lengthy injury list which included tight end Colston Loveland and cornerback Will Johnson, the Buckeyes never threatened to overwhelm Michigan. During his postgame news conference, Day highlighted his disappointment at losing the game which was crucial to the Buckeyes' playoff hopes.

"Everybody wants to win this game in the worst way, and nobody wants to win it more than we do. It's our No. 1 goal every year," Day said. "And so when you don't do that, there's disappointment and frustration. And so, I don't blame anybody for being upset. I'm upset more than anybody. And those players are, too, and the coaches and everybody that goes at it. We know what we're getting ourselves into here."

The loss also meant that despite being pre-season favorites for the Big Ten championship game, the Buckeyes will have to watch the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Oregon Ducks battle it out for the conference's bragging rights.

We will take a look at whether the Ohio State Buckeyes still have a path to the 12-team college football playoffs.

Can Ohio State make the College Football Playoff?

The Ohio State Buckeyes still have a path to the college football playoff, although a first-round bye looks out of the realms of possibility with coach Ryan Day's team set to tumble down the next college football playoff rankings that will be released on Tuesday.

The Buckeyes have two quality wins against sides ranked in the top ten of the college football playoff rankings which ensures that they're still in a good position to be considered for the playoffs.

Day's team beat the No.4 Penn State Nittany Lions 20-13 in a road game in Week 10 of college football action while they blew out the previously unbeaten No. 10 Indiana Hoosiers 38-15 in Week 13 action.

The Buckeyes also narrowly lost 32-31 to the No. 1 ranked Oregon Ducks at the Autzen Stadium in Week 8 action which helped bolster their resume as a 'good loss.'

Although the Ohio State Buckeyes will likely be included in the expanded college football playoff, their bid for a first-round bye was put in doubt with that bad loss to the Michigan Wolverines.