Playoff time is now for Ohio State

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — In between playing two of the more physically gifted teams on the schedule, Ohio State football s focus this week is more on the mental side of things. The Buckeyes (6-2, 4-1 Big Ten, No. 12 CFP) dropped from No. 2 in the Associated Press poll last week to No. 11 following a 30-18 loss at USC. The timing of their second setback of the season could have been better as the College Football Playoff committee released its first rankings Tuesday night. The Buckeyes came in at 12th — effectively out of the field if the playoff started this week because a team from a Group of 5 conference will get an automatic bid. It s pretty much playoff time now for us cuz we can t lose, junior linebacker Payton Pierce said. And so there s a sense of urgency, and intensity, and focus. Pierce is a captain, so he is part of the chain of command when it comes to leadership, but he said it starts at the top with head coach Ryan Day. What is Day s message? We gotta go — leave it all o