Ohio State Says Tougher Schedule Coming After Early Playoff Exit

Ohio State football has acknowledged that its schedule was not sufficiently "battle tested" heading into last season's College Football Playoff, according to ESPN, and the program says that is set to change.

The Buckeyes were eliminated early from the playoff last year, a result that prompted criticism from some observers who pointed to a weak regular-season schedule as a contributing factor, ESPN reported.

According to the report, Ohio State is preparing for a more demanding schedule going forward as it looks to address concerns about the strength of its past opposition.

ESPN did not provide further details in the excerpt regarding specific opponents or scheduling changes, but the report frames the shift as a direct response to last season's playoff outcome and the ensuing scrutiny of the team's schedule strength.

The program's comments come as college football teams nationwide face increased attention on strength of schedule as a factor in playoff selection and postseason performance.