Former Ohio State QB CJ. Stroud Knows this Team is Going to Continue to Fight

Ohio State has its back against the wall going into Saturday's matchup with the Oregon Ducks at Ohio Stadium. After last week's loss to the USC Trojans, they are on the outside looking in at the College Football Playoff, needing to win the rest of their games.

Last week, former Ohio State star quarterback CJ Stroud got to go out and watch the Buckeyes in person in Los Angeles. He got to spend some time with head coach Ryan Day and strength coach Mick Marotti. 

At his midweek press conference, Stroud was asked by reporters what he thinks about the Buckeyes chances, and it is safe to say that he believes in what the Buckeyes have left.

He knows that they are not going to back down and that they are going to fight because that is what Ryan Day preaches.

Fight is exactly what the Buckeyes have to do going forward. They have already faced their share of adversity, and there is much, much more to come. On top of that, they basically have to win eight straight games to win the National Championship.

The College Football Playoff committee told them loud and clear this week that they have zero room for error. They are already on the outside looking in at the 12-team playoff, and their work is cut out for them.

They have tough matchups against Oregon, Northwestern, Nebraska, and Michigan left in the regular season. If they win out, they'll face a Big Ten Championship game they will have to win. If they win all 5 of those games, they will get a bye week in the first week of the Playoff, then have to win three straight Playoff games. 

They have no other option in front of them than to fight until the end. 

The game against USC showed that they have more problems on their roster that have nothing to do with playing their backup quarterback. Their offensive line is struggling, their run game is struggling, they are addicted to playing tight ends, and even still, the offense is just one play away from a touchdown at all times.

Their defense is their biggest concern. USC had it way too easy against them last week, and a lot of those issues simply have to be solved. 

Who knows if they will get solved this weekend; let's hope that they do. Regardless, they are going to fight until their hearts give out; that is just the way the program is built.