Defense wins championships, at least in the eyes of the College Football Playoff selection committee.
Ohio State's defense is a big reason why committee chairman Boo Corrigan said that the Buckeyes landed at the No. 1 spot in the initial CFP rankings. That, and big wins at Notre Dame – ranked No. 15 after the committee's first release – and against No. 11 Penn State.
"As we looked at it, the big win at Notre Dame, the win over Penn State, the top-five defense, the difference makers on offense like Marvin Harrison Jr., who is an elite player – as we looked at it, we came to a conclusion as a group that Ohio State deserves to be the number one team," CFP committee chairman Boo Corrigan said on ESPN after the rankings release.