COLUMBUS, Ohio -- We said we'd start playoff talk again after a few things happened to make it less improbable for Ohio State to get in as a two-loss team. One week after the Buckeyes' 31-point loss at Iowa, we're there.

Several results this weekend went Ohio State's way:

* No. 1 Georgia getting crushed at No. 10 Auburn

* No. 3 Notre Dame getting crushed at No. 7 Miami

* No. 6 TCU losing at No. 5 Oklahoma

* No. 9 Washington losing at Stanford on Friday

Don't get caught up in the specifics of the rankings, but just figure the teams that will be ranked ahead of the Buckeyes in the College Football Playoff rankings on Tuesday. Ohio State is No. 13 now.

So imagine new rankings that look something like this:

No. 1 Alabama, 10-0

No. 2 Oklahoma, 9-1

No. 3 Miami, 9-0

No. 4 Clemson, 9-1

No. 5 Wisconsin, 10-0

No. 6 Auburn, 8-2

No. 7 Georgia, 9-1

Ohio State is then in a group of two-loss teams that includes Washington and USC from the Pac-12; TCU and Oklahoma State from the Big 12; and Notre Dame.

But what matters is that we're talking about a two-loss conference champion in the playoff mix. Because look what's going to happen.

* Clemson and Miami are on track for a showdown in the ACC Championship. Figure the winner there for one playoff spot.

* Oklahoma is in control of the Big 12, having made it through the two-week stretch of Oklahoma State and TCU. The Sooners are probably looking at a TCU rematch in the Big 12 title game, but figure them for one playoff spot.

* The Georgia loss eliminates the chance of an undefeated showdown between Georgia and Alabama in the SEC Championship, which could have resulted in both teams making the playoff. Now, with Alabama and Auburn meeting in the regular season, and the winner then meeting Georgia in the conference title game, figure the SEC for one playoff spot.

That just took six of the top seven teams and boiled them down to three playoff spots. And that's a best-case scenario for all those teams, assuming no unseen upsets.

The seventh team in Wisconsin, the champs of the Big Ten West that the Buckeyes would have to beat to remain in the playoff conversation.

If the Buckeyes do that, and finish 11-2, who would they be competing against for the last playoff spot?

* A second SEC team: If that would be Alabama, after suffering its first loss to Georgia in the SEC Championship, that would be a real threat to the Buckeyes.

* Notre Dame: The Fighting Irish have two losses, and with no conference title game and that blowout against Miami, their case has lessened significantly. The Buckeyes would beat them out.

* A second ACC team: What if undefeated Miami loses to Clemson in the title game for its first loss? It would at least be a discussion.

* The Pac-12 champ: That conference title game will be USC against either Washington State, Stanford or Washington. USC, currently ranked ahead of the Buckeyes, would be the greatest threat. But this Michigan State blowout may vault Ohio State past USC in the rankings this week. Regardless, beating Wisconsin would be a better win than anything USC could do to win its title.

So now we're almost back to the point of a week ago and the idea that the Buckeyes are in if they win out. You may see some confident assertions that way. I don't think we're quite there.

The real challengers are Alabama and Miami as title game losers getting in as the second team from their conferences.

Remember, Ohio State got in last year as a one-loss non-champ over two-loss Big Ten champ Penn State. So it can happen. But the Buckeyes of last year had more quality wins than seemingly Miami or Alabama would compile this year.

The Big Ten has earned enough respect that a two-loss champion from the league would reasonably win out over other two-loss options. But the battle against a one-loss non-champ would be interesting.

Don't assume that the Buckeyes control their own destiny, not with that 31-point loss to Iowa. They can't erase that, but they can hope other teams wind up with flaws that are just as big.

But go ahead and talk about the playoff again. It's definitely in play. And given these scenarios, you know what would be the likely semifinal if it happens?

No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 4 Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl. Again.