And the latest setback just so happens to have hit the strongest man on the roster.
The Buckeyes will be without standout defensive tackle Tommy Togiai on Monday night in the high-stakes showdown with Alabama at Hard Rock Stadium. And the Rushmen unit will also be missing rotation regular Tyreke Smith on the edge, fresh off perhaps the finest performance of his career in the Sugar Bowl blowout that punched the ticket to South Florida in the title game.
Ohio State will get a handful of key contributors back in the lineup, though, and clearly the program was never in jeopardy of needing to postpone the College Football Playoff final based on the number of players available. That list includes defensive ends Zach Harrison and Tyler Friday, which should help offset the loss of Smith and Togiai.