While soccer — ahem, football — is the world’s game, American football is the game of the United States, by far. The NFL is the most-watched professional sports league in this country, and right behind that on the amateur front (less and less every day) is college football. Across the rest of the world, soccer is far and above the sport everyone is passionate about.
So, then, with this year’s World Cup taking place in North America, including the United States, Fox Sports married the two together and decided to find four college football teams that best compare to the four semifinal teams of the 2026 World Cup. And yeah, since we’re an Ohio State website, we’re interested in what Laken Litman said about the Buckeyes. She made the compelling argument to compare the scarlet and gray with Les Blues, or France.
First, about France in the World Cup
“Les Bleus have two World Cup titles, winning on home soil in 1998 and then 20 years later in Russia in 2018, wrote Litman. “This marks France’s eighth World Cup semifinal appearance. Four years ago, it finished as runner-up after losing to Argentina in the greatest final in tournament history, an epic match decided by a penalty shootout.
“France regularly produces world-class talent, and its players star for Europe’s biggest clubs. Its attack is powered by a three-headed monster of Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise, while an elite defense has conceded few goals throughout this summer’s tournament. The program also has had stability under manager Didier Deschamps, who has been in charge since 2012 (though 2026 will be his final World Cup with the squad).”
How Ohio State compares in college football
“Ohio State always attracts the top recruiting classes and consistently develops top NFL talent,” Litman continued. “The Buckeyes won the national championship in 2024, and are tied for the most CFP appearances since the inaugural four-team field in 2014. And, like France, they enter nearly every season as a legitimate contender. Expectations aren’t just high – they’re championship or bust.”
Okay. So, who does Litman compare to the other three World Cup semifinalists: Argentina, Spain, and England? She believes Alabama (the Nick Saban version) is closely aligned with Argentina, while Georgia resembles Spain, and England is closely tied to Texas. If you want her breakdown on why those three teams fit the appearance of the other World Cup juggernauts, feel free to head on over to Fox Sports and see the arguments Litman makes.
Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.
This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Fox Sports compares World Cup France to Ohio State in college football
Reporting by Phil Harrison, Buckeyes Wire / Buckeyes Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Phil Harrison, Buckeyes Wire | USA TODAY Network
