DieBruderschaft.com

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The warning shot was delivered in person.It wasnt subtle, less of a tap on Alabamas shoulder and more of a punch right in the mouth.Ohio State announced not only that it was back as a legitimate powerhouse by knocking off Nick Sabans Crimson Tide on the first day of 2015 in the first College Football Playoff, it made it clear that it had every intention of becoming the No. 1 contender to dethrone the Saban dynasty and stake its claim as the nations preeminent powerhouse.And while dynasties obviously arent built on a single game, and the Crimson Tide responded immediately by winning the national championship again one year later, that Sugar Bowl still stands as a pivotal turning point in what has suddenly become a legitimate argument.In the span of a little more than four years, Urban Meyer has taken over a program that had a losing record in the season before he arrived and built the Buckeyes into a behemoth capable of standing toe to toe with the Crimson Tide -- and potentially elbowing them off the top of the mountain as the countrys top program.?Just look at before and after with Urban and what hes done, Todd McShay, ESPN Scouts Inc., director of college football scouting, said. If you look at the previous couple of years and what he inherited -- Ohio State has obviously been a big NFL pipeline traditionally -- but what kind of happened to the talent level in those previous couple years was very obvious.Lets put it this way, two years ago I thought there was a massive, massive gap between Alabamas roster and Ohio States. And now, I can honestly sit here and say I dont see any difference.Chances to measure them head to head are few and far between, of course. But the Buckeyes and Tide once again have positioned themselves for another chance to settle the debate in the College Football Playoff. The current polls have them at No. 1 and No. 2 in the nation nearing the midway point of the season, spots that have become familiar for both since Saban and Meyer got their programs up to speed and positions theyre every bit as likely to hold in the coming years.And it was obviously no secret to Meyer what he was chasing nationally when he took over the Buckeyes -- or as he prep