Ohio State is the No. 2 seed in the College Football Playoff and will face the winner of No. 7 Texas A&M and No. 10 Miami in the Cotton Bowl.
Ohio State suffered its first loss of the season Saturday night against Indiana, 13-10. The final score and game play seemed eerily similar to last year’s Michigan game. Short-yardage situations, questionable play-calling, and special teams miscues cost the Buckeyes in Indianapolis.
After a 12-0 regular season, Ohio State fell short in the Big Ten Championship. The Buckeyes drop to the No. 2 seed in the College Football Playoff and will await the winner of Texas A&M and Miami in the Cotton Bowl.
Texas A&M started the season 11-0 before stumbling to Texas in the final game of the regular season. On the other hand, Miami is where all the drama has circulated throughout the playoff race. The Hurricanes began the College Football Playoff rankings at No. 18 and made the climb to be in the field thanks to a hot November stretch. Head-to-head finally came into play for Miami, which moved ahead of Notre Dame for the first time.
While it’s debatable, this is a “better draw” for Ohio State; the Buckeyes still wanted to win the Big Ten. Not to be dismissive of goals or accomplishments because this loss cuts deep in the locker room. Last year, Ohio State was given the most challenging path in the bracket. This year, the Buckeyes found more favor.
Last year, Ohio State was one of the most senior-laden teams in the country. The Buckeyes held the infamous team meeting and went on the greatest run in College Football history. Ohio State drew the most challenging path in the College Football Playoff and dominated every matchup. The 2024 Buckeyes answered adversity with a National Championship.
How will the 2025 Buckeyes respond? This year’s team isn’t as veteran, but still has elite leadership despite young talent across the field. Sonny Styles, Caleb Downs, and the Buckeyes know what it takes to overcome adversity and string together a 3-4 game stretch to hoist the gold trophy.
Ryan Day and Ohio State have a team meeting scheduled for 1:00 pm, followed by a media availability to discuss Ohio State’s postseason destination.
Stay tuned to The Silver Bulletin for updates and coverage of the College Football Playoff.
Blake Biscardi, a native of Pickerington, Ohio, is The Silver Bulletin’s Lead Reporter & Editor and the Creator & Host of the Saturday Cadence podcast, a national college football show. As a trusted voice on Ohio State, the Big Ten, and College Football Playoff since 2016, Biscardi is a proud member of the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and a two-time Graduate of Temple University in Philadelphia.