The Big 12 Championship Game saw Texas defeat Oklahoma State, 49-21, and the Buckeyes were denied the support they needed from another OSU.
Quinn Ewers, a former Ohio State quarterback, broke a record in the Big 12 Championship Game by throwing for
452 yards and four touchdowns to lead Texas to victory. Ewers’ performance was crucial in ending the Buckeyes’ playoff run.
Three things had to happen before Saturday for Ohio State to have a legitimate chance of making the CFP. Despite losing to Michigan last weekend, the Buckeyes would have had a great chance to secure the No. 4 seed in the playoffs for the second consecutive year if Oklahoma State had defeated Texas, Georgia had defeated Alabama in the SEC Championship Game, and Louisville had defeated Florida State in the ACC Championship Game.
The Longhorns will most likely surpass Ohio State with a 12th victory and a conference championship, even though they were ranked seventh in this week’s CFP rankings, one spot behind the sixth-ranked Buckeyes. After winning the Pac-12 Championship Game on Friday to maintain their undefeated record, Washington is already guaranteed a spot in the College Football Playoffs. The winner of the SEC Championship Game, and likely the loser as well if Alabama prevails, will rank ahead of the Buckeyes in the end. Even in the unlikely event that Michigan loses to Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game, it is difficult to see the CFP selection committee choosing Ohio State over the club it was just defeated by in the regular-season finale.
Consequently, Ohio State will probably play Louisville in the Orange Bowl to cap off the season. This game will pit the top-seeded Big Ten or SEC squad against the winner of the ACC or the top-seeded ACC team that misses the College Football Playoffs.
In the unlikely event that Michigan defeats Iowa and Georgia defeats Alabama, Ohio State would almost certainly be playing in the Orange Bowl. The Buckeyes would instead play in the Cotton, Fiesta, or Peach Bowl if Alabama defeats
Georgia or Iowa defeats Michigan, and one of those teams misses the CFP but finishes ahead of Ohio State in the rankings.
On Sunday at 12:15 p.m., the official College Football Playoff selections will be announced. When the non-playoff New Year’s Six bowl matchups are revealed at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Ohio State will know its official bowl destination.
