COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio State Buckeyes have secured a spot in the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff and will host their first-ever home playoff game at Ohio Stadium this December.
Ohio State (10-2) earned the No. 8 seed in the playoff bracket and will face No. 9 seed Tennessee in a first-round matchup. The game is scheduled for Dec. 21 at 8 p.m. — marking the first time in program history that the Buckeyes will play a December game at home.
The winner of the Ohio State-Tennessee contest will advance to the quarterfinals to take on No. 1 seed Oregon in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1 at 5 p.m. If Ohio State manages to secure a victory and reach the semifinals, they could face one of Texas, Clemson, or Arizona State in a bid for a spot in the national championship game.
The Buckeyes enter the playoff after a season that included a shocking loss to an unranked Michigan team, a game that many expected Ohio State to win by several touchdowns. Despite the setback, the Buckeyes were able to secure their place in the expanded playoff field, which now includes the top 12 teams in the country, making for an exciting and unpredictable postseason.
Ohio State’s head coach Ryan Day expressed excitement over the chance to host a playoff game in Columbus. “It’s a huge opportunity for our program, our fans, and our university,” Day said. “We’ve worked hard all season, and now it’s about going out there and taking care of business on our home field.”
The Buckeyes’ matchup with Tennessee will be the first of its kind in the College Football Playoff era, setting the stage for what promises to be a thrilling postseason run for Ohio State fans.
Ohio State Playoff Schedule:
- First Round: Ohio State (No. 8) vs. Tennessee (No. 9) – Dec. 21 at 8 p.m.
- Quarterfinals: Winner vs. Oregon (No. 1) – Jan. 1 at 5 p.m. (Rose Bowl)
Should Ohio State advance, they will be just two wins away from competing for the national championship. The Buckeyes’ playoff journey begins in just over two weeks, and the atmosphere in Columbus is already buzzing with excitement.
