The College Football Playoffs pairings have been announced, and for the third year in a row the Big Ten Champions will be watching from home.
Ohio State, fresh off of a 45-24 Big Ten Championship Game victory over No. 21 Northwestern, finished sixth in the rankings, behind No. 1 Alabama, No. 2 Clemson, No. 3 Notre Dame, and No. 4 Oklahoma. Georgia finished No. 5.
The Buckeyes went into Saturday’s action knowing that they would likely have to put a number on the Wildcats if the Sooners won earlier in the day. Oklahoma did just that, with a 39-27 victory over No. 14 Texas. The win also exacted vengeance on Oklahoma’s lone loss of the season.
Ohio State’s 49-20 loss at unranked Purdue seven weeks ago ultimately proved unforgivable for a committee that showed no signs of giving OSU the benefit of any doubt despite improved play since that loss.
As mentioned, this is now the third year in a row that the Big Ten Champs have not made the College Football Playoffs. Last year, a two-loss Buckeye team stayed home, and the year before that it was a two-loss Penn State team.
Ohio State becomes the first one-loss Big Ten Champ not to make the playoffs.