Ohio State embrace new playoff format

Ryan Day took the Ohio State Buckeyes into the Rose Bowl Game with a win already secured in the new College Football Playoff (CFP) format. Day’s team dominated Tennessee 42-17 in the opening round, but there is still much work to be done.

Two is the magic number for Ohio State. If they can dig deep for a couple more wins, they will claim their first national championship since 2014. Day and the Buckeyes took their second step towards that goal by defeating the Oregon Ducks 41-21 in a CFP quarterfinal game played in Pasadena, California on New Year’s Day.

The path through the College Football Playoff has never been more demanding with the expansion from a four-team to a twelve-team tournament. The Buckeyes are embracing that challenge and feel good about their chances.

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“The turnaround on these games has been quicker, but I like it. It keeps us in a routine, and I feel like our guys have good energy. They have been focused and know the discipline of staying locked in and not being distracted,” said Day. “I think the discipline of outlasting your opponents is a big part of this.”

The debate over a bye week being positive or negative has always been a hot topic in the NFL, and now it has entered the conversation at the collegiate level. By playing in the first round, Ohio State was able to rebuild their confidence, something they needed after an excruciating loss to their rival Michigan in their last game of the regular season.

“Every time we have been knocked down, we have bounced back, and I think that speaks a lot to the character of the guys in the locker room and the coaching and just the university as a whole,” said quarterback Will Howard. “The ups and downs that we have gone through this year, you feel them, and it is not easy, but I think that gives you a callus to where you are not affected by things as much.”

“We all knew what we were getting ourselves into,” Howard continued. “We did not expect to be here and just play a normal season. I remember coach making us do seventeen pushups at the beginning of the season because we had seventeen games on our schedule.”

Ohio State missed out on playing in the Big Ten title game, which makes sixteen the most games they could play, but the message is still clear. This team has had their eyes set on playing an extended season from day one. If not for the expanded bracket, they would have missed out on the opportunity to play on New Year’s Day.

“I think our team has adapted really well,” said defensive end Jack Sawyer. “So many great teams have missed out on opportunities before with the four teams, and it gives more teams a chance to come in and compete. This is the right thing for the game.”

Like many players on his team, Sawyer is very grateful twelve teams are now included in the playoffs. It gives some of the smaller programs a chance to compete and also provides the powerhouse teams that experience a hiccup or two throughout their tough schedules a second opportunity.

“It has been a different journey, and you can feel it. I think that, in a sense, it is preparing us for the next level. You have many more games in the NFL, so being able to practice putting that load on your body is something that has been very helpful for me,” said wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, who played in the Rose Bowl during his freshman year at Ohio State.

The now senior is slated to be one of the top receivers off the board in the 2025 NFL Draft. He was quick to point out that the grind of playing extra games will better him during his journey to the next level.

Egbuka is a player to watch in what is expected to be a high-scoring affair, and his roommate Jeremiah Smith will help take some of the defense pressure off of him. As a freshman, Smith gained over 1,000 yards through the air and scored thirteen touchdowns. Oregon’s secondary will be forced to pick its poison.

“Whether you have one game a year or twenty, you ultimately get to the same place, and we are here now. We are laser-focused on this game and couldn’t be more grateful than to be in this position,” said Egbuka.

The Ducks beat this Ohio State team 32-31 back in October, and the one-point loss might have knocked the Buckeyes out of contention in years past. Thanks to the new format, they now have a prime opportunity to get their revenge and secure a spot as one of the final four teams in college football.


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