Ohio State ended the regular season unbeaten for the first time since Ryan Day’s early years of 2019 and 2020, when he led the program to 12-0 and 6-0 records, respectively.
This year's 12-0 record leaves the Buckeyes in line for a return to the College Football Playoff as one of the bracket’s highest seeds.
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The Buckeyes have been No. 1 since the selection committee revealed its first rankings a month ago and enter conference championship weekend as one of the only two undefeated teams left in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
Wide receiver Carnell Tate and his Ohio State teammates finished 12-0 in the regular season by beating Michigan 27-9 on Nov. 29.The overall dominance by the Buckeyes, who have won all but one game by double-digit margins, including at archrival Michigan on Nov. 29, has left them in a favorable position for a repeat run.
When Ohio State went on its national championship run last winter, it was seeded eighth, the result of a two-loss regular season, leaving it to host a game in the first round rather than receive a bye.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementCollege Football Playoff bracket predictions for Ohio State football
Here are the two potential scenarios for the Buckeyes.
OSU football earns the top seed
It will be clear-cut for the Buckeyes if they vanquish Indiana in a matchup of unbeatens in the Big Ten championship game. A win over the Hoosiers would position them as the only undefeated team in the FBS and strengthen a resume that includes relatively few high-profile wins. The selection committee has leaned on the eye test to rank the Buckeyes at No. 1, but their case would be elevated with a victory over a team that has long been No. 2. The committee wouldn’t need more than a matter of minutes to discuss Ohio State’s ranking under these circumstances.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementOSU football isn’t No. 1, but gets a bye
With the adoption of a straight seeding model, first-round byes are no longer reserved for conference champions, giving the Buckeyes a bit of a buffer should they be upset by Indiana. As long as they avoid falling below No. 4 in the final rankings, the Buckeyes would receive a bye, and such a drop is far-fetched. When Penn State and Texas lost in their conference title games last season, they only dropped a spot between the penultimate and final rankings. The committee has historically been fairly lenient in punishing teams for stumbling in the extra game. In a worst-case scenario, Georgia and Texas Tech overwhelm the committee with impressive wins in the SEC and Big 12 title games, and the Buckeyes end up at No. 4.
When does College Football Playoff bracket come out?
The bracket will be released with the committee’s final rankings on Dec. 7.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWhat time is the College Football Playoff selection show?
The reveal is set for noon on Dec. 7.
College Football Playoff bracket 2025-26 dates
First round: Dec. 19 and 20
Quarterfinals: Dec. 31 and Jan. 2
Semifinals: Jan. 8 and 9
National championship: Jan. 19
Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch. Email him at [email protected] and follow along on Bluesky, Instagram and X for more.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State football CFP bracket predictions: Where Buckeyes could land
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