The Ohio State Buckeyes have one of the most storied programs in college football history. Throughout the decades, Ohio State has become synonymous with success, boasting numerous conference titles, Heisman Trophy winners, and a tradition of excellence on the gridiron. Central to this legacy is the college football postseason, particularly the College Football Playoff (CFP), which has become the ultimate benchmark of success in the modern era of college football. While Ohio State’s tradition of national championships is long and rich, the team has also experienced significant success under the CFP format, which has crowned the best teams in the country since its inception in 2014. This essay will explore Ohio State’s College Football Playoff history, their path to winning CFP national championships, and the significance of these achievements in their broader legacy.
The College Football Playoff Era
The College Football Playoff system was introduced in 2014 to replace the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) as the method for determining the national champion in college football. The playoff consists of four teams selected by a 13-member selection committee, with the top four teams placed in two semifinal matchups. These games rotate between six major bowl games, with the winners advancing to the CFP National Championship Game, where the winner is crowned the national champion.
For teams like Ohio State, the College Football Playoff provided an opportunity for elite programs to compete in a more transparent, competitive, and straightforward format than the previous BCS system. The BCS, while serving its purpose for many years, had limitations, such as the controversial exclusion of deserving teams from the national championship game. With the CFP, Ohio State was able to showcase its prowess on a national stage, and the program wasted no time asserting itself in the new format.
Ohio State’s Road to the First CFP National Championship (2014)
The first season of the CFP was monumental for Ohio State. Under the guidance of head coach Urban Meyer, the Buckeyes entered the 2014 season with high expectations, but their path to the College Football Playoff was anything but certain. After losing starting quarterback Braxton Miller to a season-ending injury before the year even began, Ohio State faced uncertainty at the most critical position on the field. However, Meyer quickly turned to J.T. Barrett, a redshirt freshman, who performed admirably in Miller’s absence. Barrett led Ohio State to an 11-1 record during the regular season, with the lone loss coming at the hands of Virginia Tech early in the year.
Despite the impressive regular season, many pundits questioned whether Ohio State had done enough to make the inaugural CFP. Barrett’s injury late in the season threatened to derail the Buckeyes’ title hopes, but backup quarterback Cardale Jones stepped in and delivered a remarkable performance in the Big Ten Championship Game against Wisconsin. Ohio State’s dominant 59-0 victory over the Badgers not only secured a Big Ten title but also helped propel the Buckeyes into the CFP field as the fourth and final team.
Ohio State’s selection as the No. 4 seed in the 2014 College Football Playoff meant a showdown with Alabama, the No. 1 seed, in the Sugar Bowl. In what became one of the most significant wins in Ohio State’s football history, the Buckeyes shocked the college football world by defeating Alabama 42-35. Jones, who had only started one game prior to the contest, turned in an MVP performance, throwing for 243 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for a score. Ohio State’s victory over Alabama set the stage for a matchup in the national championship game against Oregon.
In the 2015 CFP National Championship Game, Ohio State faced off against an Oregon team led by dynamic quarterback Marcus Mariota, who would go on to win the Heisman Trophy that season. Despite Oregon’s high-powered offense and Mariota’s brilliance, Ohio State put together a complete performance in a 42-20 victory. Cardale Jones threw for 242 yards and a touchdown, while Ezekiel Elliott ran for 246 yards and four touchdowns, including a 1-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to seal the victory. Ohio State’s win not only earned them their first-ever College Football Playoff National Championship but also solidified their place in history as the first team to win the title in the new era of college football.
The 2014 national title was a crowning achievement for Urban Meyer and the Ohio State program. The team’s resilience in overcoming adversity, particularly with the injuries to key players, demonstrated the strength of the program and its ability to adapt to challenges. The victory also gave Ohio State its eighth national championship in school history, cementing its legacy as one of the sport’s all-time great programs.
Ohio State’s Continued CFP Success (2016-2022)
Following their 2014 national title, Ohio State’s College Football Playoff success continued, albeit without another national championship until 2022. The Buckeyes were regular contenders in the CFP, qualifying for the playoff in multiple seasons and remaining at the top of college football throughout the 2010s and into the 2020s.
2016: A Controversial CFP Snub
After winning the Big Ten Championship in 2016 with an 11-1 regular-season record, Ohio State found itself in the mix for a spot in the CFP. The Buckeyes had one of the most impressive resumes in the country, including victories over Michigan and a dominating win over the Wisconsin Badgers in the conference title game. However, Ohio State’s case was complicated by their loss to Penn State during the regular season.
In the end, the selection committee chose to leave Ohio State out of the four-team playoff, despite their strong performance throughout the year. The Buckeyes were instead sent to the Fiesta Bowl, where they defeated Notre Dame in a dominant 44-28 victory. While Ohio State’s 2016 season ended without a CFP berth, it further proved that the Buckeyes were one of the premier programs in college football.
2017: A Return to the Playoff
Ohio State returned to the CFP in 2017 after a strong 12-2 season. Despite early-season losses to Oklahoma and a narrow defeat to Iowa, the Buckeyes managed to win the Big Ten Championship and earn a spot in the playoff. In their semifinal matchup against Clemson, however, Ohio State’s championship hopes were dashed in a 31-0 loss, a bitter end to a season that had shown so much promise.
2020: The COVID-19 Pandemic and the Road to the National Championship Game
The 2020 season was unlike any other, with the COVID-19 pandemic causing disruptions to the college football calendar. Despite these challenges, Ohio State had a remarkable season, finishing with a 7-0 record in the Big Ten. While their schedule was shorter than most other teams, the Buckeyes were still one of the top teams in the country and earned a spot in the CFP.
Ohio State’s run through the playoff in 2020 was impressive, as they defeated Clemson 49-28 in a thrilling Sugar Bowl to advance to the national championship game. However, in the final, the Buckeyes fell short against Alabama, losing 52-24 in a dominant performance by the Crimson Tide. Despite the loss, Ohio State’s 2020 season was seen as a testament to the program’s resilience during an unprecedented time in college football.
Ohio State’s Second CFP National Title (2022)
After several seasons of near-misses, Ohio State captured its second College Football Playoff National Championship in 2022. The Buckeyes entered the 2022 season as one of the top teams in college football, and they lived up to their preseason hype, finishing the regular season with an 11-1 record. Ohio State’s only loss came at the hands of Michigan in a dramatic game at the end of the regular season, but the Buckeyes still managed to secure a place in the College Football Playoff as the No. 2 seed.
In the 2022 semifinals, Ohio State faced off against the Georgia Bulldogs, a team that had won the national championship the previous year and was considered one of the most formidable teams in college football. In an instant classic, Ohio State came from behind to defeat Georgia 42-41 in a thriller that was decided in the final seconds. Ohio State advanced to the national championship game, where they met the defending champions, Alabama.
The 2022 national championship game was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading blows throughout. In the end, Ohio State’s defense held firm, and the Buckeyes emerged victorious, capturing their second CFP National Championship with a hard-fought 31-28 win. The win was particularly significant as it gave Ohio State its first national title since the 2014 season, solidifying their place in the modern era of college football and proving that they remained one of the best teams in the country.
