Ohio State fans will need to watch championship weekend closely with their bowl game future both obvious and uncertain in 2022.
The Ohio State Buckeyes have hopes of leaping from No. 5 in the most recent College Football Playoff rankings into the Top 4 this weekend. However, they need quite a bit of help on that front.
The playoff is uncertain because Ryan Day’s squad won’t be playing in the Big Ten Championship Game. Their loss to rival Michigan denied them a chance at the Big Ten title and the playoff berth that surely would have come with it.
Now, if the playoff doesn’t open up, the Buckeyes will have to settle for a New Year’s Six bowl instead.
Ohio State bowl projections: Buckeye expected to play in Orange Bowl
Under normal circumstances, Ohio State would be heading to the Rose Bowl if they didn’t get into the playoff. However, that doesn’t look likely.
Ohio State played in the Rose Bowl last year, coming off the same rivalry disappointment. Multiple stars opted out of the ultimately meaningless game and the program didn’t sell out their ticket allotment.
This year, it seems the Rose Bowl has no interest in hosting a Buckeye team that doesn’t want to be there.
Instead, bowl projections from CBS Sports have Ohio State landing in the Orange Bowl against Clemson.
The Orange Bowl gets their choice of at-large teams and if the Rose Bowl picks Penn State instead of the Buckeyes, there’s no way they’ll pass over C.J. Stroud and company.
Recent Orange Bowl history
2021: (3) Georgia 34, (2) Michigan 11
2020: (5) Texas A&M 41, (14) North Carolina 27
2019: (6) Florida 36, Virginia 28
2018: (1) Alabama 45, (4) Oklahoma 34
2017: (6) Wisconsin 34, (11) Miami 24
The Orange Bowl was a College Football Playoff semifinal host in 2021 and 2018. Georgia stormed past Michigan en route to a national title last season while Alabama made it past Oklahoma before their own championship triumph.
When is the Orange Bowl?
Date: Dec. 30, 2022
Time: 8:00 p.m. E.T
Location: Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL
TV Channel: ESPN
The 89th edition of the Capital One Orange Bowl will be played on Dec. 30 at Hard Rock Stadium.