GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Turns out Ohio State was a year away after all.
The Buckeyes seemingly had grown up in a hurry this season. For all the fresh faces in the starting lineup and all the success that appeared to arrive overnight, eventually all that youth was bound to catch up to them.
Make no mistake: Ohio State had earned the right to compete under the lights in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl. But the Buckeyes clearly weren’t ready to take the next step and contend for a championship, and the lopsided 31-0 loss to Clemson and the clock striking midnight on Saturday officially started the clock on a year when a title shot might be more realistic.