*Update, 2:16 PM ET 12/7/14*
The Buckeyes are in to the College Football Playoff. They sneak in as the #4 seed over the likes of TCU and Baylor, and will face the #1 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide in the Allstate Sugar Bowl, where a victory would pit them against the winner of Oregon/Florida State in the Championship Game.
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Whether picked for the inaugural College Football Playoff or not, the Ohio State Buckeyes have been absolute survivors this season. With QB JT Barrett going down with an ankle injury on Saturday, the Buckeyes' "next man up" philosophy will be tested in the Big Ten Championship Game against Wisconsin.
After that, what's next? The #4 spot in the College Football Playoff? The Cotton Bowl? Let's examine the Buckeyes' bowl hopes and pick out Ohio State's 3 Most Likely Bowl Opponents.
Oregon
If Ohio State defeats Wisconsin soundly and Oregon wins out and takes down Arizona in a Pac-12 title game, don't be surprised if the Buckeyes jump TCU and take the #4 spot while Oregon slots themselves into the #1 seed. That means a potential Rose Bowl matchup between two of the best teams of the aughts so far. The Ducks would present a major test, but it's a 50-50 proposition sometimes when it comes to playoff football.
TCU
Baylor escaped Texas Tech, but still could very well jump OSU and TCU in the playoff standings with a victory over Kansas State at home next Saturday. If that happens, TCU and Ohio State are likely partners for the Cotton Bowl. In addition, if the committee somehow stays on the TCU bandwagon and brings them to #4 to stay, this could very well end up being Baylor/Ohio State.
Florida State
Florida State is undefeated but sits #3 in this week's College Football Playoff standings. They could vault up with a victory over Georgia Tech in the ACC title game, even with a shaky triumph over Florida on Saturday. If that happens, Urban Meyer could very well be planning for Jameis Winston and a chance to end FSU's two-year winning streak with a win in the CFP semifinals.
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