Making its first appearance in the College Football Playoff since 2016, Ohio State fought the defending national champion Clemson Tigers to the end but fell short in a 29-23 contest in Glendale, Arizona.
The Buckeyes scored the game's first 16 points but did so ominously by failing to convert red zone trips into touchdowns in the first half.
Clemson would reel off 21 straight points to take the lead midway through the third quarter - helped by numerous questionable calls from the zebras - before Ohio State would reclaim the lead at 23-21 early in the fourth quarter.