PHOENIX — Inside Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, posters promoting the College Football Playoff championship game adorn the walls.
Flags with the CFP symbol fly outside the airport. Reminders of college football’s biggest game are everywhere.
Ohio State didn’t see that familiar logo as their plane arrived in Arizona on Sunday. The Buckeyes’ jumbo charter jet landed at an adjoining executive terminal runway. They were greeted by yellow-jacketed Fiesta Bowl officials, a throng of Buckeyes fans and a festively garbed local musical dance group called Ballet Folklorico Alegria.
It was a nice welcome, but it was two weeks earlier than the Buckeyes wanted or expected.