CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Buckeyes approach Championship Saturday in wait-and-see mode. They still have an outside opportunity to make the College Football Playoff. If they don't make the playoff, they have a good shot at making the cut for the Rose Bowl.
To make a return trip to the playoffs Ohio State almost certainly needs Alabama to lose to Florida in the SEC Championship and Clemson to lose to North Carolina in the ACC Championship.
To go to the Rose Bowl, Ohio State would only have to be ranked higher than the team that loses the Big 10 Championship game.