As final bowl selections hang in the balance during conference championship week, all eyes will be on the top four teams in the College Football Playoff rankings. A loss by any of them—particularly from No. 3 TCU or No. 4 USC—could open the door for No. 5 Ohio State to slip into the playoff field despite its resounding loss to No. 2 Michigan in the regular season finale.
But if the Buckeyes don’t end up getting a shot at the national title, a return trip to the Rose Bowl is no guarantee.
According to The Athletic‘s Stewart Mandel and Nicole Auerbach, the Granddaddy of Them All is strongly considering No.