Ohio State opens its playoff run tonight against Miami in a matchup that tests the Buckeyesâ depth and discipline against raw speed.
The Hurricanes want track-meet football; the Buckeyes want to drag them into late possessions where conditioning and physicality tilt the game. Beat Miami, and Ohio Stateâs road forward becomes all about familiar battles â either avenging an old postseason heartbreak or proving itself against a stylistically tricky SEC team.
Semifinal Stakes: Georgia Revenge or Ole Miss Tempo
If Ohio State advances, the semifinal becomes either a long-awaited rematch against Georgia or a contrast in styles against Ole Miss. A return bout with the Bulldogs would come with emotional weight â the last time these teams met in the postseason, Ohio State left the field off a missed field goal, believing it let a championship slip as Georgia routed TCU 65-7 in the championship game.
Georgia still leans on trench strength and defensive structure, even if theyâre no longer the overwhelming force of their peak. For the Buckeyes, the key wouldnât just be execution â it would be composure. Georgia wants to turn mistakes into momentum; Ohio State needs to play clean and dictate pace instead of reacting.
If itâs Ole Miss, the challenge flips. Pete Goulding’s talented offense forces defenses into mismatches and uncomfortable spacing, looking to steal yards and stress coverages with tempo. Ohio Stateâs advantage would be durability up front â if the Buckeyes hold up physically, Ole Miss risks fading in the second half, where the Buckeyes’ run game and short passing attack take over. But fall behind early, and Ohio State might get dragged into a shootout it doesnât prefer.
The Championship Picture: Four Paths, One Identity Test
Survive the semifinal, and Ohio State could see any one of four wildly different finalists â Oregon, Texas Tech, Alabama, or a rematch with Indiana.
Oregon is the balanced monster: trench power, vertical threats, and the ability to win both high-scoring duels and body-blow contests. Texas Tech brings unpredictability and edge â a team capable of dragging opponents into extended drives and disruptive defensive fronts.
Alabama is Alabama: disciplined, opportunistic, and dangerous if the game is close with ten minutes left. And Indiana, should they emerge, offers something emotionally charged â a rematch against a team that already knows Ohio Stateâs tendencies and would come in fearless.
Two intriguing possibilities are the Big Ten rematches against Oregon and Indiana. The Ducks handed the Buckeyes one of their few losses last season, but OSU avenged it in the Rose Bowl by getting off to a 34-0 lead over Oregon and not looking back for a 41-21 win on New Year’s Day.
Indiana and Ohio State clashed as the top two teams in the country in the highly anticipated Big Ten Championship Game, and the Hoosiers survived a 60-minute street fight that saw multiple big throws from Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza and several costly stops from the Hoosiers’ defense. A missed field goal from Jayden Fielding allowed IU to salt away the 13-10 win, as Mendoza found Charlie Becker downfield to all but ice it in Indianapolis.
Last season, the Buckeyes went on a four-game tear after losing 13-10 to Michigan in the most unexpected result. This year, Ohio State will be out to prove that they are not finished, that they can find another gear once again, and go back-to-back as national champions.
Each potential opponent forces a different version of Ohio State to show up. The Buckeyes can win with defense, they can grind on the ground, and they can hit explosive plays when needed â but a championship run likely requires all three identities across three games.
Final Outlook
Ohio State doesnât just have a path â it has a gauntlet demanding physical resilience early, emotional clarity in the semifinal, and tactical versatility in the title game. The Buckeyes believe theyâre built to finish a season this way. Now they have to prove it, one style clash at a time.
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