MIAMI LAKES, Fla. (AP) — The Bowl Championship Series came calling once again for Ohio State, albeit not the game the Buckeyes wanted.
A day after seeing their national-title hopes and 24-game winning streak end with a loss in the Big 10 championship game, the seventh-ranked Buckeyes were selected Sunday to play against No. 12 Clemson in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 3.
It’s the 10th BCS berth for the Buckeyes, more than any other school, though one of those appearances was later vacated.
”This team, a lot of these players have been through a lot of stuff,” Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said. ”Last year they went 12-0 and were unable to go play in a bowl game. Now, their first chance to go play in a bowl game, they’re in a BCS game against a great team. … This group of kids wants to go win a bowl game and win their 13th game. That’s what we’re going to work awful hard to get done.”
Since the start of 2012, both the Buckeyes (12-1) and Tigers (10-2) rank in the top 10 nationally in terms of points per game and winning percentage. Combined, they’re 45-5 since the start of last season, and although both had bigger aspirations, they still figure to give the Orange Bowl the type of marquee matchup that bowl games covet.
”I definitely want to congratulate Ohio State, another great year,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. ”They were a couple plays away from playing for the national championship and I’ve got all the respect in the world for coach Meyer. Looking forward to spending some time with him down in Miami.”
Continue Reading: No. 7 Ohio State-No. 12 Clemson in Orange Bowl
