This story will appear in the Dec. 15, 2014 issue of Sports Illustrated. To purchase a subscription to the magazine, go here. A dozen people mingled in a Dublin, Ohio, living room on Sunday, attempting in vain to make small talk over the high-decibel commentary on television. As the minutes dwindled before the estimated 12:45 p.m. announcement of the four teams in the inaugural College Football Playoff, Urban Meyer’s left thumb kept hammering the volume button. The Ohio State coach likes to be in control, and the remote was the only place where he could exert his influence. Amid the noise, no one else knew quite what to do. The night before, Meyer’s No. 5 Buckeyes had eviscerated 13th-ranked Wisconsin 59-0 in the Big Ten title game. “Shocked,” Meyer said of his team’s dominance. “Shocked. I thought Wisconsin was really good.” Ohio State returned from Indianapolis to Columbus after 3 a.m., and Meyer’s electronic wrist tracker informed him that he’d since slept for three hours and 10 minutes. He sat in a white upholstered chair, looking equal parts anxious and exhausted, dissecting his team’s chances. • STAPLES: Why the Big 12 didn’t get in the playoff; Punt, Pass & Pork Meyer said he felt strongly that No. 6 Baylor had a better claim to a playoff berth than No. 3 TCU because of the Bears’ 61-58 head-to-head victory on Oct. 11…
Continue Reading: ‘We’re in!’: How Ohio State learned it made the College Football Playoff
