Ohio State’s quest to defend its national title officially ended Sunday when the College Football Playoff committee left the Buckeyes out of the top four. The Buckeyes’ slim hopes died Saturday night when Alabama beat Florida 29-15 to win the Southeastern Conference championship and Clemson beat North Carolina 45-37 in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game. The consolation prize for the Buckeyes and their fans is a date with Notre Dame on New Year’s Day in the Fiesta Bowl. Ohio State (11-1) finished No. 7 in the final playoff ranking. It will play No. 8 Notre Dame (10-2) at 1 p.m. at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. It’s a rematch of the 2006 Fiesta Bowl, won 34-20 by Ohio State, and a preview of a regular-season series coming in 2022 and 2023. “It’s two legendary programs, two programs I am very familiar with and have great respect for,” Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said. “[The Fiesta Bowl] is a great bowl game, one I’ve had experience with and I know Ohio State has a great tradition there as well. I’m very excited. …
Continue Reading: Urban Meyer on Ohio State vs. Notre Dame: ‘Two legendary programs’
