July 9, 2026

Bowl projections: Ohio State slides into College Football Playoff after USC falls in Pac-12 Championship Game

CBS Sports graphic The Pac-12 has officially eliminated itself from the College Football Playoff for the sixth consecutive season, while the Big Ten looks to be in position to become the second conference in event history to put two teams in a singular four-team field. All of this comes as No. 5 Ohio State’s hopes to compete for a national championship got new life Friday night with No. 4 USC getting obliterated 47-24 by No. 11 Utah in the 2022 Pac-12 Championship Game. Should the Buckeyes be chosen by the CFP Selection Committee, they would certainly slot into the fourth spot and be participating in the playoff for the third time in the last four seasons. Ohio State beat Clemson 49-28 in the semifinal two years ago before ultimately falling to Alabama in the 2021 CFP National Championship. The No. 6 Crimson Tide are unlikely to jump the Buckeyes for the…

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