Last Sunday afternoon the College Football Playoff Committee announced the first ever 12 team College Football Playoffs Bracket. This was completed after the conference championship games were played the previous Friday and Saturday. The conference champions were given a first-round bye in the bracket. Those teams are Oregon, Boise State, Georgia, and Arizona State. The other teams to make the playoffs are Indiana, Notre Dame, SMU, Penn State, Tennessee, Ohio State, Texas, and Clemson.  The Big 10 conference is well represented in the playoffs with four teams in the bracket. Ohio State being one of these teams could give head coach Ryan Day a chance at redemption.

Ohio State’s last game was a disappointing 13-10 loss on November 28th,2024, to Michigan in Columbus. It was Ryan Day’s fourth consecutive loss to their biggest rival. And with that follows chatter of Day being replaced. But Day could save his job and standing with Buckeyes fans starting on December 21st,2024.

On Saturday December 21st at 8 pm eastern time, the 8th seed Ohio State Buckeyes will host the 7th seed Tennessee Volunteers at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. The game will be televised nationally on ABC. The winner of this first round matchup advances to the Rose Bowl on New Years Day to play the undefeated number one seed Oregon Ducks. If Ohio State beats Tennessee, then they will get a rematch of their October 12th 32-31 loss to Oregon. That game was played in Oregon. Based on the strength of the rest of the bracket, it appears that the winner of the Rose Bowl would have the inside track to the College Football National Championship. For Ohio State head coach Ryan Day to save his job winning the National Championship isn’t necessarily required. But a good showing in the playoffs is required and expected.