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BREAKING: Buckeyes punch ticket to College Football Playoff, will host Tennessee

Spencer-Holbrookby: Spencer Holbrook12/08/24SpencerHolbrook
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(© Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

COLUMBUS — Ohio State is officially in the first 12-team College Football Playoff, and the Buckeyes will host a first-round matchup in the Horseshoe.

Yes, after a 10-2 regular season that included wins over both No. 11 Indiana and No. 6 Penn State, the Buckeyes earned the right to host a first-round game. They’ll play No. 9 seed Tennessee on Dec. 20 or 21.

The winner will play No. 1 Oregon in the Rose Bowl quarterfinal.

Ohio State didn’t end the regular season the way it wanted to, losing in embarrassing fashion to a mediocre Michigan team in the rivalry game. It was even at home for the Buckeyes. But this matchup against Tennessee will give the Buckeyes a chance to finish the home slate on better terms — while competing for the ultimate prize, a national championship.

Immediately following that stunning loss to Michigan on Nov. 30, Ohio State already had its sights set on the College Football Playoff.

“It’s hard, man,” Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard said after the Michigan loss. “Don’t really have much right now, but I do know that we’re a two-loss team. We’re gonna get in the playoffs, and we’re gonna make a run. But I mean, this one hurts. It hurts.”

With no Big Ten title game appearance, the Buckeyes watched from home as No. 1 Oregon beat then-No. 3 Penn State for the league crown Ohio State thought it would win this season. Thanks to that Michigan loss, the Buckeyes didn’t earn their way into the conference championship equation.

But the 12-team playoff means it’s a new era in college football, where good teams will be rewarded for their entire body of work. Ohio State is among those being rewarded for two wins over other teams in the field, something only the Buckeyes, Oregon and Georgia can claim.

Now Ohio State heads into the CFP coming off a rivalry loss, but with a lot of time to regroup, get better and find a way to stack wins in this tournament.

The ‘natty or bust’ sentiment from the offseason can finally be either proven or disproven. Ohio State knows its path to its first title in a decade. It won’t be easy, but the path is there.

It’s official now: the path starts with a home game against Tennessee.

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