No. 1 Ohio State is trying to win back-to-back national championships for the first time in school history.
The Buckeyes (12-0) are the top team in the CFP rankings and will be in the playoff for the seventh time in 12 seasons. Coach Ryan Day has led Ohio State to 16 straight victories, and a matchup with No. 2 Indiana (12-0) in the Big Ten championship game Saturday at 8 p.m. ET at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis is the next challenge.
Ohio State won four games in the playoff last season en route to a national championship. The Buckeyes almost certainly are guaranteed a bye this year. A look at Ohio State's College Football Playoff outlook heading into selection weekend.
MORE: Championship weekend picks against the spread
Is Ohio State in the College Football Playoff?
Yes. The Buckeyes have been No. 1 in the polls since a 14-7 win against Preseason No. 1 Texas in the regular-season opener. There is no scenario in the Big Ten championship game that would knock Ohio State out of the College Football Playoff.
Ohio State playoff scenarios
Here is a look at how Ohio State's College Football Playoff seeding could be impacted by the Big Ten championship game Saturday:
Ohio State beats Indiana in Big Ten championship game
The Buckeyes are a 4.5-point favorite to beat the Hoosiers and win their first Big Ten championship since 2020. If Ohio State wins on Saturday, then they will be the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff. That would give the Big Ten the top seed for the second straight season. No. 1 Ohio State would open their College Football Playoff run at the Rose Bowl Game on Jan. 1.
Would that benefit the Buckeyes? Oregon was the No. 1 seed last season, but the Ducks had a bye before the Rose Bowl Game. No. 8 Ohio State beat No. 9 Tennessee 42-17 in the first round before knocking out the Ducks 41-21 in the Rose Bowl Game. The Buckeyes went on to win the national championship.
MORE: Why the CFP needs to expand to 16 teams
Indiana beats Ohio State in Big Ten championship game
If Indiana beats Ohio State, then the Buckeyes likely would still have a first-round bye because of the straight seeding model. Ohio State likely would fall to No. 3 or No. 4 in the rankings depending on whether No. 3 Georgia wins the SEC and No. 4 Texas Tech wins the Big 12 championship games. Indiana would take the Big Ten's Rose Bowl slot.
Would other games help Ohio State?
The Buckeyes would finish as high as No. 2 with a loss if Georgia lost to Alabama in the SEC championship game. The Crimson Tide still have two losses, and would likely be no higher than No. 4 in the final CFP rankings. A one-loss Ohio State team still might be ranked ahead of a one-loss Texas Tech team, but that argument would be eliminated if No. 11 BYU beats Texas Tech in the Big 12 championship game. If Ohio State loses, then the Buckeyes would likely play in the quarterfinals at either the Cotton Bowl Classic on Dec. 31 or the Capital One Orange Bowl on Jan. 1.
College Football Playoff bracket 2025
Ohio State is the No. 1 seed and projected to play the winner of the first-round matchup between No. 8 Oklahoma and No. 9 Alabama in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. The Buckeyes would be at the Rose Bowl for the second straight season in that scenario.
