Wait. Let’s just be real for a second. If you told an Ohio State fan back in August that their team would go 12-0 in the regular season, beat Michigan (again), and hold every single opponent to 16 points or less, they’d probably start booking flights to the National Championship. It sounded like a dream. But the Ohio State college football playoff run in the 2025-26 season ended up being more of a "what if" story than a trophy celebration.
Winning matters. Losing hurts. But losing after being the "team of destiny" is a different kind of sting.
The Quarterfinal Collapse Nobody Expected
The Buckeyes walked into the Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Eve 2025 looking like the heavy favorites against the Miami Hurricanes. They were the No. 2 seed. They had a defense that experts were calling "historic" under Matt Patricia. Honestly, the stats backed it up—they were giving up fewer than 10 points a game during the regular season.
Then the game happened.
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Miami didn't even play an "electric" game, as some predicted. They just played conservative. They played smart. Ohio State looked... different. For a team that never trailed in the second half all year, seeing them down 24-14 at the final whistle felt like a glitch in the Matrix.
What Really Happened in the Postseason?
There’s a lot of talk about "bye week rust." Ohio State earned that first-round bye by being elite, but some fans are starting to wonder if sitting out while teams like Miami played their way into a rhythm actually hurt more than it helped.
The issues weren't just about rust, though:
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- The Offensive Line: Throughout the year, they masked some depth issues with quick throws. In the playoff, Miami’s front four finally exposed those cracks.
- Julian Sayin’s Role: A lot of people are still questioning why the Buckeyes didn't let the freshman phenom run the ball more. He’s got the legs, but the play-calling stayed remarkably safe.
- The Indiana Hangover: You can’t ignore the Big Ten Championship game. Losing 13-10 to Indiana—yes, the undefeated 15-0 Indiana Hoosiers—seemed to take some of the wind out of the Buckeyes' sails before the playoff even started.
Ryan Day has a spectacular record. He’s a winner. But in the Ohio State college football playoff history books, 2025 will be remembered as the year the "perfect" team couldn't finish the job.
Looking Ahead to 2026: The "Reload" Is Real
If you're worried about the program falling off a cliff, don't be. That’s not how Columbus works. Even with major departures like Caleb Downs and Sonny Styles heading to the NFL, the 2026 roster looks like a video game cheat code.
We’re talking about Jeremiah Smith coming back as a junior. That’s terrifying for Big Ten secondaries. We’re talking about Bo Jackson taking over the backfield. Plus, the schedule is getting way harder. No more "easy" stretches. They travel to Austin to play Texas in Week 2. They have to go to Iowa and USC.
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Actionable Insights for the 2026 Season
If you're a bettor or just a die-hard fan looking at the next cycle, here is what you need to watch:
1. Monitor the Transfer Portal for Defensive Tackles
With Kayden McDonald leaving, the Buckeyes need a massive body in the middle to maintain that elite "points against" stat. If they don't land a high-tier transfer, the defense might take a step back.
2. Watch the Offensive Coordinator Search
There’s a lot of noise about Ryan Day potentially bringing in more NFL influence to fix the red-zone stagnation that killed them in the Cotton Bowl.
3. Book Your Travel for the Texas Game Early
The Week 2 matchup in Austin is going to be the biggest non-conference game of the year. It will set the tone for the entire 2026 playoff race.
The Ohio State college football playoff drought for a national title continues since the 2024-25 victory, but the floor for this program is still higher than almost anyone else's ceiling. The talent is there. The coaching is there. Now, they just need to figure out how to play their best football in January, not just October.