Ohio State, after all, looks set to make the College Football Playoffs.
The Buckeyes have the team to thank for beating at the Rose Bowl last year.
No. 11 Utah defeated No. 4 Southern California 47-24 in Friday’s Pac-12 championship game in Las Vegas, opening the back door Ohio State needed to reach the CFP.
“Coach (Ryan) Day, you’re welcome,” Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said after the game.
“Right now my heart is in Ohio State.”Brian Hartline addresses rumors about the head coach
It was USC’s second loss, both against Utah. The Utes won 43-42 at home in October. Ohio State rallied to beat Utah 48-45 on New Year’s Day in Pasadena.
Never before has a team with two losses been selected for the playoffs.
What’s Next for the CFP Rankings?
USC (11-2) overtook Ohio State (11-1) in the rankings after the Buckeyes’ 45-23 loss to Michigan (12-0) in their regular season finale. That left OSU at No. 5 and needed help from either a USC loss or, less likely, a big-enough loss of No. 3 TCU (12-0) to Kansas State in Saturday’s Big 12 championship to secure the CFP -Initiate selection committee to push OSU into four-team field.
Ohio State Football:How would expanding the College Football Playoffs to 12 teams in 2022 affect Ohio State?
No. 1 Georgia (12-0) and No. 2 Michigan are pending suspensions to make the CFP even with losses in their conference games Saturday. Georgia plays No. 4 LSU (9-3) for the SEC title. Michigan plays unranked Purdue for the Big Ten championship.
Utah defeated Southern California 47-24
USC looked like it could head to victory on Friday. Heisman Trophy favorite quarterback Caleb Williams made several standout plays as he led the Trojans to a 17-3 lead.
But after USC failed with a fourth and eight from the Utah 37, the dynamic changed. Utah scored two touchdowns, the second by 2 seconds in the second quarter to tie the game at halftime.
Utah took the lead with a touchdown in the third quarter on a 57-yard pass by Cameron Rising to Money Parks in third and 19th place.
Ohio State Football:Ohio State quarterback CJ Stroud repeats as the Big Ten’s offensive player of the year
Williams, who sustained a laceration to his right little finger early on, was hampered with what appeared to be a knee injury and the Trojans’ offense stumbled.
Utah added a field goal early in the fourth quarter to level it at 27-17.
The Trojans came alive for a touchdown to draw within 3 points, but Utah responded with a 60-yard touchdown pass and added two late touchdowns.
When will the CFP rankings be released?
The CFP selection will be announced on Sunday. Alabama is No. 6, but the Crimson Tide aren’t playing this weekend, as are the Buckeyes.
