Ohio State’s Road to Redemption: Buckeyes Enter Playoff with Confidence, Not Regret
ARLINGTON, Texas - A year ago, Ohio State rolled into the College Football Playoff with a chip on its shoulder and something to prove. That squad was fueled by a stunning regular-season loss to Michigan-a gut punch that left fans and critics alike questioning whether the Buckeyes had what it took to finish the job. The answer came loud and clear: they did, storming through the playoff and capturing their first national title in a decade.
Fast forward to this season, and the Buckeyes are back in the playoff picture. But the context feels different.
Yes, they’re coming off another painful loss-this time a 13-10 defeat to top-seeded Indiana in the Big Ten Championship-but the vibe inside the locker room isn’t one of revenge. It’s about unfinished business.
“We were trying to do something different and that’s go undefeated,” said star wideout Jeremiah Smith. “We didn’t really play our best, but we can’t really focus on that. We have to focus on what’s ahead of us, and that’s playing against Miami-a very good football team.”
Smith’s message was clear: the Buckeyes aren’t looking back. But with a confident grin, he couldn’t help but add, “We’re going to see Indiana again.”
That’s the hope in Columbus. A rematch with the Hoosiers would mean Ohio State has punched its ticket to the national championship game in Miami-a chance to go back-to-back and erase the sting of that one blemish on an otherwise dominant season.
But first, there’s business to handle in Texas.
Learning from the Loss
Ohio State’s loss to Indiana wasn’t just a setback-it was a wake-up call. The Buckeyes were out of rhythm offensively, and while quarterback Julian Sayin posted a respectable stat line (21-of-29, 258 yards, one touchdown), he also threw a costly early interception and was sacked five times. For a team that had cruised through Big Ten play, it was a rare moment of vulnerability.
“We didn’t play our best football in that last game,” Sayin admitted. “And definitely, the guys on offense, we’re a little bit pissed off because we could have done so much better execution-wise. It starts with me.”
That kind of accountability is what you want to hear from your signal-caller heading into the postseason. And with 23 days to stew over missed blocks, blown assignments, and missed opportunities, this team has had plenty of time to self-correct.
Practice Getting Chippy
Head coach Ryan Day has seen the signs. The practices leading up to Wednesday’s Cotton Bowl clash with Miami have been intense-maybe even a little too intense.
“Our guys, they’re tired of going against each other,” Day said. “It’s been chippy the past few days.
They’re tired of practicing against each other. So, that’s a good sign.
That means we’re ready to hit somebody else.”
That edge will be needed against a Miami team that’s no pushover. The Hurricanes are coming off a tough, physical win at Texas A&M and bring a defense that’s allowing just 13 points per game. They’ve also got one of the most electric freshmen in the country in wide receiver Malachi Toney, who’s capable of flipping a game in a heartbeat.
This isn’t Tennessee from last year. This is a Miami team that’s tested, confident, and more than capable of pulling off an upset if Ohio State isn’t locked in from the jump.
Hungry, Not Haunted
The Buckeyes aren’t carrying the same emotional baggage into this year’s playoff. Last season, that Michigan loss hung over the program like a storm cloud. This time, the loss to Indiana stung-but it didn’t shake the foundation.
“At the end of the day, we were hungry both times, and that’s what this is,” said All-American safety Caleb Downs. “We have to play hungry and go out and get a win, no matter the circumstances and no matter the situation.”
Offensive coordinator Brian Hartline echoed that mindset. “When you lose your rivalry game, it’s a little different.
We have expectations to win everything and we wanted to be the first team to be 16-0. That obviously won’t be the case, but it doesn’t change the way we’ve operated.
We’re really focused on where we’re at right now, and not necessarily reminiscing on last year.”
Still, for fans making the trip to AT&T Stadium, it’s hard not to reminisce. This is the same venue where Ohio State hoisted the first College Football Playoff trophy back in 2015. And with Miami on the other sideline, you can bet there will be plenty of highlights from the Buckeyes’ controversial win over the Hurricanes in the 2003 BCS National Championship game playing on repeat.
Eyes on the Prize
The message from the players is clear: they’re not satisfied with just making it back to the playoff. They’re here to win it all-again.
“We know we’re going to win it all,” said receiver Carnell Tate. “I’m very excited for my guys.
There’s a lot of new guys here. A lot of new guys [who need] to get hardware and old guys from last year too, [trying to get] their second hardware.”
That’s the mindset of a team that’s been here before. No panic.
No finger-pointing. Just a group of elite players, laser-focused on the next step in their journey.
So while the storylines may be different than last year, the stakes are just as high. The Buckeyes don’t need a rivalry loss to fuel them this time around. The goal is right in front of them-and this team looks ready to chase it down.