Ohio State is unique among its four colleagues in the College Football Playoff. That’s because the Buckeyes’ lost against all three teams the last time they matched up with each. Some are more recent than others, but all aren’t that long ago.
In case you needed a reminder, the last time Ohio State went out to the desert and played in the Fiesta Bowl, it suffered arguably the worst loss of Urban Meyer’s coaching career — a 31-0 shutout at the hands of Clemson in 2016 with all the country watching.
Start the narrative.
Of course Buckeye fans will also remember the infamous planting of the flag by Baker Mayfield in a 31-16 loss to Oklahoma the following season. It was at home and was the spring board for Mayfield’s run to the Heisman in 2017.
Last but not least, Ohio State lost to LSU in the BCS National Championship game in January of 2008 by an underwhelming score of 38-24. That obviously kept the Buckeyes from securing another national title, but it continued the narrative of SEC dominance as well.
So, aside from history at stake, you have to wonder if there is extra motivation with all the recent sour moments Ohio State has had against these teams. If the Buckeyes were to win their matchup in the desert, it could potentially set up a rematch in New Orleans against an LSU team that beat them last time stakes were that high in The Big Easy.
And in the event that it’s not LSU lying in wait in its home state, it’ll be a Sooners’ squad that got into the 2018 College Football Playoff over Ohio State, and likely ruined a shot at getting into all the fun in 2017 as well.
This is by no means a self-proclaimed “revenge tour” similar to the one carelessly dreamed up by The Team Up North, but you could say there will be extra motivation as the Buckeyes prepare to finish off a season to remember.
If they pull it off, it could be redemption on things gone wrong in the past.
