Ohio State is probably next playing in the Orange Bowl

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Well, it was a rough loss for Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game. In the end, the inability to finish two fourth quarter drives meant a heartbreaking loss instead off capping off an undefeated season. Now, after a disappointing 13-10 loss, all thoughts turn to the College Football Playoff. And while it might be disappointing, things went pretty well for the Buckeyes after ending the season with a 13-10 loss last year.

Where in the Playoff will the Buckeyes go? Unlike last year, Ohio State will have a first-round bye to start the Playoff. The Buckeyes aren't falling out of the top four, so there won't be an on-campus home game. Instead, Ohio State will next compete in the quarterfinals.

The four quarterfinal bowls are going to be the Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Cotton Bowl, and Orange Bowl. And the four byes will almost certainly be going to Indiana, Ohio State, Georgia, and Texas Tech. But who goes where?

Indiana is locked into the Rose Bowl. That's contractually guaranteed. As is Georgia to the Sugar Bowl. That means that Ohio State and Texas Tech will each either go to the Cotton Bowl or Orange Bowl.

For this, there are no guarantees. No contract dictates either way who ends up where. However, the Cotton Bowl does have a historic connection to the Big 12. So it's likely–but not definite–that the committee will put Texas Tech in the Cotton Bowl. Which leaves the Orange Bowl for Ohio State. We'll find out for sure at some point between 1:00 and 4:00 PM on Sunday–so maybe don't book those hotels yet–but Buckeye fans can start planning road trips and putting tickets on hold for flights to Miami.

The Orange Bowl is scheduled for Noon Eastern on New Year's Day.

This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Ohio State is probably next playing in the Orange Bowl

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