National analyst’s College Football Playoff prediction would give Ryan Day a chance to wipe away one Ohio State nightmare
Ryan Day finally got the big target off his back last season by leading the Ohio State Buckeyes on an impressive run to win his first National Championship. With that victory, Day became just one of three active college football head coaches with a national title to their name. But that championship is already in […]
Ryan Day finally got the big target off his back last season by leading the Ohio State Buckeyes on an impressive run to win his first National Championship. With that victory, Day became just one of three active college football head coaches with a national title to their name.
But that championship is already in the past for Ohio State — and the shift in focus happened quickly. Just days after the celebration, the Buckeyes were fighting to retain key players and coaches. Fourteen players from that title-winning team were drafted, meaning new faces will have to step up in several key roles.
Still, the mission remains the same in Columbus: beat Michigan and compete for a national title. And according to one college football analyst, Ohio State is poised for another deep run in 2025.
On3’s Brett McMurphy postseason predictions are promising for the Buckeyes
Ohio State’s narrow loss to Georgia in the 2022 College Football Playoff semifinal still stings for many Buckeye fans. In that game, OSU missed a potential game-winning field goal and gave up a double-digit lead late. Most memorably, Marvin Harrison Jr. exited with a concussion after a controversial hit that many felt changed the outcome.
Fast forward to McMurphy’s 2025 postseason projections, and he sees a potential rematch. He predicts Ohio State will earn the No. 4 seed and return to the National Championship Game to face Georgia once again.
Here’s how McMurphy envisions the Buckeyes’ path:
Quarterfinals
Cotton Bowl – Dec. 31, 2025
AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
No. 4 Ohio State vs. No. 5 Texas
Semifinals
Fiesta Bowl – Jan. 8, 2026
State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
No. 1 Notre Dame vs. No. 4 Ohio State
National Championship
Jan. 19, 2026
Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
No. 3 Georgia vs. No. 4 Ohio State (Georgia wins)
Even a loss in the final game would be a step forward
Given how much talent Ohio State lost to the NFL Draft, simply returning to the National Championship Game would be a major accomplishment. It would mark another big step for Ryan Day as he looks to build a dynasty in Columbus — one that competes for titles every year and is a constant fixture in the final stages of the College Football Playoff.
Making it to back-to-back title games — especially in the expanded playoff format and with a new quarterback — would be a testament to the program’s depth and consistency.
Of course, the games still have to be played, and offseason predictions like this are meant to generate conversation and anticipation. But expectations are sky-high once again in Columbus, and the Buckeyes are expected to reload — not rebuild — as they chase another shot at glory.
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