Ohio State Chooses Cotton Bowl to Avoid Home Game for Miami

Ohio State University has opted to compete in the Cotton Bowl rather than the Orange Bowl to prevent a potential matchup against the University of Miami at the Hurricanes’ home ground, Hard Rock Stadium. This decision, confirmed by the College Football Playoff selection committee, places Ohio State as the No. 2 seed, where they will face either No. 7 seed Texas A&M or No. 10 seed Miami on December 31, 2023, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

The committee’s choice was influenced by the existing bowl assignments for the top seeds. No. 1 seed Indiana is set to compete in the Rose Bowl as the Big Ten champion, while No. 3 seed Georgia will participate in the Sugar Bowl as the SEC champion. This left Ohio State’s destination between Dallas and Miami.

In a media teleconference, committee chairman Hunter Yurachek explained the rationale behind the decision. “Looking at the potential second-round matchups for Ohio State and either Texas A&M or Miami, the fact that Miami, if they had won that game, would have had a huge advantage playing on their home field in the Orange Bowl. If Texas A&M wins that game, playing in the Cotton Bowl while in Texas is a true neutral-site field,” he stated.

Despite the potential for Ohio State to still face a challenging environment in Dallas, the committee concluded that it was preferable to the alternative of a de facto home game for the Hurricanes. Both Texas A&M and Miami will compete in their first-round matchup prior to Ohio State’s game.

The selection committee also addressed the decision to rank Ohio State ahead of Georgia, even with both teams holding identical records of 12-1. “Statistically, especially on the offensive and defensive side of the ball, Ohio State looks a little bit better,” Yurachek noted. He highlighted a closely contested match between Ohio State and Indiana, which Indiana won by three points. He emphasized that Ohio State had opportunities to tie the game but fell short, demonstrating their competitiveness.

Ohio State’s history with the Cotton Bowl adds another layer to this year’s selection. This will mark the Buckeyes’ third appearance in the Cotton Bowl in as many years. They faced a loss to Missouri in the 2023 Cotton Bowl, a non-playoff game, but secured a victory against Texas in last season’s College Football Playoff semifinal.

As the Buckeyes prepare for their upcoming challenge, the stakes remain high. With the potential for a significant crowd backing Texas A&M, Ohio State will aim to leverage their skills on what is hoped to be a neutral site. The matchup promises to be an exciting contest, with both teams vying for a place in the next round of the playoffs.

The anticipation for the Cotton Bowl continues to grow, and Ohio State fans are eager to see how their team will perform in this pivotal game.