No word yet on tickets for CFP game at Ohio Stadium
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Ohio State Buckeye football team dropped four spots from No. 2 to No. 6 in Tuesday’s College Football Playoff rankings.
The Buckeyes are ahead of fellow “at-large” bid candidates Tennessee, Indiana, and Alabama, meaning Ohio State could be in line to host a CFP game later this month.
"They already sent out the lottery for both the Big Ten and the home playoff game," Ohio State senior Stephen Choi said.
The Big Ten Championship game won't be happening for the Buckeyes as Penn State will play Oregon in Indianapolis on Saturday.
For season ticket holders and the general public, tickets to the potential playoff game at Ohio Stadium on Dec. 20 or 21 aren't on sale yet through the university or Ticketmaster. However, third-party ticket sellers are listing a plethora of tickets available, many listed at prices much higher than the CFP-controlled $100-$500.
“It's my senior year, so it'll technically be the last game I have a chance to go to, so absolutely,” Choi said. “No student's going to turn down an opportunity to go to a game, so they'll all be there. But I will say the minute things go sour, people are going to get sour fast.”
He believes Buckeye fans will turn out for a home CFP game, despite the result from Senior Night on Saturday. Other students agree.
"I think the fans will all come out no matter what,” Ohio State sophomore Ben Katz said. “We, the culture here at Ohio State, everyone just loves the team. We always have faith in our guys.”
"We have a loyal fan base and I think just because we lost doesn't mean that people won't go in the future,” sophomore Ryan Greenberg said. “One hundred percent, I still believe in the Buckeyes. It was a tough loss, but I think you can still make it to the national championship.”
Ticket sales for a playoff game will typically offer season ticket holders the option to purchase tickets first. Other schools like Indiana have already begun offering tickets to a potential home game. Though, at #9, Indiana would not host a CFP game and could potentially make a trip back to Columbus, depending on how conference championship games play out.
The Buckeyes have never hosted a home football game in December. A home game against Michigan was scheduled for Dec. 12, 2020, but that game was canceled due to COVID protocols.
Students think the atmosphere will be akin to what fans saw against Indiana and Michigan to end the season.
Freshman Gennaro Polise said he expects, "Just as much excitement for Michigan, if not more for this playoff game because, like, I know it's disappointing that outcome for Michigan, but still a lot to look forward to. Like there's still like definitely plans of winning a Natty."
“Ohio State nation always has their backs, no matter what,” junior Steven Dillpepper said. “The fans always back them and that's something that makes this team so special.”
Despite a loss Saturday, students still had high hopes for the team.
“We almost took Oregon on the road, number one team in the country. It's one bad, everyone has like, kind of fluke games or one fluke game," Polise said.
Dillpepper pointed to the number of players who came back for another year to play fo Ohio State as a key for a National Title run.
“A lot of the guys came back because they wanted to do something special and I think they are,” he said. “I mean, just a little minor speed bump. Obviously to an unfortunate team to take a loss to, but I just think it's going to be a speed bump along the way."
There was some hesitation in Choi’s confidence in the Buckeyes, though.
"I still have a lot of faith in them,” he said. “I have a faith that our faith in our talent just mentally, I don't know for their, I will say this is a make-or-break game for Ryan Day. If he doesn't make it to the natty, if he doesn't win the national championship, he's as good as gone to me."
The Ohio State Athletics Ticket Office did not have anyone available for an interview but did say it would have answers about home playoff game tickets soon.