Ohio State’s History Against Top-Ranked Teams in Postseason Games

Ohio State has played the nation's top-ranked team in a post-season game four times. The Buckeyes have a 2-2 record against the No. 1 team. They play Georgia in the CFP Semifinal at the Peach Bowl tonight.

On New Year's Day 1973, 106,869 people came to watch the Rose Bowl to see the top-ranked Trojans take on No. 3 Ohio State. The Trojan's balanced offensive attack dominated the second half and they won the game 42-17. Sam Cunningham scored three of his four rushing touchdowns in the 2nd half. The next season, Ohio beat USC 42 to 21 in Rosebowl. They also won Rose bowl in 1974.

No. 2 Ohio State beat Miami 24-31 in double overtime in the Fiesta Bowl BCS National Championship Game in 2003. The Buckeyes had a record of losing close games in recent years. Miami won the national championship.   The talk before the game was not if Miami would win but how good they were. There were rumors of a star-studded party after the match. In the second quarter, Mike Doss returned an interception 35 yards to Miami's 17-yard line. Two plays later, Darion Scott recovered a Ken Dorsey fumble. Maurice Clarett's 7-yards-long touchdown run gave Ohio state the lead.

2015's Ohio State team beat the highest-ranked team in a bowl game, Alabama, 42-35. The Buckeyes were coming off of the 59-0 thrashing of Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game. Alabama was the overwhelming favorite. The teams alternated scores on their next possessions. After the break, the Buckeye's defense held the Tide to a scoreless game. In the third quarter, Steve Miller intercepted a Blake Sims pass and returned it 41 yards to give Ohio state a 34-21 advantage. It was a deadlock until the fourth quarter.

2021: #3 Ohio State 24, #1 Alabama 52. This time it was in the title game rather than the semifinals. Trey Sermon broke his collarbone and was injured. The offense was still able to score for the majority of the game.