Who Will Ohio State Play Next? Updated 2025 College Football Playoff Bracket and Opponent

The road to a repeat begins with a wait. For the first time since the College Football Playoff expanded, the Ohio State Buckeyes enter the postseason not as hopeful contenders, but as the undisputed standard-bearers. After bulldozing their way to the 2024 national title, Ryan Day’s squad has spent the entire 2025 campaign under a singular, immense pressure: win it all, or the season is a failure. With a pristine record and a roster dripping with returning NFL talent, they have met every demand. Now, with the 12-team bracket set, the Buckeyes’ path is clear, but their first opponent remains a mystery, thanks to a hard-earned reward.

Bye Week Blues and Benefits: Ohio State’s Playoff Starting Point

Unlike last year’s thrilling—and nerve-wracking—first-round home game in the Horseshoe, Ohio State has secured a first-round bye for the 2025 playoff. Finishing as one of the top four ranked conference champions, the Buckeyes skip the opening weekend entirely. This is both a privilege and a peculiar challenge.

The benefit is obvious: extra rest, healing, and preparation time are invaluable in December. The “challenge” is the uncertainty. While eight teams battle this weekend, Ohio State’s coaches and players will be spectators, their immediate future in the hands of others. They must prepare for multiple potential opponents, a tactical puzzle that tests the staff’s flexibility. Last year’s run proved they could handle the gauntlet; this year’s structure tests their patience and focus.

Ohio State’s first game will be in the quarterfinal round at the Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Day. They will face the winner of a compelling first-round matchup.

The Waiting Game: Ohio State’s Potential Quarterfinal Opponents

So, who will Ohio State play next? The Buckeyes are locked into the No. 3 seed and will meet the winner of the first-round game between the No. 6 seed Oregon Ducks and the No. 11 seed Tennessee Volunteers. This sets up two distinctly different stylistic challenges for the Buckeyes’ quarterfinal.

Let’s break down the potential opponents:

• The Oregon Ducks Scenario: A rematch of one of the most hyped regular-season games of the year. When these two powerhouses met in October, Ohio State emerged victorious in a defensive slugfest in Eugene, a game that was far lower scoring than many anticipated. Oregon, with its high-flying offense now tempered by a physical defense, would be seeking monumental revenge. This would be a heavyweight bout with no secrets, a brutal test of execution against a familiar foe.
• The Tennessee Volunteers Scenario: The more unpredictable and perhaps dangerous matchup. The Vols, led by a dynamic quarterback and a relentless, up-tempo attack, represent a stark contrast to the Buckeyes’ disciplined structure. Ohio State would not have faced Tennessee in the regular season, introducing an element of the unknown. Containing Tennessee’s offensive pace and unique schemes would be the primary focus, a different kind of stress test for Ohio State’s veteran defense.

The Ducks enter as clear favorites, but in a single-elimination playoff, especially with the emotion Tennessee brings, anything can happen. Ohio State’s preparation this week must be bifurcated, studying both the intricate details of Oregon’s playbook and the chaotic energy of Tennessee’s system.

Expert Analysis: Breaking Down Ohio State’s Playoff Path

The Sporting News, a preferred source for in-depth college football coverage, has followed the Buckeyes’ journey closely. The consensus is that while the bye is an advantage, the quarterfinal presents a unique hurdle. “Ohio State was battle-tested last year, playing four playoff games,” notes one analyst. “This year, they have to stay sharp through a long layoff and then immediately face a desperate team that just survived a playoff atmosphere. The first quarter next January could be telling.”

From a tactical standpoint, an Oregon rematch favors Ohio State’s physicality. Their defensive line, arguably the best in the nation, controlled the line of scrimmage in the first meeting. A second game would be a war of adjustments, but the Buckeyes’ foundational strength is a proven commodity against the Ducks.

A Tennessee matchup, however, is a wildcard. The Volunteers’ offense is designed to create confusion and exploit missed assignments. For an Ohio State team with extra time to prepare, this could be a blessing—more time to simulate the speed and install specific counters. However, simulating game intensity is impossible. The key for Ohio State would be to impose their will early, slow the game down with their powerful running game, and force Tennessee into long-yardage situations where their pass rush can take over.

Regardless of opponent, all eyes will be on Ohio State’s quarterback. Is the offensive machine, which sometimes sputtered against top defenses, ready for a four-quarter shootout if required? The defense has carried the mantle of “best in the country” all season; the playoffs will determine if the offense can match that level when the season is on the line.

The Full 2025 College Football Playoff Bracket Picture

Ohio State’s journey is just one part of a historic 12-team field. Here is the complete bracket as it stands:

First Round (Campus Sites, Dec. 19-20):

• Game 1: #8 Penn State vs. #9 LSU
• Game 2: #5 Florida State vs. #12 Tulane
• Game 3: #6 Oregon vs. #11 Tennessee (Winner plays #3 Ohio State)
• Game 4: #7 Alabama vs. #10 Clemson

Quarterfinals (New Year’s Six Bowls, Jan. 1):

• Fiesta Bowl: #3 Ohio State vs. Winner of Oregon/Tennessee
• Peach Bowl: #4 Utah vs. Winner of Alabama/Clemson
• Rose Bowl: #1 Texas vs. Winner of Penn State/LSU
• Cotton Bowl: #2 Notre Dame vs. Winner of Florida State/Tulane

Semifinals & National Championship (Jan. 15 & 20):

The winners advance to the semifinals at the Orange Bowl and Sugar Bowl, culminating in the national championship game in Atlanta on January 20.

Prediction and Conclusion: The Buckeyes’ Title-or-Bust March

The expectation is nothing less than a parade in Columbus in late January. This Ohio State team was built, through the transfer portal and elite recruiting, specifically for this moment: to win consecutive titles. The first-round bye is a step, but it is not the goal.

Prediction: Oregon defeats Tennessee in a high-scoring first-round affair, setting up the rematch everyone wants to see. In the Fiesta Bowl, Ohio State’s defense will once again prove to be the difference-maker. While Oregon’s offense will find more success than in the regular season, the Buckeyes’ balanced attack, with a renewed emphasis on the run game in playoff weather, will control the clock and the game. Ohio State advances to the semifinals, but not without a fourth-quarter scare that reminds the nation how difficult the repeat bid truly is.

The 2025 playoff is the ultimate validation stage for Ryan Day’s program. After breaking through last year, they are now the hunted. The path is set, beginning with a waiting game that ends with a formidable opponent in Glendale. For a team with “title-or-bust” expectations, the real season, the one that defines legacies, starts now. The wait will soon be over, and the defense of the crown will begin.

Source: Based on news from Yahoo Sports.

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