Five Takeaways: College Football Playoff Semi-finals

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1. A second-chance national championship

Between losing to Northern Illinois and not playing in a conference, Notre Dame wouldn't be playing for a national championship in any other postseason. Likewise, Ohio State's loss Michigan –let alone the nature of that loss– would've meant a grisly demise for their title hopes in any other system. The reality in 2025 is that those days are over, and this national championship is a showcase of exactly what the 12-team playoff was built for - whether you like it or not.

What would've been a playoff-killing loss for Notre Dame a year ago turned into a chance for them to regroup and round into the team who's won 11 of their 13 games since by double digits. What would've been Ohio State's 2007 West Virginia loss to Pitt turned into a catalyst for the Buckeyes morphing into the powerhouse so many thought they'd be coming into the season. It's by chance that both are here now, but it's also by design. Both teams were on ice at different points in the season, but have rebounded and handled business come playoff time. You could've said the same thing for Penn State (already lost to Ohio State and then Oregon in the Big Ten Title), Texas (two losses to Georgia), or really any other non-Oregon team in this playoff if any of them made it here, too. In any case, the way the playoff has shaken out is exactly why the powers that be wanted it:

• Everyone made more money.
• It benefitted the SEC, Big Ten –and by extension Notre Dame on its conference-less, NBC-owned island– by giving them more spots, and more runway to stumble.

I've been (loudly) on record saying I hate the 12-team system since before it was even announced. A team I root for benefiting from it doesn't change that. It devalues the regular season, it's somehow focused even more heavily on the brand names of the sport than before, the way the committee works is a mess, and the whole scenario resembles the NFL too much for my liking. But here's the thing: If Ohio State beats Notre Dame, it's not like you'll see me saying it's unfair because the new system worked to their advantage. A national title is a national title, especially if you beat Tennessee, Oregon, Texas, and Notre Dame on the road to it. I'll gladly take it - even in a system I hate. At least I'm honest with you about it!

2. Ohio State finds a different way to win

As dominant as Ohio State looked in their first two playoff games against Tennessee and Oregon, I don't think I was the only person wondering how the Buckeyes would respond if they played in a tight game. When Texas tied it at 14 with 3:12 left in the third, it was time to see just how much Ryan Day and his team had moved on from what happened against Michigan, and whether they truly are a diferent team. The offense did their part by going on a 13-play, 88-yard scoring drive, highlighted by a third-and-eight conversion, plus a fourth-and-two Will Howard run up the gut:

The defense –who played brilliantly most of the night– closed it out with Jack Sawyer making what will go down as one of the greatest plays in Ohio State history:

I don't think it's unfair to say that Ryan Day's teams have historically been front-runners. When they jump on their opponents early, they play with confidence and things tend to snowball. Their performances against Tennessee and Oregon were examples of that. The problem is that when they don't start fast –or can't immediately build on it– they tend to play tight. That's how you end up with what they did against Michigan, or some of the other big games they've let slip away. They started fast against Texas, couldn't build on it, and still won in a way they haven't before.

A month-and-a-half ago, Ohio State loses this exact game. I'm not being original in saying that Michigan fundamentally changed who they are as a team, but it's the truth. The coaches and players are the same, but the team and its mentality are different. "You can't win until you can keep from losing," is one of my favorite football cliches that I wholeheartedly believe in. It fits Ohio State and Ryan Day like a glove right now. There were moments against Texas that teetered into, "here we go again," territory, but this time there were no Michigan or 2022 Georgia moments where it all fell apart. It's just one game, but one where the Buckeyes finally pulled through and showed everyone that this is a different team than we've seen in the past.