Ohio State Buckeyes Finish No. 7 in College Football Playoff Rankings, To Face Missouri Tigers in Cotton Bowl

The Ohio State Buckeyes began the year as betting favorites to win the National Championship, but will end the season outside of the College Football Playoff.

The Ohio State Buckeyes finished No. 7 in the final College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings, which were revealed Sunday afternoon.

The Buckeyes were previously ranked sixth, but missing out on playing for a conference championship on Saturday while the rest of the field did lead to a one-spot drop.

Ohio State began the season as the betting favorite to win the national championship, according to several different sportsbooks. However, a poorly timed loss to the then-No. 3 Michigan Wolverines severely damaged the Buckeyes' chances at fulfilling those odds.

These placements mean the top-ranked Wolverines will square off in the Rose Bowl against the No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide with a shot at a national championship on the line. The No. 2 Washington Huskies will take on the No. 3 Texas Longhorns in the Sugar Bowl for the other spot in the final.

As a result of the Buckeyes No. 7 finish, they have earned a spot in the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium in Arlington against the No. 9 Missouri Tigers. 

Here is how the rest of the rankings played out on Sunday:

1. Michigan Wolverines

2. Washington Huskies

3. Texas Longhorns

4. Alabama Crimson Tide

5. Florida State Seminoles

6. Georgia Bulldogs

7. Ohio State Buckeyes

8. Oregon Ducks

9. Missouri Tigers

10. Penn State Nittany Lions

11. Ole Miss Rebels

12. Oklahoma Sooners

13. LSU Tigers

14. Arizona Wildcats

15. Louisville Cardinals

16. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

17. Iowa Hawkeyes

18. NC State Wolfpack

19. Oregon State Beavers

20. Oklahoma State Cowboys

21. Tennessee Volunteers

22. Clemson Tigers

23. Liberty Flames

24. SMU Mustangs

25. Kansas State Wildcats