College Football Playoff bracket reaction: Ohio State is No. 2, Notre Dame out

Summary

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The Bill and Doug Show: Ohio State Football Talk

Episode: College Football Playoff Bracket Reaction: Ohio State is No. 2, Notre Dame Out
Date: December 7, 2025
Hosts: Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis (Blue Wire Network)

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Doug and Bill break down the just-announced College Football Playoff (CFP) bracket, focusing on Ohio State earning the No. 2 seed, Notre Dame’s surprising exclusion, and the path ahead for the Buckeyes. Recording live from the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, the hosts deliver instant analysis, debate playoff seeding logistics, and explore the potential implications for Ohio State’s title defense.
The tone balances deep Buckeye analysis, national context, and plenty of the banter fans love—plus a few memorable side tangents.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Playoff Bracket Reaction and Location Implications

[01:35 - 03:15]

• Ohio State secured the No. 2 seed, exceeding expectations since the hosts had predicted they’d fall behind Georgia at No. 3.
• Discussion of possible bowl assignments:
  • As No. 2, Ohio State could land in the Cotton Bowl (vs. Texas A&M) or the Orange Bowl (potentially against Miami).
  • Geography matters: Orange Bowl would offer Miami a home advantage; Cotton Bowl would favor Texas A&M.
• Doug observes: “It would be kinda crappy to have to, two years in a row, play a playoff bowl game that’s basically a road game.” [02:14]

[03:15 - 04:46]

• If Ohio State ends up in the Sugar Bowl, it could avoid giving opponents home-state advantages.
• Bill notes the committee’s goal to avoid “lower seeds having a home field, home state, hometown advantage.” [03:37]

2. Notre Dame Out, Miami and Alabama In

[03:46 - 04:46]

• Bill praises Doug for forecasting this scenario: “Philly Stradamus here called on Tuesday night. You laid out the path that a lot of people did not buy—and you nailed it a hundred percent.” [03:46]
• Doug explains: “[It’s] not surprising at all… once [Notre Dame and Miami] are next to each other, the head-to-head I think would rule the day, and that’s clearly what happened here.” [03:57]
• Committee may also have wanted ACC representation; “I do think it ended up being like kind of clean for them. Like all the hand-wringing about Notre Dame and Miami generated a lot of buzz… right up until the time where they did the sensible thing and finally honored the head-to-head.” [04:15]
• Bill jokes about betting on Notre Dame’s odds for drama, not inside information: “On things like this, Vegas doesn’t know… they read the committee worse than the college football experts, like Philly Billy here.” [05:08]

3. The Path Ahead for Ohio State: Harder as a 2-Seed?

[05:57 - 07:13]

• Bill: “If Ohio State had been the three seed as we expected, they’d be opposite Ole Miss, Tulane… Instead, they are opposite Texas A&M… or a talented, angry, back-from-the-dead, disrespected Miami.”
• Doug argues the No. 2 path is “actually harder than the path for the three.” [06:05]
• There’s a debate: Would you rather face a rested Ole Miss or two strong, battle-tested teams?
• Doug: “I would probably prefer the Ole Miss-Tulane path… but I don’t know that this one look is inherently bad. I think Ohio State is better than both of these teams.” [06:46]

4. Breaking Down the Quarterfinal Matchup

[07:22 - 09:48]

• Bill asks: “Gut check right now—Miami or Texas A&M, who are you taking?” [07:24]
  • Doug: “I’m taking Miami.”
  • If Miami wins, there could be a high-profile rematch of the 2002 National Championship.
• The bracket sets Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl (New Year’s Eve, 7:30 p.m. ET). The Fiesta Bowl follows on January 8.
• Potential routes: Miami in the Cotton Bowl, Georgia in the Fiesta Bowl, and potentially Indiana in the title game (who just beat Ohio State).
• A break for a behind-the-scenes moment: “Can you hold my mic for a second? Because Pat Murphy just walked through our shot. I’m gonna go yell at him.” [07:13] (Bill; playful tone)

5. Environmental Advantages and Home-Field Concerns

[09:48 - 10:22]

• Doug notes: “If they were to play Miami in the Cotton Bowl, I don’t think [Ohio State] would have to [play on a silent count]. I think it would be a pro-Ohio State crowd.”
• If the Buckeyes advance to the Fiesta Bowl, that crowd would favor Ohio State, too.

6. On National Perceptions, SEC, and the Big Picture

[13:54 - 14:46]

• Bill: “I think we have an opportunity to find out, through this playoff bracket, how mid the SEC is… Sometimes being the two and three is not that different than being the one.” [13:54]
• Both hosts agree: Ohio State’s overall title outlook remains strong; no matchup jumps out as unwinnable.
• National champ odds at the time: Ohio State (+250), Indiana (+260), Georgia (+550). [14:46 (Doug)]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Doug on Playoff Committee Decision-Making & TV Influence

  • “It is a TV show. We know that.” [04:10]

• Bill on Betting and Bracket Drama

  • “Vegas doesn’t know… they read the committee worse than… experts like Philly Billy here.” [05:08]

• Doug, on Miami's big-game status

  • “Call me up the next time Miami wins a big game.” [07:06]

• Show Banter & Color

  • “Can you hold my mic for a second? Because Pat Murphy just walked through our shot. I’m gonna go yell at him.” [07:13]
  • “If there is gigantic news that causes us to need to come back on a video, we certainly will do that.” [15:08]
  • “Cash your checks, cash your bets. Triple dipper on me. Thank you Landis.” [15:45]

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Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:35 - Opening: Ohio State as No. 2 seed, bowl speculation
• 03:46 - Notre Dame’s exclusion, Miami/Alabama inclusion analyzed
• 06:05 - Debate: Is the path for the No. 2 seed harder?
• 07:24 - Gut check: Miami or Texas A&M?
• 08:03 - Playoff schedule and path clarified; Cotton and Fiesta Bowls assigned
• 09:48 - Importance of crowd/environment for Ohio State’s path
• 13:54 - Broader playoff implications, SEC reputation, and odds

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Summary Table: Ohio State’s New Playoff Path

| Seed | Quarterfinal | Semifinal | Potential Final | Home/Away Concerns | |-------|-----------------------|-------------------|---------------------|-----------------------------| | #2 | Miami or Texas A&M | Winner of Georgia | Indiana or Oregon | Cotton Bowl likely vs. Miami or TAMU; Fiesta Bowl likely neutral/pro-OSU crowd |

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Conclusion

Doug and Bill deliver rapid, layered insight on Ohio State's playoff road:

• While geography and seeding raised fresh challenges, both agree the Buckeyes are well-positioned and remain favorites to claim another title.
• The hosts also unpack the drama behind Notre Dame’s omission, Miami’s inclusion, and what this playoff field might reveal about the current state of the SEC.
• The episode’s value lies in real-time reaction, matter-of-fact expertise, and a fan-focused, transparent look at postseason anxieties and optimism.

Next steps: The duo sign off with promises of more coverage post-Ryan Day press conference and as the playoff picture becomes even clearer.

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Transcript

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[Bill Landis]

Welcome back to the Bill and Doug show live from the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. Ohio State is in the College Football Playoff as the number two seed. They will play the winner of number seven Texas A&M and number 10 Miami. We are waiting to find out exactly where that for that quarterfinal will be, Bill, but it is interesting to think about one thing is that Ohio State is the two seed. We had guessed they would be the three seed behind Georgia, but now when you look at it, Indiana will go to the Rose bowl as the Big Ten champ. The other three possibilities are the Sugar bowl, the Orange bowl and the Cotton Bowl. They're in the Cotton Bowl. They would have had a chance to play number seven seed Texas A and M in Texas in the Cotton Bowl. If it's the Orange bowl, they would have a chance to play number 10 Miami in Miami's home stadium. I think that means the Orange bowl is out. But if they would put them in the Sugar bowl, they would avoid either of those and they are the higher seed than Georgia. They might have rights to that. Whereas I think we had assumed the SEC champ would go to the Sugar bowl because that's often how it works. We'll find out here in minutes. We've asked around here. We don't know yet.

[Doug]

Yeah, they'll. So I think what they do is they put together the bracket and then they go to the one seed and sort of say, like, where, where do you want your semifinal to be? So that's a decision that Indiana has to make. Obviously they're going to the Rose bowl and then they'll kind of go from there. I don't, I don't know if it then just passes down to Ohio State and ask them what their preference is. It could be all three. I wouldn't be terribly surprised if they went to the Cotton bowl because there's familiarity there. But it would be like kind of crappy to have to two years in a row play a playoff bowl game, which is basically a road game because they go play the Longhorns down in Dallas last year, obviously in the semifinals. So my guess is we sit here Sugar bowl, but we'll see what happens. Hopefully we'll get it in a few.

[Bill Landis]

Because the other part of this is Georgia is opposite Ole Miss and Tulane. If you send Georgia to the Sugar bowl and Tulane upsets Ole Miss. Now Tulane is playing in New Orleans in the Sugar bowl against Georgia. Yeah. So that you would solve all the lower seeds having a home field home state hometown advantage if you put Ohio State in New Orleans. So we will know that soon enough we are going to concentrate on Ohio State here. We know a lot of the national conversations could be about Notre Dame being left out, Miami and Alabama getting in, which.

Philly Stradamus here called on Tuesday night. You laid out the path that a lot of people did not buy and you nailed it a hundred percent. What we'll briefly cover that because it is a national story. What did you think of how this worked out?

[Doug]

Yeah, not, not surprising at all. We talked on Tuesday night, right? Like, is anything going to happen to finally get Notre Dame and Miami next to each other in comparison? And then once that happened, the head to head I think would rule the day. And that's, that's clearly what happened here. And then I think there's also an added incentive for the committee to get a team like Miami. And because there's no other ACC representation and you know, I think you can, you'd be fine without an ACC team, I suppose. But I don't know that you want to like set that precedent necessarily if you're them. So like I think it makes sense in the end. I do think it ended up being like kind of clean for them. Like all the, all the hand wringing about Notre Dame and Miami generated a lot of buzz about their selection process right up until the time where they did the sensible thing and then finally honored the head to head. So it is a TV show. We know that. I do think it makes sense. I am not going to take too much of a victory lap on it though because I didn't bet it and I should have. I'm mad that I didn't bet it.

[Bill Landis]

I am going to take your victory lap because I bet it at Notre Dame. No. Plus 750. Yeah, I bet it last night. This morning when we were driving home, it was plus 790. And then Notre Dame had the fourth best national championship odds. And some people were saying, well, if Notre Dame's national championship odds are that good, that means they're in. I will just say on things like this, Vegas doesn't know. A lot of other times people like think Vegas is a, is a magic crystal ball. And on this stuff it's not because they, they read the committee worse than the college football experts like Philly Billy here, three dollar bet at plus 750. I'm gonna buy him a triple dipper and we'll make up for it. This idea, bill of what we are now facing with Ohio State. If Ohio State is had been the three seed as we expected, they'd be opposite Ole Miss, Tulane, Ole Miss without its head coach, Tulane has a G5 team. Instead they are opposite Texas A and M who was one of the three remaining undefeateds with Indiana and Ohio State for most of the year until the last week of the regular season as their seven or a talented, angry, back from the dead disrespected NFL guys on the defensive line, a veteran quarterback. Whatever you think of Carson Beck, a dynamic freshman receiver, Miami I do think has talent.

[Doug]

Sure.

[Bill Landis]

And this is a. You know, we were going through a lot of paths on our sub stack this morning with people. If Ohio State's the two, if Ohio State's the three, as it turns out they're the two. And there are people in the YouTube chat and I don't disagree saying I don't. There's no reason to be scared of Texas A M and Miami with what Ohio State is. But this path for the two is actually harder than the Path for the three.

[Doug]

I think that's right. Although I did see somebody in our substack chat sort of throw this, this alternative devil's advocate viewpoint out. If Ohio State were matched up against Ole Miss two Lane, like, you're probably getting a pretty fresh Ole Miss.

[Bill Landis]

Right?

[Doug]

Like Ole Miss kicked the crap out of two lane. Who's to say they won't do it again? And if they just kind of breeze through that first round game, would you rather play that team or two pretty good teams, Miami and Texas A and M, that in theory are going to have to have a bit of a, of a, of a fight there. Right. And perhaps be a little worn down going to play Ohio State on what would be like a fairly quick turnaround. So I would probably prefer the Ole Miss two lane path if I were Ohio State and had to make the choice. But I don't, I don't know that this one look is inherently bad. I think Ohio State is better than both of these teams. And also.

You know, call me up the next time Miami wins a big game. I don't know if they're going to beat the name. Yeah, barely.

[Bill Landis]

Can you hold my mic for a second? Because Pat Murphy just walked through our shot. I'm gonna go yell at him.

[Doug]

Okay.

[Bill Landis]

Hey, Pat.

[Doug]

He's gonna go yell at somebody again. Call back. I'm just kidding.

[Bill Landis]

We love Pat Murphy.

This is quite a path. We have talked about a lot paths for Ohio State. What this could look like, what you are potentially looking at here. Who do you, if you're gut check right now, Miami or Texas A M. Who are you taking? I'm taking Miami. The opportunity Here of Miami first round, O2 national championship rematch. Georgia second round.

[Doug]

Here we go. Cotton Bowl.

[Bill Landis]

Cotton Bowl. Okay.

[Doug]

Cotton bowl to the Fiesta Bowl.

[Bill Landis]

Cotton to Fiesta. So this is, this is a major point here that we thought would come true, but you and I were discussing it. It wasn't worth getting into before it happened.

[Doug]

We have this. Yeah. Here's the schedule.

[Bill Landis]

Here comes the schedule.

[Doug]

Friday night, December 19th, Bama, Oklahoma, Saturday at noon. The first game of the Saturday tripleheader is Miami A. M. Then you have two lane Ole Miss in the middle slate. And then the night game is James Madison versus Oregon. So. And then Ohio State is in the Cotton Bowl. That is New Year's Eve. That is the lone New Year's eve bowl game. 7:30 Eastern Time New Year's Eve with the winner going to the Fiesta bowl on. Excuse me, on January 8th.

[Bill Landis]

Anything interesting ever happened for Ohio State on New Year's Eve before. So what you are looking at here potentially is, is a Miami Georgia rematch of the, of the infamous semifinal and then a rematch with Indiana potentially in the national title game that just beat Ohio State. But what is important here, Indiana for the semifinals got the choice, Atlanta or Fiesta Bowl. It's closer for Indiana to go to Atlanta. We wondered would Indiana say, we don't really care if it's Fiesta or Atlanta. We don't want to see Ohio State again. We want to make Ohio State play Georgia in Atlanta. If it was 51, 49, would that push it? The opportunity here, nothing is guaranteed. If Ohio State wins and Georgia wins the opportunity for Ohio State to play Georgia in Arizona instead of playing Georgia in Atlanta in the south in the Sugar bowl, but especially in the Peach bowl in Athens in that semifinal where that's a home away from home from Georgia, that is quite a different situation. And so while you might end up with Texas A and M in the state of Texas, I think the Fiesta bowl here is a win. And it's not, you know, it's not at all where we were last night. Last night you think if Ohio State wins, it's probably Rose Peach instead it winds up being Cotton Fiesta. But in terms of that kind of thing, that's not a bad path.

[Doug]

It's not a bad path. But now you're rooting for Miami. Now you want Miami to win because that environment in the Cotton bowl last year against Texas I think was a benefit for Texas. Ohio State had to play on a silent count in that game and overcame it and like, but it's, you know, you'd prefer to not do that. And if they were to play Miami in the Cotton Bowl, I don't think they would have to. I think it would be a pro Ohio State crowd. And I think if you get to the Fiesta bowl, no matter who you're playing, would be a pro Ohio State crowd in that game too. So, so there is a nice path here, I think for Ohio State in terms of just like environment and having that edge. So long as Miami beats am.

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[Bill Landis]

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[Bill Landis]

And listen. People are angry about having to play Texas play Texas A M in the state of Texas. As long as we're allowing the Bulls to to be what are we doing here?

[Doug]

We're getting called back in for a Ryan Day press conference soon.

[Bill Landis]

Okay. As as long as we are dealing with both situations and it's warm weather bowls, this is going to keep happening as long as they don't change things and decide, hey, let's have semi finals in Minnesota or Detroit or some northern indoor stadiums. Why not? Why does it have to be Bulls? You're going to bump up against these situations. What do you think? Chief Content Officer Bill Landis should we go into the Ryan Day news conference and come back with folks, let's go.

[Doug]

Five more minutes and we'll wrap up at 1 o'.

[Bill Landis]

Clock. We'll wrap up at 1 o' clock and then what do we want to do another one or just see folks tomorrow?

[Doug]

Maybe see people tomorrow.

[Bill Landis]

Okay, so we're, we're giving you what we know. I think I'm not surprised it worked out this way. I actually think for everybody involved. Notre Dame I thought was a live team and had a chance to do some stuff. I think for everybody who's not Notre Dame, Notre Dame not being in the field. I would have loved to see Notre Dame in the field. I think they're one of the five best teams in the country right now. They did it to themselves that they're not in. You took a good team out. And I do think this path for Ohio state as a 2 is potentially more difficult than a 3. But I don't think there's anything that you see here for Ohio State and think, whoop, they can't handle that.

[Doug]

I think if, you know, just kind of like surveying the field. Like watching the game last night and thinking about if I were Ohio State, who would I least like to play? To play or who would I like to pull off the longest facing? I think clearly Indiana is one of them based off how last night went. And then the other one is Texas Tech and those teams are going to take care of each other. So one of them will be eliminated and you want to see the other one until the national title game if you get there. So, like, I don't. George is good. It's not the Georgia defensive old Miami has Reuben Bain and Texas A M is also good. But like, I don't, I don't know that I hate those matchups as much as I would have worried about the one against Texas Tech.

[Bill Landis]

Okay. Looking at a potential semi final like the Oregon, Texas Tech quarter would be great. If Oregon wins that, you're looking at Indiana, Oregon rematch there.

This is open. This is open. Ohio State was the national title favorite this morning. I'm assuming they remain that national title favorite now. And I think we have an opportunity to find out through this playoff bracket how mid the SEC is the idea that, you know, there's going to be that, that semifinal spot that is either going to be Georgia, Old Miss or Tulane. Would have been great if somebody got in there to knock out all those teams. But I, I think it is a, it is a reasonable path. It is a fair path. And again, like if Ohio State had won, would you have what my, you know, what, what Indiana is looking at in that 89 game, Oklahoma, Alabama, again, mid sec. It feels doable, but it's like it's, you know, sometimes being the two and three is not that different than being the one. So I, I don't know. Ohio State has to figure out what caused them to lose to Indiana, but I don't think the loss itself has greatly affected the path or their chances of winning it if they get straight.

[Doug]

Yeah, I would, I would agree with that. Ohio State at the Moment, according to FanDuel, is the national championship favorite. Plus 250. Indiana plus 260. Georgia third best odds plus 550. Okay.

[Bill Landis]

Georgia was plus 750 this morning because Indiana, Notre Dame was in there as a team that people were looking at. So. Okay, so I think we'll, we'll, we'll cut it off here. We got a lot coming this week. We will certainly be talking to you guys here on YouTube and on podcast. We'll be talking to folks and writing for folks on the substack. Bill and doug osu.substack.com we got to go talk to Ryan Day. Thanks to Ohio State for letting us hang out here and and break this down here in the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. If there is gigantic news that causes us to need to come back on a video, we certainly will do that. But for now, we'll catch you guys later in the week. The Fiesta bowl is not on Thursday, January. The Fiesta bowl is. Is it?

[Doug]

The Fiesta bowl is January 8th.

[Bill Landis]

Okay. Thursday, January 8th because it is the it is the loan Thursday Friday or.

[Doug]

The semi finals Fiesta Bowl Thursday.

[Bill Landis]

Okay.

[Doug]

Peach Bowl Friday.

[Bill Landis]

Okay. Okay. So the path is New Year's Eve, January 8th National January 19th, January 19th, December 31st, January 8th, January 19th. Mark your calendars for now. He's Bill Landis, Philly Stradamus. Cash your checks, cash your bets. Triple dipper on me. Thank you Landis. Appreciate you guys being here. We'll talk to you soon. Here on the Bill and Doug Show.

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