Ohio State's defense took a lot of heat for its lapses in an October loss at Oregon. What's different for the Buckeyes in the Playoff?

The Ohio State Buckeyes are hoping the old adage of beating an opponent twice is the most difficult task in football. Their upcoming showdown in the Rose Bowl against the Oregon Ducks is arguably the season's biggest game yet.

With six days to go until the Rose Bowl matchup between Oregon and Ohio State, both teams represent the Big Ten alongside Penn State as the three programs with significant odds of winning a national title next month.

Ohio State recorded a victory in the first round of the College Football Playoff despite falling to arch rival Michigan in its regular season finale last month. Still, former Alabama coach and college football analyst Nick Saban believes that Ohio State fans have an unhealthy obsession with Michigan as a result of that loss.

Ohio State’s win over Tennessee was impressive, but the Buckeyes still need to do more damage in the College Football Playoff to help their fans forget what happened at the end of the regular season.