COLUMBUS – The Buckeyes are headed to the BattleFrog Fiesta Bowl to face Notre Dame on New Year’s Day.
The 45th edition of the Fiesta Bowl (University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz./1:00 p.m./ESPN) is a rematch of the 2005 game when Ohio State defeated Notre Dame, 34-20.
The defending champion Buckeyes (11-1) lost their only game to Michigan State and needed help to get into college football’s final four. They didn’t get it and wind up No. 7 in the final College Football Playoff ranking and in both major polls.
Fans interested in purchasing tickets in the Ohio State sections through the university are encouraged to submit a request now at the Athletic Department website.
Ticket prices start at $100 including service charges. Ohio State receives approximately 13,000 tickets for the game and, should general public tickets be available after priority requests from season ticket holders, faculty, staff and students are fulfilled, a public sale will commence beginning with those individuals on the waiting list. Priority ordering for donor groups, season ticket holders, and Varsity O Football members is still ongoing, and will conclude Friday
The pairings for the playoff semifinals were settled over the weekend: Clemson will face Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl while in the Cotton Bowl Alabama will go against Michigan State in the national semifinals on New Year’s Eve.
The national championship game is set for Monday, Jan. 11 in Glendale, Arizona.
Notre Dame (10-2) fought through a slew of injuries to finish four points shy of a perfect record. The Fighting Irish are No. 8 in the final rankings.
Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer says Notre Dame is “near and dear” to him, as he was an assistant coach of wide receivers there from 1996 to 2000. Meyer’s teams are 9-2 all-time in bowl games, including two wins last year: in the Allstate Sugar Bowl over Alabama in the College Football Playoff semifinals and in the College Football Playoff national championship game in North Texas over Oregon.
OSU at the Fiesta Bowl
1980 L Penn State 31, Ohio State 19
1983 W Ohio State 28, Pittsburgh 23
2002 W Ohio State 31, Miami (Fla.) 24 (2OT)*
2003 W Ohio State 35, Kansas State 28
2005 W Ohio State 34, Notre Dame 20
2008 L Texas 24, Ohio State 21
*National championship game
OSU vs. Notre Dame
1936 Notre Dame 18, Ohio State 13 at Ohio Stadium
1937 Notre Dame 7, Ohio State 2 at Notre Dame Stadium
1995 Ohio State 45, Notre Dame 26 at Ohio Stadium
1996 Ohio State 29, Notre Dame 20 at Notre Dame Stadium
2006 Ohio State 34, Notre Dame 20 at Sun Devil Stadium