Ohio State players and coaches celebrate in the fourth quarter of the B1G Championship game against Wisconsin on Dec. 2 in Lucas Oil Stadium. Ohio State won 27-21. Credit: Jack Westerheide | Photo Editor
No. 5 Ohio State might not be reaching the College Football Playoff, but the Buckeyes will have a chance to make a statement facing off against Pac-12 champion No. 8 USC at AT&T Stadium in Dallas at 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 29.
The winners of the Big Ten and Pac-12 conferences typically square off in the Rose Bowl, but this season, the Rose Bowl is one of the two playoff games and will be the matchup between No. 2 Oklahoma and No. 3 Georgia.
The Buckeyes have played the Trojans 23 times since 1937, and USC holds the 13-9-1 edge in the matchup. USC has won all of the past seven matchups dating back to 1975, including wins in 2008 and 2009 when Jim Tressel and Pete Carroll squared off against one another.
