Northwest Ohioans excited for college football playoff

TOLEDO, Ohio — Northwest Ohio is in the eye of the college football storm, with the University of Toledo winning the Boca Raton Bowl last week, and Bowling Green State University falling just short in the Quick Lane Bowl Monday. On Saturday, The University of Michigan and Ohio State University will both be in the college football playoff for the first time in history.

“Hopefully we can win, go to a national title, and win that too,” Buckeye fan Dakota Ashley said.

Dakota is an OSU fan who wants to see his Buckeyes get revenge on their rival Wolverines, and return to the top of the college football world.

“Just to win another national title under Ryan Day, because he wants one,” Dakota said. “Urban Meyer had two or three. Just to beat Georgia and beat Michigan.”

But Dakota’s mom Leigh supports the maize and blue and wants to see a rematch, but with Michigan coming out on top again.

“I’m really hoping Michigan and Ohio State can go head-to-head again,” Leigh said. “I hope that we can do it, come back and beat Ohio State for the second time in one year. That would be awesome.”

Leigh said the worst part about this time of year is when college football is over.

“Football in general,” she said. “We just can’t wait for football to come. We hate when it’s over and we can’t wait for it to come back. We all just love football.”

The College Football Playoff begins on Dec. 31. It kicks off at 4 p.m. EST when Michigan takes on Texas Christian University. OSU vs. the University of Georgia kicks off at 8 p.m. EST. Both games will be broadcast on ESPN. WTOL 11’s Sports team will be covering all the action.