COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Rose Bowl or Fiesta Bowl?

Since it became evident that Ohio State wasn't going to be included in the College Football Playoff for the second consecutive year on Saturday night, that's been the question.

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On Sunday afternoon, it became clear: Ohio State is going to the Fiesta Bowl in Phoenix to face Notre Dame on Jan. 1.

The debate on the Rose Bowl was whether Ohio State would be ranked ahead of Iowa in the final College Football Rankings.

Iowa, who lost to Michigan State in the Big Ten title game on Saturday night, remained ahead of the Buckeyes and got the Rose Bowl bid. Iowa was ranked No. 5 in the playoff rankings, two spots ahead of Ohio State, who checked in at No. 7.

Ohio State and Iowa both have one loss, and both of them lost to Michigan State.

That Iowa lost in dramatic fashion to the Spartans in the Big Ten Championship was clearly more impressive to the committee than Ohio State's home loss to Michigan State on Nov. 21.

Ohio State last faced Notre Dame in the 2005 Fiesta Bowl.