COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Shortly after it was announced that Ohio State and USC will meet in the Cotton Bowl, the Buckeyes opened as a 6.5-point favorite vs. Sam Darnold and the Trojans.

The line has moved to as much as minus-7 in favor of the Buckeyes since it opened.

The Buckeyes missed out on the College Football Playoff despite winning the Big Ten Championship on Saturday vs. Wisconsin.

The Cotton Bowl is the first time in the playoff era that two teams that won a Power 5 Conference will meet in a non-playoff bowl game. USC won the Pac-12 vs. Stanford on Friday.