The Ohio State Buckeyes' National Championship win has officially gained the Presidential congratulatory remark.
According to the Associated Press, President Barack Obama also make a point to mention that he had supported the College Football Playoff (CFP) system from the start. He also worked in a playful jibe with U.S. Speaker of the House John Boehner, a Republican who represents Ohio's 8th congressional district.
Ohio State beat the Oregon Ducks 42-20 Monday night, but their win proved why the new CFP was so effective. Ohio State was ranked fourth overall by the CFP committee after rising up the rankings to claim a spot in the final four in the last week of the season.
In the traditional BCS system, Oregon would have played Alabama for the title and Ohio State would have been left out.
"To the speaker, I just want to point out I said there are going to be some things that we agree on," Obama said in his statement. "Having a college football playoff is clearly something that we can agree on. I called for it when I came into office. I think it turned out pretty well, particularly for Ohio. So I want to congratulate the Ohio State Buckeyes for their outstanding victory and commend Oregon as well for fielding a great team because their quarterback is from my original home state of Hawaii."
Obama has let his sports allegiances known since taking office in 2008 and one reform he wanted to see was a playoff system for college football. A Chicago native, Obama is foremost a basketball fan and often plays with other White House staffers. When he welcomed the NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs to the White House, he worked in a reference to his beloved Bulls.
No doubt he will do the same with the Ducks' Heisman Trophy winning QB Marcus Mariota, a fellow Hawaiian, when the Buckeyes visit the White House.
