OK, I’ll be candid: My interest in the college football playoff ended with the end of the Oregon-Ohio State game last night.

The Buckeyes brought their “A” game to the Rose Bowl, while the Ducks played like, well, they didn’t belong there. The final score was 41-21, but it easily could have been a wider margin than that.

I realize the season isn’t really over. We football fans have two more sets of games to watch. Since I have lived in Texas for more than 40 years, I have to toss my love at the Texas Longhorns to win the college football title when all is done.

Texas awaits the Buckeyes on the semifinal game next week.

I’ll have to admit that my allegiance to Oregon stems only from the fact that I was born in Oregon, came of age there, wanted at one time to attend college in Eugene and have rooted for the Ducks since I was old enough to know what “rooting” for a team meant.

Events got in the way of my attending school at U of O.

The other element that puzzles me is this “transfer portal” business. Athletes come and go using this method of transferring to various schools. The Ducks appear to be among the masters of attracting blue-chippers to Eugene to play ball. They aren’t necessarily students, having finished their academic requirements already. But they do play good tackle football.

There seems to be little local connection with these individuals. So, why cheer for them just because they fit into a uniform associated with the University of Oregon?

Whatever. The season is over. I moved to Texas at the age of 34. I have lived here most of my life. So, I’ll save my cheering for the Longhorns when they suit up — in the Cotton Bowl, no less — to play the Buckeyes.

Hook ’em, Horns!