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LGHL Looking at Ohio State football uniform numbers through the 6-1-4 lens
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Looking at Ohio State football uniform numbers through the 6-1-4 lens
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
614 Day highlights the best Columbus has to offer. There’s no better way to celebrate than by looking at the best Buckeyes to wear those numbers.
Saturday was June 14th, which is commonly called 614 Day in Central Ohio because 614 is the most popular area code in the area. Even Ohio State football’s social media account recognized 614 Day on Saturday with a post.
To celebrate the most important day of the year in Columbus (outside of any Ohio State football game day), it felt like a perfect time to look back on some of the Buckeye football legends who have worn the numbers 6, 1, and 4.
Even though we could have extended this out to include numbers 61 and 14 because they would have fit in the 614 number profile, it felt cleaner to just take a deeper look at those who wore one of the three digits included in 614.
Cie Grant
After graduating high school from New Philadelphia in 1998, Cie Grant, playing sparingly in 1999 and 2000 before starting 23 games over his final two seasons in the scarlet and gray. Grant’s most impactful season came as a senior in 2002 when he recorded 71 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and four sacks.
Grant will live in Ohio State history as his pressure on Ken Dorsey on the final play of the 2003 BCS National Championship Game against Miami resulted in the Hurricanes quarterback throwing an incompletion, clinching the title for the Buckeyes.
Grant was picked in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints but he wasn’t able to make much of an impact at the professional level, only playing in seven games in 2003, registering just three tackles.
Sam Hubbard
The career of Sam Hubbard at Ohio State was fascinating. Hubbard was a five-star recruit coming out of high school but it took some time for the Cincinnati native to find a position at the college level after playing safety in high school. Eventually defensive end was identified as the position Hubbard would be most impactful at.
As a redshirt freshman in 2015, Hubbard registered 6.5 sacks. Following a redshirt sophomore season that saw him notch just 3.5 sacks, Hubbard closed out his Ohio State career in 2017 with 7 sacks before declaring for the 2018 NFL Draft following his junior season.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9955705/usa_today_10396687.jpg "NCAA Football: Penn State at Ohio State")
Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Like Grant, Hubbard was also a third round pick in the NFL Draft. Hubbard was able to return to his hometown and play seven seasons for the Cincinnati Bengals before retiring this offseason. The most memorable moment in the NFL for Hubbard came in the 2022 playoffs when he returned the “Fumble in the Jungle” for a touchdown, which would end up being the game-winning score in Cincinnati’s 24-17 win over Baltimore.
Tom Skladany
Punters are people, too! Tom Skladany was one of the best punters in college football history, becoming the first punter to earn First Team All-American honors three times. Just how good was Skladany? The Pittsburgh area native became the first speciality player to be given a scholarship in Big Ten history. In 1991, Skladany was inducted into the Ohio State Athletic Hall of Fame.
Even back in the 1970s, Skladany knew that playing for the Cleveland Browns was hazardous to your health. After he was taken in the second round of the 1977 NFL Draft, Skladany held out for the whole season and his rights were eventually traded to the Detroit Lions, where he was an All-Pro in 1978 and 1981.
Skladany closed out his career with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1983. While with the team, Skladany suffered a back injury that would end his playing career.
Marcus Freeman
Freeman was a force in high school in Dayton on the football field, earning attention from Jim Tressel and Ohio State. The linebacker didn’t really see much playing time early in his Buckeye career. After recording just four tackles in limited action as a freshman, Freeman redshirted in 2005 as a sophomore after suffering a knee injury in the season opener.
Once healthy, Freeman was all over the field, recording at least 71 tackles in the next three seasons, with his career-high coming as a junior in 2007 when he finished the season with 109 tackles.
After his Ohio State career was over, Freeman was drafted in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears, but his professional career didn’t last too long, as he was forced to retire in 2010 due to an enlarged heart condition. Even though he wasn’t able to play, Freeman found a way to stay involved in the game, becoming an assistant coach before taking over for the departed Brian Kelly as Notre Dame head coach.
Since becoming the head coach of the Fighting Irish, Freeman has taken on Ohio State three times, losing all three games to Ryan Day.
Justin Fields
Just before the Transfer Portal became a thing in college football, Justin Fields decided that one year at Georgia was enough. Ohio State was looking for a quarterback after Dwayne Haskins declared for the NFL Draft following one year as starter for the Buckeyes. Fields was granted a waiver to play for Ohio State without having to sit out a season, as was previously customary for college transfers.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/26027852/usa_today_15386495.jpg "NCAA Football: Sugar Bowl-Ohio State vs Clemson")
Chuck Cook-Imagn Images
The first season for Fields in Columbus was legendary, with the quarterback finishing with 41 passing touchdowns and just three interceptions. Unfortunately, Fields and the Buckeyes were beaten in the College Football Playoff by Clemson at the Fiesta Bowl in a tight game.
Fields was able to gain some revenge the next year, even though COVID-19 tried to cancel the college football season. Ohio State beat Clemson in the Sugar Bowl before falling to Alabama in the title game. In 22 games for Ohio State, Fields threw for 5,300 yards, 63 touchdowns, and just nine interceptions.
The Buckeye quarterback was taken in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears, showing signs of breaking the stigma that Ohio State couldn’t produce NFL quarterbacks. Fields was traded to Pittsburgh prior to last season, and will suit up this year for the New York Jets after signing a two-year contract with the team.
Honorable mentions:
Santonio Holmes
Apparently there is something about wearing 4 if you are a great Ohio State wide receiver. Before Jeremiah Smith, fellow Miami product Santonio Holmes came to Columbus as an impressive receiving prospect. After redshirting as a freshman in 2002 when the Buckeyes would go on to win a national title, Holmes hauled in 32 passes and scored seven touchdowns in 2003.
Holmes would follow his redshirt freshman season with 55 catches and seven more scores in 2004, followed by 53 catches and 11 touchdowns in 2005, earning First Team All-Big Ten honors.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/26027851/usa_today_2104719.jpg "2004 NCAA Football: Inidana Hoosiers at Ohio State Buckeyes")
Matthew Emmons-Imagn Images
After his time at Ohio State, Holmes was drafted in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. The defining moment of Holmes’ career came in Super Bowl XLIII when he hauled in the game-winning touchdown in the back of the end zone with 35 seconds left. Holmes would finish his NFL career with 369 catches, 6,030 receiving yards, and 36 touchdowns.
Will Allen
Another member of Ohio State’s 2002 national title team was safety Will Allen, who preserved the 14-9 win by the Buckeyes over Michigan when he intercepted John Navarre. Allen played his high school football at Wayne High School in Huber Heights, where he would have his #4 retired by the school.
During the first three years of his career, Allen played behind Mike Doss at safety, which relegated Allen to nickelback before Doss graduated following the 2002 season. The safety was named First Team All-Big Ten in 2003 in his only season as starting safety for the Buckeyes.
Allen was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft. During his time in the NFL, Allen would appear in 176 games, spending two stints in Pittsburgh, which sandwiched a brief stop in Dallas in 2013. Allen would finish his NFL career with nearly 500 tackles and seven interceptions.
Curtis Samuel
How can we talk about the number 4 without mentioning Curtis Samuel? The versatile running back had one of the most iconic touchdowns in Ohio State history when he scored in double overtime in 2016 to beat Michigan in the first-ever edition of The Game that went to overtime.
Samuel did most of his damage during the 2016, and would finish his Buckeye career as the only player in school history to gain at least 1,000 yards rushing and receiving during his time in Columbus.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/8880915/usa_today_9706266.jpg "NCAA Football: Michigan at Ohio State")
Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports
Samuel was drafted in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers, spending four seasons with the franchise before moving on to Washington from 2021 to 2023. Currently, Samuel is a member of the Buffalo Bills, and will be entering his second season with the Super Bowl contender this season. So far in the NFL, Samuel has caught 348 passes for 3,636 receiving yards, as well as 729 rushing yards, and 30 total touchdowns.
Honorable mentions:
Continue reading...
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
614 Day highlights the best Columbus has to offer. There’s no better way to celebrate than by looking at the best Buckeyes to wear those numbers.
Saturday was June 14th, which is commonly called 614 Day in Central Ohio because 614 is the most popular area code in the area. Even Ohio State football’s social media account recognized 614 Day on Saturday with a post.
To celebrate the most important day of the year in Columbus (outside of any Ohio State football game day), it felt like a perfect time to look back on some of the Buckeye football legends who have worn the numbers 6, 1, and 4.
Even though we could have extended this out to include numbers 61 and 14 because they would have fit in the 614 number profile, it felt cleaner to just take a deeper look at those who wore one of the three digits included in 614.
6
Cie Grant
After graduating high school from New Philadelphia in 1998, Cie Grant, playing sparingly in 1999 and 2000 before starting 23 games over his final two seasons in the scarlet and gray. Grant’s most impactful season came as a senior in 2002 when he recorded 71 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and four sacks.
Grant will live in Ohio State history as his pressure on Ken Dorsey on the final play of the 2003 BCS National Championship Game against Miami resulted in the Hurricanes quarterback throwing an incompletion, clinching the title for the Buckeyes.
Grant was picked in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints but he wasn’t able to make much of an impact at the professional level, only playing in seven games in 2003, registering just three tackles.
Sam Hubbard
The career of Sam Hubbard at Ohio State was fascinating. Hubbard was a five-star recruit coming out of high school but it took some time for the Cincinnati native to find a position at the college level after playing safety in high school. Eventually defensive end was identified as the position Hubbard would be most impactful at.
As a redshirt freshman in 2015, Hubbard registered 6.5 sacks. Following a redshirt sophomore season that saw him notch just 3.5 sacks, Hubbard closed out his Ohio State career in 2017 with 7 sacks before declaring for the 2018 NFL Draft following his junior season.
Like Grant, Hubbard was also a third round pick in the NFL Draft. Hubbard was able to return to his hometown and play seven seasons for the Cincinnati Bengals before retiring this offseason. The most memorable moment in the NFL for Hubbard came in the 2022 playoffs when he returned the “Fumble in the Jungle” for a touchdown, which would end up being the game-winning score in Cincinnati’s 24-17 win over Baltimore.
1
Tom Skladany
Punters are people, too! Tom Skladany was one of the best punters in college football history, becoming the first punter to earn First Team All-American honors three times. Just how good was Skladany? The Pittsburgh area native became the first speciality player to be given a scholarship in Big Ten history. In 1991, Skladany was inducted into the Ohio State Athletic Hall of Fame.
Even back in the 1970s, Skladany knew that playing for the Cleveland Browns was hazardous to your health. After he was taken in the second round of the 1977 NFL Draft, Skladany held out for the whole season and his rights were eventually traded to the Detroit Lions, where he was an All-Pro in 1978 and 1981.
Skladany closed out his career with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1983. While with the team, Skladany suffered a back injury that would end his playing career.
Marcus Freeman
Freeman was a force in high school in Dayton on the football field, earning attention from Jim Tressel and Ohio State. The linebacker didn’t really see much playing time early in his Buckeye career. After recording just four tackles in limited action as a freshman, Freeman redshirted in 2005 as a sophomore after suffering a knee injury in the season opener.
Once healthy, Freeman was all over the field, recording at least 71 tackles in the next three seasons, with his career-high coming as a junior in 2007 when he finished the season with 109 tackles.
After his Ohio State career was over, Freeman was drafted in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears, but his professional career didn’t last too long, as he was forced to retire in 2010 due to an enlarged heart condition. Even though he wasn’t able to play, Freeman found a way to stay involved in the game, becoming an assistant coach before taking over for the departed Brian Kelly as Notre Dame head coach.
Since becoming the head coach of the Fighting Irish, Freeman has taken on Ohio State three times, losing all three games to Ryan Day.
Justin Fields
Just before the Transfer Portal became a thing in college football, Justin Fields decided that one year at Georgia was enough. Ohio State was looking for a quarterback after Dwayne Haskins declared for the NFL Draft following one year as starter for the Buckeyes. Fields was granted a waiver to play for Ohio State without having to sit out a season, as was previously customary for college transfers.
The first season for Fields in Columbus was legendary, with the quarterback finishing with 41 passing touchdowns and just three interceptions. Unfortunately, Fields and the Buckeyes were beaten in the College Football Playoff by Clemson at the Fiesta Bowl in a tight game.
Fields was able to gain some revenge the next year, even though COVID-19 tried to cancel the college football season. Ohio State beat Clemson in the Sugar Bowl before falling to Alabama in the title game. In 22 games for Ohio State, Fields threw for 5,300 yards, 63 touchdowns, and just nine interceptions.
The Buckeye quarterback was taken in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears, showing signs of breaking the stigma that Ohio State couldn’t produce NFL quarterbacks. Fields was traded to Pittsburgh prior to last season, and will suit up this year for the New York Jets after signing a two-year contract with the team.
Honorable mentions:
- Daniel “Boom” Herron
- Bradley Roby
- Jeff Okudah
4
Santonio Holmes
Apparently there is something about wearing 4 if you are a great Ohio State wide receiver. Before Jeremiah Smith, fellow Miami product Santonio Holmes came to Columbus as an impressive receiving prospect. After redshirting as a freshman in 2002 when the Buckeyes would go on to win a national title, Holmes hauled in 32 passes and scored seven touchdowns in 2003.
Holmes would follow his redshirt freshman season with 55 catches and seven more scores in 2004, followed by 53 catches and 11 touchdowns in 2005, earning First Team All-Big Ten honors.
After his time at Ohio State, Holmes was drafted in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. The defining moment of Holmes’ career came in Super Bowl XLIII when he hauled in the game-winning touchdown in the back of the end zone with 35 seconds left. Holmes would finish his NFL career with 369 catches, 6,030 receiving yards, and 36 touchdowns.
Will Allen
Another member of Ohio State’s 2002 national title team was safety Will Allen, who preserved the 14-9 win by the Buckeyes over Michigan when he intercepted John Navarre. Allen played his high school football at Wayne High School in Huber Heights, where he would have his #4 retired by the school.
During the first three years of his career, Allen played behind Mike Doss at safety, which relegated Allen to nickelback before Doss graduated following the 2002 season. The safety was named First Team All-Big Ten in 2003 in his only season as starting safety for the Buckeyes.
Allen was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft. During his time in the NFL, Allen would appear in 176 games, spending two stints in Pittsburgh, which sandwiched a brief stop in Dallas in 2013. Allen would finish his NFL career with nearly 500 tackles and seven interceptions.
Curtis Samuel
How can we talk about the number 4 without mentioning Curtis Samuel? The versatile running back had one of the most iconic touchdowns in Ohio State history when he scored in double overtime in 2016 to beat Michigan in the first-ever edition of The Game that went to overtime.
Samuel did most of his damage during the 2016, and would finish his Buckeye career as the only player in school history to gain at least 1,000 yards rushing and receiving during his time in Columbus.
Samuel was drafted in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers, spending four seasons with the franchise before moving on to Washington from 2021 to 2023. Currently, Samuel is a member of the Buffalo Bills, and will be entering his second season with the Super Bowl contender this season. So far in the NFL, Samuel has caught 348 passes for 3,636 receiving yards, as well as 729 rushing yards, and 30 total touchdowns.
Honorable mentions:
- Jeremiah Smith (The wide receiver will undoubtedly be the best player to wear No. 4 in Ohio State history when his time as a Buckeye comes to an end)
- C.J. Barnett
- Kurt Coleman
Continue reading...
LGHL You’re Nuts: What stat from Ohio State’s 2024 title season was most impressive?
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You’re Nuts: What stat from Ohio State’s 2024 title season was most impressive?
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about the numbers that will be most important for the Buckeyes this college football season. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all our “Most Telling Stat” articles here.
The numbers never lie. That’s why analytics have become so popular in sports. While hitting certain numbers may not guarantee victory in every situation, reaching certain marks can greatly increase the odds of victory. Some coaches value time of possession more than other stats. For others, the number of first downs gained in a game can be a very telling stat. Then there are coaches who look at their defense and how many turnovers they are able to create as an indicator of whether their team ends up being victorious.
Today we are going to look at Ohio State’s title run during the 2024 season, which was unlike any season we have ever seen before since it was the first year with a 12-team playoff, resulting in the Buckeyes playing 16 games. Even though the added length of the season may have allowed for some stats to be inflated because Ohio State played more games than ever in a season, there are still many numbers that came out of the season that were very important and played a big role in the Buckeyes lifting the trophy in Atlanta in mid-January.
If you need a Cliff’s Notes version on just how good the Ohio State defense was last season, just look at how many members of the defense were selected in April’s NFL Draft. Over 16 games, opponents scored just 206 points on the Buckeyes. The majority of those points came in the three games where opponents scored at least 20 points against the Buckeyes. If we are being honest, there was only one game that truly hurt Ohio State. In the first matchup with Oregon, the Ducks put up 32 points on the Buckeyes in Oregon’s one-point win over Ohio State in Eugene.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/26023347/2191974842.jpg "Rose Bowl Game Presented by Prudential - Ohio State V Oregon")
Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images
Oregon also put up 21 points on Ohio State in the Rose Bowl, but the situation was completely different from the game in Eugene since the Buckeyes already was up 34-0 before the Ducks scored their first points of the game just before halftime. Ohio State was never challenged in Pasadena, with the other two Oregon touchdowns coming with the game already well in Ohio State’s control. Notre Dame was also able to cross the 20-point mark in the title game, but the situation was similar to the Rose Bowl, as the Buckeyes were up 31-7 before two Jaden Greathouse receiving touchdowns in the second half allowed the Fighting Irish to close the gap to 31-23 in the fourth quarter.
The loss to Oregon in mid-October forced the defense to look hard at its play. Prior to the first matchup with the Ducks, the Buckeye defense allowed less than 10 points in four or five games. For the season, Ohio State didn’t allow opponents to reach double figures in six total games. Following the loss to Oregon, the defensive efforts from the Buckeyes were even more important since they were in tight games with Nebraska and Penn State in their next two contests. If Ohio State lost to either the Cornhuskers or Nittany Lions, they could have kissed their playoff hopes goodbye.
Allowing less than 20 points in a game doesn’t automatically guarantee victory, as evidenced by the 13-10 loss to Michigan. Then again, the loss to the Wolverines shouldn’t be blamed on the defense since it was obvious the unimaginative game plan from Ryan Day and Chip Kelly was to blame. Who knows how the season goes if the Buckeyes beat Michigan, since they would have played in the Big Ten Championship Game, and possibly could have had a first-round bye. While watching Ohio State fall to Michigan for the fourth straight year was tough, it was almost a blessing in disguise since it brought the team together and lit a fire under them ahead of the CFP. The offense was certainly a force in the four games following the loss to the Wolverines, but the defense and their stinginess were the backbone of the team.
There was something wholly mind-boggling about the way that the Buckeyes ran through the College Football Playoff. While we all knew that the team was filled with an incredible conglomeration of talent, it always felt like there was something missing from them achieving their utmost potential. Whether it was losing to Michigan again, the disappointment from fans, the questions about their head coach, the player-led meeting following the regular season, or something else entirely, whatever limiting factor had been holding the Buckeyes back before had officially been vanquished by the time the playoffs rolled around.
I know that I probably don’t have to remind you — but I’m going to, because it’s fun — that OSU absolutely came out of the gates in the CFP like the Death Star-level killing machine that we had always hoped they would be.
Ryan Day’s team went up 21-0 in the first quarter against Tennessee in the first round and took a decisive 42-17 victory over the SEC squad which was so very unafraid of the Columbus cold.
In the quarterfinals, the Buckeyes then avenged their first loss of the season by absolutely railroading the then-No. 1 team in the country, the Oregon Ducks. Ohio State went up 34-0 before the Ducklings scored a touchdown and a two-point conversion with no time left on the first-half clock. The Scarlet and Gray won that one 41-21.
While the semifinals and national championship games ended up being a bit closer down the stretch, OSU still beat both Texas and Notre Dame by double digits (28-14 and 34-23 respectively) to wrap up an historic run of domination that not only shocked many in the college football world, but propelled the team to the annuls of history.
Last season, Ohio State beat six of the top eight teams based on their rankings heading into the playoff; the two that the Buckeyes didn’t beat were themselves (No. 6) and the No. 2 Georgia Bulldogs, who lost to the Irish in the Sugar Bowl. So, I guess via the transitive property, OSU not only beat UGA, but themselves, thanks to their win over Oregon.
There are countless stats that make you marvel at what the Buckeyes accomplished last season, and I could not be happier that we will have a lifetime to remember and recount them. Go Bucks!
Continue reading...
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about the numbers that will be most important for the Buckeyes this college football season. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all our “Most Telling Stat” articles here.
The numbers never lie. That’s why analytics have become so popular in sports. While hitting certain numbers may not guarantee victory in every situation, reaching certain marks can greatly increase the odds of victory. Some coaches value time of possession more than other stats. For others, the number of first downs gained in a game can be a very telling stat. Then there are coaches who look at their defense and how many turnovers they are able to create as an indicator of whether their team ends up being victorious.
Today we are going to look at Ohio State’s title run during the 2024 season, which was unlike any season we have ever seen before since it was the first year with a 12-team playoff, resulting in the Buckeyes playing 16 games. Even though the added length of the season may have allowed for some stats to be inflated because Ohio State played more games than ever in a season, there are still many numbers that came out of the season that were very important and played a big role in the Buckeyes lifting the trophy in Atlanta in mid-January.
Today’s question: What was the most important stat in Ohio State’s 2024 title season?
We’d love to hear your choices. Either respond to us on Twitter at @Landgrant33 or leave your choice in the comments.
Brett’s answer: The Buckeyes allowed more than 20 points in just three games
If you need a Cliff’s Notes version on just how good the Ohio State defense was last season, just look at how many members of the defense were selected in April’s NFL Draft. Over 16 games, opponents scored just 206 points on the Buckeyes. The majority of those points came in the three games where opponents scored at least 20 points against the Buckeyes. If we are being honest, there was only one game that truly hurt Ohio State. In the first matchup with Oregon, the Ducks put up 32 points on the Buckeyes in Oregon’s one-point win over Ohio State in Eugene.
Oregon also put up 21 points on Ohio State in the Rose Bowl, but the situation was completely different from the game in Eugene since the Buckeyes already was up 34-0 before the Ducks scored their first points of the game just before halftime. Ohio State was never challenged in Pasadena, with the other two Oregon touchdowns coming with the game already well in Ohio State’s control. Notre Dame was also able to cross the 20-point mark in the title game, but the situation was similar to the Rose Bowl, as the Buckeyes were up 31-7 before two Jaden Greathouse receiving touchdowns in the second half allowed the Fighting Irish to close the gap to 31-23 in the fourth quarter.
The loss to Oregon in mid-October forced the defense to look hard at its play. Prior to the first matchup with the Ducks, the Buckeye defense allowed less than 10 points in four or five games. For the season, Ohio State didn’t allow opponents to reach double figures in six total games. Following the loss to Oregon, the defensive efforts from the Buckeyes were even more important since they were in tight games with Nebraska and Penn State in their next two contests. If Ohio State lost to either the Cornhuskers or Nittany Lions, they could have kissed their playoff hopes goodbye.
Allowing less than 20 points in a game doesn’t automatically guarantee victory, as evidenced by the 13-10 loss to Michigan. Then again, the loss to the Wolverines shouldn’t be blamed on the defense since it was obvious the unimaginative game plan from Ryan Day and Chip Kelly was to blame. Who knows how the season goes if the Buckeyes beat Michigan, since they would have played in the Big Ten Championship Game, and possibly could have had a first-round bye. While watching Ohio State fall to Michigan for the fourth straight year was tough, it was almost a blessing in disguise since it brought the team together and lit a fire under them ahead of the CFP. The offense was certainly a force in the four games following the loss to the Wolverines, but the defense and their stinginess were the backbone of the team.
Matt’s answer: Outscored opponents 145–75 in the College Football Playoff
There was something wholly mind-boggling about the way that the Buckeyes ran through the College Football Playoff. While we all knew that the team was filled with an incredible conglomeration of talent, it always felt like there was something missing from them achieving their utmost potential. Whether it was losing to Michigan again, the disappointment from fans, the questions about their head coach, the player-led meeting following the regular season, or something else entirely, whatever limiting factor had been holding the Buckeyes back before had officially been vanquished by the time the playoffs rolled around.
I know that I probably don’t have to remind you — but I’m going to, because it’s fun — that OSU absolutely came out of the gates in the CFP like the Death Star-level killing machine that we had always hoped they would be.
Ryan Day’s team went up 21-0 in the first quarter against Tennessee in the first round and took a decisive 42-17 victory over the SEC squad which was so very unafraid of the Columbus cold.
In the quarterfinals, the Buckeyes then avenged their first loss of the season by absolutely railroading the then-No. 1 team in the country, the Oregon Ducks. Ohio State went up 34-0 before the Ducklings scored a touchdown and a two-point conversion with no time left on the first-half clock. The Scarlet and Gray won that one 41-21.
While the semifinals and national championship games ended up being a bit closer down the stretch, OSU still beat both Texas and Notre Dame by double digits (28-14 and 34-23 respectively) to wrap up an historic run of domination that not only shocked many in the college football world, but propelled the team to the annuls of history.
Last season, Ohio State beat six of the top eight teams based on their rankings heading into the playoff; the two that the Buckeyes didn’t beat were themselves (No. 6) and the No. 2 Georgia Bulldogs, who lost to the Irish in the Sugar Bowl. So, I guess via the transitive property, OSU not only beat UGA, but themselves, thanks to their win over Oregon.
There are countless stats that make you marvel at what the Buckeyes accomplished last season, and I could not be happier that we will have a lifetime to remember and recount them. Go Bucks!
Continue reading...