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2026 tOSU Offense Discussion

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Jaxbuck said:
I don't have a clean plays per game source so I looked at the box scores from last years playoff games and just added the pass attempts plus the rushing attempts. If that somehow misses any other plays then forgive me but here is what I found

Team: pass attempts/runs/total

Tenn: 31/33/64
Oregon:57 total plays, I had it backwards.
Texas: 33/24/57
ND: 21/41/62

60 plays per game

The average plays per game in '25 was 64 according to this site and if that's site data is correct, the overall plays per game in 2024 was 62.8.

So not so sure the sped things up from last playoffs narrative holds water. Also, if this data is correct, you guys who are arguing faster = success need to reconcile 2025 being a slightly faster year than 2024.

Unless all of this is way off, the tempo hasn't materially changed.

The outcome did.

EDIT

This site has it easier to find and lists plays per game.

I would also add they ran 59 plays against Miami and 56 against IU.

57.5 plays per game in 2025, against 60 plays per game in 2024 playoffs.

2 plays per game isn't the story folks.
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It’s not the plays per game that I’m upset about. It’s more of using the entire play clock every time gives the defense time to get a breather, get a call in and lined up with adjustments. It can still take 7-8 minutes. They don’t have to do it all the time, just be more varied. The offense is so damn predictable in the play calling and the play speed. We only went fast a few times this year and it almost always put the defense on their heals. I don’t want them to go fast all the time. I don’t want the Mariotta Ducks speed. I just wish they would have done it 3-4 drives.

Games are won and lost on finding little advantages. Huddling is an advantage. When the offense huddles the defense also ‘huddles’. If the offense doesn’t need to huddle then the defense doesn’t get the benefit.

Urban partially combated it by doing a quick line up and check to the sideline. That check can take 3 seconds or 10, but the entire time the defense has to be lined up ready for the snap which somewhat limits their ability to get in adjustments and keeps them from subbing. He would even occasionally have the QB turn and snap immediately to keep the defense honest. Urban was a master of finding the little advantages.
 
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billmac91 said:
I think what Indiana and Miami exposed though, is OSU may be more talented in nearly every position group, but all it takes is a defensive line to wreck the efficiency if the offensive line cannot hold up….and once they offensive line cannot hold up consistently, it dramatically effects our freshman QB even when his protection isn’t bad.

In this case, using tempo can help a weakness compared to the other team (our offensive line versus their defensive line), and maximize our talent at positions where we do have the advantage (go tempo so the defense plays a “base” coverage that allows our offense to exploit our advantages more easily).

I think where the argument to play as slow as Day is, fundamentally breaks down, is when we cannot execute because we just aren’t more talented in one facet of the game. I was rolling with it until Indiana made Swiss cheese of our o-line and then Miami basically did the same thing with stunts.

I guess, IMO, I’m not cutting my nose off in spite of my face…..I feel like Day let Indiana and Miami beat us with (1) position group….i guess (2) if you count special teams. But defensive lines wrecked our season. And you can gameplan around elite defensive lines…..we just didn’t for the most part.
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Defensive line depth also seems to be a big issue for every program in the NIL era, so hurry up has the double benefit of wearing those guys out, especially if they are looping around on stunts constantly.
 
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I think the proper way to look at 2025 was fools gold. The offense should have been the issue with a new QB, new oline and running backs. What was not expected was the way the defense played. They were way way above expectation, to the point it looked like the team was unstoppable.

It really was a rebuilding year, hidden beneath a better than expected year. I for one believed there would be a serious drop off for a season, but I bought in that maybe there was something more. There maybe was and wasn't.

What did we learn. Sayin showed promise, but understandably needs more time. The running backs for sure need more time. The offensive line needs more time.

Now, OSU is at a unexpected place where the defense did so well that starter's who we believed would be here for the 2026 season are gone, and they are looking at rebuilding the defense, and the offense may hit its stride.

Interesting times. Hope JJ doesn't bolt.
 
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osuvictory1 said:
I think the proper way to look at 2025 was fools gold. The offense should have been the issue with a new QB, new oline and running backs. What was not expected was the way the defense played. They were way way above expectation, to the point it looked like the team was unstoppable.

It really was a rebuilding year, hidden beneath a better than expected year. I for one believed there would be a serious drop off for a season, but I bought in that maybe there was something more. There maybe was and wasn't.

What did we learn. Sayin showed promise, but understandably needs more time. The running backs for sure need more time. The offensive line needs more time.

Now, OSU is at a unexpected place where the defense did so well that starter who we believed would be here for the 2026 season are gone, and they are looking at a rebuilding, and the offense may hit its stride.

Interesting times. Hope JJ doesn't bolt.
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Agreed with this mostly. No stats to back this up whatsoever but I'd bet Ohio State was probably the least experienced team in the playoffs or at least close to it. The final four are teams filled with grown men. Sayin with another year under his belt probably beats Miami by 2TDs or more due to seeing open receivers better and knowing how to avoid pressure. Probably doesn't throw that pick six either.

When you think about it more rationally, it's probably a miracle the offense wasn't fucked more given the immense amount of talent lost.
 
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Jaxbuck said:
That is not what they said. They touched on the basic problem when they quoted Day. If you don't execute (get first downs) then going "faster" just hands the ball back to the opponent faster.

The problem was execution, not speed. We just saw two games in a row where the young QB was visibly sped up, confused and making mistakes because of what better defenses were doing to him. Unfortunately, speeding up a guy who's not able to execute already just isn't going to work.

The problem wasn't the speed, it was the young QB's development (along with the OL issues).

Going forward, if you have a skill advantage the best strategy is efficiency. In some tactical situations you can absolutely apply tempo but as a high level approach, efficiency is the best path if you are the more skilled team.
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Except for in the second half against the Canes when the Buckeyes HAD to use tempo, it freaking worked and Bain and Messidor were both on the sideline sucking wind.

No one is saying to go 2013 Oregon Ducks Ludicrous Speed, but damn. At least *try* to put the defense back on its heels.
 
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lvbuckeye said:
Except for in the second half against the Canes when the Buckeyes HAD to use tempo, it freaking worked and Bain and Messidor were both on the sideline sucking wind.

No one is saying to go 2013 Oregon Ducks Ludicrous Speed, but damn. At least *try* to put the defense back on its heels.
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so if it's tempo and not execution why did it stop working? You think Day intentionally slowed it back down so he wouldn't score?

Look, I know people are frustrated but the tempo thing is confusing approach with result.

The single highest correlation to scoring is efficiency (something in the .70 range). Plays per game has a correlation of something in the .20's.
 
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