Game Thread CFP Playoff Cotton Bowl, tOSU vs Texas, Fri. Jan. 10th, 7:30 ET on ESPN

[GaTechBuckeye]

I'm thrilled with how the team has prepared and performed thus far. There's a lot to be proud of with this group.

This matchup with Texas concerns me though. I expect the teams to trade punches and for it to ultimately come down to turnovers and drive killing/sustaining penalties.

From the last two games, I think there's too strong of a narrative that this team has figured something out and unlocked the recipe on how to play a complete game in all phases. Between Tennessee tipping their own plays and Oregon refusing to make adjustments until the hole was too deep we just haven't seen this team overcome "day of" adversity due to the game script tipping into Ohio States favor.

 

[BuckTwenty]

UT pundit trying to encourage UT to run Scum's D. Apparently Martindale is considered some sort of genius now.

The Michigan blueprint for defending Ohio State

Michigan has been tormenting Ryan Day and the Ohio State Buckeye offense for four years in a row with more or less the same approach. What is it and could Texas copy it in the semifinal?

www.on3.com

I would encourage Texas to run TCUN's D. Tennessee had the same game plan and ran it to perfection

 

[Captain Buckeye]

I would encourage Texas to run TCUN's D. Tennessee had the same game plan and ran it to perfection

Yeah it’s kind of hilarious that it’s been “oh just copy them”… well yeah but you also have to have OSU cooperate by running into the defensive tackles 20 times a game too.

We’ve stopped running plays that haven’t yielded results and have been ultra aggressive.

We aren’t the same offense as we were 6-8 weeks ago

 

[scarletngray]

Chemistry. Pride. Hunger. Determination. Brotherhood. Confidence. Are all in Ohio State's favor right now. This is a team on a mission.

 

[1926Buckeyes]

I'm thrilled with how the team has prepared and performed thus far. There's a lot to be proud of with this group.

This matchup with Texas concerns me though. I expect the teams to trade punches and for it to ultimately come down to turnovers and drive killing/sustaining penalties.

From the last two games, I think there's too strong of a narrative that this team has figured something out and unlocked the recipe on how to play a complete game in all phases. Between Tennessee tipping their own plays and Oregon refusing to make adjustments until the hole was too deep we just haven't seen this team overcome "day of" adversity due to the game script tipping into Ohio States favor.

Not sure I know what you mean by game script favoring OSU. Were there some reports of Tenn and Oregon flubbing their game plans?

I think it’s as simple as an extra focus on fundamentals leading to great execution of a focused game plan. Maybe Tenn had a poor gameplan, but I think Oregon’s was good and played well, they just got smashed.

This level of play is really hard to maintain, though, so I agree they will need to overcome adversity and won’t be able to just blow everyone out.

 

[cmstophe]

Not sure I know what you mean by game script favoring OSU. Were there some reports of Tenn and Oregon flubbing their game plans?

I think it’s as simple as an extra focus on fundamentals leading to great execution of a focused game plan. Maybe Tenn had a poor gameplan, but I think Oregon’s was good and played well, they just got smashed.

This level of play is really hard to maintain, though, so I agree they will need to overcome adversity and won’t be able to just blow everyone out.

Yeah. I think this is a very nervous fanbase, so a lot of people are looking for “reasons” for this and that.

The team is just playing very well.

That said, nothing says they can’t return to the mistake ridden sloppy level of play we saw during the season that frustrated us so often. And there is truth to his point that we haven’t seen them in a dogfight in the playoffs yet. They have jumped to big early leads very quickly. How does this team react when it’s a close game going into the 4th Q? Because it’s very likely that is the kind of game we have upon us vs Texas

 

[EngineerHorn]

I expect the teams to trade punches and for it to ultimately come down to turnovers and drive killing/sustaining penalties.

Agreed with this. And who comes down with the 50/50 balls more.

Four ways to look at it:
1. Whoever shoots themselves in the foot less will win
2. If both teams execute well and limit mistakes while playing up to their potentials -> Ohio St by a score
3. Extrapolate positive momentum for Ohio St and sloppiness from TX -> Ohio St by 2+ scores
4. Underdog role gets TX to finally put a full game together and Quinn goes a full game without brain farts -> TX by a score

Don't know how likely #4 is, last time TX was an underdog was last year at Alabama. So I'm gonna go with #1.

 

[GaTechBuckeye]

Not sure I know what you mean by game script favoring OSU. Were there some reports of Tenn and Oregon flubbing their game plans?

I think it’s as simple as an extra focus on fundamentals leading to great execution of a focused game plan. Maybe Tenn had a poor gameplan, but I think Oregon’s was good and played well, they just got smashed.

This level of play is really hard to maintain, though, so I agree they will need to overcome adversity and won’t be able to just blow everyone out.

There are some great pieces out there that evaluate each game from the perspective of "what went wrong". Here's a good one from the Oregon beat. I'm not intending to come across as pessimistic or nervous, I just think it's healthy to acknowledge that there are some elements of those games that played heavily into our favor (e.g. Dylan Sampson and Evan Stewart injuries and the early leads forcing more obvious passing situations). Our team and coaches were prepared to take advantage of the opportunities and they deserve the praise they're getting.

 

[Captain Buckeye]

Agreed with this. And who comes down with the 50/50 balls more.

Four ways to look at it:
1. Whoever shoots themselves in the foot less will win
2. If both teams execute well and limit mistakes while playing up to their potentials -> Ohio St by a score
3. Extrapolate positive momentum for Ohio St and sloppiness from TX -> Ohio St by 2+ scores
4. Underdog role gets TX to finally put a full game together and Quinn goes a full game without brain farts -> TX by a score

Don't know how likely #4 is, last time TX was an underdog was last year at Alabama. So I'm gonna go with #1.

Hearing Sark yesterday and the Texas media today (asked ridiculous questions to the OSU players today insinuating Texas doesn’t stand a chance) is my biggest concern early. I think with how well OSU has started the last two games can be off set a bit by Texas maybe being fired up about being an underdog. Add that with OSU sort of riding out the game vs Oregon (unlike finishing strong vs Tennessee) and I’d be surprised if we start started on fire again.

I think with both defenses being good it’ll make a big difference with who can hit the shots down the field. So to your point who’s going to make plays on those 50/50 balls?

 

[1926Buckeyes]

There are some great pieces out there that evaluate each game from the perspective of "what went wrong". Here's a good one from the Oregon beat. I'm not intending to come across as pessimistic or nervous, I just think it's healthy to acknowledge that there are some elements of those games that played heavily into our favor (e.g. Dylan Sampson and Evan Stewart injuries and the early leads forcing more obvious passing situations). Our team and coaches were prepared to take advantage of the opportunities and they deserve the praise they're getting.

Thanks for the link! Didn’t think you were, just curious to see what had been said.

 

[charlohiottean]

I’m gonna point out one simple advantage that the Buckeyes currently have over their next two opponents. Just one advantage. I have no real idea how many points this advantage might be worth, but I’m pretty sure it helps.

When Tennessee walked out onto the field at Ohio Stadium they looked like they thought they were prepared. Unfortunately for them, as they were game-planning, scheming and coaching the players, they had no game film on the team that they faced that evening. Didn’t go well for them. When Oregon took the field in Pasadena, they only had one game‘s worth of film to study. I’m pretty sure that’s not what they used to design their aproach. Poor Ducks. Now Texas has two whole games worth of film to study. Do you think that will be enough? Do you think they’ll actually believe that they only have two game films to study? I don’t. Good luck Horns.

 

[shetuck]

There are some great pieces out there that evaluate each game from the perspective of "what went wrong". Here's a good one from the Oregon beat. I'm not intending to come across as pessimistic or nervous, I just think it's healthy to acknowledge that there are some elements of those games that played heavily into our favor (e.g. Dylan Sampson and Evan Stewart injuries and the early leads forcing more obvious passing situations). Our team and coaches were prepared to take advantage of the opportunities and they deserve the praise they're getting.

i’ve heard a of talk since the oregon game about how oregon was down a couple of key guys… not anywhere near the talk, outside buckeye circles, about how we we were down one (maybe two) first round guys on our OL and were running on shoestrings and duct tape there.

so there’s also that fact that many are missing in their “why oregon lost” narrative.

 

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

I’m gonna point out one simple advantage that the Buckeyes currently have over their next two opponents. Just one advantage. I have no real idea how many points this advantage might be worth, but I’m pretty sure it helps.

His name is Jeramiah Smith and he's worth no less than 14 points.

 

[charlohiottean]

His name is Jeramiah Smith and he's worth no less than 14 points.

If people wanna start listing, I’m ready for it.

 

[scarletngray]

i’ve heard a of talk since the oregon game about how oregon was down a couple of key guys… not anywhere near the talk, outside buckeye circles, about how we we were down one (maybe two) first round guys on our OL and were running on shoestrings and duct tape there.

so there’s also that fact that many are missing in their “why oregon lost” narrative.

A positive for the good guys is that we are pretty healthy going into this game. UT is a bit banged up on their OL and just had a long, hard, physical battle against ASU. I think we will be the fresher of the two teams. And after a very long season (UT has played one more game than us) that could factor into the outcome. GO BUCKS!