Through two rounds of the College Football Playoff, no team has put on a more impressive performance than the Ohio State Buckeyes. CFP
After a disappointing offensive day that ended with a loss to Michigan in the regular-season finale, it felt like the sky was about to fall in Columbus. It was the program’s fourth straight loss to its archrival, and murmurs about Ryan Day’s job security had turned into roars of discontent.
As Friday rolled around, that bitterness faded. Ohio State defeated Tennessee in the CFP first round and then defeated top-seeded Oregon in the Rose Bowl.
The offense, highlighted by quarterback Will Howard and star freshman wideout Jeremiah Smith, became a nearly unstoppable force at the right time. The unit totaled 973 yards and 83 points in those blowout victories over top-ranked competitors.
However, during a 28-14 victory over Texas in the Cotton Bowl, the Buckeyes delivered a mediocre memory.
It didn’t have to be pretty.
Because it certainly wasn’t.
Gritty Win Sends Buckeyes to CFP Title Game
Ohio State stormed out of the gate in Arlington, forcing a turnover on downs before marching down the field once again. Quinson Judkins capped a 10-play drive with a nine-yard touchdown run.
The Buckeyes’ next possession, however, literally got worse. They gained 55 yards, but stopped just short of field-goal range after an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Trevion Henderson. Subsequent drives covered 14, seven and negative-seven yards.
That tough, crafty Texas defense showed its mettle — until one surprising, game-changing moment.
With 29 seconds left in the second quarter, Quinn Evers threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Jaden Blue to tie the game at 7-7. Ohio State called a basic screen to Henderson, who chased a caravan of blockers and broke the seam for a 75-yard score. The play didn’t decide the game, but it played a major role in the outcome.
However, the second half began with a similar story.
Will Howard threw an interception on OSU’s opening drive, and the unit gained four yards on its next two possessions. Meanwhile, Texas was deadlocked at 14–14 early in the fourth quarter. The Buckeyes’ atrocious offense had no source of heat.
Still, they found enough spark. Judkins powered through his second touchdown, leading Ohio State to a 21–14 lead late in the fourth quarter with a 13-play, 88-yard drive.
On the other hand, outstanding edge-rusher Jack Sawyer came into the clutch. Facing 4th-and-goal at the Longhorns’ 8-yard line, Sawyer hit Evers and forced a fumble that was thrown into his hands, and OSU’s star big man took it 83 yards for the game-sealing touchdown. I ran. A few snaps later, Caleb Downs added an interception, sealing the Buckeyes’ trip to the CFP National Championship Game.
They will face Notre Dame for a chance to win the FBS crown. Again, it wasn’t pretty. But this season, the results are the only thing that matter. What we see on tape — and, more accurately, what Notre Dame sees — is meaningful, though.
Howard ran for a crucial fourth-down conversion but otherwise had a lackluster evening; a short screen pass that turned into a 75-yard touchdown helped his box score significantly. Howard also connected once with Jeremiah Smith for three yards. In addition, OSU’s running game passed for 98 yards on 22 non-sack carries. Not terrible, but certainly not great.
If a team can’t win despite these problems on the field, that season is over. Ugly wins are more important than pretty losses in January, and the Buckeyes won.
In theory, Notre Dame’s defense is as solid as Texas’s. So far, the Fighting Irish haven’t given up more than 339 yards or 24 points in CFP wins over Indiana, Georgia and Penn State – and also have top-10 national rankings in both categories this season.
Given ND’s strength, there’s a strong chance it will follow a similar style in the championship game. Both the Buckeyes and the Irish are defensive teams, whose QBs typically do just that.
But style points don’t matter anymore.
With one final showdown, Ohio State could have the most beautiful celebration of the season – no matter how beautiful or ugly its performance in the national championship turns out to be.
