Ohio State Football: Best Buckeye team ever?

The Ohio State football team just got a statement win over Wisconsin and has a strong case to be ranked No. 1. Could this team be the best in program history?

The Ohio State football team routed Wisconsin in their own house of pain yesterday 38-7. The win for the Buckeyes is by far their most impressive of the season and will hopefully be enough to win over skeptics saying they haven’t played anyone.

To put the dominance of the Ohio State defense into perspective, look at how running back Jonathon Taylor and the rest of the Wisconsin offense performed. Taylor, widely regarded as the best running back in college football, only had 52 yards rushing and the Badgers only mustered up 191 total yards on the afternoon.

Chase Young was a one man wrecking crew recording four sacks on the day and caused a pair of fumbles. Holding Wisconsin to 191 yards extends Ohio State’s streak of not allowing 300 yards of offense to any of its opponents this season.

Justin Fields, JK Dobbins, and Chris Olave were all sensational Saturday. Dobbins had two rushing touchdowns, Fields threw two TD passes to Olave and scored once on the ground.

Dobbins led the way with 221 scrimmage yards as he ran all over the Badger defense. His counterpart Master Teague also out rushed Jonathan Taylor 72-52 to the surprise of many.

This victory extends the Buckeyes’ margin of outscoring opponents by 323 points which is an astounding mark through eight games. During this winning streak, Ohio State has not allowed more than ten points since week 1 versus Florida Atlantic.

The Buckeyes have also won each game by at least 24 points. No other team in the country is close to that mark.

Ohio State also ranks in the top five in total offense and defense, the only team in the country that can make that claim. In addition to the total offense and defense ranks, The Buckeyes now finds themselves as the No. 1 scoring defense. as well

They are also among the top of the rankings in various other categories on both sides of the ball.

Ohio State has been the most complete team in the country so far and the thorough dominance has raised this question. Is this the best team in program history?

Many will wonder how it’s possible after losing a Hall of Fame coach Urban Meyer, Dwayne Haskins and Nick Bosa. Well, it’s happening and the Buckeyes are seemingly better under Ryan Day.

In recent memory, the best Ohio State team was the 2014 National Championship team. I didn’t say the 2015 Buckeye squad because they never quite played consistently to their potential like this year’s team has been able to do.

No disrespect or discount to any of the elite Ohio State football teams of the past, plenty were loaded with talent. But the athletes of today’s football are faster and stronger than in the past because of nutritional breakthroughs, technological advances and a spread style of play.

Of course it’s too early to officially rank the 2019 Ohio State Buckeyes amongst a storied past filled with some of the game’s legends. It is only week 9, but at the pace Ryan Day has his Buckeyes playing with determination, focus and consistency.

This year’s team will surely be a contender for the greatest team in program history, and perhaps find their way into becoming one of the greatest college football teams ever if they continue to play at the level they have so far.