Scarlet and Game
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Three best players Ohio State football played against in the 2010s

By Ryan Stano

Jan 1, 2021; New Orleans, LA, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Pete Werner (20) hits Clemson Tigers quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) as he throws the ball in the first quarter during the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans on Friday, Jan. 1, 2021. Mandatory Credit: Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2021; New Orleans, LA, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Pete Werner (20) hits Clemson Tigers quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) as he throws the ball in the first quarter during the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans on Friday, Jan. 1, 2021. Mandatory Credit: Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Sports /
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No one knew Khalil Mack was going to be as good as he is until he played Ohio State in the first game of the 2013 season, where he was a game wrecker.(Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
No one knew Khalil Mack was going to be as good as he is until he played Ohio State in the first game of the 2013 season, where he was a game wrecker.(Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /

The Ohio State football team played Buffalo in the first game of the 2013 season. It was expected to be the start of a great year with the Buckeyes having gone undefeated the prior season. While they did win the opener, they played one of the best defensive players ever in that game.

That player is linebacker Khalil Mack. Mack was a ridiculously good player at Buffalo, and this was his senior season. He started it out with a bang against the Buckeyes, recording 9 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and a 45-yard pick-six. He was truly a game wrecker.

Even though Ohio State had no answer for Mack, they still won the game 40-20. Ohio State would go on to have an undefeated regular season before losing the final two games of the season to Michigan State and Clemson respectively.

Mack started off his senior season with a bang. After that game against the Buckeyes, he went on to be named Second-Team All-America and was the fifth overall pick in the draft by the Raiders. He’s only gotten better since playing in the NFL.

Mack has been named to the Pro Bowl six times, First-Team All-Pro four times, and was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2016. He is a constant game wrecker, just like he was when he played Ohio State so many years ago.

The final player on this list is the most recent player the Ohio State football team has faced, and he was a really good one and should be a great one in the NFL too.

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