Any good Ohio State fan enjoyed the Buckeyes' big victory over an SEC opponent at home in the first round of the College Football Playoff. Any good Ohio State fan also may have never experienced anything in their football life more bittersweet than this resounding victory. You love how well this embattled team (from waterboy to head coach) responded and took a huge step toward redemption and it took everyone by surprise.
But where on the face of the earth was this three weeks ago?! Where was the vertical passing game to Jeremiah Smith?! Where was the off-tackle running game?! Where were the crossing routes to Carnell Tate and Emeka Egbuka?! Where was the offensive line that played angry?!
Where were the post routes to the tight ends?! Where was that home-field advantage from Buckeye Nation? Where was this coverage by the defensive backs that never let anything get behind them? Where was that coach who attacked his opponent early and often? Where was this team in THE Game?!
The best time to play your best football if you’re Ohio State is in The Game, the second best time is right now, and the third best time is when you’re playing an SEC foe in the playoff. I can’t remember two more contrasting games in Ohio State football history than these two. First one that nothing could go right and second one in which nothing could go wrong. Now that I’ve got the bitter out of the system let’s turn our attention to the sweet.
The 42-17 score belies just how good Tennessee has been this season. They have the seventh-best defense in the nation, allowing only 293 yards and 16.1 points per game. Ryan Day and Ohio State put 473 yards and 42 points on them. Jim Knowles’ defense was just as great. Tennessee was averaging 447 yards per game, which is good enough for 17th in the nation, and 35.7 points per game which is 14th in the nation. Ohio State held them to 256 yards and only 17 points.
The offense put up 180 more yards and 26 more points than Tennessee averaged allowing. The defense held them to 191 fewer yards and 18 points less than the Vols were averaging. That’s fantastic coaching and I’m not afraid of saying it. I’ve been on Coach Day’s case for 1-4.
And if you’re going to get on someone’s case for failure you have to give them just as much praise for victory. Ryan Day, Chip Kelly, and Jim Knowles deserve all the credit for this victory. They set up stars like Will Howard, Jeremiah Smith, Jack Sawyer, and Cody Simon perfectly. And they all delivered a big victory for Ohio State.
Now, on to the Rose Bowl. A rematch with the Oregon Ducks in a classic Rose Bowl matchup. It’ll be a matter of which team shows up that will determine Ohio State’s fate. If it’s the Buckeyes who played against TTUN, it won’t be as close as it was in October. If the Buckeyes who played against UT show up, Ohio State will move on to the final four.