The Ohio State football team has been the best team in the country all season long. The resume they have accumulated is unassailable to this point. Right now, they are preparing to take on Indiana in the Big Ten Championship for the right to win the conference and get the one-seed in the College Football Playoff.
The Ohio State Buckeyes came into the season with Jeremiah Smith thought of as the best player in college football. Of course, Smith did miss a game against Rutgers and a half against UCLA. Julian Sayin is one of the favorites for the Heisman Trophy, as well.
Both of those Buckeyes collected some Big Ten awards on Thursday. Yet, both of them were snubbed for the biggest award in the conference, which was given to a player who will see the Buckeyes on Saturday night in Lucas Oil Stadium.
Ohio State players Julian Sayin, Jeremiah Smith snubbed for major award
Smith was the Best Receiver Award in the Big Ten. Smith finished the regular season with 72 catches for 942 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also had two carries for 20 yards and a touchdown. Smith still proved that no one can cover him one-on-one, even when he's hurt.
Sayin was awarded as the Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Sayin finished the regular season with 3,065 yards passing, 30 touchdowns, and just five interceptions. He completed 78.9 percent of his passes. He is one of the biggest reasons why the Buckeyes are undefeated.
Yet, neither of those players was given the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year. That was given to Fernando Mendoza of Indiana. It seems like a pretty big snub, and I'm sure that will factor into the game on Saturday night between these two teams.
Smith, Carnell Tate, and Max Klare were selected as First Team All-Big Ten performers. Sayin, Bo Jackson, Luke Montgomery, and Austin Siereveld were selected as Second Team All-Big Ten performers. Yet, those players are going to have a chip on their shoulders.