For the last two seasons, the Ohio State football team's special teams have been anything but special. It's the unit that has caused them the most headaches, which is inexcusable for the amount of resources that the Buckeyes have to fix that unit.
On Saturday, the Ohio State Buckeyes defeated Wisconsin 34-0 in a game that was never close. Yet, the special teams were a massive issue in this game. There were numerous issues that reared their ugly head in this game against the Badgers that are a massive issue.
Jayden Fielding missed a 38-yard field goal. Brandon Inniss had issues returning punts, especially when it came to making the right decision whether to field them or let them go. Wisconsin had a successful fake punt in the fourth quarter. All of these issues had Ryan Day fired up.
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day fumes over special teams mistakes against Wisconsin
Day was asked about the special teams after the game. He was not pleased with the unit, saying that it could cost them a game in the future.
“We had the special teams breakdown (on the fake punt), which we can’t have happen. That can cost you a game. That was ridiculous,” he said. “We know what our issues are, and we have to continually work on them to get them better.”
Those kinds of mistakes are fine against a team as bad as Wisconsin. That won't fly against Michigan, Indiana, or any team they play in the College Football Playoff. In those games, the Buckeyes have to have all of their units in sync, playing their best.
If the special teams don't get fixed in the next month, that's the thing that could keep Ohio State from finishing this season undefeated. Even worse, it's something that could keep them from winning a national championship. Day understands that after this game.
How Day goes about fixing this issue will be the key to whether or not this team goes back-to-back, or if they flame out in the College Football Playoff.