If protection wins championships, an axiom that’s examined every single day in a world the place low-scoring is boring, Ohio State already has one large paw on lifting the CFP championship trophy in January.
What was a query mark firstly of the season has turn out to be an exclamation point for the defending national champions underneath first-year defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, a reclamation undertaking if there ever was one after his ill-fated run because the Detroit Lions head coach from 2018-20.
He was employed after defensive guru Jim Knowles bolted for Penn State not quickly after his top-ranked protection helped the Buckeyes to an inconceivable four-game playoff run to the title after the inexplicable loss to Michigan (can’t fault the protection for that one).
This season’s D is even higher and it has allowed redshirt freshman quarterback Julian Sayin to blossom right into a Heisman Trophy contender with out the strain of getting to win a recreation together with his arm – thus far. We’ll see what occurs when the playoff strain mounts.
Sure, the No. 1 Buckeyes (7-0, 5-0 Massive Ten) path there may be virtually assured however not with out some trepidation regardless of having one of the best scoring protection within the nation – a stingy 5.9 factors per recreation (with two shutouts) in comparison with runner-up Oklahoma’s 9.4 – and Sayin’s crisp 80.0 completion fee to steer all FBS quarterbacks and outdistances that of Heisman contenders Fernando Mendoza of Indiana (73.5%) and Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia (71.4%).
Coach Ryan Day should repair the working recreation that one would count on to be wanted sooner or later (re: at Michigan on Nov. 29). The Buckeyes averaged simply 3.5 yards per carry vs. Wisconsin on Saturday however to be honest, it was an enchancment over the two.9 common the earlier recreation in opposition to Illinois.
Particular groups are additionally to not the caliber of the protection nor the passing recreation. The Buckeyes haven’t discovered a dependable returner; the return protection bought embarrassed by a 20-yard pretend punt by Wisconsin and kicking a subject objective from 50 yards is out of the query.
All of those “issues” will be addressed in what ought to be a positive schedule with solely Michigan (5-2) holding a profitable report among the many 5 opponents starting with once-mighty Penn State (3-4).
This one has intrigue written throughout it. Just like the Buckeyes, Penn State is off this weekend so the Nittany Lions can take a breath and regroup after the beautiful collapse that led to the firing of James Franklin on Oct. 19.
Interim head coach Terry Smith will attempt to rally his squad realizing that redshirt freshman quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer, rather than injured Drew Allar, will make his second profession begin Nov. 1 in Ohio Stadium.
Then it’s away at Purdue (2-5) the place Boilermakers followers nonetheless regale within the 2018 upset of the top-ranked Buckeyes.
A resurgent UCLA (3-4) might be led by revenge-seeking Nico Iamaleava. The final time he stepped foot in Ohio Stadium was in December when he quarterbacked Tennessee in a 42-17 shellacking by the Buckeyes in a CFP first-round matchup.
If anybody goes to check the Buckeyes’ stellar secondary led by All-American Caleb Downs and the dynamic linebacker duo of Arvell Reese and Sonny Kinds, will probably be Iamaleava.
After a house recreation vs. Rutgers (3-4), they’ll head to Ann Arbor the place a four-game dropping streak to the Wolverines awaits. Survive November and the potential is there for a showdown with No. 2 Indiana within the Massive Ten Championship Recreation on Dec. 6.
It’s doable to be undefeated going into the playoffs and a heavy favourite to repeat as nationwide champs with the lockdown protection and the quantity of firepower that Sayin (1,872 yards, 19 touchdowns, three interceptions) has at his disposal.
The offensive line has been strong and he actually hasn’t been pressured, however with gifted receivers Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate, the best-catching tight finish group that Day has ever had, and Sayin’s willingness to examine right down to his backs — who do you cowl?
When the offense goes in opposition to one of the best protection within the nation each follow, typically the sport is the simple half.
