Their week seven loss to the Oregon Ducks was the biggest motivation for the Ohio State Buckeyes to not just win this game but to dominate in this game. After getting a 34-0 start to the game, they almost became the 1992 Houston Oilers for a moment when they gave up two straight scoring drives to the Ducks, becoming a 34-15 score. They then scored one more time on TreyVeon Henderson's eight-yard touchdown run. The defense would allow Oregon to score just one more time. They dominated the number one team in the country with a disciplined defense and a well-balanced offense. Most of all, this became a chance for redemption for quarterback Will Howard.
Ohio State's Pass Attack
Will Howard admitted that he was hunted from their last meeting with the Oregon Ducks in week seven. A game because of him will perhaps be known as "The Slide Game," if it was to have a name stamped on it. Howard and his offense ripped up the Ducks' defense on the opening drive in just three plays with two long pass plays. The first went for 30 yards to tight end Gee Scott Jr., and the second went 45 yards into the endzone to Jeremiah Smith to conclude the drive. Will Howard finish off Oregon with 319 passing yards and three touchdown passes?
All touchdown passes went for 40 yards or better, and Will Howard threw an average of 12.3 yards per pass attempt. He threw only nine incompletions on 26 pass attempts on that average. Watching the two touchdowns and 187 receiving yards from Jeremiah Smith was astonishing, but it was the 26.7 yards per catch average that showed the elevation of this offense. Emeka Egbuka had an average of 14.4 yards per reception during the contest on five receptions and a 42-yard bomb from Will Howard for the game's second touchdown. Ohio State's pass catchers altogether averaged 18.8 yards per reception for the game.
Motion, Motion, and More Motion
Just like in the first round against the Volunteers, there was a lot of movement along the line of scrimmage going on with the Buckeyes' offense. The game's first touchdown scored by the Buckeyes had Jeremiah Smith lined up on the right side and motioned to the left at the snap on a fake hand-off play to Quinshon Judkins to the right. The play had the Oregon Ducks falling for the fake, and Will Howard threw the football to Smith in the flat with nothing but green grass ahead. The left tackle and left guard pulling to the right on that same play also threw off the defense.
Two plays ago, a 30-yard pass completed to tight end Gee Scott Jr. began to look like a screenplay for Quinshon Judkins, who was lined up in the trips on the right. Gee Scott Jr. stood at the half-back position in a shotgun formation and motioned to the right, where the trips were lined up. He looked to block an Oregon defender before going on the wheel route. TreyVeon Henderson's 66-yard touchdown run to up the score 31-0 in the second quarter was opened up by two pulling linemen from the left. What really distracted the defense was wide receiver Carnell Tate lining up behind the right tackle. Once the play began, Tate motioned to the left in the same fashion that Jeremiah Smith had done for his first touchdown of the game. As if he was going out for a pass in the flats. But it turned out to be a run to the right this time, and Henderson ran free for six points.
Best Defense in the Country
This is the best defense and the most disciplined unit in the nation. It's a defense that blitzes at the right times, mostly on third down, with one linebacker in a disguised blitz. The coverage package they stayed in the whole game was like a prevent coverage package. A pass coverage that guarded the perimeters of the field took away opportunities to throw midfield and limited deep-ball opportunities. Cutting off the crossing routes underneath and the slants towards the middle of the field. Their defensive backs were even tight on the comebacks and out routes on the sidelines.
Because of this, the pass rush had enough time to get to Dillon Gabriel and racked up eight sacks. They also had no trouble slowing down the run. The defense racked up 13 tackles in the backfield and limited Oregon's rushing attack to a negative 23 yards the whole game. Their leading rusher, Jordan James, was only able to mustard up 14 rushing yards on seven carries. With no run game to focus on, they decided to pay more attention to their passing game and succeeded.
Final Score: Ohio State Buckeyes 41, Oregon Ducks 21
Anderson's Three Stars
1st Star - Jeremiah Smith (Seven Receptions, 187 Receiving Yards, Two Touchdowns)
2nd Star - Cody Simon (Two Sacks, 11 Total Tackles, Seven Solo Tackles, Three Tackles for Loss, One Pass Defended)
3rd Star - Jack Sawyer (Two Sacks, Two Tackles for Loss, Three Passes Defended)
Next Up: Texas Longhorns (12-2)
Ohio State heads to the Cotton Bowl to face a team with a defense that is strikingly similar to their defense. Talented from the secondary down to the front four and just as disciplined as Ohio State's defense. Texas has a beefier O-line, not one, but two dangerous quarterbacks to showcase in Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning. Brand new to the Southern Eastern Conference, head coach Steve Sarkisian might be the new Nick Saban of this fresh era of College Football, and Ohio State will be stepping into the state of Texas at the Cotton Bowl to see for themselves.
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