Ohio State: We are not underdogs!
Ohio State plans to win the CFB championship and shock the world.
As the Ohio State Buckeyes prepare for the Oregon Ducks in college football’s championship game, they know they can win. And they can’t wait to show the world.
We know Oregon,” Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said according to USA TODAY. “I’ll probably be able to call Oregon’s plays because we study them and they study us. There’s a mutual respect.”
While Oregon gets the big headlines for their use of the fast-paced offensive style, Meyer is generally credited as an architect of the offensive style that both teams utilize. The documented difference is that while the Buckeyes revolve their play calling around their running backs, the Ducks center everything around quarterback Marcus Mariota.
“All the hard work, all the stuff that we put into it during the off‑season and for it to kind of pay off and allow us to be a part of this game, it’s a great feeling,” Mariota said, also according to USA TODAY. “We’re very fortunate to be a part of it, and we’re excited to get going and get prepared for it.
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And after watching Oregon wear out Florida State, it is easy to say Ohio State will not be able to keep up. But Ohio State may be the one opponent that could beat Oregon at their own game. “I thought we had a real big advantage with our tempo in the last game against Florida State,” Oregon offensive coordinator Scott Frost said, according to ESPN. “I don’t know if we will have quite that advantage against these guys. They see up-tempo all the time, and they look like they are in condition.”
So with both offenses playing fast break style, the difference could be which defense can keep up, and which defense can administer the most punishment. Ironically, the lunch bucket mentality of the much maligned Big Ten could make the ultimate difference.
It has happened before. Remember that few gave the Buckeyes a chance against the Miami Hurricanes. But the Hurricanes went home stunned. Nobody likes to see a player get hurt, but a series of hard shots to Mariota could have him shaking off the cob webs. And remember when Oregon ran into that stonewall defense of Auburn a few years ago? Their fast break sputtered, leaving them with but 19 points and no championship.
And Ohio State’s defense comes in confident that it will be ready. “I think it’s pretty obvious our biggest challenge will be their speed and tempo,” All-American defensive lineman Joey Bosa said, according to ESPN. “We’ve been doing 16 seconds between plays and have had periods of hurry-ups. We’ve also been really focusing on our conditioning this week. It’s been a tough two days.”
Oregon fans also like to forget the 2010 Rose Bowl when a dominating Ohio State defense held them to just 17 points. The Ducks could muster only one touchdown in the second half. They managed only 179 rushing yards and 81 passing yards.
That was also the game that Terrelle Pryor’s performance finally matched his hype. Then Oregon coach Chip Kelly was amazed, but not surprised. “When I saw him in high school, he was a man amongst boys, and at times tonight, he looked like a man amongst boys, he certainly beat us on how he threw the ball Kelly said according to ESPN.” With all of the accolades given to Mariota, Ohio State quarterback Cardale Jones should have similar plans.
Ohio State safety Tyvis Powell feels the Buckeyes are not receiving their due respect. “We still don’t get the respect we deserve,” he said according to MYFOXNY. “I’ve seen some things on the internet where, like, 66 percent of the world is picking Oregon. I mean, I understand why, everybody sees Oregon and they’re like, ‘oh wow.” But it’s just motivation to come out here and make sure we get the job done.”
It has been said so many times before. The Jets had no chance against the Colts in the Super Bowl. The United States Olympic Hockey Team had no chance against the Russians. Hickory had no chance against South Bend.
Ohio State was not suppose to defeat Alabama, either. And here they are. So imagine a Big Ten team knocking out the SEC and then getting it done in the championship game. It may surprise the odds makers, but it won’t surprise Ohio State. “I know Vegas or ESPN or whatever has us as a 7- or 9-point underdog or something like that but we are not,” offensive lineman Taylor Decker said according to ESPN. “We are not an underdog. Ohio State is never going to be an underdog, and that is just how it is.”
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