Tim Tebow identifies fatal flaw for Ohio State football

Ohio State football is coming off a win vs. Indiana where they allowed nearly 500 passing yards.

Ryan Day’s Ohio State football team came in at No. 4 in the first College Football Playoff rankings on Tuesday. It was a spot lower than most expected to see the Buckeyes and a big reason for that could be the suspect defense.

Ohio State got shredded by Indiana last weekend when Michael Penix Jr. threw for 491 yards and while the Buckeyes run defense was particularly stout, the pass defense could be their undoing if they don’t win a national championship.

That’s what Tim Tebow is most concerned about this Ohio State football team when the former Heisman winner and two-time national champion spoke on Friday’s episode of First Take.

Ohio State football pass defense could be their downfall

“I think Ohio State is a very talented team, but the one difference between this Ohio State team and the Ohio States of last year and in the past when they were great is I don’t see their defensive line dominating games and getting to the past, especially with Chase Young,” Tebow said Friday. “Where is that dude that’s going to step out? In the past, they’ve had the Bosa brothers and Chase Young, dominating defensive lines.

“I don’t believe they have that this year. They’re still really good, but on offense, Justin Fields maybe is the best overall player in college football player because of his ability to run and throw and they’ve got weapons, but my question mark is you just gave up too many yards over and over again.”

Losing three top-three defensive ends in the last few years can be difficult to reload for Ohio State and that pass rush hasn’t been there so far this year from the perimeter. On top of that, they’ve had to replenish many first-round cornerbacks, including Jeffrey Okudah who went one pick after Young last year.

Despite the defensive deficiencies so far, Tebow thinks Ohio State is a playoff team but could have issues when facing Alabama with Mac Jones and Clemson with Trevor Lawrence.

“I question what’s missing here? Why aren’t you getting to the quarterback? I know Indiana has a talented quarterback, but to me, there are question marks,” Tebow said. “I still think they’re a top-four team. They could win the championship. They could get it figured out. But I just have a few more question marks on Ohio State right now, especially defensively, to say they’re better than Alabama or Clemson.”

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