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Dec. 20—Even before the season began the expectations were that Ohio State would beat Michigan, get a rematch with Oregon in the Big Ten championship game and, regardless of the outcome of that game, maybe still be one of the top four seeds in the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff.
So, how did that work out? Don’t ask.
The question now, as OSU (10-2) goes into Saturday night’s College Football Playoff first-round game against Tennessee (10-2) in the first December game in the history of Ohio Stadium, is if the Buckeyes are set up for revenge or set up for more disappointment.
Maybe revenge isn’t quite the right word. Restoration might fit their situation better.
A win over the Vols could restore a little of the optimism that prevailed through the first 11 games of the season, even after a one-point loss at Oregon in mid-October.
Similarly, disappointment might not be a strong enough word for what the mood would be if a team with a proclaimed goal of “Natty or bust,” which was called the most talented team in the country much of the season, lost its first playoff game.
Winning that “natty” would require four wins by the Buckeyes, starting with a Tennessee team whose biggest win was over Alabama and whose two losses were to Georgia and to Arkansas, a 6-6 team headed to the Liberty Bowl.
Offensively, Tennessee’s leaders are running back Dylan Sampson (1,485 yards rushing, 22 touchdowns) and quarterback Nico Iamaleava (2,512 yards passing, 19 touchdowns, 5 interceptions). Iamaleava was ranked by some analysts as the No. 2 quarterback recruit behind Arch Manning two years ago.
Defensively, the Vols’ standouts are edge rusher James Pearce (7.5 sacks), former preferred walk-on safety Will Brooks (3 interceptions) and linebacker Arion Carter, the team leader in tackles.
Maybe the most uniquely talented player on…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/osu-defense-could-difference-against-003300515.html
Author : The Lima News, Ohio
Publish date : 2024-12-21 00:33:00
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