‘We kind of needed that’: 32 days after losing to Michigan, an Ohio State run through CFP now looks inevitable

PASADENA, Calif. — All it took for Ohio State was complete and utter embarrassment 32 days ago. In the same afternoon at The Shoe on that brisk Nov. 30, Michigan first stuck it to the Buckeyes, then stuck its flag in the ground.

Never has a pepper spray-filled postgame brawl been so … inspirational. At least for the team that finally fought back when it counted, this time with the clock actually ticking and the season on the line this month. 

Ohio State redeemed itself, its coach and its season, in that order with another College Football Playoff win on another sun-splashed Rose Bowl afternoon. This one — to borrow a phrase — just meant more after the teams played a one-point classic 2 ½ months ago. 

What changed Wednesday following one of the most shocking results of the CFP era? That was really the question after No. 8 seed Ohio State knocked off No. 1 seed Oregon 41-21 in a CFP Rose Bowl quarterfinal. 

Something changed for the Buckeyes. Whatever it was, it is coming just at the right time. After clearing the mental hurdle of that Michigan loss on Nov. 30, Ohio State has outscored Tennessee and Oregon 83-38. 

The 20-point margin of victory against Oregon was the largest in the Rose Bowl in nine years. The Ducks were down 34-0 before they knew what hit them.

“It’s quite the shock to say the least. It’s going to stick with me for a while,” Oregon linebacker Bryce Boettcher said. “They outschemed, outplayed us in every aspect of the game.”

That statement would have been laughable 32 days ago. Now, the Buckeyes might be the team to beat. They have that glint in their eye like nothing is going to get in their way. Texas is next in the CFP Cotton Bowl semifinal, but does it matter who the opponent is at this point? Ohio…

Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/we-kind-of-needed-that-32-days-after-losing-to-michigan-an-ohio-state-run-through-cfp-now-looks-inevitable/

Author : Dennis Dodd

Publish date : 2025-01-02 04:56:00

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.