MY THOUGHTS.....2024 Season

MY THOUGHTS: National Championship Game

 

The Ohio State Buckeyes won their eighth national championship and the first-ever 12-team college football playoff with a 34-23 victory over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. 

Ohio State’s offense was unstoppable out of the gate as they scored on their first five possessions.  Quarterback Will Howard was nearly perfect in the first half and ended up completing over eighty percent of his passes for 231 yards and two touchdowns.  Emeka Egbuka, in his last game at Ohio State, led the way with six receptions for 64 yards and Jeremiah Smith came back from his one-catch game against Texas with five receptions for 88 yards and a touchdown.  But none was more important than his 56 yard catch and run on third down when the Buckeyes needed a first down to maintain possession with a one possession lead late in the game.  It led to a chip-shot field goal by Jay Fielding to ice the game.  Quinshon Judkins netted 100 yards on the ground and scored three times, two on the ground and one on a TD reception near the end of the first half. 

Although, at times, Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard was effective as a dual-threat, the Ohio State defense held the Irish to a mere 53 yards on the ground and five-of-12 on third down conversions.  Leonard was, at times, able to find Jaden Greathouse for sizeable gains and Notre Dame was able to easily convert on two two-point conversions after their two touchdown drives as their offense was able to move the ball at times.  Cody Simon led Ohio State’s defense with eight tackles and Sonny Styles and J.T. Tuimoloau were able to get to Leonard for sacks.  Caleb Downs had five stops and Davison Igbinosun four.

This championship game enabled the Buckeyes to complete a journey that many thought wasn’t possible after their strange loss on November 30.  The culmination of one of the most remarkable turnarounds of fortune in a short time one could hope for.  From despair to the top of the college football mountain, the Ohio State Buckeyes are NATIONAL CHAMPIONS.

CFP Championship Game: Ohio State v Notre Dame

MY THOUGHTS.....Cotton Bowl

 

The Ohio State Buckeyes overcame penalties and some sluggishness on offense to get past the Texas Longhorns and set up a date with Notre Dame on January 20 for a national championship.

The offense got it together in the fourth quarter with a gritty 88-yard touchdown drive and the 83-yard scoop-and-score by Jack Sawyer to cap a goal line stand, which will forever live in Buckeye lore if Ohio State can get it done in the championship game.

At times, Will Howard was hurried, as Texas did a better job pressuring him than the first two opponents, but Howard still managed to go 24-of-33 for 289 yards and a touchdown and one pick.  People will remember the gutsy play he made on a huge 4^th-and-2 with an 18-yard run on Ohio State’s go-ahead touchdown drive in the fourth quarter.  Howard showed his toughness despite a big knot on his left hand, probably when he banged it against a Texas defender’s helmet.  The Texas defense rotated over and sometimes double-covered Jeremiah Smith, as he finished with only one catch for three yards, but no matter.  Carnell Tate stepped up with a career-high seven catches for 87 yards and Emeka Egbuka had five for 51 yards.  TreVeyon Henderson, after committing a foolish unsportsmanlike penalty on Ohio State’s second drive, made up for it by taking a screen pass 75 yards for a touchdown just before the half.  It enabled the Buckeyes to take the lead going into halftime and provided an immediate answer to a Texas touchdown drive.  Alas, penalties were a huge problem, particularly on offense where a personal foul, a couple holds, and a false start killed three first half possessions.  Somehow, the offense was able to persevere against a good Texas defense.

Jack Sawyer garnered all the headlines with a play that will be remembered for a long time, but the defensive line also starred in limiting the Longhorns to a mere 58 yards on the ground.  Sonny Styles led the way with nine tackles to go along with his three tackles for loss and a sack, while Cody Simon and J.T. Tuimoloau each had seven, with a pair of sacks for Tuimoloau.  Jordan Hancock led the way in the secondary with six tackles and Caleb Downs had five, including a big TFL when Texas had the ball at the one-yard line.

The win was Ohio State’s fourth this season over a Top-5 squad and through three CFP games, the Buckeyes have outscored Tennessee, Oregon, and Texas 111-52.  And what a change of fortune in the last six weeks, going from one of their worst losses in recent history to the cusp of a national championship.

Ohio State has the chance to complete the journey on Monday January 20 in Atlanta, taking on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish for all the marbles.

CFP Semifinal: Cotton Bowl: Ohio State v Texas