In an instant classic, a game for the ages that would easily make my top 10 of greatest OSU wins, the Ohio State Buckeyes played the part of David, as they slew the SEC Goliath, the Alabama Crimson Tide and perhaps signaled a changing of the guard in college football. Alabama is fortunate they lost by only a touchdown; Ohio State owned the Tide on third down, going 10 for 18, while holding the vaunted Alabama offense to only 2 for 13 in that category. Ohio State also torched the number two run defense to the tune of 281 yards on the ground, including 230 yards by Ezekiel Elliott, a Sugar Bowl record. His 85-yarder served as a back-breaker, although it would've been even more decisive if not for Urban Meyer's curious decision to throw deep (and incomplete) stopping the clock and saving Alabama not only a timeout but a chunk of game clock after they had cut the lead to 42-35 with less than two minutes to play. However, Elliott deserved the offensive MVP award for such a determined performance. He's been a dominating presence in the last two games as it shouldn't be forgotten he outdueled Melvin Gordon with 220 yards on 11 yards per carry with two touchdowns in the B1G championship game. Cardale Jones managed the game very well, despite one poor throw that resulted in an interception. He was a respectable 5/9 passing on 3rd down with those five completions combining for 154 yards and a touchdown with all five completions moving the chains. On the ground, Jones ran six times for 29 yards on 3rd down, picking up four 1st downs, meaning he was responsible for nine of Ohio State's 10 conversions on the evening. Not bad for making his 2nd career start in a game of that magnitude against a Tide defense ranked 11th in total defense. Evan Spencer deserves a special mention also. Trailing 21-13 late in the 1st half, the wide receiver was the centerpiece of a trick play as he took the ball on what looked like a reverse only to stop and throw a perfect pass to Michael Thomas cutting Alabama's lead to 21-20 causing a tidal shift in momentum. Later, with Ohio State clinging to a 34-28 lead from its own 15 yard line, Spencer sprung Elliott's 85-yard touchdown run that sealed the deal with a textbook block on freshman linebacker Shaun Dion Hamilton. The block created all the gap Elliott needed to give OSU a two touchdown lead with 3:24 left. After an Amari Cooper touchdown cut the lead to 42-35 with 1:59 left, Nick Saban tried an onside kick and Spencer was ready as he high-pointed the football and snatched the ball out of the air with Alabama defenders converging.
The Ohio State defense held Alabama 83 yards below their total offense average (407 vs 490) and as I mentioned above, owned the Tide on third down stopping the Tide on 11 of 13 opportunities. That 15% conversion rate on 3rd down was Alabama's lowest of the season for a team ranked 2nd nationally with a 54% conversion rate. Even better, the Buckeyes yielded just 20 total yards on the critical down with two interceptions including Steve Miller’s interception return for a touchdown. In the 1st half, Ohio State forced 3-and-outs on four of seven possessions, held Alabama to 1/6 on 3rd down, gave up just eight 1st downs and 139 total yards while largely holding Cooper in check giving up six catches and a score, but only 39 receiving yards. In the 2nd half, the Ohio State defense intercepted Blake Sims three times and all of them were huge. The first was Steve Miller's pick six that put OSU in front 34-28 late in the 3rd quarter. The second came as Vonn Bell thwarted a Tide possession starting at the OSU 23 yard line with a pick at the eight yard line to preserve the six point lead. The last came on the final play of the game as Tyvis Powell denied Sims' effort to tie the game. Darron Lee continued his development into Ohio State's next great linebacker with a seven tackle, three TFL, two sack performance to earn defensive MVP honors while Vonn Bell chipped in eight stops and the noted interception. On the day, the Bucks racked up three sacks against a team who had given up just 13 all season (8th best nationally) to go along with those three interceptions.
Special teams also stepped up. Despite the shank that gave Alabama golden field position (then was bailed out by Bell’s interception) Cameron Johnston still averaged 46.5 yards on his six punts. Sean Nuernberger was 2 for 2 on his short field goal attempts in the first half when the Ohio State offense stalled in the red zone while Corey Smith made three hard hits on his kickoff return tackles, keeping Alabama’s fine returner Christian Jones inside the 20.
The win sets up a meeting with the high-flying Oregon Ducks for all the marbles on January 12. It is remarkable that a team down to their third quarterback, a retooled offensive line, a new running back, minus their best defensive player, is on the brink of a national title.
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