Buckeye Fan’s Take on Texas Game…I’d Love a Neutral Opinion

[Intravenus de Milo]

Overall I felt the teams were pretty evenly matched from a talent standpoint.  The UT defensive line and the consistent double coverage of JJ Smith made it really difficult on tOSU.  I thought for sure Chip/Day would anticipate that and have plenty of plays to attack with a numbers advantage and that didn’t seem to be the case from the TV copy.

 

Both teams had opportunities for big breaks that didn’t go their way:

 

Texas

-drop by WR on 3rd down

-turnover on downs first drive

-couple of holding infractions not called

-screen pass for td

-strip sack/TD

 

OSU

-personal foul on Henderson as they’re driving to possibly go up 10 or 14, killed drive

-personal foul on an offensive lineman hustling downfield to push the pile, killed drive

-Texas fumbled punt that bounced back to returner

-Ewers fumble on a sack that was recovered by Texas

-couple of holding infractions not called (still haven’t drawn one since September, yes, I’m serious it’s been that long)

 

Everyone wants to focus on the 2 breaks that went OSU’s way and understandably so, they were big breaks, but overall I saw this as a pretty evenly matched contest with a slight lean to OSU.

 

What say all of you?

 

[30Duck]

As you can tell from the predicted scores, we thought Ohio State was going to have a much easier time with Texas than it turned out. Smith didn't play like the Heisman winner I predicted for the next two seasons. Texas was a team that didn't have much of a SoS and lost to Georgia twice. It sure looked Ohio State, after the Tennessee game and crushing Oregon in the Rose Bowl, had reached a level that Texas would only be able to look up at.

[1Funduck]

Texas' loss was on their weakness that has been seen all year. Consistent QB play. Just my $.02.

[Desert Duck]

After watching ASU play rather poorly and still nearly beat Texas, and after watching OSU completely throttle Tennessee and Oregon, I figured OSU would clown Stomp Texas.

 

However, while I never felt like the game was much in doubt, it seemed like OSU looked fairly pedestrian. But after the beatdowns and the energy they expended against Tennessee and Oregon, perhaps it's understandable if they let up a bit.

 

But if they show up with that level of energy against Notre Dame, it could be a long night for the Buckeyes. However, I expect the Tennessee / Oregon Buckeyes to show up on the 20th.

[Jon Joseph]

 

I saw two college football teams not playing their best by far on the O-side of the ball. Game 16 for one and Game 15 for the other. We are in a new CFB territory here. I believe in many respects that the players may be worn out. At least, where it requires more coordination and finesse, the O-side of the ball.

 

I saw a tremendous Ohio State D that could have had the same number of sacks it had vs. OBD but for outstanding play from QB Ewers and a game plan designed to give Ewers good and quick looks. Hats off to Sark and Ewers. Sark watched the Rose Bowl and knew that his highly touted O-line was not going to nullify the Ohio State front 7. 

 

Bracket Smith for a half, fine. But not to account for this at half, perhaps run more motion to shake Smith open, I don't get it. This game plan looked a bit like Chip vs. Michigan. Many fruitless plays and punts. The Ohio State O personnel is better than this.

 

The Texas run game not matching the effort vs. Clemson I get. ASU stymied the Horns run game. Georgia twice stymied the Texas run game. So did Vandy and Arkansas in games Texas could have lost. A very good football team but no team received more ranking respect, especially when considering the schedule than Texas this season.

 

In the other semi-final game, how in Hades do you not give Tyler Warren more than NINE (9!) touches? How do not complete ONE pass to a WR? But if Abdul Carter doesn't exit the game, Notre Dame IMO does not win the game. 

 

The semifinal games were interesting rock fights but CLASSICS? I did not see great in-game coaching in the semifinals and notwithstanding the modern press's typical hyperbole, neither game will be revered in the long-term annals of CBB.  

 

It will be fascinating to see the Buckeyes host the Longhorns in Columbus on 8/30/25. 

 

Come On Chip! Come on Ryan! Win the Day vs. the Domers.

[BigBallzChipper]

I forgot that the game was even on. I watched some highlights, but didn’t watch the game. I was fully expecting BuckNuttz to smash Texas, but it was a lot closer than I expected. Best of luck friendly BuckNut on the next game hope you guys hang a century on Northern Lame.

Edited Monday at 04:32 AM by BigBallzChipper

[Charles Fischer]

I agree with you: the edge to Ohio State, although I also agree with Jon.  Your team did not have the same fire as when they played Oregon...IMHO.

 

[The Grateful Duck]

From a somewhat non-biased viewer, it was a good game to watch because how close/tight it was until the 4th.

 

Personally, I think the Buckeyes played pretty sloppy and Ewers played better than I expected until he returned to form in the 4th. If the Buckeyes had played a less-penalized game, the result would've become clear in the 1st half instead of the 4th.

 

And Howard did not have his best game. Yet, the Buckeyes still won. Sometimes grinding it out is the best a team can do. 

 

Hopefully, the A game returns for the Irish...we can hope!

[PittDuck]

It would have been nice if the osu2 team that beat Texas had showed up in Pasadena on 1/1.  I think there would have been a far different outcome.

 

I was surprised that osu2 let the horns stay in it as long as they did.  Hope a more efficient team shows up against the golden domers.

[Intravenus de Milo]

The talk out of the team since the game is to fix the penalty problem.  They felt they were doing just fine but found themselves in a 20 yd (or more) to go scenario too many times.

 

I think you need to credit the Texas D a bit, I’m of the opinion that a holding call isn’t a choice by the offensive lineman but a reaction to being beaten.

 

I agree with the concept but don’t think it’s as easy to fix as some might think.

 

On a separate note, word locally was Michigan sent their DC Martindale to Austin last week?  Anyone outside of Columbus hear that rumor?  We’re a miserable bunch here so I don’t take anything too seriously that I hear on the local beat.

[Triphibius]

It certainly looked to me that Oregon got OSU's A game, and Texas their C game. 

Some of the penalties were discipline penalties. I am not convinced that Texas's front is that much better than the UO's Harmon, Burch, and Uiagalelei, and hence puzzled by the difference in result.

Perhaps O-lineman grab when faced with an opponent who is not necessarily more talented, but aggressive and motivated. 

 

I have entertained the hypothesis for a while that when a team expends a great deal of emotion on one game, they will naturally be a bit flat the next time out. 

Biologically, there is a parasympathetic backlash to the sympathetic system's adrenaline rush. Perhaps the effects last for days. 

I do not know if sports psychologists have investigated this. 

 

That said, Sawyer was great in both games. He changed the flow of the UO game by dominating our right tackle. His strip sack saved a game for OSU that they might have lost. 

[bbmichaels]

While that game seemed relatively even until the end, I think if Henderson doesn't lose his cool and pick up that drive-killing penalty late in Q1, OSU goes up 14 and the rout might have been on.

 

Obviously, we'll never know. But in Q1 OSU looked to be picking up right where they left off until that happened. If they immediately go up 14, on the heals of their last two dominating performances, there might have been some panic on the other sideline.

Edited Monday at 05:21 PM by bbmichaels