Keep in mind, Michigan fans last wow factor was watching Georgia blow Michigan off the field. I guess I expected that sort of wow factor from the Buckeyes. Right or wrong, I didn’t expect last night to be close. Not a statement meaning I’d be more impressed by a blowout win against poor competition, but up until a terribly bad defense play call by the Irish, ND looked like the better team which isn’t what I expected. OSU closed strong and showed who the better team was, but most of the game didn’t look like the best team in the country.
It does come down to expectations then.
I would never expect them to be the best team in the country based on what I saw last year.
they had three very serious deficiencies.
and because of those three deficiencies more physical teams beat them. Michigan held them to 27 points and Oregon held them to 28. In those games they could not run the ball when they needed to and they certainly couldn’t stop the run.
I not only knew this game would be close but I predicted it on this very forum and was chastised for doing so.
but they were facing probably one of the best if not best offensive lines and defensive lines they may see all year. And a running quarterback. And an obvious game plan to slow down the game and speed up the clock and limit their possessions.
those are the games they lost last year. So far this year, obviously they took control of that game and won that very type of game only needing 21 points to do it.
Ohio State almost never clicks on and off ends in the first game of the year. I have tremendous faith they will be in offensive juggernaut but now I’m actually optimistic that they can battle with the more physical teams. It’s exactly what I hoped to see.
