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The original was posted on /r/cfb by /u/dr_funk_13 on 2024-12-03 23:51:29+00:00.
After having had a couple of days to let the dust settle on the upset in Columbus and dive a little deeper into the game itself, I’ve come to this conclusion: I believe Ryan Day’s gameplan was designed, in his mind, to demonstrate that Ohio State was the more “physical” team rather than the better team.
It seems obvious to me, and I’m sure others, that Ohio State focused far too heavily on inside runs rather than getting to the edge or going over the top on pass plays. Despite having injuries to key players on the offensive line, the Buckeyes continued to make running between the tackles the focal point of anything they did.
Some might say that the passing game was limited due to that unstable line and perhaps a lack of trust in Will Howard’s ability to push the ball downfield. But if that was the case, why not build a gameplan around getting your backs in space on the edges, jetsweeps to get the ball into your receivers’ hands, or a more intentional short/intermediary passing game that’s designed to get the ball out quickly before the defensive line can pressure the QB?
Just seems like a stubbornness to prove that Ohio State was a tough team rather than the better team cost them the win.