Ohio State starter confirmed a suspicion that many people had about the Buckeyes after they beat Tennessee
After losing to Michigan to end the regular season, there was a big feeling of negativity around Ohio State. The Buckeyes righted that feeling for the most part with a very impressive 42-17 win over the Tennessee Vols to begin their College Football Playoff run. Many people believed that the game between the Buckeyes and […]
After losing to Michigan to end the regular season, there was a big feeling of negativity around Ohio State. The Buckeyes righted that feeling for the most part with a very impressive 42-17 win over the Tennessee Vols to begin their College Football Playoff run.
Many people believed that the game between the Buckeyes and Vols had the makings to be the only first-round game that could go either way. Boy was that wrong, as the game had the second-largest deficit to Penn State’s 38-10 win over SMU.
Following the game, offensive lineman Donovan Jackson admitted that the Buckeyes used the outside noise to their advantage. How they looked against Tennessee backed that up a ton. It was easy to see from a public view as well.
"For three weeks, everyone in the world was telling us we suck," Jackson said after the game. "Half the fan base was telling us we sucked. Almost every analyst and expert and anyone with a podcast was telling us we sucked.”
So we took it personally. We're like, 'That's not how we're going to go out. We know we're better than this.' Sure, we're down a couple of guys, but all the guys in this room can go. We just wanted to go out there and play with our hair on fire."
Ohio State scored 21 quick points before the Vols were able to get on the board. The Buckeyes looked like they outmatched Tennessee from the very first streaking touchdown to wideout Jeremiah Smith. The Buckeyes had their downfield passing attack working and quarterback Will Howard threw for 311 yards as a result.
On defense, Ohio State didn’t allow much at all in the passing game, with Vols quarterback Nico Iamleava throwing for just 104 yards. The Buckeyes sacked Iamleava and allowed just 256 yards. A chunk of that yardage came in garbage time.
The Buckeyes still have their big goal in front of them and that is to win it all. Getting through Oregon may be the toughest part of that task and that game will come next week. In the meantime, Buckeye Nation should appreciate the response from the team in Columbus in the first round of the College Football Playoff.
Ohio State clearly played with an edge to them and pregame takes on their chances against Tennessee like the one below gave them some extra fuel.
