ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit shuts down Desmond Howard’s take about Ohio State’s roster ahead of game vs. Texas
Ohio State is set to take on the Texas Longhorns in the Cotton Bowl tonight and the winner will face Notre Dame in the National Championship. The Buckeyes have gotten here by rolling through Tennessee and Oregon after a disappointing loss to Michigan to end the regular season. When it comes to the best roster, […]
The Buckeyes have gotten here by rolling through Tennessee and Oregon after a disappointing loss to Michigan to end the regular season.
When it comes to the best roster, Ohio State has had the lead there in college football this season. Many believe that the Buckeyes have bought their way to get here.
“Listen, we knew all season long they were probably the most talented roster in all of college football,” Desmond Howard said Thursday. “They paid $20 million for these guys and we knew these guys would deliver. It was just a matter of when.”
Kirk Herbstreit interrupted Howard and wasn’t standing for that idea.
“There’s this perception that they went out and spent $20 million on players. Nine of their 11 starting defensive players are three-year starters,” Herbstreit pushed back. “They’ve been there for three years [and] they’ve lost some tough games. That’s what I think is interesting about this team. You brought in [Alabama transfer] Caleb Downs, who I think is a great player, but that’s it, that’s the only guy on defense.
“They brought in a backup running back Quinshon Judkins, who hasn’t played a ton, he’s a good back. And they have brought in Will Howard, and they brought in a center from Alabama [Seth McLaughlin] who’s hurt. The perception is they went out and bought $20 million. The reality is they spent $20 million to keep those guys from leaving and going elsewhere.”
Ohio State returned players like Emeka Egbuka, TreVeyon Henderson, Donovan Jackson, Jack Sawyer, J.T. Tuimoloau, Tyleik Hamilton, Denzel Burke, and Lathan Ransom opted to return to Columbus for another season.
If it was not for the lost games for the Buckeyes, they likely wouldn’t have this team. The previous losses to Michigan and the shortcoming against Georgia in the College Football Playoff a couple of years ago have pushed the Buckeyes to still want more.
Ohio State was aggressive in the transfer portal to improve their roster, but it wasn’t the main way they built the roster. Caleb Downs, Will Howard, Quinshon Judkins, and Seth McLaughlin were the key additions for the Buckeyes in the portal.
The portal and what they brought back combine to give the Buckeyes the best roster in the sport. Texas has a loaded roster as well, so Friday night is going to be quite the battle. If the Buckeyes can grab a win and move on, they will have done it because they were better.
NIL is a key part of college football today but Herbstreit is spot on about the OSU roster. Texas and Ohio State will kick off at approx. 7:30 ET on ESPN.
Final predictions for the Cotton Bowl between Ohio State and Texas in the semifinals of the College Football Playoff
The Buckeyes and Longhorns will battle it out in just a few days.
