After getting off to a hot start against Wisconsin in Saturday's Big 10 Championship Game, the Buckeyes never looked back. OSU QB Cardale Jones - who started this season as their third-stringer - lit up the Badgers on offense, but it was the vicious Buckeyes defense that really helped make their case to the playoff committee.
Turning Point:
After Ohio State cruised to a 14-0 lead at the end of one, most neutrals expected Wisconsin to find their footing and turn things around in the second quarter. Instead, Ohio State racked up 24 more unanswered points, leaving the shell-shocked Badgers staring down a 38-0 halftime deficit. There was no way back from there.
Ohio State MVP:
While it's difficult to single out one player in such a comprehensive team win, we have to hand it to Cardale Jones. In his first career start for the Buckeyes, Jones blew away all expectations, and his poise and readiness may have helped OSU clinch a playoff spot that looked lost when J.T. Barrett went down. Jones finished with 257 yards and 3 TDs while going 12/17.
Stat of the Night:
Melvin Gordon and Wisconsin's vaunted rushing attack? They gained a grand total of 71 yards tonight on 37 carries, good for a 1.9 yards-per-carry average. The Buckeyes? Ezekiel Elliott led the way with 220 yards and 2 TDs as Ohio State racked up over 300 punishing yards on the ground.
What's Next?
Ohio State needed to pitch a shutout here to put themselves back in the playoff picture...and they might have done just that. It's going to be difficult for the committee to justify putting Florida State or TCU ahead of this on-fire Buckeyes squad, and Ohio State will have to hope this virtuoso performance was enough. Wisconsin will still be playing on New Year's Day, but it's hard to see this performance doing much to impress to top-tier bowls.
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