Ohio State had plenty of defensive woes in the 2021 season. The defensive line, supposed to be a strong point, was a disappointment. The secondary, beset with injuries, often looked baffled in coverage. And the linebackers? Losing the top four backers from the previous season left the position manned with newcomers — and it showed.
How bad was the defense in 2021? Well, in total defense (measured by average yards yielded per game) the Buckeyes ranked 59th, tied for the honors with Middle Tennessee. Three of the four teams who made it to the playoffs ranked in the top 10; the other, Michigan, ranked 20th.