With the game tied 17-all and 12 minutes, 19 seconds remaining on the clock, Ohio State got the ball on its own 37-yard line after Northwestern punted. The Buckeyes were on the ropes for the second-straight week and were suddenly in serious danger of losing their second-consecutive game.
A loss Saturday against the Wildcats would have essentially ended Ohio State’s season. The Buckeyes’ hopes of playing in the Big Ten championship game were likely out the window. The College Football Playoff? Kiss it goodbye.
Ohio State needed to win the game. Period.
Six plays and 63 yards later, the Buckeyes were in the end zone after a 3-yard touchdown run by Curtis Samuel.