During the 2013 season, Ohio State’s defense plummeted to a level it hadn’t been in quite some time. The Buckeyes ranked seventh in the Big Ten in total defense, allowing 377 yards per game, and were even worse defending the pass, surrendering 268 yards per game through the air, ranking 11th in the league.
The unit was exposed primarily in the season’s final two games: losses to Michigan State in the Big Ten championship game and Clemson in the Orange Bowl. Against the Spartans, Ohio State’s defense allowed 438 total yards in a 34-24 defeat. And, against the Tigers, the Buckeyes gave up 546 yards as they fell 40-35.