It was right there for the taking. Ohio State jumped out to an early lead and punched Clemson in the mouth. Then a few things went the wrong way, like controversial calls, second-chances and big plays from Clemson. Just like that, the ball game was on, and it stayed tight right through the end.
The Buckeyes got one last chance to wrestle redemption from despair at the end of the game, but a break down in communication resulted in an interception in the end zone that sealed the deal.
A fantastic season is now over, and it feels so premature for this team. As is customary, here’s five things we learned after the heartbreak in the desert.
The best team doesn’t always win
I’ll probably get hate mail from sweet tea and grits country on this one, but the better team didn’t win tonight. Give all the credit in the world to Clemson for making one more play than Ohio State did, but if you watched the game I did, the Buckeyes were more talented and probably should be the one playing in New Orleans instead of Clemson.
OSU got more yardage, more rushing yards, more passing yards, more first downs and won the time of possession yet still somehow lost this game. It seemed like every big call and every break went the way of the Tigers, and then when they needed to make something happen to win this thing, they did.
I’ll go to the grave though believing this is one that should have been in the win column.
Next … J.K. Dobbins is a warrior
Is there anyone with more heart than J.K. Dobbins
Ohio State running back J.K. Dobbins was making a very good Clemson defense look foolish in the first half, running for a couple of big gainers and gashing the second level of the Tigers. Then he got banged up late in the second quarter on a carry between the tackles.
He came back with a heavily taped ankle (twice) and was seen hobbling around in-between plays, but man did he gut it out. He knew his team needed him out there, and he had some big plays catching the ball out of the backfield to put the Buckeyes in position to win. He’s a gamer and a warrior on the football field. There’s no other way around it.
He will be missed …
Next … Adversity
Adversity strikes in many forms
This was one of those games where it just seemed like every break went the other way. The overturn of the scoop and score fumble that would have given Ohio State the lead, a roughing the punter call that kept a drive alive and a targeting call that was controversial. And that’s before we get into some slips, miscommunications and lost opportunities within the flow of the game.
Sometimes you have adversity that you fight through and overcome, while other times you do the best you can to battle and come up a little short. This was one of those games where things felt a little unfair, but you still have to keep playing the game.
Credit to Ohio State for soldiering on. It almost won in the face of so much going the wrong way in the breaks (and often questionable) department.
Next … Replay review needs fixed
The reviews in the booth have to better
When replay was first implemented into the college game, it was to fix the egregious error. Ones that us humans (yes refs are human) can make that are so obvious it feels like an injustice. Since then though, review has expanded to the point where the guy in the booth has too much power.
There’s not a darn thing anyone can tell me to convince me the fumble recovery in the second half for a touchdown wasn’t a clear catch and drop of the ball. Even if it wasn’t, there’s no way it was a play that was an indisputable situation that would necessitate an overturn.
However, the replay booth over-analyzed and re-officiated a call that was made on the field, and that’s not what replay is supposed to be about (aside from targeting). We’ve gotten to the point now where the booth tries so hard to do the right thing that it does the wrong thing, reviews every little thing, then decides to make judgement calls. There aren’t supposed to be judgement calls in the booth and that needs fixed pronto.
Next … Gotta make ’em count
Missed Opportunities
Say what you want at what might be perceived as blown calls in this one. The reality is that it never should have mattered. Ohio State came out on fire and was moving the ball up and down the field, while making stops on defense.
But it couldn’t cash in on opportunities in the red zone. All told, the Buckeyes got inside the twenty four times and came away with three field goals and an interception. The two touchdowns came on a 68-yard run from J.K. Dobbins, and the fourth down 23-yard pass from Fields to Olave.
And two of those red zone chances in the first half were from inside the ten yard line, but OSU couldn’t punch it in. In truth it should have been either 28 or 24 to zero instead of the 16-point advantage. Cash those in during those early moments and this one was probably out of reach.
You let a good team keep its heartbeat and eventually it comes back to life. It’s a hard, hard lesson that got taught tonight for Ohio State, and pain was the teacher.
