College Football Playoff Predictions: How the Ohio State Buckeyes Can Win the Title
ByThe Ohio State Buckeyes have to be glad for the adversity they faced in the Sugar Bowl against Alabama.
At this point, it is all they have known this season, since Braxton Miller's preseason injury, to the week two loss to Virginia Tech, to J.T. Barrett's broken ankle. The Bucks thrive amidst adversity and Oregon is bound to give them a healthy dose.
Here is how they can win the inaugural College Football Playoff (CFP) National Title.
Trusting Cardale Jones:
The third string quarterback for Ohio State has two games under his belt this season: the Big Ten Championship against Wisconsin and the Sugar Bowl against Alabama. Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said on ESPN's "Mike and Mike" radio show that Jones is a "freak" athletically.
While not as gifted a runner as his predecessors at Ohio State, Jones has surprising athleticism for a six-foot-five, 250-pound quarterback. He can also be a nightmare for a defensive player in his way. But the key for Jones has been maturation.
Meyer told the Lantern before the Sugar Bowl that Jones is "not the grown man that he needs to be, but he's getting close." ESPN published a piece on how the birth of his daughter forced him to grow up and various Buckeyes coaches attested to that maturation in the article.
He infamously tweeted more than two years ago that test taking was "pointless" for football players under athletic scholarships. That impatient, brash attitude will not beat this Oregon team. The Cardale Jones who has delivered wins in Ohio State's two biggest games this season certainly can.
Being faithful in the run game:
Ezekiel Elliot's impact on the Ohio State offense in the Sugar Bowl win over Alabama could not be overstated. Down 21-6, he found the end zone from three yards out to bring the team within one score. In what turned out to be a major momentum swing, Ohio State scored again just before halftime on one of the most memorable trick plays in recent memory (1:25 in the highlight video below).
Oregon will probably do everything they can to shut down the Ohio State running game and force Jones to make plays with his arm. Ohio State's run game will be even more valuable against Oregon, because eating up the clock keeps Marcus Mariota and co. off the field may be the one proven way to beat him.
Giving up yards, not points, on defense:
Giving up yards to the Ducks is inevitable. Mariota is worlds ahead of Blake Sims in terms of football IQ and ability and will probably not make many careless throws. But it is more than turnovers Ohio State will be striving for. Ohio State defenders will look to get hits on Mariota if he leaves the pocket, get receivers down after the catch and keep Oregon out of the end zone.
Mariota and the Ducks offense will inevitably go down the field with consistency, but the red zone is where Ohio State will always be able to shorten the field and take away the big play.
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