Monday night we saw the Ohio State Buckeyes dominate every part of their opening game as the reigning college football champions as they routed Virginia Tech 42-24. This was the first meeting of the two teams since Tech tarnished Ohio State’s near-perfect record last season on their way to the national championship. From their entrance walk into Lane Stadium it was obvious the Buckeyes were all business about protecting their title. Many questions surrounded who Urban Meyer’s starting quarterback would be, how Braxton Miller would do at a new position, and the hype of last year’s MVP and current Heisman leader Ezekiel Elliot. Questions would soon be answered as the Buckeyes rolled into Blacksburg. With Cardale Jones starting at quarterback the Buckeyes offense was off to the races early. Recording 360 yards rushing, and outgaining the Hokies 572-320, domination would be an understatement to describe Ohio State’s offense.
Before the end of the fourth quarter Monday night there was talk of Ohio State in this year’s four-team playoff. Yes, it’s early, and there is much college football still to be played; but this situation is interesting. It’s not so much the opponents Ohio State needs to worry about, but themselves.
With their winning streak now at 14 after the win over Virginia Tech, Ohio State faces Hawaii, Northern Illinois, and Western Michigan; all of which should be wins for the Buckeyes. Entering week six the Buckeyes begin conference play with a trip to Bloomington to face Indiana, followed by visits from Maryland and Penn State. Rutgers, Minnesota, Illinois, and Michigan State follow before the regular season finale at Michigan. Jim Harbaugh, whose Wolverines are 0-1 after week one, very well may be the only team standing between the Buckeyes and a perfect regular season.
But that’s too far ahead for most. Let’s look at the incredible depth of the Ohio State Buckeyes. Not many were surprised with Urban Meyer’s decision to start Cardale Jones, a Heisman candidate, over J.T. Barrett; nor that Jones would produce for the Buckeyes. He completed 9-of-18 passes for 186 yards and two touchdowns. In addition, Jones ran for just under 100 yards. One of the biggest storylines entering OSU’s season opener was the debut of former quarterback Braxton Miller, another Heisman candidate, at a wide receiver position. Miller, a two-time Big Ten conference Offensive Player of the Year, looked as if he previously played the wide out position instead of quarterback. Running six times for 62 yards and a touchdown, and completing two passes for 78 yards and a touchdown, Miller certainly didn’t have any problems with his new role in Meyer’s offense. In addition, Miller’s gravity-defying 360 spin left those at Lane Stadium and at home watching speechless and wide-eyed. The sheer depth of Ohio State’s offense from the line to quarterback position shows strong ability to out-play and out-perform any defense on the Buckeye’s 2015 schedule.
You certainly can’t talk about the Buckeye offense without mentioning a very much talked-about name: running back Ezekiel Elliot, 2015’s top Heisman contender who ran 303 times for a total of 2,140 yards and 20 touchdowns last season. Elliot recorded 11 carries for 122 yards and an 80-yard touchdown run in the Buckeyes’ win over Virginia Tech.
Looking at their opening performance, the dual-quarterback system, power offense, multiple Heisman contenders, and championship momentum, Ohio State’s playoff destiny is in their own hands. But what could possibly derail OSU from their powerful route towards a championship repeat? Themselves.
It’s an 11-letter word that is the main reason it’s so rare we see division, conference, and even more so, championship repeats; complacency. Ohio State has to resist self-satisfaction while on winning streaks; and remain humble when going up against unranked opponents. Ultimately, the Buckeyes need to remain hungry – as hungry as 2014’s sixth-ranked team was. But by the looks of Monday night’s game, complacency and satisfaction are two things non-existent amongst Urban Meyer and his reigning champions.
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