This was not how many of us envisioned Ohio State football finishing its 2023 season, but the chink in the Buckeye armor showed up in the 14-3 loss to Missouri in the Cotton Bowl.
Earlier in the day, Ohio State found out it would be without two of its stars, wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and linebacker Tommy Eichenberg. Most likely both of them would have made a difference, but every team goes through adversity and the job is to rise above it.
The Buckeye didn’t and it showed. There weren’t many impressive performances from Ohio State, but let’s take a look at the best, 5-stars, and worst, 1-star, during the Buckeyes gut wrenching loss to the Tigers.
5 ⭐️ - Defensive end Jack Saywer
Ohio State’s Jack Sawyer already has 3 sacks in this game off the edge. Unreal.
Explosive, powerful EDGE whose biggest issue has been consistency. This game is a strong case for an NFL team to take a top-50 flier on him. #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/tQaz9y3y5c
— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) December 30, 2023
Why
Talk about game of your life, Sawyer was an absolute monster against the Missouri offensive line. He was all over the place, and it wasn’t just the three sacks he had. For a player who was thinking about returning, this game could very well push him out the door. This was the kind of production that we have been waiting three years from Sawyer and he showed up big time.
4 ⭐️ - Ohio State defense
Through 3️⃣ in Arlington. #GoBucks | @CottonBowlGame pic.twitter.com/ilV3HNIRfo
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) December 30, 2023
Why
The defense shut out the Missouri offensive for three quarters, but you had the feeling that there would eventually be a breakthrough. The Tigers did in the fourth quarter, but this effort should always be good enough to get a victory. It’s not the defense’s fault that the offense couldn’t put up enough points, while also not giving it enough rest between possessions. This was a championship level effort, hats off to this Jim Knowles led Ohio State defense.
⭐️ - Ohio State’s preparation
Get 🆙 Get 🆙
It’s the final GAMEDAY of 2023⚡️ pic.twitter.com/CtQuPsqH3c
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) December 29, 2023
Why
With a month off to get this team ready, it sure didn’t look like it. A lot of this goes on the coaching staff, but some of it lands on the players as well. A new starter at quarterback, the shuffling of offensive linemen, and not having the wide receivers ready to play. It’s a microcosm of how this Buckeyes team has finished the last two seasons, both ending with back-to-back losses. While many have talked about Day having plenty of time to game plan and have his team ready, the Buckeyes weren’t and it showed.
⭐️ - Head coach Ryan Day
Why
For the first time in Day’s tenure, I’m starting to doubt his ability to lead this team to a championship. He’s gotten passes the past two years due to his defense, but this season that wasn’t an issue. It’s an elite squad while the offense, which he was billed as a guru, was not up to the standard. Does Day need a first round talent at quarterback to be effective? If that’s the case, we may be waiting much longer to bring back a College Football Playoff title to Columbus.
Another aspect that bothered me was his handling of Devin Brown. He was clearly hurt, but Day kept him out there for two more series until he was blown up for a sack and fumble that the referee’s luckily missed. You have to protect your players, and we didn’t see that from Day.
⭐️ - Special teams coach Parker Fleming
Why
Ohio State special teams commits a penalty, rinse and repeat. It has been all too common under Parker Fleming’s watch and many of us have had enough. On the first drive of the game, the Buckeyes had to punt, which saw the unit have a delay of game. The coaches tried to call a timeout, but that should never happen.
Sure, Jesse Mirco had a 61-yard punt, but that was aided by the Missouri returner losing the ball in the lights. Later in the quarter, from their own 10-yard line, Missouri had to punt. No pressure for a block at all, it just makes no sense. A missed field goal that was makable, a holding call on Jermaine Mathews Jr. to start the second half. The non-existent return game once again hurt field position. I’m not sure how I’ll react if Fleming still has a job past Monday.
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