In demolishing Oregon, Ohio State looked like the team it was built to be: the nation’s best

PASADENA, Calif. — Denzel Burke stood proudly on the field, the Rose Bowl trophy in his hands and a wide grin across his face. He gazed down at the trophy, savoring the significance of the moment.

Ohio State had just dominated Oregon in the Rose Bowl, clinching a 41-21 victory that included a commanding 34-0 lead at halftime.

For Ohio State, it was a moment of redemption. Their October 12 loss to Oregon by just one point had stung, but no player deserved this triumph more than Burke.https://wordpress.com/

Burke had been under heavy scrutiny after allowing 162 yards and two touchdowns in that earlier loss. But on New Year’s Day, he was targeted only once and didn’t give up a single reception, according to Pro Football Focus.

He seemed like a completely different player. And Ohio State, too, looked transformed.

“Last game, if we hadn’t given up those big plays, it would’ve been a totally different outcome—just like tonight,” Burke remarked.

As the team sang their school song, “Carmen Ohio,” with their fans, it felt almost fated that Burke was holding the trophy. Not just because of his redemption, but because he had been the first player in the preseason to publicly declare the team’s “national title or bust” mentality, which had echoed throughout the season.

Ohio State had been labeled as the most talented team in the nation, the deepest, and one of the highest-budgeted teams when it came to name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals.

And now, they were finally living up to the hype.

In two College Football Playoff games, Ohio State had outscored their opponents 83-38 and outgained them 973-532. A shift in mentality had helped the team reach its full potential. Tennessee in the first round was a solid start, but Wednesday’s victory—against an undefeated, top-seeded opponent—was the emphatic statement to the rest of the country.

“We went out there today and beat the best team in the country, so what does that make us?” defensive tackle Ty Hamilton said.

It makes them the best team in the country, and their gap over the competition is growing with each passing week.

On Wednesday, former Ole Miss transfer Quinshon Judkins ran for 85 yards on 17 carries as part of an offense that racked up 500 total yards against Oregon.

“When we won the Peach Bowl at my last school, I thought that was huge. But this? This is amazing,” Judkins said. “It’s been quite the journey for me.”

His arrival was one of the key factors behind Ohio State’s sky-high expectations this offseason.

Judkins, one of the nation’s premier running backs, joined forces with TreVeyon Henderson, already known as one of the most dynamic backs in college football. Ohio State also added All-American safety Caleb Downs, Rimington Trophy winner Seth McLaughlin, and quarterback Will Howard to a roster that was already stacked with veteran talent.

The expectations were higher than for any of Ryan Day’s previous teams.

However, early results didn’t quite match the talent on paper, leaving some critics questioning Day’s coaching. After losing to Oregon and allowing 500 yards of offense to them, Ohio State’s defense, once considered the most talented in years, had underperformed. Meanwhile, the offense struggled with consistency, and the two units rarely clicked in sync.

Until the Playoff.

Since ending the regular season with a loss to Michigan, Ohio State has undergone a transformation. As Howard said on ESPN after the Rose Bowl win, the team is playing and coaching with a renewed sense of intensity.

That fire has led to a more focused, detail-oriented team behind the scenes.

“Coach (Jim) Knowles highlights all the little things, and sometimes it gets on our nerves, but it always pays off,” said defensive end JT Tuimoloau of the Buckeyes’ defensive coordinator.

Ohio State has posted 12 sacks in two playoff games, after registering only 35 in the first 12 regular-season games. A major question about Ohio State’s defense was its lack of pressure, but that issue seems to have been resolved. However, the most impressive shift has been on offense.

After scoring only 10 points in the loss to Michigan, the Buckeyes offense has become far more aggressive, racking up 973 yards over two games and finally utilizing their playmakers on the perimeter.

Howard has thrown for 630 yards in the playoffs. Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith has caught 13 passes for 290 yards and four touchdowns in the two games. But the ball is being spread around: Emeka Egbuka has 10 catches and one touchdown, tight end Gee Scott has been playing well, and the running back duo has remained involved despite an injured offensive line.

“I thought Chip (Kelly) called a great game,” Ryan Day said of his offensive coordinator, who was facing his former school. “The whole offensive staff worked hard to put together a solid game plan.”

While Kelly’s playcalling has been spot-on, his philosophy seems to focus on getting his playmakers the ball in space.

“We’re all playmakers, so just give us the ball, and we’ll make plays,” Judkins said.

With this level of aggression on both offense and defense, Ohio State is becoming nearly unbeatable, and that mindset resonates within the team.

“We don’t feel too much pressure, we just go out there and compete,” said cornerback Jordan Hancock. “If we can compete at our highest level, nobody can stop us.”

Ohio State has had one goal all season: a national championship. Now, with just two games remaining, that goal feels more attainable than ever. This is especially surreal for Hamilton, who was part of the 2022 team that lost to Georgia in the final seconds of the College Football Playoff semifinals.

This team feels different, though. The 2022 squad was good, but there was no clear gap between them and national champion Georgia. This year, it feels like Ohio State’s ceiling may be untouchable.

“There have been so many times we’ve been close, but this is the best team we’ve had to get there,” Hamilton said. “We have the best team, the best guys, and we’re playing as hard as we can. We can make it there.”

But first, Ohio State—and Burke—have one thing on their minds: Texas, which defeated Arizona State in double overtime in its Peach Bowl quarterfinal.

Burke spoke briefly with the media, and his final three responses were: “We’re on to Texas.”

Combine the most talented team in the country with one that’s angry and laser-focused, and Ohio State is looking increasingly capable of lifting a national title on January 20.