How can something help and hurt you at the same time? That oddity—coming in the form of a 35-21 upset loss to Virginia Tech—is currently working its magic on Urban Meyer and Ohio State.
The 13th-ranked Buckeyes (4-1) entered fall camp as one of the handful of teams expected to compete for a spot in the inaugural College Football Playoff. Those aspirations took a huge hit, though, when superstar quarterback Braxton Miller was lost for the season after re-injuring his shoulder in August.
Ohio State’s postseason aspirations suffered an even bigger blow in Week 2, when the Hokies invaded Columbus and confounded the Buckeyes with a unique—and on that night, unbeatable—defensive look. The Buckeyes plummeted from their No. 5 ranking to No. 22, and it appeared as though they were out of the playoff race.
But a trio of consecutive blowouts over Kent State, Cincinnati and Maryland, along with numerous upsets to higher-ranked teams, have given Meyer and Ohio State a flicker of hope.
The Buckeyes’ recent surge is the result of improved play from the offensive line, which is opening holes for running back Ezekiel Elliott and giving quarterback J.T. Barrett the time he needs to get through his progressions. The defense, which is running an aggressive 4-3 scheme, is starting to click under new co-defensive coordinator Chris Ash.
But as a whole, the team is drawing motivation from the 14-point…
Continue Reading: Virginia Tech Loss Fueling Ohio State While Hurting Its Playoff Hopes
