After J.T. Barrett suffered a season-ending ankle injury against Michigan, Ohio State’s national championship hopes were ripped from the steady hands of the its budding quarterback and placed squarely on a defense that has slumped in recent weeks.
With No. 13 Wisconsin and its powerful rushing attack looming, the fifth-ranked Buckeyes will need that unit to step up in a big way to earn their first Big Ten title since 2009.
That development would have been hard to fathom at the beginning of the season.
When Ohio State lost its first option at quarterback after Braxton Miller re-injured his shoulder in fall camp, head coach Urban Meyer expected his defense to rally—fueled by what USA Today (h/t 247Sports) thought was the best defensive line in the country.
In fact, Meyer went as far as comparing this Buckeyes defensive front to one of the all-time greats—his former outfit at Florida that guided the Gators to a national title in 2006.
“2006 was our best defensive line at Florida. This line, if they all stay healthy and perform, could be on that level,” Meyer told reporters. “We have some game-changers up front.”
The Buckeyes certainly have game-changers.
Defensive end Joey Bosa has grown into one of the most disruptive pass-rushers in the country, leading the Big Ten and ranking fourth nationally with 13.5 sacks. The true sophomore was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and is a finalist for the Lombardi and…
Continue Reading: Without J.T. Barrett, Ohio State’s Championship Hopes Rest with the Defense
