With its first College Football Playoff Championship in hand, the Ohio State Buckeyes have suddenly gone from hunter to prey. Few took the Buckeyes seriously before the playoff. Now every team will be gunning for them.
Head coach Urban Meyer has built a culture of excellence partly rooted in adapting to change and overcoming adversity. These qualities were on full display this year.
Losing Braxton Miller before the season, Noah Spence declared permanently ineligible and J.T Barrett’s injury were torpedoes that could have brought down the ship. Instead, the team banded together and went on a magical run to capture the championship.
Next up is defending its title. Repeating is always difficult, but the Buckeyes are assembled to make a sustaining run over the next few years. Can the team maintain the intensity needed to do it?
If there is an issue, Meyer only has to point to his arch nemesis to fuel his players’ motivation. Alabama was the last team to repeat, winning back-to-back BCS Championships in 2011 and 2012. The initial chase might be accomplished, but repeating as champions will put Ohio State in rare company.
Meyer’s challenges in maintaining improvement with the team are significant despite the abundance of riches within the program. With core players returning and the coaching staff remaining the same outside of new co-offensive coordinator Tim Beck, the Buckeyes’ continuity looks promising. To make it back to the playoff, here are four areas…
Continue Reading: Ohio State Football: Managing the Offseason Key to Defending Its Title in 2015
