COLUMBUS, Ohio — With just under six minutes remaining in the third quarter of Ohio State’s 20-13 win over Northern Illinois on Saturday, Ezekiel Elliott took off from the Huskies’ 48-yard line and bounced outside down the west sideline of Ohio Stadium.
Darting toward the north end zone, the Buckeyes running back suddenly found himself taking flight, as he cleanly hurdled NIU defensive back Albert Smalls before stumbling forward for what was ultimately a six-yard gain.
The sold-out crowd in The Horseshoe let out an audible gasp, followed by an even louder one when Elliott’s jump was replayed moments later on the south end-zone scoreboard.
It was the type of play Ohio State fans have come to expect from Elliott, the type of highlight made for instant Internet consumption.
Yet in what was an otherwise forgettable day for the Buckeyes offense, which totaled just 298 yards and 13 points against its opponent from the Mid-American Conference, Elliott’s hurdle, too, got lost in the shuffle.
Moments earlier, LSU’s Leonard Fournette provided college football with its most watched running back-related highlight of the day, essentially performing a WWE-style back body drop on Auburn defensive back Tray Matthews during a 29-yard touchdown run against the Tigers.
In a way, it wasn’t just Matthews but also Elliott whom Fournette found himself tossing to the side.
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Continue Reading: Were Expectations Too High for Ezekiel Elliott?
