COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio State’s wild 48-45 win over Utah in the Rose Bowl helped salve the wounded spirit of a Buckeyes team coming off a humiliating loss at Michigan that ruined their championship hopes. C.J. Stroud set passing records in the Rose Bowl game, but the problems that had dogged Ohio State’s defense all season were still on display. In the Michigan and Utah games, the unit allowed a combined 950 yards and 87 points. The 42-27 setback at Michigan was the first loss to the hated rivals in eight seasons and first in the Jim Harbaugh era. So changes ensued. Rebuilding, reorganizing and rescheming the defense will be a focus for Ohio State in spring practice, which opened Tuesday at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. The Buckeyes have a new defensive coordinator, Jim Knowles, who had transformed Oklahoma State’s defense and was a finalist last season for…
Continue Reading: Defense a priority as Ohio State opens spring practice
