MI State’s defensive effort against Ohio State a game-changer

Ohio State had its 23-game winning streak snapped on a last-second field goal by MI State, putting the Spartans on the road to the Big Ten championship game and leaving the Buckeyes with only pride to play for next week at MI.

After running for 1,878 yards in 2014, Elliott had continued his dominance this season, gaining over 100 yards in every game this season. Honestly, this is my last game in the Shoe.

Ohio State (10-1, 6-1 Big Ten) came into the game as a double-digits favorite and the expectations of an OSU victory grew even stronger when MI State starting quarterback Connor Cook was unable to play because of a shoulder injury he suffered last week against Maryland.

“What happened today, it was kind of like a bad, bad dream”. “I’m disappointed. I’m disappointed in the play-calling”. Did not put our players at risk too often but obviously pressured when we needed to, and we got off the field on third down.

The Buckeyes had to turn to Cardale Jones in the Big Ten title game and the College Football Playoff, but still had playmakers like Ezekiel Elliott in the backfield and Devin Smith on the outside. Well, Tom, the Spartans’ win at MI was on a “fluke” play, as well.

Meyer’s calls cost Elliott the opportunity for a possible Heisman Trophy and National Championship in one game.

“I think this was the first game this season we could take on the role of underdog”, MI State coach Mark Dantonio said. “I love these guys, and we’ll come back and do the best we can next week”. “And we couldn’t stop them previous year”. In the postgame media availability, the OSU tailback said that he’s turning pro after this season and called out his coaching staff.

Playing without injured star quarterback Connor Cook on a rainy and windy day at Ohio Stadium, the Spartans (10-1, 6-1 Big Ten) took control of the Big Ten East, barged into the thick of the College Football Playoff hunt and very likely ended Ohio State’s chances to repeat as national champs.

Ezekiel Elliott voiced his displeasure in how the coaching staff prepared the team for the big game, adding he was disappointed in how he was used during the contest. Oklahoma narrowly edges a two-loss TCU who have nothing to play for anymore while Baylor messed things up in Stillwater by beating Oklahoma State, who are no longer undefeated.

To start off and state the obvious, the game is being played inside the Big House in Ann Arbor, which is not exactly the easiest place to play in the nation. “It just hurts. It hurts a lot”.

“Ninety-five percent of the time, you’re going to lose that game when you have minus-two turnovers”, said Dantonio. Should the Buckeyes fall for the second straight game on Saturday, it may be bigger news than who is left standing after rivalry weekend. Speaking of Barrett, he had more carries on Saturday than Elliott did. “I think he’s the real deal and he’ll probably be a late first-round pick”. I don’t know what they were seeing.

The Bears still have a resume that doesn’t stretch far beyond Saturday night, plus a nonconference schedule the committee might make an example of, but the win over Oklahoma State injected them back into the conversation.

Meyer seemed at a loss himself to explain the curious offensive strategy in the rain at the Horseshoe. He blamed the loss on the coaches and Meyer!