Buckeye Nation woke up in a better mood Sunday compared to a week ago, albeit wondering where Saturday’s 42-13 dismantling of Michigan was in the offensively-challenged upset loss to Michigan State a week earlier.
“I’ve been very fortunate to be around some big-time games; very blessed,” Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said. “From the bottom of my heart, I told our players, that might have been the best I’ve ever seen. To come back from the kick to the stomach we took a week ago, it was an awful week of practice.
“To come out and do that against them, just shows you this is one of the best group of kids I’ve ever been around. Extremely grateful to be around them. I think Buckeye Nation should be very proud of those guys, to do that after last week.”
Ohio State likely has a month to cherish its fourth-straight victory over Michigan. Michigan State and Iowa play in Saturday’s Big 10 championship game, leaving Ohio State’s path to the College Football Playoffs long and full of road blocks.
Saturday’s win was the Buckeyes’ most lopsided over the Wolverines since 1961, when Woody Hayes’ team scored a touchdown with five seconds left — then went for the two-point conversion — for the final score.
Meyer did his best to channel Hayes’ passion for beating Michigan. With about two minutes left in the third quarter and Ohio State leading 21-10, the Buckeyes bypassed a field goal attempt and went for it on fourth-and-1 from Michigan’s 17. Ezekiel Elliott gained four yards. J.T. Barrett scored one play later for the 28-10 lead.
“Crazy, huh?”said Barrett, who rushed for 139 yards and three touchdowns and threw for 113 yards and another score.
“It was a way to show this team is resilient. It was definitely a team effort. It wasn’t offense, defense or just special teams, separate groups on the team. It was definitely a team effort, a great win. The atmosphere was crazy.”
Elliott did his best to earn a trip to the Heisman Trophy ceremony in New York on Dec. 12. He rushed for 214 yards and two touchdowns on 30 carries. His 3,812 career yards moved him past Heisman winner Eddie George (3,768) into second place on OSU’s all-time list.
”I think he should be in New York,” Meyer said. ”I think he is one of the best players in America. I don’t know if he should win. I don’t know the other players, but I am fortunate to be around him. He’s one of best players that I’ve ever been around.”
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