[d4cohn]

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To quote John McEnroe “ARE YOU SERIOUS?”  The level of play in the Clemson-OSU game was sky high.  For one thing – I can’t recall a game in the last couple years where I saw hitting in a college game that was as hard as it was in that game.   You had two teams evenly matched both loaded with talent. In fact I’ve heard several pro scouts say that Ohio State has the most talent in the country. OSU shot them selves in the foot a few times which obviously helped  Clemson win. 

 You had two tremendous quarterbacks – the number one and two recruits in the country two years ago by the way. The guy that generally is considered the best player in college football ( Ohio State‘s defensive lineman) speed all over the field and some truly terrific playmaking against top-flight defenses. Which when you get right down to it is what was different about that game. Both those teams not only have excellent offenses -But they also have great defenses. Which means teams had to earn their yards. Unlike LSU – which was a complete mismatch. Taking nothing away from the Tigers they are a great football team no question about it. But Oklahoma had no chance because as with essentially all big 12 teams they can’t defend.  

 I thought OSU-Clemson was one of the best College Football games I’ve seen in a long time. 

Justin Fields missed an easy TD on a basic screen pass to JK Dobbins that forced Ohio State to settle for its second FG. Ohio State was forced to settle for a third FG after JK Dobbins dropped a sure TD on another screen pass.

You also had mistakes like the roughing the punter by Ohio State (when a mere running into the kicker still wouldn't have extended the drive) on fourth and long deep in Clemson territory that Clemson ultimately cashed in on a 99 yard TD drive (and allowed them to take their first lead).

Then Ohio State's defense, for all the talk about our defensive deficiencies, gives up a 94 yard drive in 1:18, with Clemson pinned back at its 6, down with under 3 minutes left in the fourth quarter.

You also had the disastrous miscommunication on OSU's final drive that led to Fields throwing the INT to seal the game.

Coupled those mistakes with the targeting penalty on third down with Ohio State up 16 that kept another Clemson drive alive that allowed them to turn momentum in the game when they were getting dominated.

I mean, I tally all that up, and the conclusion I reach is Ohio State gave away that game with costly mistakes, when the game easily could and should have been put out of reach in the second quarter.

The game also featured a combined 13 punts. Like I told BC, I thought the OSU-Clemson game was certainly more competitive, but there is a marked difference in the quality of LSU versus either Clemson or Ohio State. To wit, I cannot see Burrow missing on an easy RB screen, or one of their receivers dropping a sure TD on a screen.

[d4cohn]

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To quote John McEnroe “ARE YOU SERIOUS?”  The level of play in the Clemson-OSU game was sky high.  For one thing – I can’t recall a game in the last couple years where I saw hitting in a college game that was as hard as it was in that game.   You had two teams evenly matched both loaded with talent. In fact I’ve heard several pro scouts say that Ohio State has the most talent in the country. OSU shot them selves in the foot a few times which obviously helped  Clemson win. 

 You had two tremendous quarterbacks – the number one and two recruits in the country two years ago by the way. The guy that generally is considered the best player in college football ( Ohio State‘s defensive lineman) speed all over the field and some truly terrific playmaking against top-flight defenses. Which when you get right down to it is what was different about that game. Both those teams not only have excellent offenses -But they also have great defenses. Which means teams had to earn their yards. Unlike LSU – which was a complete mismatch. Taking nothing away from the Tigers they are a great football team no question about it. But Oklahoma had no chance because as with essentially all big 12 teams they can’t defend.  

 I thought OSU-Clemson was one of the best College Football games I’ve seen in a long time. 

Justin Fields missed an easy TD on a basic screen pass to JK Dobbins that forced Ohio State to settle for its second FG. Ohio State was forced to settle for a third FG after JK Dobbins dropped a sure TD on another screen pass.

You also had mistakes like the roughing the punter by Ohio State (when a mere running into the kicker still wouldn't have extended the drive) on fourth and long deep in Clemson territory that Clemson ultimately cashed in on a 99 yard TD drive (and allowed them to take their first lead).

Then Ohio State's defense, for all the talk about our defensive deficiencies, gives up a 94 yard drive in 1:18, with Clemson pinned back at its 6, down with under 3 minutes left in the fourth quarter.

You also had the disastrous miscommunication on OSU's final drive that led to Fields throwing the INT to seal the game.

Coupled those mistakes with the targeting penalty on third down with Ohio State up 16 that kept another Clemson drive alive that allowed them to turn momentum in the game when they were getting dominated.

I mean, I tally all that up, and the conclusion I reach is Ohio State gave away that game with costly mistakes, when the game easily could and should have been put out of reach in the second quarter.

The game also featured a combined 13 punts. Like I told BC, I thought the OSU-Clemson game was certainly more competitive, but there is a marked difference in the quality of LSU versus either Clemson or Ohio State. To wit, I cannot see Burrow missing on an easy RB screen, or one of their receivers dropping a sure TD on a screen.