The biggest talking point entering last night’s game against Minnesota was the suspension of starting quarterback J.T. Barrett, who had the offense humming and had built up a couple of weeks of momentum for Ohio State’s offense. The Buckeyes had dominated the last three halves of football they played entering the bye week but Barrett’s OVI charge shook things up a bit.
Meanwhile, the Golden Gophers were a yard and a couple plays of botched clock management away from upsetting Michigan last week in their first game after Jerry Kill’s sudden retirement for health reasons. Minnesota came to Columbus hoping to hang with the Buckeyes the way they had at home against the Wolverines.
Would Cardale Jones play a relaxed, efficient game without J.T. to worry about? Could the defense continue to play dominating football? Would Ezekiel Elliott continue his streak of 100-yard games against a team that he failed to reach the century mark against a year ago? Could the Buckeyes score in the red zone without Barrett at the helm?
Yes (after a slow start), mostly, yes, and yes. Jones was a bit too amped at first, but finished 12/22 for 187 yards and a touchdown, hit a couple big passes and even ran 12 times for 65 yards and a score. The defense let down a bit in the fourth quarter but the Buckeyes stuffed the run game and beat up Mitch Leidner all night. Zeke went for 114 and a touchdown, but needed 26 carries to do it. Jones got the Bucks into the end zone twice while inside the red zone.
Here are your talking points from last night’s 28-14 win over Minnesota:
WATER COOLER PREP (EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW…IN ONE PARAGRAPH)
As has been the case in previous Cardale Jones starts this season, the offense took a while to get on track, with the game remaining scoreless deep into the second quarter. But the Silver Bulllets were flying and Vonn Bell broke the deadlock with a pick six. Ohio State scored on its next possession and made it 21 straight points early in the third with a fade toss to Michael Thomas. Then the wheels came off a bit with a fumble in scoring range and a missed field goal, allowing Minnesota to creep to within 21-14, before Jones put it to bed with a long keeper. Zeke passed Beanie Wells for fourth on the all-time OSU rushing list.
GIVE THAT MAN A BUCKEYE LEAF (PLAYER OF THE GAME)
Vonn Bell not only sparked the offense out of its lethargy with his pick six, but he made plays all over the field, leading the team in total tackles (10) and solo stops (7). He ran down a long broken play to (momentarily) prevent a touchdown in the fourth quarter and I’m not sure he missed a tackle all night. It was a fine performance by No. 11.
DID YOU SEE THAT?! (PLAY OF THE GAME)
Late in the second quarter, Minnesota faced a 2nd-and-9 from its own 9-yard line after one of Cameron Johnston’s three punts downed inside the 20. Mitch Leidner dropped back and tried to hit favorite target K.J. Maye. Instead, Bell stepped in front of the receiver and did this:
ICYMI: Vonn Bell picks it off and returns it for the @OhioStAthletics TD. Brought to you by @hotelsdotcom. https://t.co/OURx5X8U0k
— Ohio State on BTN (@OhioStateOnBTN) November 8, 2015
SLOBBER KNOCKER OF THE GAME
Ohio State’s second drive of the game started with a nice pop pass to Jalin Marshall who made a sick jump cut and gained 12 yards. What allowed that play to happen was a crushing block by Zeke Elliott, who cleared the way. It was only one of many such blocks Zeke threw on the night.
Honorable mention has to go to any number of hits on Leidner by Joey Bosa, Josh Perry and others.
TALK IN THE AFTERMATH
One fan had an interesting tactical suggestion:
Ohio State should just play JT Barrett in the regular season and then use Cardale in the playoffs. It worked last time.
— nigel (@nignog_) November 8, 2015
Some did the math on this week's CFP poll:
Ohio State has a win over the team that beat the team that beat the team that beat Alabama.. so if Bama is ranked higher than us I call BS..
— Jeff (@JLew1459) November 8, 2015
And some weren't worried about anything but the win:
"Ohio State isn't that good" "Ohio State is overrated" "Ohio State has an easy schedule" Me: https://t.co/O9ml9lqYEw
— RT Ohio (@RT_Ohio) November 8, 2015
JIM TRESSEL'S LEAST FAVORITE MOMENT OF THE GAME
Tressel has recently taken up magic. Early in the second half, while listening to the game on the radio, Tressel was practicing making a quarter appear out of the ear of a very patient Ellen. The Buckeyes' first drive quickly stalled, ending with a 32-yard Johnston punt that made Tressel's eye twitch. Ohio State forced a quick three-and-out and Peter Mortell trotted out and shanked a 28-yarder. The back-to-back affronts to puntery caused Tressel to accidentally lodge the quarter in poor Ellen's ear.
WHEN YOU SANK INTO YOUR CHAIR (THE MOMENT BUCKEYE FOOTBALL DISGRACED YOUR FAMILY)
The Buckeyes led 21-0 and were about to stomp on the Golden Gophers' throats. Facing a 3rd-and-7 from the Minnesota 19, Jones dropped back to pass. He sidestepped an unblocked rusher and then seemingly forgot that a large man with bad intent was still in his vicinity. Rather than tucking the ball and running, or throwing the ball away, Jones hung on and had it knocked out of his hands on a hit by that same large man he had literally just watched run past him. Apparently he thought the guy would just give up on the play, or something. That turnover seemed to take a bit of the steam out of both the offense and defense and cracked the door for the Gophers to claw back into the game.
WHAT YOU TEXTED YOUR FRIEND AT THE END OF EACH QUARTER
First: “Yeah, J.T. is starting next week.”
Second: “Thank you, Vonn Bell.”
Third: “Can we put this thing away now and get Zeke his 100?”
Fourth: “That fourth quarter was trash, but hey, 9-0.”
IT WAS OVER WHEN
When Cardale Jones faked to Zeke and kept on third-and-long, running up the gut for a 38-yard touchdown, Ohio State fans could finally rest easier with under two minutes to play. The Buckeyes had chances to put the game away much earlier, but a fumble in the red zone while up 21-0 and a missed field goal by Jack Willoughby extended the drama much longer than necessary.
Here's that Cardale clincher:
ICYMI: If it wasn't over before, Cardale Jones sealed @OhioStAthletics' victory on this gigantic 3rd-down TD run. https://t.co/4ZL4jCzkLA
— Ohio State on BTN (@OhioStateOnBTN) November 8, 2015
Next up is a trip to the wind tunnel in Champaign to play Illinois (5-4, 2-3). The Fighting Illini beat down Purdue yesterday, 48-14. Winner gets a wooden turtle.
