After getting the ball back deep in its own territory with 41 seconds remaining Saturday and a pair of timeouts, Ohio State opted to play things cautiously and go to overtime against Wisconsin.
The Buckeyes' passing game was somewhat inconsistent in this particular game against the Badgers, but they also have a record-breaking quarterback and all that was needed was a field goal to end the game in regulation. Some were a bit surprised by Urban Meyer's decision.
To Meyer, though, part of the reasoning was simple: It wasn’t a lack of confidence in his offense, but rather a trust in his team’s defense that led him to make that choice.
“I actually thought through that when we had the ball with 40 seconds left and two timeouts,” Meyer said Monday during his weekly press conference. “That was part of the reason why we did what we did. Our defense is really good down there.”
The gamble paid off as the Buckeyes’ defense held the Badgers out of the end zone after Ohio State scored on its initial overtime possession. Wisconsin got inside the Buckeyes’ 5-yard line and actually had 1st-and-goal from the 4, but Ohio State’s defense shut the door and the game ended when Tyquan Lewis sacked Badgers quarterback Alex Hornibrook to end the game.
But this was just the latest example of the Buckeyes’ overwhelming success this season when it comes to red zone defense.
Through six games, Ohio State’s red zone defense ranks No. 1 in the country. The Buckeyes have allowed opponents inside their 20-yard line 16 times, but have given up points on just 10 of those trips (62.5 percent).
Only four of those 10 were touchdowns, too, and the Buckeyes’ rate of allowing opponents to get in the end zone 25 percent of the time they score ranks No. 2 in the country and trails only LSU’s 23.5 percent.
“We’ve got some tough coaches, tough players and guys that won’t back down from a challenge,” redshirt junior linebacker Chris Worley said Monday. “If they have a 70-yard drive going on and they’re on our 10, we still feel like we can stop them. There’s never a doubt in our mind that we can’t stop someone.
“That’s the biggest thing, the ability to be able to be humble and confident at the same time.”
In Saturday’s win over Wisconsin, the Badgers reached the red zone three times during regulation and then once again in overtime. Ohio State’s defense surrendered three scores — two field goals and a touchdown — but its one stop came on the game’s most important series.
Meyer likely knew it was coming, and that’s part of the reason why he made the decision to play for overtime rather than try and drive the length of the field.
The percentages were going to play out. The Buckeyes were due to make a stand.
“We bend but don’t break,” defensive end Sam Hubbard said. “We are aggressive and want to make plays. When we get into the red zone, we are going to keep being aggressive, but we’re not going to give up a touchdown. We’ve got pride in the red zone where it’s us versus them.”
Added fellow defensive end Jalyn Holmes: “We just owe it to the offense for them not to score. We work on that in spring ball, camp and we just take pride in what we do.”
