Below is a table that I believe makes itself self-evident on how to win the game. The losing team has passed for 450 yards and lost. The winning team has experienced pathetic passing and won big. The key to winning the game is running the football and stopping the other team from running the football. Fancy QB's, fancy receivers, and fancy pass defenders do not matter. This is what Urban Meyer understood about winning and asserting his will on the enemy. I put an * on the 2018 game, as the 18 inch touch pass to Paris Cambell is a run in my book. The rank is rushing yards as measured in years 2011 to 2024 for each team. Diff is the rushing difference for that year. Whether it is an RB, a QB, or both, the key to winning is running the football, AND stopping the other team from running the football.
| Year | OSU Rush | rank | TTUN Rush | rank | diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 137 | 10 | 277 | 2 | 140 |
| 2012 | 277 | 3 | 108 | 9 | 165 |
| 2013 | 393 | 1 | 152 | 7 | 241 |
| 2014 | 233 | 5 | 121 | 8 | 122 |
| 2015 | 369 | 2 | 57 | 13 | 272 |
| 2016 | 206 | 7 | 91 | 11 | 115 |
| 2017 | 226 | 6 | 100 | 10 | 126 |
| 2018 | 171*(249) | 8 | 161 | 5 | 10(88) |
| 2019 | 264 | 4 | 9 | 12 | 173 |
| 2021 | 64 | 13 | 297 | 1 | 233 |
| 2022 | 143 | 9 | 252 | 3 | 109 |
| 2023 | 107 | 11 | 156 | 6 | 49 |
| 2024 | 77 | 12 | 172 | 4 | 95 |
The table is self-evident. The five times there has been a loss, the rushing rank is 9-13, verses 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6. I do not know what more to say. The magic number is 150 yards of rushing. Only twice has a team run for 150 and lost. Every team that won, rushed for at least 150 yards and the team that runs better wins. 175 rushing yards guarantees victory.
I hope this information sets the emphasis for spring ball.
