The Buckeyes played their third road game in four outings on the frozen tundra of Minnesota’s TCF Bank Stadium yesterday, looking to avoid frostbite as well as a letdown after last week’s emotional win at Michigan State.
Jerry Kill’s Gophers entered the game without a home loss on their schedule and carrying the nation’s No. 25 ranking in the College Football Playoff standings. His hard-nosed team has won a lot of games on sheer determination, a strong running attack with David Cobb, and a good defense.
Would the OSU offense keep rolling? Could the Buckeye defense contain Cobb? Would the Buckeyes avoid their first loss in Minneapolis since 1981? Could Ohio State handle the elements—including the coldest weather the team has played in since 1964—as well as its own emotional state?
Yes, no, yes, and…eh. The Buckeyes posted 489 total yards on the day, aided by several big plays. Cobb shook free of tacklers all day for 145 yards and three touchdowns on 27 carries (5.4 YPA). The Buckeyes held two-score leads several times and never trailed, holding on for the 31-24 win in a game that wasn’t that close. The elements probably did contribute to two muffed punts (one lost), a few overthrows by J.T. Barrett early, a fumble into the end zone by Jalin Marshall, and some of the play calling.
Here are your Minnesota game talking points:
Water Cooler prep (Everything you need to know…in one paragraph)
Barrett was a beast again, running for 189 yards and a touchdown, and completing 15/25 for 200 yards and two more scores. Ohio State build a 14-0 lead but an interception and Marshall’s fumble at the Minnesota two allowed the Gophers to tie the score late in the second quarter but Ohio State tacked on a field goal before the break. The Buckeyes did just enough after the half to extend their lead to 31-14 with 10 minutes left but a muffed punt (one of three total turnovers) and some prevent defense made the final score appear closer than it should have.
Talk before the game
“Let’s go Bucks, no let downs!”
Some people creatively photoshopped the matchup:
@spinnershells looks like coach is ready pic.twitter.com/7cwYQgHuHP
— Todd✌️ (@toddneville) November 15, 2014
There was a lot of talk about the weather.
15 degrees, light snow, 3 mph wind, temps expected to rise to mid 20s: Official weather announcement
— Doug Lesmerises (@DougLesmerises) November 15, 2014
But cold doesn’t bother some guys, even if they're from Florida.
Bosa: Sleeveless. pic.twitter.com/4dh0MFFE50
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) November 15, 2014
Talk in the aftermath
“Easily could have won that game by 30. On the road. In the snow.”
“[Lots of stupid and horrible things about Jalin Marshall]” – idiots with a keyboard and internet access
Please God, don't let this person reproduce.
Some guy you never heard of thought it would be a good idea to run his mouth, on a day when Ohio State gave his team free points and did everything it could to hand Minnesota the game (yet still won).
De'Vondre Campbell thought the #Gophers beat themselves. Said TCU is better Ohio State. Said MN will play OSU again in 3 weeks.
— JoeChristensen (@JoeCStrib) November 15, 2014
Give that man a buckeye leaf (Player of the game)
Barrett was the man again. Only conservative playcalling and kneeldowns late kept him from gaining 200 yards both on the ground and in the air. His 86-yard touchdown run was a new school record for a quarterback, breaking a Braxton Miller mark set against Indiana, and his 189 yards on the ground broke another Miller school record for a QB. With four total touchdowns, Barrett also broke Miller’s school record of most touchdowns responsible for in a season (36) by notching numbers 35-38. He had one interception on an overthrown deep ball, but was otherwise very steady and composed yet again.
Did you see that?! (Play of the game)
Presented without comment…Barrett’s 86-yard touchdown run:
Slobber Knocker of the Game
Just past the midway mark of the third quarter, Minnesota quarterback Mitch Leidner took a snap on first-and-10 from his own 28. He surveyed the field and quickly felt pressure, drifting to his left, where he was demolished by Raekwon McMillan and Joey Bosa for a 10-yard loss. While that hit would have taken away most people’s will to live, Leidner not only got back up, but led Minnesota to the OSU 40. But some residual cobwebs may have forced him to throw high, leading to Doran Grant’s interception.
Jim Tressel's Least Favorite Moment of the game
Tressel’s needlepoint game is fierce and he spent Saturday ripping through a gorgeous and very realistic representation of the Battle of the Bulge. He finished the day covered in bandages, however. He pierced his left thumb when Jalin Marshall fumbled into the end zone. The needle went completely through his ring finger on Kyle Clinton’s fifth kickoff out of bounds on the season. Finally, Tressel got his index finger pretty good when Marshall later muffed the punt that led to Minnesota’s third touchdown. The blood added a lot of realism to the Battle of the Bulge scene, but Ellen forbade him from doing needlepoint during any more Buckeye games.
When you sank into your chair (The moment Buckeye football disgraced your family)
A great defense rises to the challenge whenever there’s a quick change of possession. Ohio State’s, for all the things it did well not only all season but also yesterday, did the opposite. All three Buckeye turnovers were met by a meek and poor tackling effort on the ensuing drive, leading a particular writer to throw a computer mouse at one point. I’m not saying I’m that particular writer, but I’m not saying I’m not that writer.
What you texted your friend at the end of each quarter
First: “Hmmm, we were rolling until that interception.”
Second: “Good final drive, but without the turnovers this game is already over.”
Third: “The flags were key in that quarter, especially the iffy PI call. But lead extended, so…”
Fourth: “Essentially handed them 21 points and still won. Scoreline flatters them but it’s a good road win.”
It was over when
The thing was put away when Doran Grant returned an interception for a touchdown on the first series of the second half. But that didn’t happen because of a soft pass interference call on Grant brought it back. So it was really over when Evan Spencer grabbed a screen pass and raced 22 yards for a touchdown and a 31-14 lead with 10:08 to play. Tom Herman called the perfect play to burn Minnesota’s blitz and Barrett and Spencer executed the play immaculately.
The Buckeyes return home to the Shoe next weekend to take on the Indiana Hoosiers (3-7, 0-6). Indiana lost 45-23 at Rutgers yesterday to stay winless in the B1G this season—despite rolling up 473 yards of offense, including 307 rushing yards for Tevin Coleman. Kevin Wilson’s team seems to have regressed in a major way in 2014, but with Michigan looming a week later, Ohio State cannot afford to look past the Hoosiers, especially after allowing big games from Jeremy Langford and David Cobb the last two games.
