A 15-game season may be in a bit of unchartered water when it comes to college football, but Ohio State linebacker Darron Lee doesn't really care.
Because for him, and most of his teammates, the opportunity to play for a national championship is worth it.
“Come on, man, we’re probably like a small one percent playing even including the NFL guys, too," Lee said Tuesday. "Just bow up and go out and play. We’re playing for the national championship, we’ll be fine.”
It's true, playing for a national championship is a once in a lifetime opportunity for a lot of college football players. But a schedule that includes 15 games can be both physically and mentally exhausting, especially when dealing with 18 to 22-year-olds.
The injuries add up. The players spend exhausting hours at their school practice facility. It's an around-the-clock type process.
But, in the new College Football Playoff era, such is life.
"You have 85 scholarships, that's a lot of wear and tear on these players. I'm noticing it. I can see it," head coach Urban Meyer said. "I've never practiced like this. We are being very cautious right now."
The fourth-ranked Buckeyes will play their 15th game of the season one week from tonight against No. 2 Oregon.
It's been a long, winding road for Ohio State to get here, though. It has went through the loss of two starting quarterbacks and various other injuries. The bumps and bruises of the season's previous 14 games have taken their toll.
"It does (add up) but you going to be worn out and you are not going to feel like you did in game one necessarily and it is a grind and it is hard on your body and those extra games, all those extra reps and practices and hits are on your body," Ohio State left tackle Taylor Decker said. "Our coaches are trying to do a good job of taking care of us and getting us rest, but we also can't change the way we prepare to get here because there is a reason why we are where we are at and that is because of how we do things."
Yet, here they are. One more win will give the school its first national title since the 2002 season.
Playing one more game, as demanding as it may be, is worth it.
“You’re in the national championship," Lee said. "You’ve got to be mentally tough even if you are tired. It was a mentally tough game going against Alabama so we’ll be fine, it’s not an issue.”
