Ohio State rolled to a big first half lead and then held on for a scoreless second to top USC, 24-7, in the Cotton Bowl Friday night. It was the Buckeyes' first win against the Trojans since 1974.
Here are 20 GIFs that tell the story of that game. To view the GIFs, hover on desktop or touch on your mobile device.
We'll start with the opening coin toss. It was all toss and no rotation.
A little over a minute into the game, USC Sam Darnold had already thrown for a Trojan first down. Ohio State defensive backs Kendall Sheffield and Damon Arnette had converged on USC wide receiver Deonta Burnett to force a fumble which was promptly scooped up by safety Damon Webb and returned 19 yards to give the Buckeyes an early red zone opportunity.
Five plays later, quarterback J.T. Barrett punched it in from the one to put the Buckeyes up, 7-0.
The Ohio State defensive line, which finished with an ungodly eight sacks and 14 TFL, started to assert its will on the Trojans right away. Here's Nick Bosa sacking Darnold on USC's second possession.
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USC would punt, but then force an OSU punt to get the ball back. Driving, on 3rd-and-5 from the Ohio State 43, Darnold threaded a beauty to Burnett, but again, Sheffield was on the scene to deliver a dose of violence, forcing the incompletion.
The teams traded punts again and then Damon Webb struck. The safety picked off Darnold and took the ball 23 yards to the house to put Ohio State up 14-0 not even a half minute into the 2nd quarter.
Sacks and turnovers were the story of the game for Ohio State's defense. Here's Tyquan Lewis getting to Darnold for a four-yard loss and fumble which was promptly scooped up by linebacker Jerome Baker and returned for 13 yards.
Two plays after the turnover, Barrett raced 28 yards to put the Buckeyes up 24-0.
[DUE TO TIME CONSTRAINTS THE MOST BORING 3rd QUARTER IMAGINABLE, WE MOVE AHEAD TO ACTION IN THE 4th QUARTER.]
Trailing 24-7 early in the 4th quarter, USC put a drive together, advancing all the way to the Ohio State 10 before facing a 4th down. Chase McGrath's field goal attempt hit the right upright and for a minute there, Ohio State safety Jeffrey Okudah thought he was playing Arena League ball.
Did we mention sacks and turnovers? Here's Jalyn Holmes getting to Darnold and gifting a fumble right into the lap of Rob Landers.
More sacks! Here's Bosa and Malik Harrison getting to Darnold.
And true freshman Chase Young giving Ohio State fans a glimpse of the future.
Darnold would scramble on the next play, drawing a penalty for a late hit from Harrison...
Which set off a three minute scuffle...
That amounted to offsetting fouls and an ejection of USC's Jamel Cook.
All that was left at this point was Urban Meyer hoisting the Cotton Bowl trophy.
And a hug for his quarterback, playing in his final game (and setting records on the way out).
CONFETTI!
And fade to black.
