The 12-1 Ohio State University Buckeyes finish their season in first place in the Big Ten Conference, after destroying the Wisconsin Badgers in a 59-0 shutout last Saturday in the conference championship game. This was the Badgers’ first shutout since 1997. The Buckeyes scored 14 points in both the first and fourth quarters and scored their remaining 31 points in the second and third, including 24 before halftime. Quarterback Cardale Jones threw 3 touchdowns and threw for 257 yards. Jones was named MVP of the game which was also his first career start. Wide receiver Devin Smith caught four passes and scored three times.
Ohio State has had an impressive season, losing just one game in the second week of the season to Virginia Tech, 35-21. In late October, the Buckeyes had an intense matchup against Penn State resulting in double overtime, however, the team managed to emerge victorious, winning 31-24. The team also defeated its big rivals: Michigan State, 49-27 and Michigan, 42-28.
The Buckeyes have suffered multiple losses this season, including injuries to quarterbacks J.T. Barrett and Braxton Miller, as well as the recent death of offensive lineman Kosta Karageorge. Despite these tragedies the team has faced, the Buckeyes proved on Saturday that they deserved to advance into the playoffs.
This is head coach Urban Meyer’s third season at Ohio State University. Prior to joining the Buckeyes, Meyer was the head coach at the University of Florida from 2005-2010, leading the team to two national championships in 2006 and 2008. Meyer is also an Ohio native.
2014 marks the first year of the College Football Playoff, for which the top four teams will face off in two major bowl games to determine who will play in the championship game. Ohio State is ranked number four and will play number one ranked Alabama in the All State Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day. Oregon (2) and Florida State (3) will also face off on New Year’s Day in the Rose Bowl. The winners of these games will play in the National Championship Game on Monday, January 12th at AT&T stadium in Dallas, Texas.
