Revisiting the 2019 Ohio State Football Schedule - Part 3
Before (hopefully) commencing another season of Ohio State football, we have been taking a look back at a summary of the 2019 schedule. To help finish out this three-part weekend series, here is a quick glance inside the two postseason games from a year ago.
Big Ten Championship - Wisconsin (W 34-21): The rematch in Indianapolis was all Wisconsin early, as the redemption-filled Badgers held leads of 14-0 and then 21-7 behind three rushing scores. Ohio State prolonged a second-quarter drive on a successful fake punt when Drue Chrisman completed a pass to Luke Farrell, but a fumble near the goal line ended up halting momentum.
The Buckeyes regrouped and dominated the second half, beginning with a highlight-reel, one-handed catch from tight end Jeremy Ruckert in the back of the end zone. Justin Fields ensued with two TD passes to K.J. Hill sandwiched around the fourth-quarter transition, and Ohio State eventually raised yet another conference trophy.
Wisconsin racked up more total offense (432) against OSU than any other opponent, with Jonathan Taylor bouncing back for a much better game with 148 yards. J.K. Dobbins posted 172 himself as he and Fields were the only two Buckeyes to carry the ball. Fields threw for 299 yards and three TD’s while Damon Arnette had a team-high seven tackles and two pass breakups.
College Football Playoff Semifinal/Fiesta Bowl - Clemson (L 29-23): A thriller in Glendale began with Ohio State in total control, leading 16-0 midway through the second quarter despite missing some prime opportunities. The Buckeyes settled for field goals on three productive drives of 70-plus yards.
Momentum completely flipped late in the second quarter after Shaun Wade was somehow ejected for targeting following a blitzing sack on Trevor Lawrence. The Tigers took advantage of new life and scored minutes later, then sliced the deficit to 16-14 at intermission following a shifty 67-yard TD scamper from Lawrence. All in all, two touchdowns in 95 seconds.
Ohio State was then trailing 21-16 before another tough call late in the third, when a pass to the sidelines was initially not blown dead on a bang-bang catch/fumble sequence. Jordan Fuller scooped and scored for the TD following Jeff Okudah’s tackle but, after review, the pass was ruled incomplete..
The Buckeyes ultimately regained the lead on a critical 4th-and-2 conversion early in the final frame, as Fields connected with Chris Olave on a 23-yard strike. The 23-21 lead remained until the closing stretch when, instead of possibly going on 4th and 4 from the Clemson 39, the Buckeyes decided to punt and pinned the Tigers on their own 6-yard line..
Clemson proceeded to scoot 94 yards in just four plays, leaping ahead with under two minutes left on a 34-yard pass from Lawrence to Travis Etienne, and surviving Ohio State’s final push. The Buckeyes got down near the red zone with 43 seconds remaining, but a pass from Fields intended for Olave (who had fallen down) was picked off in the end zone for a touchback.
The game featured 933 combined yards of total offense and Ohio State held a 33:27 time of possession. Eight different Buckeyes recorded a catch as Fields threw a season-high 46 times.
Now, we wait to see if Ohio State will get another chance to make a run for the national crown. In case you missed them, read Part 1 and Part 2 of this schedule reflection.
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