INDIANAPOLIS — As the Ohio State football team slogged and stumbled through its worst half of defense this season, Jeff Okudah watched in silence from the sideline. The Buckeyes’ star cornerback had dived in vain at the feet of Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor as the running back broke away for a 44-yard touchdown on the opening series of the Big Ten championship game. Okudah sustained a head impact on that play, and as a result, he sat out the remainder of the first half for what he called precautionary reasons. Okudah spent that time without his helmet — either sitting on the bench or standing on the sideline. As the Buckeyes fell behind 21-7 at halftime, one of the most talented players on what had been the nation’s top-ranked defense could do little more than observe. “It was tough,” Okudah said. “It really hurt me. I just knew I had to…
Continue Reading: Ohio State football’s Jeff Okudah made a painful exit from the Big Ten championship game — and a triumphant return
