SCOTTSDALE, Arizona — One of the great anomalies of the college football season occurred in Ohio Stadium on Sept. 21. Miami of Ohio led Ohio State 5-0 that day. Aside from the odd score itself, that start represented a departure from OSU’s established M.O. In the rest of the Buckeyes’ first nine games, they either struck first and built an early lead or stifled an opponent until making an offensive breakthrough. That trend shifted late in the season, as Ohio State made its push into the College Football Playoff semifinals. Opponents began either pushing the Buckeyes into the fourth quarter or applying pressure with early scores or both. In each case, Ohio State kept winning. Yet the margin for error shrinks in Saturday’s Fiesta Bowl against defending national champion Clemson. A strong start seems crucial, since the absence of one against an opponent this talent may leave no opportunity for…
Continue Reading: Why Ohio State football must interrupt Clemson’s first-quarter dominance in the Fiesta Bowl
