November 19, 2024

Miscues and Missed Opportunities Plague Ohio State in Playoff Semifinal Loss


GLENDALE, Ariz. — Ohio State’s locker room at State Farm Stadium on Saturday night was like most losing locker rooms. There was shock and there was silence, save for a lot of door slamming. Players showered and dressed quickly so they could get the you-know-what out of there. In a corner of the room sat sophomore Chris Olave, the Buckeyes’ No. 1 wide receiver. He was still wearing pads and cleats, and his head hung low—not because he was looking at his phone (he wasn’t). Only minutes had passed since he had a unique chance to play hero and clinch the Buckeyes a trip to the national championship. With 43 seconds remaining, Ohio State trailed by six and had the ball at Clemson’s 23-yard line. On a second-and-7, Olave was supposed to run a post route and go one-on-one with safety Nolan Turner. But he thought quarterback Justin Fields was…

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