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2) OSU 42, Alabama 35, Sugar Bowl
OSU's lack of success vs SEC teams in bowls became a bit of a bizarre moving target.
OSU lost to Auburn in the Hall of Fame Bowl in 90, Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee in the Citrus in 93, 95 and 96, South Carolina in the Outback Bowl in 2002 and 2003, Florida and LSU in the BCS Title games in 2007 and 2008. They did beat Arkansas in the 2011 Sugar Bowl, but then lost to Florida the following year in theUrban Meyer Gator Bowl.
First of all, that's 10 games, 8 of which were played in 4 different back to back sets of years, 3 of them involving the same Bowl game. That's really weird. OSU lost 9 of 10. The one win officially didn't happen (but it made this list!). OSU did beat Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl, but that was pre SEC membership.
So it went from "You never beat an SEC team in a bowl" to "You never beat an SEC team in a bowl and the game still counts" to "You never beat an SEC team in a bowl and the game still counts and they were in the SEC at the time."
2014 was an opportunity to change that narrative. We have covered how the Buckeyes got here with Cardale Jones. Bama came into the CFP at #1, despite defending National Champ FSU being undefeated. They had missed out on the BCS the previous year, losing to Auburn in the "kick six" game. The previous 2 years, they were BCS champs. They'd go onto win the CFP in 2015 and 2017, while losing at the last second in 2016. Bama started the year ranked #2 behind FSU. They beat a 6 loss WVU team to start. By year's end, they beat 3 teams who ended up ranked: #11 Miss St., #14 Missouri and #22 A&M. LSU and Texas A&M were both ranked when they played them, and Miss St was actually #1 at game time. Bama's lone loss was to #17 Ole Miss by 6.
Bama returned 12 starters from 2013, including Amari Cooper, but not including soph backup RB and future Heisman/NFL playoff darling Derrick Henry and new starting TE OJ Howard. People have claimed this wasn't a strong Bama team, at least by Saban standards. They were smack dab in the middle of their dynasty and had talent everywhere. And they were ranked #1. I am not saying they were Saban's best team, but I have a hard time believing they were weak.
The gameplay was part thrilling and part excruciating. There was a lot of ups and downs: OSU started out fast but squandered their opportunities, Bama seemed to take control of the game, OSU zoomed past them, then OSU held on by a thread at the end. Basically, a little bit of everything. Also, I hear Zeke had a decent run.
The game nearly started on a very weird note. Bama muffed the opening kickoff in the endzone. A Bama player slowly went back and downed it in the endzone for a touchback. Had OSU been more alert, they could've covered it for a score. Anyways, OSU forced a 3 and out, which set the stage for one of the recurring storylines: Bama's punt team. JK Scott unleashed a 53 yard punt, and OSU took over at their own 15.
OSU's first drive feature 4 more recurring storylines. First was Cardale Jones on third down. He converted a 3rd and 6 with a 12 yard scramble. Second, Jalin Marshall lost his helmet on a run (it happened 3 times). Third, Zeke had a big run. He bounced outside, broke a tackle, hurdled another, and raced 54 yards down to the Bama 5. Unfortunately, theme #4 reared it's ugly head. OSU couldn't score a TD, electing to run Jones once followed by 2 incompletions. OSU settled for a 3-0 lead.
Bama went 3 and out again. This time, Scott unleashed a 73 yarder that Marshall returned for 10, but lost his helmet...again. Zeke had a 17 yard run on first down, but fumbled and Bama recovered at the 33. After an 8 yard run by QB Blake Sims, Henry ran 25 yards for a TD and a 7-3 Bama lead. Zeke had outgained Bama 75-45, but OSU trailed.
Jones was again good on 3rd down on the next drive. After an 11 yard Zeke run netted a first, Jones scrambled for 20 on 3rd and 8 to get into Bama territory. 3 plays later, on 3rd and 9, he found Devin Smith for 40 yards down to 1. Again, OSU stalled. Jones fumbled on first down and OSU never got close. Another FG and it was 7-6. OSU had outgained Bama 168-45.
Then Bama threatened to run away with it. Their offense finally started moving. Henry did much of the work, with 30 yards on 4 carries, plus 15 more for a late hit on OSU. Sims covered the last 25 yards with a 10 yard pass to FB Jalston Fowler and a 15 yard TD to Cooper. OSU punted on their next drive to start the 2nd quarter. It was a 57 yarder. The defense forced a 3 and out, but Scott uncorked another 53 yarder of his own downed at the OSU 5. OSU managed two first downs, one being a 14 yard pass on 3rd and 10. However, Jones threw a pick that Bama returned to the 15. They needed a 4th down conversion, but Bama punched it in 5 plays on a TJ Yeldon run, and all of a sudden it was 21-6. OSU still had a yardage advantage, but failing in the redzone and turnovers had lead to a presumed rout.
OSU got a break on the kickoff, as a Bama taunting penalty moved the ball to the 30. But 2 Zeke runs lost a yard, and OSU faced a 3rd an 11. It was only midway through the 2nd, but things looked bleak.
Then, somehow, OSU's offense found it's 'on' switch.
Jones found a wide open Marshall for 26 yards. A procedure penalty forced a 3rd and 9, but Jones again found Marshall for 26 down to the Bama 18. A dumpoff to Zeke got OSU to the 5. OSU again struggled in a goal to go situation. A Marshall carry got nothing. A PI gave OSU another 1st down, but again Marshall went nowhere on first. Zeke got it down to the 3 on a 2nd down carry, but OSU starting center Jacoby Boren was injured. Billy Price moved over to center and Elyria native and former DL Chase Farris came in for a play at guard. Zeke powered it in, and OSU was back in it at 21-13.
OSU forced their 4th 3 and out of the half, thanks to a 3rd down drop. Scott launched a 59 yarder, which was fair caught at the OSU 23 with a minute and a half left and 2 timeouts. Jones found Thomas for 14, then Corey Smith for 5, then Nick Vannett for 18. This put OSU at the Bama 40, but didn't use any timeouts, and the clock was now under 40. Jones then rumbled for 27, getting down to the 13. Jones then threw an incompletion with 20 seconds left.
OSU then ran a sweep to Marshall. He pitched it to Evan Spencer on a reverse. Spencer stopped, and lofted it towards the endzone. Michael Thomas was covered, but Spencer placed in perfectly, and Thomas came down with 1 foot in for a TD. Amazing that a WR made such a perfect throw. 21-20 was the halftime score.
OSU started quickly in the second half. Two passes to Thomas got them near midfield, and on 3rd and 8, Jones found Smith deep along the right side for a 47 yard TD. Bama was called for roughing the passer, and OSU lead for the 1st time since early in the 1st. The last 3 drives had produced over 220 yards of offense and 3 scored.
Bama got a 1st down on the first play of their next drive, and 8 yards on the first play after that. But sacks by Darron Lee and Michael Bennett forced a punt from the Bama 30. Scott unwound a 65 yarder to the OSU 5. OSU was able to get 2 first downs, including a 12 yard run on 3rd and 3. Cam Johnston gave Bama a bit of their own medicine with a 60 yard punt downed at the 1. A 10 yard Yeldon run and 21 yard Henry run gave Bama some room. On 3rd down, Sims dropped back. DE Steve Miller dropped in a zone blitz, right in front of where Amari Cooper ran his route. Sims never saw Miller, and threw it right to him. Miller raced 41 yards for a score and a 34-21 lead.
OSU was sky high with a a little over 3 left in the 3rd. We then entered the phase where they had to hold on by fingernail.
Bama answered quickly. A 17 yard pass to Cooper and a 52 yard screen pass to Henry got them in the redzone. After 2 Yeldon runs, Sims kept it for 5 yards and a score, cutting the lead to 34-28. OSU went 3 and out and punted to start the 4th. Bama started at their own 26. They got 2 first downs, but another Lee sack stopped the drive. Scott produced a 'pedestrian' 44 yard punt that was fair caught at the 9.
Then things got weird.
Jones was sacked on 1st down and OSU went 3 and out. Before punting, they had a delay and a false start that moved them back to their own 2. Johnston hit a punt that had a ton of backspin. I don't know where it hit initially, but it rolled all the way back to the OSU 23. On first down, Sims sprinted out right. He seemed to have people open on a throwback, but forced it to OJ Howard. Von Bell picked it at the OSU 8. Recently, Darron Lee claimed that Lane Kiffin inadvertently talked too loud and the OSU D overheard the play call. OSU again went 3 and out, and punted from their own 4. This time, Johnston got off a 54 yarder. He was hit after the punt, but Bama was only flagged for running into the kicker (Meyer was livid and threw his headset). Bama started near midfield, and got a 1st down on a Henry run. However, their next 3rd down resulted in a Lee TFL on a designed draw. Scott's punt only went 38, but it was downed at the 5.
OSU took over with 5:20 left. They had been living on the edge ever since the Miller pick-six. They had no first downs and no completed passes since then. They couldn't keep giving the defense a short field to defend.
Zeke gained 4 on first down. On second, Jones scrambled, and got to the 14, setting up 3rd and 1. Jones faked to Zeke and run up the middle. He bounced off Bama All American safety Landon Collins and spun for the 1st. Collins injured his shoulder and had to leave for a play. OSU had run some clock and gained a little bit of field position. They probably felt like they needed 2 more first downs to feel safe.
They got a whole lot more.
Watch Evan Spencer. He took out both Bama LBs in one block. That allowed the pulling gaurd (Price) to get a block on the Bama safety. The other Bama safety, who was spelling Collins, was way out of position. That's all Zeke needed, and went 85 for a score. OSU went for 2 and got it, and it was 42-28.
It felt like game over. Unfortunately, this game was like Avengers: Endgame, and Zeke's run was the "Avengers assemble" moment. Definitely the high point, but as it turned out, still a lot of anxious moments left.
Bama had a good return to the 34. On 2nd down, Tyvis Powell bit on a double move and allowed a 51 yard reception all the way to the OSU 14. OSU forced a 4th down, but a 6 yard slant to Cooper got Alabama another score and OSU was only up 7 with just under 2 minutes left. Bama had 2 timeouts left.
Bama elected to onside kick. They executed it well, but Evan Spencer made a tremendous catch surrounded by 3 Tide players. Given the timeout situation, OSU could've simply run the ball 3 times and punted it back to Bama with under a minute left. However, after his long run, Zeke took himself out for the 2 point conversion, pointing to his right leg. I think he tweaked it and Meyer didn't want to risk him getting tackled with the injury. On first down, Jones attempted a deep pass that was knocked away at the 5. The next 2 plays were a run to Samuel and a Jones keeper that lost 10 yards. Zeke was in all 3 plays, but only as a decoy. Had he been healthy, they would've run him 3 times, IMO.
Johnston had a good punt, fair caught at the 18 with 1:30 left and no timeouts. Luckily, Bama was not very efficient. First down was a pass to OJ Howard, but a great tackle by Doran Grant kept him in bounds. The next pass seemed to be either a fumble or an incompletion, but it was ruled a catch and down by contact, again short of the sticks. Bama got a first down on the next play, but by the time they could run their next play, they were down to just over 30 seconds. Sims scrambled for a first down, then found Howard for 8 before he got out of bounds. Bama was now down to 15 seconds left near the OSU 40. Sims tried a deep ball that was broken up. With 8 seconds left, he tried a traditional Hail Mary that was picked off by Powell in the endzone. Powell decided to try and return it for some reason, but he was eventually tackled and OSU held on.
Jones had 243 passing and 43 rushing (had a lot more before some sacks). Devin Smith had 87 yards on 2 catches. Thomas and Marshall combined for 11 catches. Evan Spencer had a TD pass, a TD springing block and a clutch onside kick recovery. But it was Zeke's day, 20 carries for 230 and 2 scores. Hat tip to JK Scott, who averaged 55 yard on 7 punts, 5 of them inside the 20.
It's amazing how close it was given the stats. OSU outgained Bama by 130. OSU went 10-18 on 3rd downs to Bama 2-13 (Bama was 2-2 on 4th down). Penalties were basically even and OSU ended up winning the turnover battle. What really kept Bama in the game was holding OSU to FGs early. Without that, this might've been a rout.
It's hard to recreate how tense the 4th quarter was. OSU only lead by 6 and had 3 drives that got to at least their own 40, including the the drive that started at the OSU 23. But the defense answered the call until Zeke was able to deliver the dagger. Since I've been a fan, the Zeke run is probably the 2nd most iconic play behind Holy Buckeye.
Only 1 game left. Any guesses?
OSU's lack of success vs SEC teams in bowls became a bit of a bizarre moving target.
OSU lost to Auburn in the Hall of Fame Bowl in 90, Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee in the Citrus in 93, 95 and 96, South Carolina in the Outback Bowl in 2002 and 2003, Florida and LSU in the BCS Title games in 2007 and 2008. They did beat Arkansas in the 2011 Sugar Bowl, but then lost to Florida the following year in the
First of all, that's 10 games, 8 of which were played in 4 different back to back sets of years, 3 of them involving the same Bowl game. That's really weird. OSU lost 9 of 10. The one win officially didn't happen (but it made this list!). OSU did beat Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl, but that was pre SEC membership.
So it went from "You never beat an SEC team in a bowl" to "You never beat an SEC team in a bowl and the game still counts" to "You never beat an SEC team in a bowl and the game still counts and they were in the SEC at the time."
2014 was an opportunity to change that narrative. We have covered how the Buckeyes got here with Cardale Jones. Bama came into the CFP at #1, despite defending National Champ FSU being undefeated. They had missed out on the BCS the previous year, losing to Auburn in the "kick six" game. The previous 2 years, they were BCS champs. They'd go onto win the CFP in 2015 and 2017, while losing at the last second in 2016. Bama started the year ranked #2 behind FSU. They beat a 6 loss WVU team to start. By year's end, they beat 3 teams who ended up ranked: #11 Miss St., #14 Missouri and #22 A&M. LSU and Texas A&M were both ranked when they played them, and Miss St was actually #1 at game time. Bama's lone loss was to #17 Ole Miss by 6.
Bama returned 12 starters from 2013, including Amari Cooper, but not including soph backup RB and future Heisman/NFL playoff darling Derrick Henry and new starting TE OJ Howard. People have claimed this wasn't a strong Bama team, at least by Saban standards. They were smack dab in the middle of their dynasty and had talent everywhere. And they were ranked #1. I am not saying they were Saban's best team, but I have a hard time believing they were weak.
The gameplay was part thrilling and part excruciating. There was a lot of ups and downs: OSU started out fast but squandered their opportunities, Bama seemed to take control of the game, OSU zoomed past them, then OSU held on by a thread at the end. Basically, a little bit of everything. Also, I hear Zeke had a decent run.
The game nearly started on a very weird note. Bama muffed the opening kickoff in the endzone. A Bama player slowly went back and downed it in the endzone for a touchback. Had OSU been more alert, they could've covered it for a score. Anyways, OSU forced a 3 and out, which set the stage for one of the recurring storylines: Bama's punt team. JK Scott unleashed a 53 yard punt, and OSU took over at their own 15.
OSU's first drive feature 4 more recurring storylines. First was Cardale Jones on third down. He converted a 3rd and 6 with a 12 yard scramble. Second, Jalin Marshall lost his helmet on a run (it happened 3 times). Third, Zeke had a big run. He bounced outside, broke a tackle, hurdled another, and raced 54 yards down to the Bama 5. Unfortunately, theme #4 reared it's ugly head. OSU couldn't score a TD, electing to run Jones once followed by 2 incompletions. OSU settled for a 3-0 lead.
Bama went 3 and out again. This time, Scott unleashed a 73 yarder that Marshall returned for 10, but lost his helmet...again. Zeke had a 17 yard run on first down, but fumbled and Bama recovered at the 33. After an 8 yard run by QB Blake Sims, Henry ran 25 yards for a TD and a 7-3 Bama lead. Zeke had outgained Bama 75-45, but OSU trailed.
Jones was again good on 3rd down on the next drive. After an 11 yard Zeke run netted a first, Jones scrambled for 20 on 3rd and 8 to get into Bama territory. 3 plays later, on 3rd and 9, he found Devin Smith for 40 yards down to 1. Again, OSU stalled. Jones fumbled on first down and OSU never got close. Another FG and it was 7-6. OSU had outgained Bama 168-45.
Then Bama threatened to run away with it. Their offense finally started moving. Henry did much of the work, with 30 yards on 4 carries, plus 15 more for a late hit on OSU. Sims covered the last 25 yards with a 10 yard pass to FB Jalston Fowler and a 15 yard TD to Cooper. OSU punted on their next drive to start the 2nd quarter. It was a 57 yarder. The defense forced a 3 and out, but Scott uncorked another 53 yarder of his own downed at the OSU 5. OSU managed two first downs, one being a 14 yard pass on 3rd and 10. However, Jones threw a pick that Bama returned to the 15. They needed a 4th down conversion, but Bama punched it in 5 plays on a TJ Yeldon run, and all of a sudden it was 21-6. OSU still had a yardage advantage, but failing in the redzone and turnovers had lead to a presumed rout.
OSU got a break on the kickoff, as a Bama taunting penalty moved the ball to the 30. But 2 Zeke runs lost a yard, and OSU faced a 3rd an 11. It was only midway through the 2nd, but things looked bleak.
Then, somehow, OSU's offense found it's 'on' switch.
Jones found a wide open Marshall for 26 yards. A procedure penalty forced a 3rd and 9, but Jones again found Marshall for 26 down to the Bama 18. A dumpoff to Zeke got OSU to the 5. OSU again struggled in a goal to go situation. A Marshall carry got nothing. A PI gave OSU another 1st down, but again Marshall went nowhere on first. Zeke got it down to the 3 on a 2nd down carry, but OSU starting center Jacoby Boren was injured. Billy Price moved over to center and Elyria native and former DL Chase Farris came in for a play at guard. Zeke powered it in, and OSU was back in it at 21-13.
OSU forced their 4th 3 and out of the half, thanks to a 3rd down drop. Scott launched a 59 yarder, which was fair caught at the OSU 23 with a minute and a half left and 2 timeouts. Jones found Thomas for 14, then Corey Smith for 5, then Nick Vannett for 18. This put OSU at the Bama 40, but didn't use any timeouts, and the clock was now under 40. Jones then rumbled for 27, getting down to the 13. Jones then threw an incompletion with 20 seconds left.
OSU then ran a sweep to Marshall. He pitched it to Evan Spencer on a reverse. Spencer stopped, and lofted it towards the endzone. Michael Thomas was covered, but Spencer placed in perfectly, and Thomas came down with 1 foot in for a TD. Amazing that a WR made such a perfect throw. 21-20 was the halftime score.
OSU started quickly in the second half. Two passes to Thomas got them near midfield, and on 3rd and 8, Jones found Smith deep along the right side for a 47 yard TD. Bama was called for roughing the passer, and OSU lead for the 1st time since early in the 1st. The last 3 drives had produced over 220 yards of offense and 3 scored.
Bama got a 1st down on the first play of their next drive, and 8 yards on the first play after that. But sacks by Darron Lee and Michael Bennett forced a punt from the Bama 30. Scott unwound a 65 yarder to the OSU 5. OSU was able to get 2 first downs, including a 12 yard run on 3rd and 3. Cam Johnston gave Bama a bit of their own medicine with a 60 yard punt downed at the 1. A 10 yard Yeldon run and 21 yard Henry run gave Bama some room. On 3rd down, Sims dropped back. DE Steve Miller dropped in a zone blitz, right in front of where Amari Cooper ran his route. Sims never saw Miller, and threw it right to him. Miller raced 41 yards for a score and a 34-21 lead.
OSU was sky high with a a little over 3 left in the 3rd. We then entered the phase where they had to hold on by fingernail.
Bama answered quickly. A 17 yard pass to Cooper and a 52 yard screen pass to Henry got them in the redzone. After 2 Yeldon runs, Sims kept it for 5 yards and a score, cutting the lead to 34-28. OSU went 3 and out and punted to start the 4th. Bama started at their own 26. They got 2 first downs, but another Lee sack stopped the drive. Scott produced a 'pedestrian' 44 yard punt that was fair caught at the 9.
Then things got weird.
Jones was sacked on 1st down and OSU went 3 and out. Before punting, they had a delay and a false start that moved them back to their own 2. Johnston hit a punt that had a ton of backspin. I don't know where it hit initially, but it rolled all the way back to the OSU 23. On first down, Sims sprinted out right. He seemed to have people open on a throwback, but forced it to OJ Howard. Von Bell picked it at the OSU 8. Recently, Darron Lee claimed that Lane Kiffin inadvertently talked too loud and the OSU D overheard the play call. OSU again went 3 and out, and punted from their own 4. This time, Johnston got off a 54 yarder. He was hit after the punt, but Bama was only flagged for running into the kicker (Meyer was livid and threw his headset). Bama started near midfield, and got a 1st down on a Henry run. However, their next 3rd down resulted in a Lee TFL on a designed draw. Scott's punt only went 38, but it was downed at the 5.
OSU took over with 5:20 left. They had been living on the edge ever since the Miller pick-six. They had no first downs and no completed passes since then. They couldn't keep giving the defense a short field to defend.
Zeke gained 4 on first down. On second, Jones scrambled, and got to the 14, setting up 3rd and 1. Jones faked to Zeke and run up the middle. He bounced off Bama All American safety Landon Collins and spun for the 1st. Collins injured his shoulder and had to leave for a play. OSU had run some clock and gained a little bit of field position. They probably felt like they needed 2 more first downs to feel safe.
They got a whole lot more.
Watch Evan Spencer. He took out both Bama LBs in one block. That allowed the pulling gaurd (Price) to get a block on the Bama safety. The other Bama safety, who was spelling Collins, was way out of position. That's all Zeke needed, and went 85 for a score. OSU went for 2 and got it, and it was 42-28.
It felt like game over. Unfortunately, this game was like Avengers: Endgame, and Zeke's run was the "Avengers assemble" moment. Definitely the high point, but as it turned out, still a lot of anxious moments left.
Bama had a good return to the 34. On 2nd down, Tyvis Powell bit on a double move and allowed a 51 yard reception all the way to the OSU 14. OSU forced a 4th down, but a 6 yard slant to Cooper got Alabama another score and OSU was only up 7 with just under 2 minutes left. Bama had 2 timeouts left.
Bama elected to onside kick. They executed it well, but Evan Spencer made a tremendous catch surrounded by 3 Tide players. Given the timeout situation, OSU could've simply run the ball 3 times and punted it back to Bama with under a minute left. However, after his long run, Zeke took himself out for the 2 point conversion, pointing to his right leg. I think he tweaked it and Meyer didn't want to risk him getting tackled with the injury. On first down, Jones attempted a deep pass that was knocked away at the 5. The next 2 plays were a run to Samuel and a Jones keeper that lost 10 yards. Zeke was in all 3 plays, but only as a decoy. Had he been healthy, they would've run him 3 times, IMO.
Johnston had a good punt, fair caught at the 18 with 1:30 left and no timeouts. Luckily, Bama was not very efficient. First down was a pass to OJ Howard, but a great tackle by Doran Grant kept him in bounds. The next pass seemed to be either a fumble or an incompletion, but it was ruled a catch and down by contact, again short of the sticks. Bama got a first down on the next play, but by the time they could run their next play, they were down to just over 30 seconds. Sims scrambled for a first down, then found Howard for 8 before he got out of bounds. Bama was now down to 15 seconds left near the OSU 40. Sims tried a deep ball that was broken up. With 8 seconds left, he tried a traditional Hail Mary that was picked off by Powell in the endzone. Powell decided to try and return it for some reason, but he was eventually tackled and OSU held on.
Jones had 243 passing and 43 rushing (had a lot more before some sacks). Devin Smith had 87 yards on 2 catches. Thomas and Marshall combined for 11 catches. Evan Spencer had a TD pass, a TD springing block and a clutch onside kick recovery. But it was Zeke's day, 20 carries for 230 and 2 scores. Hat tip to JK Scott, who averaged 55 yard on 7 punts, 5 of them inside the 20.
It's amazing how close it was given the stats. OSU outgained Bama by 130. OSU went 10-18 on 3rd downs to Bama 2-13 (Bama was 2-2 on 4th down). Penalties were basically even and OSU ended up winning the turnover battle. What really kept Bama in the game was holding OSU to FGs early. Without that, this might've been a rout.
It's hard to recreate how tense the 4th quarter was. OSU only lead by 6 and had 3 drives that got to at least their own 40, including the the drive that started at the OSU 23. But the defense answered the call until Zeke was able to deliver the dagger. Since I've been a fan, the Zeke run is probably the 2nd most iconic play behind Holy Buckeye.
Only 1 game left. Any guesses?