"Coaching staff is paralyzed": Ohio State reporter breaks down Buckeyes' dependence on roster talent despite Nebraska win
The Ohio State Buckeyes (6-1) gained a 21-17 victory over the Nebraska Cornhuskers (5-3) on Saturday. But while Ryan Day and his staff are in a prime position to make the 2024 College Football Playoff, the season as a whole hasn't felt the way it should for many fans.
Ohio State's only game against a ranked opponent, Oregon, came at a loss in a 32-31 thriller. That game was headlined by a controversial slide by Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard to bring the clock to triple zeros. The rest of their wins, while being blowout victories, have come against largely unsubstantial competition.
Ohio State will have two chances to bolster its resume: next Saturday against No. 3 Penn State and November 23 against No. 13 Indiana.
One theory as to why the team doesn't quite pass the eye test of a team capable of winning it all is that the coaching staff is holding back the talent on the roster.
"I'll expand this into a column, but OSU's coaching staff is paralyzed by the talent on the roster. They use it as a crutch to cover up their deficiencies but are also terrified to squander it. They show zero creativity in big moments, ironically negating the talent advantage," Land-Grant Holy Land tweeted.
A potential title-contending group for the Ohio State Buckeyes
Ryan Day will use his two remaining ranked opponents to fully deal with his judgment. But if he loses to Penn State, he will get the blame.
Ohio State has a variety of NFL-ready talent on both sides of the ball. On offense, they are highlighted by wide receivers Jeremiah Smith and Emeka Egbuka, running backs Quinshon Judkins and TreVeon Henderson, offensive tackle Josh Simmons and interior lineman Donovan Jackson.
On defense, they are highlighted by star pass rushers Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau, linebacker Sonny Styles, and defensive backs Denzel Burke, Davison Igbinuson, Jordan Hancock and Lathan Ransom.
To Buckeyes analysts and fans, a group of talent like that should not beat Nebraska by only four points, let alone trail at any point.
With Michigan not having the kind of season they had last year, Penn State is shaping up to be Ohio State's premier matchup of the season. Situational excellence, or blunders, will be magnified after the subpar 60 minutes of collective play from the Buckeyes against Nebraska.
Ryan Day's signature statistic, despite his overall success, is his 2-7 record against top-five ranked opponents. This will be an opportunity to silence the voices saying he's carried by his team.