The Ohio State Buckeyes won their 6th National Championship, their first since 2002 – and with a 3rd string QB.
READ MORE:
Ohio State Cardale Jones – National Championship QB to consider NFL draft Carmelo Anthony surgery – NY Knicks star knows surgery coming John Fox interviewing Chicago Bears – Former Denver Broncos coach candidate in Chicago
Before the season started Ohio State was ranked 5th in the nation. They lost their starting QB Braxton Miller for the season to an injury and head coach Urban Meyer had to turn to backup J. T. Barrett for the entire regular season. Then they lost their second game of the year to Virginia Tech and dropped to the 20s in the polls.
But Barrett continued to play well – at a Heisman trophy level in fact – and the Buckeyes started stringing together win after win, rising in the polls and winning 10 in a row before Barrett too suffered a season-ending injury, forcing third string QB Cardale Jones into action in time for the Big Ten Championship game. After Jones led the Buckeyes to a 59-0 win over Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship game, the CFP Selection Committee gave Ohio State the nod and put them in at No. 4 to face No. 1 Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.
In the Sugar Bowl, Jones and RB Ezekiel Elliot helped lead the Buckeyes to a 42-35 win over the SEC powerhouse to advance to the College Football Playoff National Championship game.
And in the ultimate performance, the Buckeyes offense and defense dominated all phases of the game to rout No. 2 Oregon and make history by winning the first ever CFP National Championship.
It took a lot to get to that point and pick up that epic win, but here is a look at the five biggest factors that helped Ohio State overcome Oregon and take that 6th National title in school history:
COMMENTS