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Jake Trotter
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State opened its nationwide title protection by enjoying dominant protection.
The third-ranked Buckeyes rattled quarterback Arch Manning and stuffed top-ranked Texas 4 instances on fourth down on the best way to a 14-7 victory Saturday on the Horseshoe.
Two of these fourth-down stops got here contained in the Ohio State 10-yard line.
One other got here on Texas’ ultimate possession. Manning discovered tight finish Jack Endries on fourth-and-5. However Buckeyes star security Caleb Downs wrapped Endries up two yards wanting the primary all the way down to seal the win.
“The story of the sport was the protection,” stated Ohio State coach Ryan Day. “These fourth-down stops have been large.”
The Buckeyes defeated Texas with a fourth-down cease in final 12 months’s CFP semifinal. Jack Sawyer stripped Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers on fourth-and-goal and scooped up the fumble for the game-clinching landing on the Cotton Bowl, propelling Ohio State to the nationwide championship sport.
On Saturday, the Buckeyes protection — that includes eight new starters and a brand new coordinator in Matt Patricia — got here up large on fourth down once more.
Within the first half, Ohio State stopped Manning on a fourth-and-goal quarterback sneak from the 1-yard line.
Halfway via the fourth quarter, Texas lastly obtained again contained in the Ohio State 10. However cornerback Davison Igbinosun swatted away Manning’s fourth-down try ultimately zone.
Texas scored a landing with 3:28 left within the fourth quarter to keep away from being shut out for the primary time in 9 years, then obtained the ball again with simply over two minutes remaining with an opportunity to tie. However after Texas pushed the ball to midfield, the Ohio State protection ended the menace with Downs’ one-on-one deal with of Endries.
“He was unbelievable again there as a discipline normal,” Patricia stated of Downs, one in every of three returning starters together with Igbinosun and linebacker Sonny Styles. “Guys stepped as much as the problem all the best way throughout the board.”
This offseason, Patricia changed Jim Knowles, who left the Buckeyes following the nationwide championship to grow to be defensive coordinator for rival Penn State. Patricia had gained three Tremendous Bowls with New England, together with two because the Patriots’ defensive coordinator, however had by no means coached a university sport till Saturday.
In response to ESPN Analysis, Texas’ 4 turnovers on downs have been essentially the most within the sport since a 2017 season-opening loss to Maryland.
“I believed the gameplan was wonderful,” Day stated of the protection, “however the buy-in is what’s most vital. What issues is the fellows and warriors on the sector believing in it. … The grittiness of our guys working round, there’s quite a bit we will construct on.”
