Ohio State overcame improbable odds at every turn, and now the Buckeyes get to call themselves national champions.
Ohio State cruised to a 42-20 win over Oregon on Monday night in the College Football Playoff National Championship in Dallas.
The Buckeyes (14-1) allowed an early touchdown on Oregon’s first drive, but that was about it for the Ducks (13-2). The Ohio State defense slowed Oregon’s fast-paced, high-powered offense while the Buckeyes pounded the ball on the ground behind third-string quarterback Cardale Jones and running back Ezekiel Elliott.
Elliott was sensational, running for 246 yards on 36 carries, finding the end zone four times. The effort earned Elliott the game’s offensive MVP.
Ohio State faced adversity all season. Starting quarterback Braxton Miller got hurt in August. Backup J.T. Barrett then went down in a November game. Defensive lineman Kosta Karageorge was found dead in an apparent suicide later that month.
Despite those hurdles, the Buckeyes never really wavered and were able to make their run despite an early-season loss to Virginia Tech.
“This will go down as one of the great stories in college football history,” Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said.
Thumbnail photo via Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports
