3 days ago the majority of Ohio and most here was ready to split Urban from asshole to mouth and the Buckeyes were the sorriest team in the nation. Amazing what one game against the only other team that plays decent football in the conference will do to fans. "We're back baby!!!" "Go bucks". Lol. Not flipping my lid as much as having the ability to look past last Saturday and see the rest of the diamal season that followed. I wouldn't get to short sighted however, remember Northwestern put up 31 points on Purdue and held them to 27. A far sight better than OSUs 20 to 49 loss. They also held Michigan to 20, half of what the buckeyes allowed last Saturday.
Did you watch the game? Michigan scored after a botched kickoff return on a 6-8yd one play "drive." They scored twice at the end of the fourth quarter while the Buckeyes were playing what essentially amounts to "prevent defense." This was silly. This wasn't prevent D. It was simply an extremely soft defense to kill time. They scored anyway. May as well have played them like they had the rest of the game.
I've said it before: Good teams find ways to win. Would I have liked to have seen steady improvement throughout the season? Uh, yeah. They have the talent. They just haven't pulled it together for an entire game yet. I wouldn't call the Mich game a full game. End of the game they backed off on defense allowing the 2 TDs late.
I've also said the Big Ten is tough this year. Their records hardly indicate how solid the conference is this year. Purdue started 0-3. Pulled it together to earn a bowl spot. Nebraska started 0-4. Finished very respectable. Like they had two seasons. First half 0-4. Second half 5-2. They were not far from being an 8-3 team this year. Very close in many games for a rebuilding year. Mich State disappointed as the season went on. Indiana was very solid. Wisconsin sort of fell apart but were respectable. Maryland came off a 5 game win streak or 5-1 stretch going into the OSU game. I won't discredit anyone but IL and Rutgers this year. They were sad. Michigan is not what I'd call "the only other team that plays decent football in the conference". That said, the Big Ten needs to step up during bowl season for a change in order to back it up. They have failed in the past.
Northwestern is on a 15-1 conference streak. OSU must put an absolute pounding on them to be worthy of talk of making the playoffs. They have the talent. A complete NW beat down and complete game is what "should" be required to be considered. Just my opinion. At that point, IF they make the playoffs, they must continue to play with the same heart, consistency, and discipline they have been lacking all year. They have won on talent, a bit of luck, and sloppy play down to the level of whichever team they have played. I honestly think they are one of the most talented teams (if not the most) in the nation. They have lacked consistency, discipline, and heart.
