GAME PREVIEW: OHIO STATE
BY JORDAN WELLS
G
reat expectations can also pro‑
duce great disappointments.
Ohio State head coach Urban
Meyer compiled a 28‑3 overall
record in his first three
seasons in Colum‑
bus, Ohio, culmi‑
nating with a 14‑1
season in 2014 en
route to winning the
inaugural College
Football Playoff — with a 42‑35 triumph
over Alabama and a 42‑20 romp over
Oregon. His program's 2012 recruiting
class was ranked No. 4 nationally by Ri‑
vals, followed by the No. 2 haul in 2013
and the No. 3 group in 2014.
That combination of talent and expe‑
rience in Meyer's system led to many
predicting the Buckeyes would repeat
as national champions this year. Most
folks thought they'd at least qualify for
the College Football Playoff again.
Those predictions did not come to
fruition. Ohio State maintained a No. 1
ranking throughout the early part of
2015 despite a few underwhelming per‑
formances, but at 8‑0 was listed third in
the initial College Football Playoff rank‑
NO REPEAT
The Buckeyes fall short in their nation-
al title defense and have to settle for a
New Year's Day matchup with the Irish
Junior running back Ezekiel Elliott was a steady
force for the Buckeyes all season, rushing for
1,672 yards and 19 touchdowns.
PHOTO COURTESY OHIO STATE
