Ohio State defeated Michigan State thanks in part to their dominance in key situational categories, including the turnover battle, red zone efficiency, and success on third and fourth down. Coach Ryan Day emphasized the importance of winning these situations for a team aspiring to a championship.
That’s why situational excellence is vital to teams at the top of the sport. And while Ohio State probably could have beaten Michigan State in Spartan Stadium without winning some of the key situational categories it did, the Buckeyes bore more of a resemblance to a title contender because of the success they saw in the turnover battle, in the red zone and on third and fourth down.
Hancock punched and then stripped the football out, which Sonny Styles scooped up and returned 8 yards to keep Michigan State off the scoreboard. “Just a bad decision,” Howard said of his interception. “They went cover two there. We wanted them to go some sort of man on that play. The play clock was running down, ended up just kind of rushing the decision and forced it into there. Really should have just gone back side and worked my spread concept back to the field.”
“We saw a little bit of how they were trying to sneak some quarterback sneaks in this week in 3rd-and-short, 4th-and-short,” Simon said. “We had a quick adjustment for it and everyone did their job. It was a great play, so I'm just proud of my guys for stepping up and making plays, allowing me to make plays, too.”Ohio State’s three fourth-down conversions all came in unique ways. The first kept the offense on the field for a 4th-and-goal at the 3-yard line, and tight end Gee Scott Jr.
“I think it's just belief, man,” Howard said. “It really isn't anything else. We just go out there and execute. We don't look at it like, ‘Hey, it's fourth down.’ It's just another play. We just go out there and execute and do our thing. Emeka made a great catch on that one over route. Gee made a great catch on the other one. All you've got to do is just put it in their hand, let them do the rest.
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