MI State kicker Michael Geiger (4) walks off the field in celebration after their 17-14 win over Ohio State in an NCAA college football game, Saturday, November 21, 2015, in Columbus, Ohio.
Advertisement
It was already senior day, and thus the game against the Spartans was the final outing at Ohio Stadium for Ohio State stalwarts like Taylor Decker, Joshua Perry, Adolphus Washington and Braxton Miller, but two prominent Buckeyes also declared their intention to leave Columbus following the loss.
Once again, I felt decent when we pinned them into the 3-yard line, played good defense and stopped them, and then you might get the ball near midfield and go try to win the game.
That destiny could take MI State from East Lansing, to Indianapolis, and potentially to the college football playoffs.
COACH MEYER: Yeah, we lost the line of scrimmage.
Ohio State defensive lineman Tyquan Lewis reacts after losing 17-14… “Honestly, we didn’t see those plays at all for the rest of the game”. “I’m disappointed in the play calling”.
“I found out last night”, the redshirt junior said. Just about everyone figured Elliott would go pro, as he will be one of the best running backs in the upcoming draft.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Jake Coker threw two touchdown passes, Derrick Henry ran for two scores and Cyrus Jones returned two punts for touchdowns as Alabama trounced Charleston Southern in an Iron Bowl tuneup.
But when he didn’t show enough arm strength in warmups, Dantonio turned to Tyler O’Connor and option specialist Damion Terry.
Linebacker Darron Lee after the game on Twitter basically agreed with Elliott that the play-calling was to blame, by saying Elliott was speaking the truth.
Baylor (9-1, 6-1 Big 12, No. 10 CFP) remained in the mix for the conference title, while Oklahoma State (10-1, 7-1, No. 6 CFP) likely is out of playoff conversation.
Against MI State, 10 of his carries came in the first half. Cheers quickly followed when MI State fumbled the ensuing punt and the Buckeyes recovered on the Spartan 6-yard line. The Buckeyes’ national title hopes aren’t completely eliminated, but they’d need a few apocryphal results to thrust them back into the picture. Connor Cook was out with a shoulder injury for MI State, but the Spartans ran for 203 yards and completed only one pas sin the second half.
The Bears (9-1) crept back into the playoff race by handing Oklahoma State (10-1) its first loss of the season, 45-35 in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
Gerald Holmes led the way for MI State on the ground with 65 yards on 14 carries and a touchdown. Ohio State’s fickle fans – who comprised most of the Ohio Stadium record crowd of 108,975) – booed in the third quarter after Barrett tried what seemed to be his 100th quarterback draw and got stuffed.
Ultimately, he opted to stay at Ohio State for one more season.
They were playing in the biggest game of the season so far and Meyer gave Elliott only 12 touches. For the first time in a long time, Ohio State did not have a response.
Even OSU players and coaches said they were preparing like Cook was going to play. They run a ton of plays, too, which helps them pile up the yards.
The flames ignited when Elliott attacked Ohio State’s play-calling.
Advertisement
“When you come together”, MI State coach Mark Dantonio said, “great things can happen”. Ten grinding plays later, Elliott’s one-yard touchdown run on fourth down put the Buckeyes ahead 7-0.
