In case you missed it, Ohio State more than took care of business against a very good Iowa defensive ball club, pulling away int the second and cruising to a 35-7 win to improve its record to 5-0 on the season.
By all accounts and measures, it was an impressive performance with Iowa’s lone touchdown coming during garbage time when a lot of OSU starters on defense were sitting on the pine.
But don’t tell that to David Hale of ESPN.
No, rather the “worldwide leader” couldn’t help but sling a little criticism towards the Buckeyes when writing up a recap of Ohio State’s performance on Saturday. OSU beat writer Jeremy Birmingham called a spade a spade on the curious reaction to the performance in the ‘Shoe, and he wasn’t the only one.
Fox analyst Joel Klatt picked up on what was written about the Buckeyes by ESPN and more than agreed with the slanted view on OSU’s so-called shortcomings against Iowa.
So what is it exactly that ESPN wrote about Ohio State’s dominating win?
“Had little trouble swatting away Iowa 35-7. Still, it had to feel like a loss for the Buckeyes, who are the first ranked team to allow points to Iowa’s offense since Michigan surrendered two touchdowns in a win over the Hawkeyes in Week 5 of 2022.”
What?
See Birmingham and Klatt’s response below which does seem to have some merit.
They don't even hide it and when you see it and call it out then you're an "SEC Hater"
ok
cool story! https://t.co/zghWI4LZD5
— Joel Klatt (@joelklatt) October 6, 2024
Remember, ESPN was not part of the new Big Ten television contract and you have to wonder if there’s an agenda being pushed. I’m not one for conspiracy theories, but have to agree this is a pretty poor take on Ohio State and find it hard to believe the same would be written for Alabama or Georgia for instance.
I guess we have to also remember that Klatt calls games for Fox which is a part of the Big Ten’s contract, but still, there does seem to be a shift in how things are framed by ESPN.
It all feels a little like CNN and the Democratic party vs. Fox News and the Republican party.
Oh well, all Ohio State has to do is keep on winning and it’ll all take care of itself. At least, we think.
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