It’s not that the Ohio State Buckeyes just have two Heisman finalists, but that they’re the only team in NCAA history with one on both sides of the ball.
Defensively, it was Bronko Nagurski Award winner Chase Young as the nation’s best defender. He was also nominated as the only defensive Heisman finalist, and one of just a few in the history of the award.
Although missing regular-season games, both dominant wins for Ohio State, Young set the university’s single-season sack record. The 6-foot-5 defensive end has a nation-leading 16.5 sacks on the season. He totaled 21 tackles for loss this on the year.
On the other side of the ball, it was star sophomore Justin Fields. He also already has accolades to his name, being dubbed the Offensive Player of the Year for the Big Ten.
Fields, who transferred to Ohio State this season, totaled 40 touchdowns with just one interception. A 40:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio is unheard of and one of many arguments on his Heisman resume.
Adding ten touchdowns and over 470 yards on the ground, Fields has led Ohio State as one of college football’s best dual-threat quarterbacks. But, his toughest matchups are still to come.
The duo has led Ohio State to a perfect 13-0 record, entering the College Football Playoffs as one of three undefeated teams remaining. The Buckeyes will be taking on Clemson in the Playstation Fiesta Bowl on December 28.
Ohio State is the seventh school to have multiple players invited to NY for the Heisman Trophy ceremony in the same year.
However, the Buckeyes become the first program to have both an offensive player (Justin Fields) and a defensive player (Chase Young) invited. pic.twitter.com/QcDuSr9xsw
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 9, 2019
As for the Heisman Trophy, it will be awarded in New York City on Saturday, December 14, exactly two weeks before Ohio State’s semifinal game.