Ohio State football’s lockdown defense will be focal point in Rose Bowl

Ohio State football’s offense throttled Oregon last time both teams took the field, but its defense must step up in a big way.

If the Ohio State Buckeyes are going to win the Rose Bowl, their defense must step up in a big way.

The Buckeyes played the Oregon Ducks, their opponent Wednesday, earlier in the season, allowing 32 points. Ohio State lost by one point despite a near-flawless game from quarterback Will Howard.

The Buckeyes, since that game, have yet to allow more than 17 points in any game, holding the Indiana Hoosiers to 15, the Tennessee Volunteers to 17 and the Penn State Nittany Lions to 13, all teams that made the College Football Playoff. ,

However, against the high-octane Oregon offense, the Buckeyes allowed 341 passing yards to Dillon Gabriel and 115 rushing yards to Jordan James.

The Ducks averaged 7.6 yards per play and ended with no turnovers, both of which must change if the Buckeyes hope to come out on top. They must limit Gabriel, especially considering Howard and company, who went for 467 total yards in the first matchup between these sides, can’t play much better.

Oregon has scored at least 31 points in all but two games this season and put up 45 on a strong Penn State defense in its last battle, the Big Ten Championship Game on December 7. The task is big, but the stakes are high.

Let’s hope Jim Knowles and company have a motivated gameplan queued up as that’ll be a key vocal point for this team.