They would play a home game in the CFP too. The bye is mostly irrelevant, the extra game in the playoffs, but no extra game in the Cnference Championship Game (CCG). If you are the loser in the CCG, it is a huge disadvantage. You play an extra game, then play in the qualifying round in the CFP.

Not sure if it was weaker, Michigan did win the National Championship in 1997,and the Big 10 won 7 of 10 rose bowls during that  time period. I quit counting because Cooper went downhill. I don't think that will happen with Day. Day wasn't OC, he was the QB coach. Kevin Wilson was the OC.

In fairness, Coop inherited a train wreck, Day was given a juggernaut. Once Coop go rolling he was as good as Day is now (Coop was 43-7 from 1995-1998 (two NC runner ups, 1-3 vs UM, 2-2 in bowls)), Day is 40-7 2020-2023 (one runner up, 0-3 vs UM, 2-3 in bowls). Then the wheels fell off for Coop following the 1998 season when everybody left. fortunately, Day has some talent at QB and WR next year, so that shouldn't happen.

Contain over pressure is a recipe for disaster in big games. We might as well have Heacock back there again. Looks great in stats, but blows the big game every time.

Thanks SOF, missed that. For comparison purposes, after Cooper rebuilt the Buckeyes...

Cooper was 43-7 in the 4 year stretch 94-98, that's pretty good. 1-3 vs UM, 2-2 in bowl games. finished #6, #2, #12,  and #2

Day's is 40-7 in the 4 year stretch 20-23, that's also pretty good. 0-3 vs UM, 2-3 in bowl games, finished #2, #4, #6 and #10.

Cooper went downhill after that. It is yet to be seen what happens with Day, we are losing a lot of players next year, but still have a ton of talent, so don;'t expect a dropoff like we had with Coop.

93, 95, 96, and 98 he was undefeated going into the Michigan game. He was 1-3 in those 3 years span against um, and 3-1 in bowl games. They were 11th, 6th, 2nd, and 2nd in those years. in 1997, they had a close loss to PSU going into the UM game, and subsequently lost the game and the bowl to fiish 12th. Day is better than Cooper, but over all the bowl records, the UM record, the games against big oppoenents, and the knack for losing close games makes them very similar, at least for a specific time frame.

Make no mistake about it, close games are what Urban and Tressel excelled in. We were spoiled.

delete me (double post)

3ydncloudofdust: I would have to imagine Day overrode Chip on those two plays. It had shades of the Georgia game. The last two plays were passes there too. After they got on the 28, I told my wife the game is over, OSU will run twice, then kick.

lol, yes! Thank you, you are right, I checked their schedule. That would be hilarious if all 5 finish with 1 loss.

Depending where they are at on the field, they could have done that several times and waste 20 seconds or more. Bert (at Wisconsin then) expolited a kickoff rule against PSU. There were 24 seconds on the clock and he intentionally had his players line up offsides. He kicked it twice, and the time went fom 24 seconds down to 4. This was a the end of the half if I remember right. He kicked in legally on the 3rd try as the clock ran out on the squib return. 

That's awesome to get another big. I'm still wondering like a lot of you, how are professional basketball players eligible for NCAA?

It is possible, OSU, Iowa, Indiana, Rutgers and Oregon all finish with one loss. That's what not having divisions and having unbalanced schedulingcauses.

You either realy love OSU, or you hate them with a passion and want them to lose. These are only prime time games, obviously OSU/Cheaters games draw more eyeballs even at noon.

The OSU defense didn't play great, but there was one player in particular on defense that was the main problem. Great players may get beat once in a great while, but you would never see Gamble, Springs, Apple, Lattimore, Ward, Okudah, etc get burnt over and over in a game. Oregon saw a weakness and exploited it. According to PFF, 8 targets, gave up 8 catches for 179 yards. That is not acceptable.Unless he was sick or inured, I am not sure a wake up call will fix that particular problem.

I was picked off at 3rd base in pony league. Down four, 2 outs. I just hit a triple off the fence, we need one more run to tie. You can't lead off until the pitchers gets on the rubber. The pitches gets on the rubber, takes the signal, I take my lead, and the 3rd baseman tags me, and says "runner is out ump". Game over. Even at 12 I was a student of the game. That was a balk, and the pony league umpires wouldn't listen to me.

OSU controls their own destiny, but not for the CCG. Indiana, Rutgers, OSU, and Oregon tie with one loss - Who's in? Iwouldn't mind if OSU takes Championship weekend off. The extra CFP game will probably be at home, and then win 3 more like the higher seeded teams. 

I never liked the alternate uniforms, some teams could use the gimmick - OSU is not one of them. The Scarlet and Gray iconic uniforms intimidate opponents. It reminds the opponent they are playing one of the best football schools of all time. Those things get in players heads.

Will Howard 178 passer rating, 84.2 QBR, 9.6 ypa, 12 passing TD's, 16 total TD's, 2 sacks

Dillon Gabriel 168.9 passer rating, 79.4 QBR, 8.7 ypa, 11 passing TD's, 14 Totals TD's, 7 sacks.

Advantage: Ohio State

No way they score 4 TD's on Ohio State defense. OSU has played a better defense. Oregon defense struggled with a good rushing attack in Boise State and gave up 221 yards at 6.7 yards per pop. Trev and Quinshon should run roughshod on this defense. Oregon offense is ok, they have some trouble putting points on the baord at times during quesitonable defenses. As long as Kansas State version of Will Howard doesn't rear his ugly head early an often, OSU should wear the Oregon defense in the 2nd half. 45-13 Ohio State.

OSU is going to have a field day running the ball against Oregon.

This is literally every teams plan with a spread offense. If you pass up the middle, defenders from both sides converge. Passing on one side or the other puts the defenders at odds by forcing the safeties top make a choice. Judging by the completion %, I'd say the strategy pays off for OSU more times than not.

Aw man, that had to have sucked. I watched it on TV, it was bad that year, but cooper took bad to another level with a really bad loss the next year. Then a tie two years later, uggh. Fortunately, he righted the ship in 1991, and the buckeye haven't lost since.

That Vandy game reminds me of "the darkest day in Ohio State football" (according to Earle Bruce). Alabama previously won 23 in a row vs Vandy. OSU coincidently won 23 in a row before their loss to IU in 1987. OSU is on a 29 game winning streak with Indiana now.

I wasn't impressed with him at all. At no point in the game did I say wow, this guy is good. Those words are reserved for the OSU backs.