Earlier today, Ohio State’s football team was named to college football’s inaugural four-team playoff, following a resounding defeat of Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game. The Buckeyes will now face number-one seeded Alabama in a semifinal game for a chance to advance to the national championship. But what’s even more amazing than making the playoff itself is the adversity OSU faced and overcame throughout the season.
The Buckeye’s misfortune began a week before the season opener. Two-time Big Ten player of the year and team leader, Braxton Miller, went down with a shoulder injury. With Miller out for the season, Ohio State instead rallied around freshman quarterback J.T. Barrett.
Barrett led the Buckeyes to an 11-1 season and a Big Ten Championship game berth before he went down with a broken ankle last week against Michigan. At that point, Ohio State had lost two of the best quarterbacks in the country and faced the prospect of going up against Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship with their third-string quarterback.
To make matters worse, the Buckeyes dealt with the suicidal death of a teammate later that week. After being missing for several days, the body of senior lineman Kosta Karageorge was found in a dumpster.
The team had less than a week to prepare for the 13th ranked Badgers and cope with its recent losses. Even Vegas didn’t believe in them, naming them four point underdogs to Wisconsin.
But Ohio State’s players never lost faith. Instead of dwelling on the hardships that faced them, the players rallied together. They knew that Karageorge, Barrett, and Miller would want them to go out and win a championship. So with their third string quarterback and hearts heavy with sadness, the Buckeyes came out firing on all cylinders.
The underdogs ended up thrashing Wisconsin 59-0 and won the Big Ten Title. Their victory was so convincing that they were rewarded with a spot in the College Football Playoff. Let’s hope their dream season continues in the Sugar Bowl against Alabama. But even getting this far amounts to a major accomplishment.
Written By Tristan Rhee’ 17
