The Southeastern Conference — or more specifically, the University of Alabama — has dominated college football like few teams or leagues have ever dominated before in recent years. Everyone knows the incredible run the conference has been on in the last eight years, a period of time in which an SEC team has taken home the national championship title.
In that time, the Crimson Tide have won three of the last four championships by themselves, interrupted only when in-state rival Auburn University rode the coattails of superstar Cam Newton, who had one of the most spectacular individual seasons in college football history on his way to the 2010 Heisman trophy.
So what could be stopping Alabama from winning an unprecedented third straight national championship, or the SEC from winning a mind-boggling seventh straight title? How about that team from Columbus, Ohio.
Last year’s undefeated Ohio State University team, many people forget, would’ve been playing Alabama for the national championship had they not been hit with NCAA sanctions for their role in the tattoo-gate scandal a few years back involving ex-quarterback Terrelle Pryor.
First and foremost, the Buckeyes have Urban Meyer at the controls, who inherited a 6-7 team in transition after the dismissal of Jim Tressel, and worked his magic with many of the same players who had struggled so mightily the year before under interim head coach Luke Fickell. Meyer’s read-option attack was a perfect fit for quarterback Braxton Miller’s skillset, who exploded for more than 3,000 yards of total offense a season ago.
The Buckeyes have all their skill-position players back on offense, led by the junior Miller, who is considered a favorite for this year’s Heisman trophy after passing for 2,035 yards and 15 touchdowns while also rushing for 1,271 yards and 13 scores in 2012. Miller is a dynamic playmaker who worked on his passing in the offseason in hopes of improving his consistency and accuracy.
If Miller can add a downfield passing element to Meyer’s usual run-first spread offense, the Buckeyes will be difficult to stop this season.
Miller will have dynamic receivers to throw to in senior Corey “Phillly” Brown, the team’s leading receiver with 60 receptions for 669 yards, and junior Devin Smith, who caught 30 balls for 618 yards and a team-high 6 touchdowns. Having earned Miller’s trust, expect Brown and Smith to be targeted often when the Buckeyes decide to air it out.
The backfield is crowded with talented playmakers both new and old. Starter Carlos Hyde, a senior who rushed for 970 yards and 16 touchdowns, is suspended for the first three games as punishment for an offseason incident at a bar in which he got into a confrontation with a woman. In his place are a stable of reliable veterans and highly regarded newcomers. Fifth-year senior Jordan Hall, junior Rod Smith and freshman Ezekial Elliot will be more than capable backups while Hyde is on the sideline.
Case in point, Hall ran for 159 yards and two touchdowns in Hyde’s absence on opening weekend against Buffalo in Columbus.
The Buckeye defense gave up just 22.8 points per game last season, good for No. 31 in the country. But, they have to replace seven starters this year, including John Simon and Johnathan Hankins — both of whom left early for the NFL. Junior linebacker Ryan Shazier, who led the team with 115 tackles last year, will help anchor the linebacking corps. Junior corner Bradley Roby, who is suspended for the first game of the season after an offseason incident in which he was charged with battery, will try to shut down one side of the field while returning safeties Christian Bryant and C.J. Barnett will provide the last line of defense for the Ohio State defense.
If the Buckeye offense can continue to be dynamic and the defense can develop and improve, the Buckeyes will have all the ingredients needed to win the Big Ten and play for the national championship.
Can they beat, say, Alabama, though? Yes, they can.
Braxton Miller is a mobile quarterback, comparable to Texas A&M University quarterback Johnny Manziel, who used his feet and his arm to beat the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Ala. last year. If Miller does the same and the Buckeyes can play ball control offense, the Buckeyes and Urban Meyer will have a chance to hoist the crystal trophy in Pasadena, Calif. on Jan 6, 2014.