Buckeye Stock Market Report: Ohio State defense collapses under the

After each Ohio State game during the 2021 football season, LGHL will offer its market analysis of the Buckeyes’ performance. Using a standard bond rating system, we’ll evaluate the offense, the defense, and the special teams, according to this formula:

AA (yeah, I may also use + and -): Very Strong
A: Strong
BBB: Adequate
BB: Facing Major Uncertainty

Then, we’ll take a look at any individual players whose performance stood out (in one way or another!) and assign them a stock rating: Blue Chip, Solid Performance, Penny Stock (akin to a junk bond, dangerously high risk).

Quick Overview

The way that the Ohio State offense and defense had been playing of late, I sure didn’t see this one coming. The Buckeye offense was unable to make the big play or to take a lead, and the defense couldn’t do anything.

There were plenty of OSU mistakes – botched kickoffs, a bad snap, a fumbled quarterback-running back exchange, penalties, and more penalties. But, finally, the Buckeyes were simply beaten. They were outplayed and probably outcoached.

Michigan led at the half by only 14-13. The first-half stats were nearly dead even. Anybody’s game. The second half, though, was all Michigan. They were dominant.

The Buckeyes now find themselves out of the Big Ten Championship game for the first time since 2016 and out of the College Football Playoffs for the first time since 2018. Oh, there will be a good bowl game down the road, but right now it feels as though the season is over.

Offense

When you enjoy the #1 offense in the nation and win the coin toss, why don’t you take the ball?

OSU’s pattern of success is to jump on the foe, get up by a couple of scores, and take their running game away, as they try to catch up. But the Bucks were down 7-0 when we finally saw the offense.

In this game, the Buckeye offense wasn’t “unstoppable.” And they got off to a very bad start. After another bungled kick off by Julian Fleming, Ohio State started its first drive on its own four-yard line. A fumbled snap, followed by two incomplete passes brought on fourth and nine from the five. Since the defense had gotten shredded, this three-and-out spelled trouble.

The offense was haunted by the issues that we’ve seen stymie the attack before: an inconsistent running game, false starts and holding penalties at crucial times, and a failure to score touchdowns with the ball in the red zone. Oh, and throw in a sack, or four. Against Michigan State last week, C.J. Stroud had his pick of open receivers. Against Michigan, the receivers were again open, but the game wasn’t really being played in the secondary. Rather, the outcome was determined on the line of scrimmage, where OSU’s running game was stuffed and the fearsome pass rush originated.

Stroud was able to move the ball through the air, but he didn’t have the time for long passing plays to develop. His per pass attempt average was only eight yards, really low for this offense. He was sacked four times…