It was.
FB: 2024 Bowl Games
- Thread starter -jk
- Start date
SouthernDukie
Member
If so i rescind my complaint on that play.
Stray Gator
Moderator
I quickly tired of hearing Herbie drooling incessantly over the Buckeyes, so by the end of the first quarter I had switched over to the Skycast on ESPNews. No announcers except from the stadium PA. Much more enjoyable to watch.
CrazyNotCrazie
Member
Correct. But that doesn’t fit the narrative here. This game wasn’t decided by officials. I had no real rooting interest. I hate when game threads whether about Duke or otherwise deteriorate into nitpicking the refs. So many of these threads are unreadable.
The narrative for so long was the slow Big Ten teams. Ohio State showed lots of speed when it mattered, especially on the big tackle for loss.
It’s over. Play the game in Indy.
A-Tex Devil
Member
This loss is on Sark.
Edited to add - he kept running it wide when it never ever worked and it manifested itself in that huge loss on second down.
Edited to add - he kept running it wide when it never ever worked and it manifested itself in that huge loss on second down.
SouthernDukie
Member
My bet is Sark will look much better next year calling plays for Manning. I had secretly been wishing for Manning to replace Ewers throughout this season, but it never came to be. I think the Longhorns would have faired better with Arch at QB. But that's in the past now.
Congrats to OSU.
Stray Gator
Moderator
On that we agree. It seemed that Sark never adjusted his offensive calls to abandon the slow-developing plays that weren't effective (wide runs and deep routes) and accentuate the plays that seemed to have a better chance of working (quick-outs and tight end slants). Also, while I understand that we differ in this respect, I thought he should have subbed in Manning for a series or two in the third quarter just to throw a change-up at tOSU's defense.
Jack Sawyer as well. It screams mega church to me.
wavedukefan70s
Member
Closer game than I thought. I felt that was the champion side of the bracket.
With the line depletion I don't see ND oline standing up to the Ohio D.
I'd love to see leonard and sneed from ND win .
With the line depletion I don't see ND oline standing up to the Ohio D.
I'd love to see leonard and sneed from ND win .
A-Tex Devil
Member
I have some tempered expectations on Manning. He came in and at times looked spectacular and other times like he was overmatched by some mediocre teams. If he gave Texas a better chance to win this year he would have played I think. I hope I am proven wrong next year.
Most frustrating thing about this game is the Texas Defense was nails except one series (the first) and one play (end of first half). The third TD shouldn’t have happened because of a holding call but Inwoukd have taken 21 points if that was the offer before the game. The game plan on Smith was fantastic.
This has been the best Texas unit on either side of the ball since the Colt McCoy days and best defense since at least the. National championship. They were so much fun. Hill and Simmons are going to wreck ish next year My son got to meet them both at his autism clinic earlier in the season. They were such fun kids to hang out with for a few hours.
rsvman
Member
I watched 95% of the game on SkyCast. I can see what's going on, and i've been watching football for at least 5 and a half decades; I need neither the play-by-play guy nor the color commentator.
I thought OSU would win by two touchdowns but I didn't imagine it would happen the way it did!
bluedevilwildcats
Member
Agree on somewhat tempered expectations on Manning. Disagree he would have played even if better (unless way better.) Sark made it clear early and often that Ewers was his guy. He almost apologized for playing Manning a couple of series in the first UGA game.
Having said that, I would have preferred Manning heading into the playoffs, Ewers was struggling and Manning added a running threat that Ewers laughably lacks.
BrummieDevil
Member
Texas is a great example of a team that is anointed as elite/dominant based on big wins early in the season over teams that prove to be significantly worse than expected.
Then, as often happens, the narrative is never revisited or adjusted once set.
They won impressively at #10 Michigan in September ... a team that eventually fell to 5-5. They started October with a big win over #18 Oklahoma ... a 6-6 team. Neither team was remotely as good as those rankings.
They had two cracks at Georgia - neither at UGA - and their offense was shut down in two losses. Their best regular season win was their finale at A&M, 17-7. They reached the semi with two extremely flawed Ws against flawed opponents, one they were tremendously fortunate to win.
Long story longer, the idea that Ohio State-Texas was the "real" title game isn't based on reality. The Horns weren't as great as everyone seemed to decide back by early October and they gave OSU all they could handle.
Unless ND's injuries have finally caught up to them too much, the championship game is gonna be a battle. Texas wasn't remotely on another level than ND (or Penn State for that matter).
Then, as often happens, the narrative is never revisited or adjusted once set.
They won impressively at #10 Michigan in September ... a team that eventually fell to 5-5. They started October with a big win over #18 Oklahoma ... a 6-6 team. Neither team was remotely as good as those rankings.
They had two cracks at Georgia - neither at UGA - and their offense was shut down in two losses. Their best regular season win was their finale at A&M, 17-7. They reached the semi with two extremely flawed Ws against flawed opponents, one they were tremendously fortunate to win.
Long story longer, the idea that Ohio State-Texas was the "real" title game isn't based on reality. The Horns weren't as great as everyone seemed to decide back by early October and they gave OSU all they could handle.
Unless ND's injuries have finally caught up to them too much, the championship game is gonna be a battle. Texas wasn't remotely on another level than ND (or Penn State for that matter).
I'm a long time proponent of the mute button. There's almost nothing these guys have to say that I rely on, and if there is I back up the DVR and give a listen. Rarely happens. I DVR all games, including Duke ones, and can get thru a 3.5 hours game in an hour and a half, with what's left of my sanity intact.
YmoBeThere
Member
But what makes ND and OSU on another level than other teams? Northern Illinois and an ACC heavy schedule, a home loss to not great Michigan team that you note on Texas schedule? Are we facing parity or what others might call mediocrity?
BrummieDevil
Member
I'm not saying they are, they're just among a group of 6ish teams at the top who could've won the national title.
Primarily I don't think OSU is clearly above the rest as a lot of folks claim after the Tennessee and Oregon wins, though they probably have the highest ceiling. Computer ratings don't seem to think Vegas's OSU -9.5 makes much sense. ESPN's FPI has OSU by 1.9 pts, Sagarin has 'em by 3, etc.
Parity? Yes. Mediocrity? I think that's harsh, but there's obviously no juggernaut team like the undefeated Alabama, Clemson, Georgia or LSU champs from the past decade.