Ohio State against the world!

So the t-shirt said.  Will someone please tell me what kind of a world we live in where Ohio State's ragtag bunch of replacements headed by a third string quarterback with only one prior game under his belt actually beats the nations number one football team?  That sounded funnier when my sixteen year old said it.

Boy what a game.  I know, I know.  Next game's the beast, and it's hungry.  After destroying overrated Florida State, Oregon is sharpening it's claws (or bills) and ready.  But then, so was Michigan State.  So was Wisconsin. And of course, so was Alabama.  Why, when Oregon obliterated Florida State earlier, almost all of the talk went to the inevitable Oregon to Alabama match-up.

But somewhere, somehow, the Buckeyes didn't get the message.  Oh sure, it started out that way.  Jones, in only his second start, having never started as quarterback in a non-championship game, looked nervous.  The whole team did.  Nobody imagined OSU would win.  Most of the discussion was over just how flawed the system was to let the Buckeyes in the top four in the first place.

By the end of the first quarter, it was 21 to 6.  Two turnovers.  Two field goals.  The number one team with a host of records and bests in the lineup.  It looked like the Oregon massacre was going to be repeated.

Then something happened.  After clawing and scratching and kicking and biting our way to the goal, we actually scored against the nation's best goal line defense.  Then things turned around.  Suddenly we were scoring.  By half time we were only one point behind.

In the second half, we made two more touchdowns and held Alabama stopped.  Then, for almost the entire second half, we were plugged into our own five yard line, unable to move, unable to even make a first down.  We went until past the halfway mark of the fourth quarter with negative yards unable to even break a first down.

And yet strangely, Alabama was still behind.  If it looked horrible to us, it must have been a nightmare to Alabama fans.  How could they not be beating a team that couldn't even make a first down for most of the second half?  And yet, somehow, when it was over and the last play ended in an interception by Ohio State, it happened.

Yes, the next match will be ugly.  Heisman trophy winner.  Top team.  A beast.  And yet, somehow, the Buckeyes may even make a match of it.  If we don't, it was still one of the best seasons I've ever seen, and one of the best reasons for loving football.  It's all about overcoming adversity.  But who knows?  We'll have to wait and see.  Until then, well done Buckeyes.  You've more than earned your keep.

Oh, and you can't help rubbing it in the face of the SEC, since the first championship system seems to undo the last decade of SEC dominance.  Heh.