No asterisk needed on OSU's national title

No asterisk needed on OSU's national title
                        

A few thoughts from the week in sports …

When the going gets tough, the tough get going.

The Ohio State football team showed it had the toughness to match its talent, completing an incredible turnaround from one of the lowest points in program history to defeating Notre Dame 34-23 in the College Football Playoff National Championship game in Atlanta on Jan. 20.

However, the confetti hadn’t even all settled to the turf after the game, and the Buckeyes were already getting slammed on social media. Haters were pointing out OSU lost two games, didn’t even win the Big Ten, spent a boatload of NIL money, and had key transfers at quarterback and running back.

It will always stink for the players and fans that the 2024 Buckeyes lost a fourth straight game against archrival Michigan, but I’ll take a national championship victory over a regular-season win any day of the week, even if it is the Wolverines.

Dave Portnoy, who has 3.1 million followers on X and is the founder of Barstool Sports, tweeted this out: “The Ohio Natty means absolutely nothing to me. When Ohio sees Michigan walking down the street, they jump into a trash can and hide.”

Portnoy’s comment is what belongs in the trash.

And don’t give me any garbage social media posts like this from countless people: national champions.*

There’s no asterisk about the job the Buckeyes did. More like: NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!!!

This is a new era of college football. The top players are paid like professionals, and the debut of the 12-team, four-round college playoff was more like an NFL postseason gauntlet.

Much has been made about OSU quarterback Will Howard transferring from Kansas State, but Notre Dame signal caller Riley Leonard also was a transfer, having played for Duke from 2021-23.

Most of Ohio State’s reported $20.2 million NIL money was spent to keep players the team already had. Notre Dame also reportedly spent near that amount, but specific figures for the Irish were not available.

These kinds of subplots take away from one of the best comebacks in college sports history under coach Ryan Day. After the loss to a bad Michigan team, Buckeyes players and coaches were booed and roasted without mercy.

Defensive end Jack Sawyer said he couldn’t even go out for wings at his local Roosters without hearing trash talk. Now he should get free wings there forever.

Coach Ryan Day needed a security detail at his house to protect his family after they received threats.

I wrote after the fourth straight loss to Michigan that if the Buckeyes had a quick exit in the playoffs, then Day should be sent packing. Lots of other media members and fans shared that sentiment.

What changed after the UM loss for Ohio State to dominate in wins over Tennessee, Oregon, Texas and, finally, Notre Dame?

Sometimes it takes a brutal loss to really bring a team together.

Day and the Buckeyes said they did a lot of soul searching, admitted their mistakes and came together like never before.

They got tough, instead of feeling sorry for themselves.

The coaches coached better; the players played better. Players also often mentioned leaning on their faith.

Instead of being a team fans want to forget, Day and players such as Will Howard, Jeremiah Smith, Quinshon Judkins, TreVeyon Henderson, Emeka Egbuka, Jack Sawyer, Cody Simon, Sonny Styles and Co. became legends.

“The story gets to get told now,” Day said. “It’s a great story about a bunch of guys who have overcome some really tough situations. There was a point where there was a lot of people that counted us out, and we just kept swinging and kept fighting.

“It’s the reason you get into coaching, to see guys overcome things, learn life lessons and then reach their dreams. This is what happened tonight.”

Parting shots

I love the expanded college playoffs format, but it needs tweaking and I think that will happen in the offseason. The committee needs to re-evaluate how the teams are seeded.

I also think they will eventually do away with conference championship games. When there were only four teams in the playoffs, they were necessary to determine who got in, but they’re no longer needed. It makes the season too long, and there could be instances where the same two teams wind up playing three times in one season.

—Under the previous four-team playoff format, neither Ohio State nor Notre Dame would have even gotten in.

—Will Howard really elevated his draft stock in the playoffs. He looked a lot like an NFL quarterback the way he surveyed the field and delivered the ball while also showing an ability to run when needed.

—I’m usually supportive of the OHSAA’s decisions, but expanding from three divisions in track and field to five in 2025-26 is a really bad idea.

Four divisions would have been perfect, which is what they’ll increase to in cross country.

However, going to five divisions in track really waters down what it means to be a state qualifier and placer. It also could be a logistic nightmare to find facilities and event workers to put on district, regional and state track meets in five divisions.

Aaron Dorksen can be emailed at aarondorksen24@gmail.com.


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