Texas vs Ohio St Fiesta Bowl

[Gil Dobie]

Surprised Ohio State is still in the game near the half.

[McNeese75]

So far the Buckeyes are doing what is needed to stop the Texas spread - Control the ball and lock down the receivers to avoid a long strike

I'm still pullin for the horns xnodx :D

[JohnStOnge]

I realize that weird things happen in bowls. But I was wondering all year long if weak Big 12 defenses were a factor in the eye popping statistics Big 12 offenses were putting up and so far the bowls are making me think that they were. Missouri only had 17 offensive points and 286 yards at the end of regulation against Northwestern. Texas Tech's offense didn't look overwhelming at all against Ole Miss. And so far Texas' offense looks pretty darned "mortal" against Ohio State. I didn't see Kansas against Minnesota and they did score some points.

Another thing is that Ohio State has been pushing Texas' defense around and the Longhorns are very fortunate that the Buckeyes only have six points. Ohio State has been shooting itself in the foot a lot to stop its own drives.

I guess we still have the second half of this game and the Florida/OU game coming up but right now I'm thinking that Big 12 offenses were playing against weak defenses in conference play and their offenses aren't really all that special.

[Franks Tanks]

I realize that weird things happen in bowls. But I was wondering all year long if weak Big 12 defenses were a factor in the eye popping statistics Big 12 offenses were putting up and so far the bowls are making me think that they were. Missouri only had 17 offensive points and 286 yards at the end of regulation against Northwestern. Texas Tech's offense didn't look overwhelming at all against Ole Miss. And so far Texas' offense looks pretty darned "mortal" against Ohio State. I didn't see Kansas against Minnesota and they did score some points.

Another thing is that Ohio State has been pushing Texas' defense around and the Longhorns are very fortunate that the Buckeyes only have six points. Ohio State has been shooting itself in the foot a lot to stop its own drives.

I guess we still have the second half of this game and the Florida/OU game coming up but right now I'm thinking that Big 12 offenses were playing against weak defenses in conference play and their offenses aren't really all that special.

I agree. As you say we still have the rest of this game and the NC game to know for sure. If Texas continues to get shut down this bodes very well for the GAtors

[CopperCat]

Did Jim Tressel wear the sweater vest at YSU too?

What a horrible wardrobe that must be.:o

[JohnStOnge]

Ironically, it doesn't look good for Ohio State. The reason is that the Buckeyes have totally dominated the Longhorns physically yet they are only up 6-3. That kind of thing...where a team dominates in the first half but doesn't have a substantial lead on the scoreboard to show for it...frequently comes back to bite.

[proasu89]

Siesta Bowl = Bedtime

[JohnStOnge]

One big thing Tressel has been doing that I question is putting in the 5th year senior quarterback at certain key points. No WAY I'd have taken that freshman quarterback out when Ohio State was in the red zone like he did.

[crunifan]

I hate Texas! Go Buckeyes!

[DuckDuckGriz]

I'm a McCoy fan. Go Horns.

[McNeese75]

Ironically, it doesn't look good for Ohio State. The reason is that the Buckeyes have totally dominated the Longhorns physically yet they are only up 6-3. That kind of thing...where a team dominates in the first half but doesn't have a substantial lead on the scoreboard to show for it...frequently comes back to bite.

Look again :D

OSU defense is gassed. If their offense goes 3 and out again this game is history. Hurry up offense is killin the buckeyes

Hookem!!

[FCS_pwns_FBS]

I think Texas will score two more touchdowns and the final score will be 31-9.

Please stop putting these Obese Ten teams in major bowl games.xnonono2x

[JohnStOnge]

Look again :D

OSU defense is gassed. If their offense goes 3 and out again this game is history. Hurry up offense is killin the buckeyes

Hookem!!

No need to look again. As I said, Ohio State should've had a bigger lead at halftime. They stopped several of their own drives. Me, anytime I see a team dominate the first half like that against another good team but not have a substantial lead to show for it, I say that's trouble.

[DuckDuckGriz]

I think Texas will score two more touchdowns and the final score will be 31-9.

Please stop putting these Obese Ten teams in major bowl games.xnonono2x

Looks like the Big Ten boys are holding their own.

[Big Al]

No need to look again. As I said, Ohio State should've had a bigger lead at halftime. They stopped several of their own drives. Me, anytime I see a team dominate the first half like that against another good team but not have a substantial lead to show for it, I say that's trouble.

Very true, but this game is almost the definition of Tresselball. Ball control, defense and field position.

If OSU wins, they're gonna do it the hard way.

PS - Big 12 is looking pretty dinky in the bowls.

[JohnStOnge]

It's official. Even if Texas comes back and wins: Big 12 defenses suck.

[Grizalltheway]

I think Texas will score two more touchdowns and the final score will be 31-9.

Please stop putting these Obese Ten teams in major bowl games.xnonono2x

22-17 OSU

You were saying? xlolx

[furpal87]

TD TEXAS!!! 16 sec left!!

[JohnStOnge]

Yep. It came back to bite. Ohio State should've had a double digit lead at halftime. Amazing how often you see that.

[JohnStOnge]

Either way, at this point it's looking like the idea that Big 12 offenses are "all that" is kind of a myth.

[Grizalltheway]

Gotta love the yearly tradition of watching forlorn buckeye fans. xlolx xlolx

[crunifan]

Watching that brought back memories of Richmond scoring with :14 left to beat UNI by one. Ugh.

[Grizalltheway]

Watching that brought back memories of Richmond scoring with :14 left to beat UNI by one. Ugh.

Hey, at least you guys gave them a GAME. xnonono2x

[SeattleGriz]

Gotta love the yearly tradition of watching forlorn buckeye fans. xlolx xlolx

No kidding. I loathe Ohio State and have for years. My hatred started when I was watching them play a couple years ago and saw and OSU defensive player not only throw a forearm into the opposing QB's throat when piled up, but also watched another player purposely stomp on the QB's throwing hand as he was walking by the pile.

Maybe this stuff happens all the time, but I always felt if you couldn't beat a team cleanly, you had no balls.

[Franks Tanks]

I think Texas will score two more touchdowns and the final score will be 31-9.

Please stop putting these Obese Ten teams in major bowl games.xnonono2x

Ya the big 10 and Ohio State just got killed didnt they. Texas needed a TD with 16 second left for the come from behind victory--clearly Ohio State didnt belong on the same field. I thought every team in the Big 12 had 11 Jesus Christ's on the field and could walk on water. Look Ohio State is even having a somewhat down year this year. They got crushed by USC and got beat by a solid but not spectacular Penn State team. They have a a limited offense and a QB who is stil leraning to throw downfield. Yet they almost beat the vaunted Texas team despite settling for all those field goals early. The Big 10 still matches up fairly well OOC-- I think this just shows how good USC really is as they would probably lay a whooping on Texas as well.

[813Jag]

No kidding. I loathe Ohio State and have for years. My hatred started when I was watching them play a couple years ago and saw and OSU defensive player not only throw a forearm into the opposing QB's throat when piled up, but also watched another player purposely stomp on the QB's throwing hand as he was walking by the pile.

Maybe this stuff happens all the time, but I always felt if you couldn't beat a team cleanly, you had no balls.
stuff like that happens alot in games, usually doesn't get caught on camera. No telling what your favorite team does in a pile. Mine included.

[813Jag]

Maybe Texas won because Ohio State didn't want to be there. xconfusedx xreadx xwhistlex

[gmoney55]

Texas no higher than No. 4 in the year-end poll. Winner of title game, USC, Utah ahead of them. Maybe even the loser of the title game depending on how it goes, probably a Florida win with the Big 12 getting exposed so far.

[Pards Rule]

Must suck for OSU - they thought they had an upset and WHOOPS! I'm no OSU fan after the ripoff I witnessed in 2003 giving them the NC on such a bogus pass interference call.

[jstate83]

Another year, another Buckeye loss. xlolx
What else is new. xcoffeex

[Franks Tanks]

Another year, another Buckeye loss. xlolx
What else is new. xcoffeex


Ya a loss that occured with 16 second left with a great play by Texas-- the game could have went either way.

[813Jag]

Ya a loss that occured with 16 second left with a great play by Texas-- the game could have went either way.
At least they found a different way to lose. xlolx

[CopperCat]

If I'm a pro team, I won't take Beanie Wells in the first, second, or even third round. He has no durability/is usually banged up, and is pretty overrated as far as yards per game goes. Yeah, he did okay last night but as well all know by now Big 12 defenses are like swiss cheese.

[jstate83]

Ya a loss that occured with 16 second left with a great play by Texas-- the game could have went either way.

Point is they lost again.
But they can say they didn't get blown out this year.

The Big 10 BOWL BLOWOUT AWARD go to Penn State this year. xlmaox

[Big Al]

Truth is, 3 Big 10 teams demonstrated they belonged in their bowls: Iowa, OSU & Northwestern. Two more over-reached: Penn State & Michigan State.

Wisconsin & Minnesota just flat didn't belong in any bowl.

I don't think 1-6 tells the whole story, although there's no question the Big 10 is a weak conference this year.

[Gil Dobie]

Truth is, 3 Big 10 teams demonstrated they belonged in their bowls: Iowa, OSU & Northwestern. Two more over-reached: Penn State & Michigan State.

Wisconsin & Minnesota just flat didn't belong in any bowl.

I don't think 1-6 tells the whole story, although there's no question the Big 10 is a weak conference this year.

Wisconsin and Minnesota might be able to compete with a few MAC teams in the bowls. :p

[Big Al]

Also, I think the main reason for the lousy record is because the Big 10 got 2 BCS games, if you only put Penn State in the Rose and move all the other teams down a slot, I suspect the Big 10 would end up with a winning (or at least even) record this year.

I don't feel any sympathy, though -- the Big 10 helped create the BCS and have been gaming the system to ensure they get big, fat checks, so they deserve what they get in the end.

[Marcus Garvey]

Ohio St. is starting to remind me of Nebraska in the mid to late 80's/early 90's: Good for 9 to 10 wins per year and a Top 15 ranking. But, like those Husker squads, they weren't always the best team in the conference (Switzer's thugs, and later McCartney's thugs were better) and they couldn't buy a win against a Top 10 team, particularly in a Bowl game.

I only caught the last 3 minutes of the game, but that appeared to be all one needed to watch. However, in that last 3 minutes, I saw far more of that clown Luke Poehlmann and his g-ddamn mullet than any human being has a need to see.

[Blue Hen 53]

Incredible ending! Congrats UT

[LacesOut]

I guess I should have watched more, the ending sounded exciting. But the first half was so horrifically boring I changed the channel and never turned it back.

[furpal87]

Let's look at moving everyone down a notch:

Georgia probably beats Ohio State.
Mich State still rips SC.
Missouri beats Iowa because they probably have some respect for them unlike NW.
FSU vs NW: You've got to be kidding me!!!
Kansas vs Wisc. Might change that one.
Minn would have played CMU in the Motor City Bowl, would have been competitive maybe.

[seantaylor]

Let's look at moving everyone down a notch:

Georgia probably beats Ohio State.
Mich State still rips SC.
Missouri beats Iowa because they probably have some respect for them unlike NW.
FSU vs NW: You've got to be kidding me!!!
Kansas vs Wisc. Might change that one.
Minn would have played CMU in the Motor City Bowl, would have been competitive maybe.

No way in hell thUGA beats Ohio State. OSU blows them out. Iowa beats Missouri as well. Agree with the rest.

[813Jag]

No way in hell thUGA beats Ohio State. OSU blows them out. Iowa beats Missouri as well. Agree with the rest.
I think Georgia would have a shot to beat OSU, especially with Beanie Wells getting nicked up quite a bit. Mizzou would have a good shot to beat Iowa, they have two things that South Carolina didn't have. 1. A consistent threat at QB and 2. Maclin is a game changer either catching passes or on returns.

[appfan2008]

I think if UGA comes in with the right mindset then they could beat OSU... they are more talented in my opinion... but i dont think coach richt has done a great job this season and injuries have certainly held them down... will be interesting to see how UGA responds after a "disappointing" year especially if they lose stafford and moreno

[JohnStOnge]

I think if UGA comes in with the right mindset then they could beat OSU... they are more talented in my opinion... but i dont think coach richt has done a great job this season and injuries have certainly held them down... will be interesting to see how UGA responds after a "disappointing" year especially if they lose stafford and moreno

I think Georgia could beat just about anybody if they were playing well. I think their problem is that they were inconsistent. As far as the talent thing goes...I OSU and UGA were pretty even in that regard except Georgia had a MUCH better quarterback. Of course that's huge.

I think Georgia lost two games this past season...the Alabama and Georgia Tech games...against teams it was better than. I also don't think they played well against Florida though I think Florida is probably a better team and would win anyway if both teams were on their game.

[Reign of Terrier]

I think Georgia could beat just about anybody if they were playing well. I think their problem is that they were inconsistent. As far as the talent thing goes...I OSU and UGA were pretty even in that regard except Georgia had a MUCH better quarterback. Of course that's huge.

I think Georgia lost two games this past season...the Alabama and Georgia Tech games...against teams it was better than. I also don't think they played well against Florida though I think Florida is probably a better team and would win anyway if both teams were on their game.

They turned the ball over too much against Bama, and made too many mistakes against GT.

Florida is the best team in the nation (this team I think is better than what Spurrier was able to put together). How you ask?

From the top of my head the first 5 losses to Florida in the Mark Richt era were close, 14 points I think was the biggest margin. How much did they beat UGA this year? 39