Ohio State fans have heard it all week – Miami is going to dominate the Buckeyes in the trenches.
Most “expert” talking heads in the sports quickly point to Miami’s strength in the trenches but just briefly brush over the significant talent advantage Ohio State has when it comes to playmakers like Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate, Bo Jackson, Brandon Innis, Max Clare, etc, etc, etc.
The narrative aggressively being blasted by the national media is Miami is going to at least cover the Vegas 9.5-point spread and some are even going as far to say the Hurricanes will defeat the Buckeyes because of this so called “significant” advantage in the trenches.
I am here to tell you yes, Miami is probably better in the trenches, but it’s not near the gap the national media wants to talk about.
I respect people like Landon Tengwall on X. Landon is a guy I’ve recently become familiar with the past couple weeks as Ohio State approaches the matchup with Miami in Arlington, TX on New Years Eve at the Cotton Bowl.
Landon is a former offensive lineman of Penn State and he’s not like your normal talking head. He actually breaks down the film and shows you why he thinks what he thinks.
Now, call me a hypocrite if you want, I really don’t care because I too have a podcast (The Middle Ground) where I talk on many sports topics. But a lot of the things I talk about come from content like Landon who know what the hell they’re actually seeing on the X’s and O’s side of things to form my own opinions and claims.
I feel like I have a good eye for understanding what a team needs to do or what a team is not doing well (some may disagree and that’s okay), but I by no means am going to act like I can break down X’s and O’s like guys who have actually played the college game.
Back to the point… Landon being a former Penn State offensive lineman, he knows what the hell he’s talking about.
Landon pointed out one area that could be the difference in this game: Kayden McDonald vs. Miami Center James Brockermeyer.
In a film breakdown, Brockermeyer shows vulnerability in the run game.
That’s a huge problem if you’re Miami.
Kayden McDonald might be the most underrated player in college football. Brockermeyer showing vulnerability in the run game is everything Ohio State fans should want to hear.
McDonald has been a wrecking ball for Ohio State this year. If you have a significant advantage at the snap of the ball, that close to the line of scrimmage, that makes things much much harder for an offense to effectively, efficiently, and consistently run the ball for all 60 minutes.
Sure Miami can run it to the outside… but there stands Caden Curry, Kenyatta Jackson Jr., Sonny Styles, Arvell Reese, Caleb Downs, etc, etc, etc.
Once Miami can’t run the ball, this game falls on Carson Beck and I absolutely positively love that scenario and I would imagine most Buckeye fans do too.
Put the game in his hands and let’s see if he has what it takes to put Miami on his back and make the throws consistent enough to win the game. Because I do not think he can do it.
High level throws here and there? Sure… he can make some throws, but I have my questions on if he can do it consistently.
People want to quickly point to the trenches in this Cotton Bowl matchup and that’s fine. I too will give Miami the upper hand.
But don’t expect this to be the talent gap the “experts” want you to believe it is.
This entire game has a very similar feeling to the Tennessee game last year.
“Ohio State can’t protect”
“Ohio State will get bullied in the trenches”
“Ohio State won’t be able to run the ball”
I know the guys in the trenches on both sides of the ball hear these things too.
And I think they’re going to come out to make yet again another statement.
One thing I have to give Ryan Day and his teams is when they get doubted, they more times than not respond.
People point to the Indiana game and that is very valid. Nobody outside of Kayden McDonald played well.
But the Buckeyes have had almost a month to clean up the issues from that game and when you give Ryan Day almost a month to put a game plan together, watch out.
I expect a pissed off, hungry, and chip on their should Buckeye team tonight to not only show they have the bigger advantage with playmakers, but also show they can compete in the trenches with Miami.
Give me Ohio State 27-10.
