Will OSU ever lose to an Ohio team?
Written by Matt Sussman | | news@toledofreepress.comToledo’s 38-0 loss to Ohio State in Cleveland was, among being hilarious for BGSU fans, a most unlikely shutout. The Rockets hit the 50-point mark against a Big XII team the previous week. The Buckeyes’ defense had trouble against Navy. Certainly, it was at least going to be a close game?
Not so. When the trendy upset prediction was looming, the Buckeyes tightened their grip on the gullet of Ohio football, choking any chance of a rebellion in the Buckeye State. It’s a story you’ve read so many times before; it’s almost second nature.
OSU Coach Jim Tressel, photographed by Steve France, FOX Toledo
Ohio State has always had a stranglehold on this fair land. The last time they lost an in-state game was 1921 against the mighty Oberlin College Yeomen (That’s a fantastic team nickname, by the way). There may not be a more populous state in which one team reigned longer and stronger. Ohio has more bowl subdivision teams (eight) than any state except Texas (10). You’d think that, at some point in the past 88 years, one of them would have had a better day than the Buckeyes.
Maybe it’s simply hard luck. Since OSU schedules nonconference opponents well ahead of time (they already have a game with Tennessee in 2019), it’s also entirely possible they have some arcane knowledge of when in-state teams will be at their worst. Or it could be the snowball effect of desperation like the Chicago Cubs. Or perhaps the thrill of the chase clouds the ability to succeed like the Trix Rabbit.
But the “Family Feud” most popular reason is probably that the game is almost always played in Columbus. Other than the Sept. 19 game against UT in Cleveland and against Cincinnati (at the Bengals’ Paul Brown Stadium) in 2002, Ohio State has never traveled anywhere else in Ohio to play football since 1934 (Not like that matters. The entire state is their backyard.)
In the next five years, the Buckeyes will face at least six Ohio schools. Do any of them have a chance at breaking the streak?
n Sept. 18, 2010 vs. Ohio: The Bobcats are nothing to write home about, except when Terrelle Pryor tells his mother about how many rushing touchdowns he will score against them.
n Sept. 3, 2011 vs. Akron: The last time the Zips went to Columbus, they scored all of two points. That’s all you need to know.
n Sept. 10, 2011 vs. Toledo: Then again, the Rockets would have killed for two points last week. But they still have time. 2011 will be Tim Beckman’s third year coaching UT, which is generally a statement season. And with the way Jim Tressel coaches during big games, the Buckeyes may be in a state of flux by then, the same way Michigan was last year.
The stars may align for something special on this day. Mark your calendar if you are over-prepared and already bought one for this year. The diploma on my wall, however, tells me this will be a 41-0 victory for the scarlet and gray.
n Sept. 1, 2012 vs. Miami University: Probably by then the RedHawks will not be giving up 40 points a game. But it’s not like Ben Roethlisberger will be going back to school for his master’s any time soon.
n Sept. 8, 2012 vs. Cincinnati: By 2012, the Cincy-OSU matchup should be a lot like Michigan State vs. Michigan, meaning it’s promising, but still not living up to expectations.
n Date TBA, 2014 vs. Kent State: Everyone who will play for the Golden Flashes in 2014 is currently in high school, if that. And the program has never been that great. However, since nobody can predict what will happen that far into the sports future — and, in five years nobody’s going to remember this — I can safely assume that Kent State will beat Ohio State and end the then-93-year reign of supremacy in Ohio, provided they change their mascot to the Golden Yeomen, which they will.
Matt: you’re consistently ignorant and myopic, I’ll give you that.
Do you watch any college football besides the Buckeyes? The Cincinnati Bearcats are the best team in Ohio. They’re 3-0, with huge wins on the road against Big East favorite Rutgers and Oregon State. Meanwhile, the Buckeyes almost lost to Navy and found a way to lose to USC yet again…at home.
As for the polls, the Bearcats are ranked #14 in the USA and will move above the Buckeyes in the rankings after defeating Fresno State at home on Saturday. Too bad Ohio State pushed back the UC game to 2012. You’ll have to dwell in self-inflicted stupidity until then.
This comment was posted on September 25th, 2009 at 5:37 pmI preemptively feel terrible about the 268 incorrect predictions I will make over the next five years.
Having said that, Cincinnati is a better team than OSU this year. Too bad they won’t play each other, holding the original point of this column as accurate. This has happened many times before before: Miami could have beaten OSU in 2003. Toledo might’ve done them in back in ’95 or ’90. Akron or Miami in 1999. If they played ALL of those teams in those years, certainly they lose one of them.
This comment was posted on September 26th, 2009 at 2:15 pmDoes anyone know why Ohio State pushed back the game against Cincinnati until 2012? I agree that Cincinnati is the best team in Ohio right now. There’s still a lot of time left in the college football season, however. Half of the preseason top 25 teams have already lost, including Ohio State and Penn State. Also looking like Michigan will finally beat Ohio State this year.
This comment was posted on September 27th, 2009 at 12:46 pmOhio State isn’t going anywhere this year. Penn State will crush them. Even lowly Michigan has a great shot at beating them.
If Ohio State played Cincinnati, they’d lose to the Bearcats by 14+ points. ‘Tresselball’ is hopelessly outdated and ineffective. Not to mention that watching the Buckeyes is painfully boring. I’d rather watch paint dry.
So the real question should be: Will Cincinnati ever lose to an Ohio team from this point forward?
This comment was posted on September 30th, 2009 at 2:01 pmSo the real question should be: Will Cincinnati ever lose to an Ohio team from this point forward?
People are delusional…
Okay, first off USC would of CRUSHED Cincinnati. If the Buckeyes had UC’s schedule they would be undefeated. Fresno State, Rutgers, Oregeon State (only half respectable team), and Southeast Missouri State (who). Cincinnati would probably of lost to Navy, maybe Toledo. Illinois would of game them a game as well.
The Bearcats might need to not worry about if they should be ranked higher than Ohio State and worry about Miami (OH) coming up.
This comment was posted on October 1st, 2009 at 2:38 amLooks like the AP pollsters agree with me. Cincinnati is #8 in the country, ahead of the almighty Buckeyes.
Will, you’re the one who’s delusional. Take the Toledo blinders off for once in your life. Read a paper other than the Blade or Free Press. There’s a great big world out there. Many national pundits say the same thing: right now, Cincinnati is better than Ohio State.
OSU nearly lost to Navy at home, exposing the Buckeyes for all to see. USC brought their “C” game and still beat your Buckeyes in Columbus. As for Toledo, don’t make me laugh. UC would beat them far worse than they just beat Miami (at Miami).
As an Ohio State fan, you should worry about Wisconsin and Michigan. And you better pray that OSU doesn’t play another SEC school in a bowl game…assuming OSU makes it to a decent bowl game.
This comment was posted on October 6th, 2009 at 5:49 pmBREAKING NEWS…
Top 10 teams with the most annoying fans: just missing the #1 ranking, Buckeye fans are second-worst fans in the nation.
Truth hurts, Suckeye fans:
http://www.spike.com/blog/top-ten-teams-with/87671?page=2&numPerPage=1
The country hates you douchebags.
This comment was posted on October 8th, 2009 at 11:41 pmWall Street Journal:
Ohio’s Best Team: Not the Buckeyes
After Cincinnati Tops Ohio State in the Polls, Bearcat Fans Gloat; ‘Bigger Than Big Brother’
WSJ story link:
This comment was posted on October 22nd, 2009 at 1:31 pmhttp://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB10001424052748704597704574487483196226454-lMyQjAxMDA5MDIwMjEyNDIyWj.html