ESPN’s Rece Davis recently singled out a college football powerhouse that, despite its history of dominance, has looked “ugly” at times this season. In a candid assessment, Davis named Ohio State as the team that has underperformed relative to its high expectations, citing their inconsistency on both sides of the ball.
Davis noted that while Ohio State remains a top-tier program with talent across the board, their play has often been disjointed, particularly on offense. Quarterback Kyle McCord, in his first year as a starter, has faced criticism for his struggles to lead the offense with the same precision seen in previous years under former QB C.J. Stroud. Davis pointed to Ohio State’s struggles in key matchups where they failed to assert themselves, especially in games that were closer than many anticipated. These lackluster performances, despite their eventual victories, have exposed vulnerabilities in a team traditionally known for its explosive offense and tough defense.
On the defensive side, Ohio State has had occasional lapses, especially in games against high-powered offenses, where they’ve allowed more points than expected. Davis pointed to the inconsistency as a key factor in why Ohio State has not looked as invincible as in past seasons.
Despite these issues, Davis acknowledged Ohio State’s potential, praising their talent and resources. He suggested that if they can correct these flaws, particularly in big games, they could still be a formidable playoff contender. However, Davis emphasized that for Ohio State to truly live up to their lofty preseason expectations, they will need to clean up their mistakes and find more consistency on both offense and defense.