Gophers

Ohio State politicks amid praise of Gophers

Ohio State, trying to bolster is playoff argument, talked up the Gophers after beating them

November 17, 2014 at 5:42AM

Ohio State’s Jalin Marshall hurdled Gophers on his way to a big gain in the second quarter. The Buckeyes had 489 total yards. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

By PHIL MILLER phil.miller@startribune.com

De'Vondre Campbell was trying to be Minnesota Nice. He was trying to compliment the Big Ten powerhouse that rolled up nearly 500 yards on the Gophers' vaunted defense, that was setting offensive records while running their record to 9-1.

But the Minnesota linebacker's words probably felt colder than the 15-degree temperature to the Buckeyes.

"Ohio State is a good team. They're very disciplined," Campbell said. "No doubt about it, Ohio State was probably the second-best team we've played this year, behind TCU. I think TCU was a lot better."

Ouch. That's exactly the opinion that the Buckeyes are trying to change, not so much in the mind of a Minnesota defender, but in the judgment of the 12-member committee that will choose four teams for major college football's first-ever tournament next month. TCU currently is ranked fourth in the committee's eyes, Ohio State is eighth, and only three weeks remain to sway those voters.

Which explains why the Buckeyes were even more gracious about their hosts' talent level than vice versa. Winning isn't enough for Ohio State these days. Degree of difficulty matters.

So this may be the nicest compliment the Gophers have received in decades: A measly seven-point win over a team Ohio State has beaten 24 times in 25 meetings? It helps, not hurts, their résumé.

"This was a top 25 team with a top 20 defense. On the road, with very unfavorable conditions, and we turned the ball over [three] times and still found a way to win," offensive coordinator Tom Herman said. "It's very encouraging."

"They're one of the top Big Ten teams, obviously," agreed Ohio State senior cornerback Doran Grant.

Yes, the SEC partisans may sniff at OSU's 31-24 victory, and Pac-12 fans will mock. But Buckeyes players hope the playoff decision-makers to do a little research into what it takes to win in snowy TCF Bank Stadium before judging them.

"I think maybe the committee knows that that's a good football team over there," said senior wideout Evan Spencer, who put the game away by turning a fourth-quarter screen pass into a 22-yard touchdown with a burst of speed up the middle. "I mean, they held TCU to 30 points, and they played really well throughout the entire season. You watch film on them, you know that's a good football team, hands-down."

Maybe so. But the Gophers don't have a J.T. Barrett, a freshman quarterback so talented that he has probably permanently unseated last year's Big Ten Offensive MVP, Braxton Miller. With Miller sidelined this year by a shoulder injury, Barrett has led OSU to a school-record 38 touchdowns, and on Saturday, he did something that neither Miller, nor Terrell Pryor, nor Troy Smith ever did. He ran for 189 yards, most ever in a single game by a Buckeyes quarterback, and he tore downfield on an 86-yard touchdown run, longest by a QB in OSU history.

"Whoa. Wow," Herman marveled. "We've had a guy here for two years that can run the ball really good."

Even Barrett, who also threw for 200 yards on 15-of-25 passing, was surprised by the rushing numbers. "I feel like I have the ability to run, but I don't have crazy, breakaway speed like Braxton," he said. "I had to veer off from people who were coming after me."

Really, really good people, he was careful to remind everyone once more. "It was a tough game," he said, pleading his case. "They're rugged on defense."