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2014 national title anniversary: Ohio State football’s Big Ten title game vs Wisconsin
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- 2014 national title anniversary: Ohio State football’s Big Ten title game vs Wisconsin
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the 2014 national championship season, when the Ohio State football Buckeyes went 14-1 and captured the first College Football Playoff title. We'll relive that remarkable year by sharing the game stories from that campaign as they appeared in the pages of The Columbus Dispatch.
Now up: Ohio State's Big Ten championship win over Wisconsin .
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Buckeyes romp behind Jones
Backup QB sharp; defense stuffs Badgers
December 6, 2014
INDIANAPOLIS — Ohio State entered the Big Ten championship game last night having to win a two-pronged battle against Wisconsin.
The Buckeyes had to beat the favored Badgers, and quarterback Cardale Jones had to play well enough to show that Ohio State is worthy of consideration for one of the four spots in the inaugural College Football Playoff.
They couldn't have done it any better.
HISTORY LESSON: Remembering the 2014 College Football Playoff Championship 10th anniversary
Jones was nearly flawless and the Buckeyes' defense overwhelmed Wisconsin 59-0 at Lucas Oil Stadium to give Urban Meyer his first Big Ten championship.
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The Buckeyes (12-1) had waited a year to avenge their defeat in last year's title game, and they had to overcome terrible adversity in the last week to do so.
Ohio State’s Eli Apple, left, and Chris Carter wrap up Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon, who was held to 76 yards on 26 carries.
Quarterback J.T. Barrett's fractured ankle against Michigan caused the Buckeyes to turn to Jones for his starting debut, and then the team was stunned by the death of walk-on defensive tackle Kosta Karageorge.
Then there was the challenge of facing Wisconsin (10-3) with its Heisman Trophy candidate, running back Melvin Gordon , and its defense, which ranked second nationally.
But it was no contest. Jones, who was named the game's most valuable player, showed no jitters and looked in complete command from the start. He completed 12 of 17 passes for 257 yards and three touchdowns, all to senior receiver Devin Smith .
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"I was confident, but my teammates and coaches took my confidence to a whole other level that I've never felt before," Jones said.
Ezekiel Elliott of Ohio State breaks away for an 81-yard touchdown run that marked the beginning of a rout over Wisconsin.
Ezekiel Elliott ran 20 times for 220 yards and two scores, including an 81-yard run up the middle on which he was untouched.
The defense was just as impressive. It was air-tight against Gordon. The junior, who entered the game averaging 188 yards and 8.0 per carry, was held to 76 yards in 26 carries. His longest gain against Ohio State was 13 yards.
"Any shutout is great, but the way we went about it, you have to give the credit to the guys up front," defensive coordinator Luke Fickell said. "When they can't block the edge, it makes it a lot more difficult."
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Gordon's ineffectiveness forced the Badgers to the air, for which they're ill-suited. Doran Grant (twice) and Vonn Bell intercepted Joel Stave , who completed only 17 of 43 passes for 187 yards.
The Buckeyes wasted no time seizing control. Michael Thomas made a diving catch of Jones' pass on the game's first snap. Five plays later, Jones threw a 39-yard touchdown to Smith, who warded off Wisconsin cornerback Sojourn Shelton .
The Buckeyes took a 14-0 lead on Elliott's touchdown run and settled for a field goal after Bell's interception.
Then Jones threw to Smith for a 44-yard touchdown to make it 24-0 early in the second quarter. Jones completed three straight passes on Ohio State's next drive to set up a 14-yard touchdown run by Elliott.
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The Buckeyes made it 38-0 with 36 seconds left in the half. Defensive tackle Michael Bennett , wearing No. 53 in honor of Karageorge, poked the ball free from Gordon. Defensive end Joey Bosa picked up the ball at the 4 and scored.
As if there was any doubt about the outcome, the Buckeyes scored on their first drive of the second half when Smith made a leaping catch in tight coverage for a 42-yard score.
The only drama after that was whether the Buckeyes could get the shutout. Wisconsin did not advance past the Ohio State 27-yard line until the final play of the game.
Now, the Buckeyes must wait until 12:30 this afternoon to learn their postseason fate. Alabama and Oregon are locks after winning their conference title games. Reigning national champion Florida State would seem to be after it again survived an upset bid, this time in the ACC title game.
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But the Big 12, which has No. 3 TCU and No. 6 Baylor, doesn't have a championship game. Both won yesterday, but Ohio State's win was the most impressive.
"I think we deserve to be in," athletic director Gene Smith said. "We're a championship team. We have a conference championship game, and we went through our regular-season gantlet and had the opportunity to come here and play another game. To me, that's an edge."
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State football 2014 National Championship year: Wisconsin game
