The Ohio State Buckeyes need to win the line of scrimmage if they want to advance to the College Football Playoff Semifinals.
The one area that the Ohio State Buckeyes might have trouble with against the Miami Hurricanes is on the line of scrimmage.
We have seen this year that in the two football games that Ohio State has played a decent defensive line, their offense has been put in check.
The first example was in Week One against the Texas Longhorns. Head coach Ryan Day and his squad received a big win against the preseason No. 1 team in the country, but had to work for the victory. Ohio State mustered only 203 total yards on the day, but thanks to a highlight-reel catch from junior wideout Carnell Tate, they got out of dodge with a win.
Fast forward nearly four months, and Ohio State matched up with another solid defensive front in the Indiana Hoosiers, and it did not go in the favor of the Buckeyes. Quarterback Julian Sayin was under pressure all night long, and while he did throw for 264 yards, 55 of those came on the final Hail Mary to sophomore wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. The Buckeyes struggled to run the football, and it ultimately cost them the Big Ten Championship and a chance at the Rose Bowl.
Now, as they look forward to the Cotton Bowl Classic, the reigning National Champions have yet another major challenge on their hands. The Miami defensive line is one of, if not the, nastiest that they have faced over the course of the season.
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The group is led by their two edge rushers, Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheen Mesidor. Bain is the headliner, and he has put together one heck of a season for the Hurricanes. He has 42 tackles, 7.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and one interception. He rushes the quarterback with bad intentions, and when he gets there, he makes them pay.
If Bain isn't there to make the play, Mesidor gets the job done. He has 51 total tackles on the year and 8.5 sacks with four total forced fumbles. He is an old school ball hawk, and when he has the opportunity to steal the football, he is going to take the ball.
The Hurricanes rotate a host of defenders on the interior of their line that all can hold their own.
This group of players has the attention of everyone and are absolutely the group that could be the reason that the Buckeyes struggle on New Year's Eve.
Ohio State has proven that when they face a good defensive line, it tends to be their kryptonite. If they want to advance to the College Football Playoff Semifinals, they are going to have to win the line of scrimmage; it's as simple as that.
If they don't they will find themselves in a dogfight with the Hurricanes.