Early Returns Are Positive Looking Back on Ohio State's Loss to Texas

The Ohio State Buckeyes had one of the worst losses you will ever see in Week 2 against the Texas Longhorns. They led by 20 in the fourth quarter, only to watch the Longhorns chip away at the lead until they had it.

The Buckeyes tucked their tails, went back home to Columbus, and went right back to work. They got back on track against the Kent State Golden Flashes and then took it to Illinois and Iowa in impressive fashion. 

It was largely on the back of their superstar wide receiver, but one thing that stood out very clearly is that the Buckeyes have a completely different mindset coming off of that loss.

On3's JD Pickell called it a heightened level of urgency which I agree with, but I would add that the Buckeyes got embarrassed and got the taste that they never want to feel again. I would also add that they have the personality as a team that they still have not washed that taste out of their mouth.

They are still being fueled by that colossal choke that they had, and everyone is better for it.

At that moment, there were plenty of fair questions to be asked about a lot of the players, about the coaches, about the head coach, and about their ability to compete with the best in the sport. 

They know that, they heard that and they are answering that. 

While all of that is true, the Buckeyes have yet to experience a Texas-like challenge. Each of the teams that they have faced has been far, far inferior compared to the Buckeyes. They get another one of those this weekend before the showdown of the season in Bloomington next week against Indiana.

It doesn't get any easier after that. They host the Oregon Ducks and then go west to take on the USC Trojans before coming back home to face a salty Northwestern bunch.

The Buckeyes absolutely believe that they have learned their lesson from that Texas game in Week 2, but they have so much more work to do for the rest of the season.

The Buckeyes have one thing in mind, and one thing only: a National Championship. To accomplish it, they will have to go through the hardest path to get there, with their regular season and postseason combined.

Maybe, just maybe, in three months we all look back on Week 2 as the moment that it all changed for these Buckeyes. There is a lot of work to do, but the early returns are positive so far.