Ohio
Ohio State's College Football Playoff Run Led By First-Quarter Dominance, Second and Third Quarter Control
Given some of the slow starts that set the Buckeyes back in games against Nebraska, Penn State and Michigan in the second half of the regular season, fast starts were an emphasis for Ohio State entering the College Football Playoff.
That emphasis yielded dividends. As Eleven Warriors dove into Ohio State’s quarter-by-quarter and half-by-half splits during the 2024-25 CFP, the first quarter stood out as the biggest period of Buckeye dominance.
Ohio State held significant edges in the second and third quarters, too, while holding level in the fourth.
| SPLIT | POINTS | OPP POINTS | SCORING MARGIN | YARDS | OPP YARDS | YARDS PER PLAY | OYPP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FIRST QUARTER | 42 | 7 | +35 | 622 | 199 | 9.4 | 3.5 |
| SECOND QUARTER | 48 | 25 | +23 | 531 | 357 | 8.2 | 4.6 |
| FIRST HALF | 90 | 32 | +58 | 1153 | 556 | 8.8 | 4.1 |
| THIRD QUARTER | 31 | 22 | +9 | 326 | 264 | 6.3 | 4.1 |
| FOURTH QUARTER | 24 | 21 | +3 | 299 | 361 | 5.2 | 5.4 |
| SECOND HALF | 55 | 43 | +12 | 625 | 625 | 5.7 | 4.7 |
The Buckeyes outscored Tennessee, Oregon, Texas and Notre Dame by a combined 42-7 in the first quarter, tripling their four opponents’ offensive outputs with 622 yards of offense against just 199 yards allowed. The yards-per-play numbers are perhaps the most staggering: Ohio State picked up 9.4 yards per play in the first quarter during the CFP while opponents managed a meager 3.5 yards per play.
Fast starts fueled the Buckeyes most in the first two rounds of the CFP against the Ducks and Volunteers. Ohio State outscored Tennessee and Oregon by a combined 35-0 and outgained them by a combined 438 to 53 in the first quarter. That’s more than eight times the yardage output in 30 total minutes, which is mind-blowing even when considering the Buckeyes received the football to start both games.
Starting with the football also doesn’t impact yards per play, and Ohio State picked up 11.2 yards per down to Tennessee and Oregon’s two in the pair of opening frames.
“We’ve always wanted to have fast starts,” Ryan Day said before the Texas game. “You want to set the tone for the game as an individual but also as a team. In both games, we started off with the ball and have gone right down and scored. … Execution fuels emotion. That certainly has a big part of it. They go together. We’ve executed well on those first couple of drives. The defense has gotten some three-and-outs early in the game. We’ve been able to jump on the last two opponents.”
Ohio State jumped on Oregon in particular, as most readers probably remember. The Buckeyes got out to a 34-0 lead against the No. 1 seed and only undefeated team in the CFP, held a 34-8 edge at halftime and closed with a 41-21 victory.
The first half holistically was a dominant phase for Ohio State, who held a halftime lead of at least seven points in each of its four CFP games en route to a +58 scoring margin in the opening 30 minutes. The Buckeyes picked up 8.8 yards per play in CFP first halves while allowing just 4.1.
Halftime adjustments were also a strength of Ohio State’s, even if the margins aren’t as gaudy as their first-quarter or first-half splits. It’s true that the Buckeyes only outscored their opponents by nine points across the four playoff third quarters, but they iced out Tennessee with a 14-0 penultimate frame after kicking off to start the second half and finished a string of 31 unanswered points vs. Notre Dame with 10 to start the third quarter.
Plus, thanks to the ferocity of their first halves, many of the second halves during Ohio State’s title run were spent running out the clock to ice games. That’s the main reason why the fourth quarter is the only split where the Buckeyes didn’t show clear control across their four-game run. Third-stringers saw action in the fourth quarter against the Volunteers and there were multi-score leads to protect in the final 15 minutes against the Ducks and Fighting Irish.
That goes to explain why CFP opponents outgained the Buckeyes 361 to 299 in total yards and 5.4 to 5.2 in yards per play in the fourth quarter. In the lone fourth quarter where Ohio State needed to outperform its foe – the Texas game where it entered the final frame tied 14-14 with the Longhorns – it did so.
After sputtering on offense for much of the second and third quarters, the Buckeyes amassed a 13-play, 88-yard scoring drive to go ahead 21-14 before assembling what might now be the most legendary goal-line stand in team history to seal a 28-14 victory.
Notre Dame came charging back from its 31-7 hole and 31-15 deficit entering the fourth quarter with a Jaden Greathouse touchdown to slice the lead to 31-23, outgaining Ohio State 147 to 109 in the final frame as the Buckeyes ran a few conservative plays to drain the clock. But there was nothing conservative about the since-dubbed “3rd-and-Jeremiah” throw to seal a national championship.
JEREMIAH SMITH DOWN THERE SOMEWHERE
pic.twitter.com/GVtQqoDKdz— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) January 21, 2025
That’s the story of Ohio State’s CFP splits: A team that dominated both sides of the ball out of the gates of games, then made the plays it needed in the second half to ensure those starts didn’t go to waste. And it hoisted the CFP national championship trophy as a result.
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Ohio State’s game-winning play over West Virginia in the second overtime period Saturday night was simple: give the ball to Bruce Thornton and get out of his way.
The result was an 89-88 double overtime win in the Cleveland Hoops Showdown at Rocket Arena.
It took so much to get to this moment.
The Buckeyes did all they could in regulation to overcome a 14-point deficit, while awaiting their top player in Thornton to come through.
His teammates did the dirty work to keep them in the game. From their defense creating transition points, matching the Mountaineers’ physical brand of ball.
Once extra time came after the first 40 minutes expired, Thornton took care of the rest in the two overtime periods.
He delivered bucket after another.
None more important than the final one.
A tightly covered Thornton took it down to the top of the key before finding a mismatch and looking to take it to the hole. A defender cut off his path, however, forcing Thornton to operate elsewhere in the paint.
Thornton used his pivot foot wisely before finding an opening for a fadeaway jumper and knocking it down.
Twelve of his 21 points came in the overtime periods.
Ohio State fought to the end and earned a win over a hard-nosed Big 12 opponent.
Center Christoph Tilly did his best to limit the Mountaineers’ big men, while adding 14 points and 11 boards of his own.
Freshman big man Amare Bynum was a pivotal spark off the bench with 17 points, eight rebounds and three blocks.
Point guard John Mobley Jr. finished with 17 points and delivered the 3-point shot in the final seconds of the second half to give them their first lead since the 9:00 mark of the first half.
This story will be updated.
Ohio
Is Ohio State football playing today? What’s next for Buckeyes in playoff schedule | Sporting News
It’s a college football Saturday, but Dec. 13 is just a little bit different.
Ohio State and all its other College Football Playoff competitors will be on the couch.
The Army-Navy game highlights the day.
There’s also the first bowl game, the LA Bowl between Boise State and Washington.
And the FCS Playoffs roll on, as well.
Is Ohio State playing today?
No, Ohio State isn’t playing on Saturday, Dec. 13.
The CFP isn’t underway, and the Buckeyes have a bye in that even when it gets started.
When is Ohio State’s next game?
Ohio State won’t play again until Dec. 31.
That’ll be the Cotton Bowl.
They don’t know their opponent yet, either. It’ll depend on the CFP opening round matchup between Miami and Texas A&M.
MORE: Donovan Mitchell ties Jayson Tatum on an NBA record list
How it Happened
125 – (1) Vincent Robinson (NCST) def. Brendan McCrone (OSU), MD, 12-3
Robinson opened the scoring with a takedown followed by a McCrone escape to send the bout to the second with NC State up 3-1. McCrone chose top to open the second after Robinson deferred choice. Robinson got the reversal to lead 5-2 after a McCrone escape. Robinson added a takedown to lead 8-2 after five minutes. Starting neutral, Robinson made it 11-2 with a takedown. McCrone escaped but with a point for riding time, Robinson won by major decision, 12-3.
133 – (2) Ben Davino (OSU) def. Zach Redding (NCST), D, 7-1
After two minutes, Davino scored the opening takedown for a 3-0 lead to go to the second. Davino chose bottom to start the second and quickly escaped for a 4-0 lead. Davino added a late takedown to lead 7-0 after two periods. Redding escaped to start the third to make it 7-1 Buckeyes. That’s the way if ended for a Davino win by decision, 7-1.
141 – (1) Jesse Mendez (OSU) def. (6) Ryan Jack (NCST), TF, 21-6
Mendez went on top 3-1 with a takedown and Jack escape. Mendez added another takedown on the edge of the mat to finish the period up 6-1. Mendez added three takedowns quickly to jump to a 15-4 advantage. Another pair of takedowns ended the match for a Mendez win by technical fall, 21-6.
149 – (6) Ethan Stiles (OSU) def. (7) Koy Buesgens (NCST), D, 4-3
There was no scoring in the opening the period. Stiles chose bottom to open the second and took the 1-0 lead with an escape for the only points of the middle period. Buesgens evened the bout at 1-all with an escape to open the third. Stiles was awarded a takedown that was challenged by NC State but upheld after video review for a 4-1 lead for the Buckeyes. Buesgens scored a late reversal but Stiles held on for a 4-3 win by decision.
157 – (4) Brandon Cannon (OSU) def. (11) Jackson Arrington (NCST), MD, 9-1
Cannon struck first with a late takedown for a 3-0 lead. Cannon chose bottom to start the second after Arrington deferred. Cannon scored a reversal for a 5-0 advantage after five minutes. The third period started neutral before a Cannon takedown made it 8-0. Arrington earned an escape but with a point for riding time, Cannon got the win by major decision, 9-1.
165 – (19) Will Denny (NCST) def. (11) Paddy Gallagher (OSU), SV-1, 6-5
Denny got on the board first with a takedown at the edge of the mat. Gallagher escaped to make it 3-1 Wolfpack at the end of the opening period. Gallagher closed the gap with an escape early in the second before taking the lead with a takedown to make it 5-4 after a Denny escape. The third started with Denny choosing bottom. He tied it at 5-all with an escape. The match then went to sudden victory. Denny got the win by decision, 6-5 when Gallagher was called for stalling.
174 – (5) Carson Kharchla (OSU) def. (3) Matthew Singleton (NCST), D, 8-4
Neither wrestler scored in the opening three minutes. Kharchla got the reversal for the first points of the match. Singleton then escaped to make it 2-1 Buckeyes. Kharchla scored a takedown to make it 5-2 after a Singleton escape. Singleton chose bottom to start the third and escaped to cut it to 5-3. Kharchla quickly added a takedown for an 8-4 advantage and a win by decision.
At 174, No. 5 Carson Kharchla (Ohio State) earns an 8–4 decision over No. 3 Matthew Singleton (North Carolina State). pic.twitter.com/Zz1SBQeaIT
— Saturday Night Lights (@WrestlingSNL) December 13, 2025
184 – (6) Dylan Fishback (OSU) def. Don Cates (NCST), MD, 12-1
Fishback opened the scoring with a takedown at the edge of the circle. Cates escaped before another Fishback takedown made it 6-1 before the end of the first. Fishback upped the lead with an early escape before adding another takedown for a 10-1 lead. Fishback finished off the match to win by major decision, 12-1.
197 – (14) Luke Geog (OSU) def. Cason Howle (NCST), MD, 17-4
Just a minute into the bout Geog scored the opening points with a takedown. Howle escaped before Geog added a takedown and a four-point nearfall to lead 10-1 after three minutes. Howle added an escape point to open the second. Geog, leading 10-2, escaped to open the third before adding a takedown for a 14-3 advantage. Another takedown got the win by major decision, 17-4.
HWT – (2) Isaac Trumble (NCST) def. (3) Nick Feldman (OSU), D, 5-1
Trumble jumped to a 3-0 lead with a takedown and built nearly 90 seconds of riding time before a Feldman escape make it 3-1. Trumble escaped to open the second to take a 4-1 lead into the third. Trumble finished off the match with a 5-1 win by decision with a point for riding time.
Up Next:
Ohio State will travel to Nashville Dec. 21 for the 2025 Collegiate Duals where they will take on Little Rock and No. 3 Iowa State.
| Wt. | No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 9 NC State | OSU | NCST |
|---|---|---|---|
| 125 | (1) Vincent Robinson (NCST) def. Brendan McCrone (OSU), MD, 12-3 | 0 | 4 |
| 133 | (2) Ben Davino (OSU) def. Zach Redding (NCST), D, 7-1 | 3 | 4 |
| 141 | (1) Jesse Mendez (OSU) def. (6) Ryan Jack (NCST), TF, 21-6 | 8 | 4 |
| 149 | (6) Ethan Stiles (OSU) def. (7) Koy Buesgens (NCST), D, 4-3 | 11 | 4 |
| 157 | (4) Brandon Cannon (OSU) def. (11) Jackson Arrington (NCST), MD, 9-1 | 15 | 4 |
| 165 | (19) Will Denny (NCST) def. (11) Paddy Gallagher (OSU), SV-1, 6-5 | 15 | 7 |
| 174 | (5) Carson Kharchla (OSU) def. (3) Matthew Singleton (NCST), D, 8-4 | 18 | 7 |
| 184 | (6) Dylan Fishback (OSU) def. Don Cates (NCST), MD, 12-1 | 22 | 7 |
| 197 | (14) Luke Geog (OSU) def. Cason Howle (NCST), MD, 17-4 | 26 | 7 |
| HWT | (2) Isaac Trumble (NCST) def. (3) Nick Feldman (OSU), D, 5-1 | 26 | 10 |
| Attendance: 3,895 |
#GoBucks
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