Deficiencies were evident at several levels of the Ohio State defense throughout Thursday night’s 45-31 Ohio State victory in Minneapolis, and they won’t be easily remedied overnight.
However, the new-look Buckeye defense – which featured seven first-time starters and a whole lot of rotational fluidity – made just enough plays to stave off a valiant upset bid by season-opening host Minnesota. In fact, despite giving up 31 points, the Ohio State defense might just have made the most important play of the game in the third quarter.
Having just taken a 21-24 lead with a much-needed 56-yard strike from C.