Trends (aka “grasping at straws”)

While stepping back and looking at today’s 26-14 win over Ohio University, I was reminded of 2007’s battle against Akron last year.  We won that game 20-2, but looked bad for most of the game.

Is there a reason why Ohio State played poorly in both these games?  They were both against weaker in-state opponents, and in neither game should we have had to sweat the eventual outcome.  Perhaps there is no true theory behind why Ohio State looked bad today, besides the simple conclusion that we were overlooking the Bobcats towards next week’s USC game.

Or it could be that since the start of the 21st century, Ohio State simply does not play up to their own standards in the second game of the year.  Take a look at the evidence;

• 2001 – Ohio State falls 13-6 to UCLA, the only time in the Tressel era that the Buckeyes fail to cross the goal line.
• 2003 – The Buckeyes score their only TD of the day on defense, and struggle to put away San Diego State 16-13.
• 2004 – Against a weak Marshall squad, it takes a 55-yard field goal on the final play to win 24-21.
• 2005 – Although the Buckeyes played well, they frequently fail to score touchdowns in the red zone, falling to Texas 25-22.
• 2007 – The aforementioned Akron game.  We led 3-2 at halftime.  Ugly.
• 2008 – Today’s Ohio game.  We trailed 14-12 going into the 4th quarter.

Twice in the past 8 years, we played well in the second week, crushing Kent State 51-17 in 2002, and downing then-#2 Texas 24-7 in 2006.

But it is a disturbing pattern, to say the least.

Here’s the good news, though….Ohio State is unbeaten in Game 3 of the 21st century.

• 2001 – Ohio State 27, Indiana 14
• 2002 – Ohio State 25, #7 Washington State 7
• 2003 – Ohio State 44, N.C. State 38 (best final play I’ve ever seen)
• 2004 – Ohio State 22, N.C. State 14
• 2005 – Ohio State 27, S.D. State 6
• 2006 – Ohio State 37, Cincinnati 7
• 2007 – Ohio State 33, Washington 14

Does it mean anything?  Nope.  But I’ll sleep better tonight knowing that we have a history of playing better in the third game than we did in the second.

How about you?

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