Excellence isn't just a standard in Columbus, Ohio. It's an expectation.
With two games remaining in the regular season for the Ohio State Buckeyes, who are on the cusp of their first Big Ten title game appearance since 2020, Fox Sports' Joel Klatt is all-in on the Buckeyes to make yet another magical run toward another national title game.
“And Ohio State is number one,” Klatt said on "The Joel Klatt Show" Monday. “Even without Carnell Tate on the field and no Jeremiah Smith late in the game, what did they do? They just decided to run the football for 6.7 per carry, which is the most per carry UCLA has given up since 2019.”
Klatt said the timing and dominance of the Buckeyes on a week-to-week basis is unsurprising, but as November turns more meaningful, so does the pressure to leave no doubt when the final whistle goes off.
“Everyone’s been lamenting this idea that Ohio State can’t run the football,” Klatt said. “They run it better against UCLA than anybody has this entire season, including Utah. Maybe Ohio State can run the football pretty well.”
The Buckeyes have their home finale this Saturday against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (noon ET, Fox). Not only is this a game where the Buckeyes should handle business, but it also culminates with Senior Day at Ohio Stadium to give those who have dedicated their time to coach Ryan Day's program a proper sendoff.
Nonetheless, though, Klatt appears to love this year's Buckeye team. This is a relatively good sign, as criticism plagued Day's Buckeyes following a loss to the Wolverines this past season.
Should history not repeat itself in Week 14 in Ann Arbor, a run to the title game is all but a guarantee again.
Only time will tell.