Another week and another opponent gets its stats flipped upside down.
The Buckeyes won their first College Football Playoff Game and fifth straight January 1st bowl game by shocking the world with a 42-35 victory over Alabama. The impressive victory earned the Buckeyes a spot in the College Football Championship against Oregon.
How did Ohio State fare on the statistical scoreboard? Total domination.
It's always interesting to see how a team's stats change after playing Ohio State. Like most teams this season, Alabama took the biggest hits in the defensive categories. The Buckeyes gashed the Tide's defense for 537 total yards. That is 224.6 yards above their average. Ohio State gained 281 by ground (+192.3) and 256 (+32.3) by air.
I'll let you read that again, Ohio State gained 281 rushing yards against (statistically) the second best rush defense in the country.
The Ohio State defense turned in a performance that could be overlooked because of the 35 points allowed. However, the Silver Bullets held Amari Cooper to 71 yards. That is 56.4 yards below his average. The Buckeyes held the Crimson Tide to 407 yards of total offense. That is 83.5 yards below Alabama's average.
Ohio State won 14 out of the 16 statistical categories that I have followed this season.
DAMN, TIDE GOT ROLLED.
Below you will be able to compare Alabama's stats before playing, and after playing, Ohio State.
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| 2014 Stats Per Game | Statistical Category | Against Ohio State | Statistical Difference |
| 37.1 | Points For | 35 | - 2.1 |
| 16.6 | Points Against | 42 | - 25.4 |
| OFFENSE | |||
| 209.5 | Rushing Offense | 170 | - 39.5 |
| 281.0 | Passing Offense | 237 | - 44.0 |
| 490.5 | Total Offense | 407 | - 83.5 |
| DEFENSE | |||
| 88.7 | Rushing Defense | 281 | - 192.3 |
| 223.7 | Passing Defense | 256 | - 32.3 |
| 312.4 | Total Defense | 537 | - 224.6 |
| OFF. MISC. | |||
| .541 | 3rd Down Conv. | .154 | - .387 |
| .850 | Red Zone | 1.000 | + .150 |
| 9.7 | Punt Return | 5.0 | - 4.7 |
| 21.5 | Kickoff Return | 14.6 | - 6.9 |
| DEF. MISC. | |||
| .362 | 3rd Down Conv. | .556 | - .194 |
| .825 | Red Zone | 1.000 | - .175 |
| 115.8 | Pass Eff. Def. | 125.6 | - 9.8 |
| 43.4 | Net Punting | 53.6 | + 10.2 |
| Total: 2 | THE EDGE | Total: 14 |
Nick, don't go away mad. Just go away.
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| 2014 Stats Before Ohio State | National Ranking | Statistical Category | 2014 Stats After Ohio State | National Ranking* | Difference |
| 37.1 | 16th | Points For | 36.9 | 16th | - 0.2 |
| 16.6 | 4th | Points Against | 18.4 | 6th | - 1.8 |
| OFFENSE | |||||
| 209.5 | 34th | Rushing Offense | 206.6 | 34th | - 2.9 |
| 281.0 | 21st | Passing Offense | 277.9 | 28th | - 3.1 |
| 490.5 | 16th | Total Offense | 484.5 | 17th | - 6.0 |
| DEFENSE | |||||
| 88.7 | 2nd | Rushing Defense | 102.4 | 4th | - 13.7 |
| 223.7 | 31st | Passing Defense | 226.0 | 58th | - 2.3 |
| 312.4 | 11th | Total Defense | 328.4 | 13th | - 16.0 |
| OFF. MISC. | |||||
| .541 | 2nd | 3rd Down Conv. | .515 | 5th | - .026 |
| .850 | 50th | Red Zone | .859 | 47th | + .009 |
| 9.7 | 38th | Punt Return | 9.4 | 42nd | - 0.3 |
| 21.5 | 52nd | Kickoff Return | 20.5 | 71st | - 1.0 |
| DEF. MISC. | |||||
| .362 | 31st | 3rd Down Conv. | .378 | 40th | - .016 |
| .825 | 58th | Red Zone | .841 | 76th | - .016 |
| 115.8 | 31st | Pass Eff. Def. | 116.5 | 31st | - 0.7 |
| 43.4 | 2nd | Net Punting | 44.7 | 1st | + 1.3 |
| Total: 2 | THE EDGE | Total: 14 |
*National ranking after bowl games played through 1-1-2015. Six games will be played through Saturday.
