I didn't see much (any) reporting on this until I read this in the Wall Street Journal this morning.
The defensive line was asked ot lose weight in advance of facing a fast offense. If they weighed less, they'd be faster.
So, Ohio State’s defensive coaches asked their players, particularly those on the defensive line, to lose about 5 pounds in 10 days. Each one was given a target weight and shepherded onto the scale before the game. “I told them: ‘I don’t want you to starve. Just eat less,’ ” Ohio State defensive-line coach Larry Johnson said.
To me, this is as much psychological as anything.
Once again UFM is the master of motivating his troops and keeping them focused.