Every week, Eleven Warriors dives into the mentions of Ohio State's coaches and players to bring you the #HotTakes and ramblings of Buckeye Nation. This week, we're looking back at Ohio State's dominant win over Michigan State.
Ohio State returned to form in more ways than one on Saturday afternoon.
After cancelling their contest against Illinois, the Buckeyes made the trip to East Lansing missing a host of key players and coaches — most notably along the offensive line — for their showdown against Michigan State.
Associate head coach and defensive line coach Larry Johnson stepped up in the absence of Ryan Day and led the team to a convincing 52-12 victory.
Quarterback Justin Fields was brilliant, throwing for 199 yards and two touchdowns to complement 104 rushing yards and another two scores on the ground. Wideout Chris Olave was Fields' top target, hauling in 10 catches for 139 yards and a touchdown, while Trey Sermon led the charge on the ground with 112 yards and one touchdown.
The victory put the Buckeyes at 5-0 and on the doorstep of the Big Ten Championship Game, but Saturday's game against Michigan (which would secure the minimum six-game standard to qualify for the title game) is at risk due to a COVID-19 outbreak in the Wolverines program.
Regardless of what happens next week, the Buckeyes looked like they belonged in the College Football Playoff discussion with their decisive victory over Michigan State.
Let's get to the mentions.
@ Larry Johnson
Today Larry Johnson makes history as the first African American to serve as Head Coach of the Ohio State Football Team. He is beyond deserving of this opportunity as he has impacted the game and development for several individuals. Huge congratulations coach @R2X_Rushmen1 !
— Stephanie Otey (@StephOtey) December 5, 2020
This was without a doubt the single best aspect about Saturday's contest. Well earned and deserved.
Oh no! Someone is going to steal Larry Johnson now!! Well deserved but would be sad to see him go! Great first half with so many starts missing. Way to go @R2X_Rushmen1 #Buckeyes
— mindy machock (@mmachock) December 5, 2020
Well okay, now I'm panicking.
@R2X_Rushmen1 pic.twitter.com/UmIsuWLHWv
— Mike Hostal (@mike_hostal) December 5, 2020
Someone tell @R2X_Rushmen1 to start calling some timeouts so we get the ball back with time. #Buckeyes
— Buckeye Sloopy (@419_sloopy) December 5, 2020
This was literally the only negative tweet I found in Johnson's mentions during the game, which is amazing considering Day gets about two dozen during blowout wins.
#OhioState defense looks great today! Way to face adversity and be ready for the MSU challenge! @OhioStateFB @R2X_Rushmen1 @DB_CoachCoombs @CoachWash56
— Julia OHickey (@johickey) December 5, 2020
Not sure this "MSU challenge" you're talking about exists, unless you're a Michigan fan, of course.
Shout out to coach @R2X_Rushmen1 for doing a great job today taking over the head coaching duties in @ryandaytimes absence. Thank you Coach Johnson & your staff for stepping up & getting us this win. @OhioStateFB
— Melissa (@MelBear26) December 5, 2020
Hats off @R2X_Rushmen1 An impressive win, Coach. Next man up! @ryandaytime @OhioStateFB
— Jon Ohlinger (@OhlingerJon) December 5, 2020
The game this easy for you? @R2X_Rushmen1 pic.twitter.com/OsqmmrwM7I
— Luke (@luke3342) December 5, 2020
Preach.
Definitely deserve it coach @R2X_Rushmen1 pic.twitter.com/2RekM3nBKr
— PJ Brown (@pj_brownpj68) December 5, 2020
@ Ryan Day
Even though Day watched the game from his couch on Saturday, his mentions were on fire.
Welcome to our world, @ryandaytime. Youll probably want to stay off Twitter for the next few hours too https://t.co/rkBo9NbNif
— Jeff Pelletier (@JeffBC94) December 5, 2020
I've put this article together every game day for the last three years and can confirm that yes, Day should keep off Twitter.
@ryandaytime tell them to go vertical, run straight ahead, 3 new starters, think less.
— Depeche Mode (@Chibusfan) December 5, 2020
See what I mean?
Drunk camera guy not helping
— MC- would rather be sitting on a beach earning 20% (@Justmrscamby) December 5, 2020
Ugh, yes! The camera guy in East Lansing had to have been zooted Saturday afternoon.
This should be the main offense using fields legs; hopefully @ryandaytime is learning from this one
— C.H (@YouCedwhat) December 5, 2020
Sigh...
.@ryandaytime when the announcer says Ryan Day is watching this game from his couch right now on national television pic.twitter.com/0Sav1UypuD
— candace (@candaceoffman) December 5, 2020
@ryandaytime Great game Coach. Get well soon!
— Jeremy Michael Cochran (@SBBC1689) December 5, 2020
Congratulations @ryandaytime for leading your coaches and players to perform at a high level in your absence. A very high level of leadership. Culture speaks volumes. #gobucks
— Shawn Shumaker (@shawnshumaker) December 5, 2020
— Moose (@RustBRefugee47) December 5, 2020
@ryandaytime It's Officially ichigan Week! No ercy! #Hang
— Kevin Baxter (@BUCKEYEDUDE23) December 5, 2020
// Crosses fingers //
@ Justin Fields
Holy bobbled snaps - @justnfields head is on a swivel #GoBucks
— Jessica Hefner (@jess4OSU) December 5, 2020
Saturday was an interesting experience because it highlighted how important depth is for a football team. Without its starting center and two other starters along the offensive line, Ohio State had to shuffle things around, which put Harry Miller under the gun.
He did the best he could, but because Ohio State primarily operates out of the shotgun, Saturday was... an adventure for Fields.
Going to be a long day with an inexperienced center - poor guy. However, Im even more impressed wirh @justnfields rn - what a leader #gobucks #ohiostate
— Jessica Hefner (@jess4OSU) December 5, 2020
Justin Fields handles this game and these snaps with an o line of young backups then give this man the Heisman @justnfields
— Not Today (@BuckeyesGirl33) December 5, 2020
.@justnfields is just vibin'.
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) December 5, 2020
The @OhioStateFB QB decides to tuck it for the touchdown in East Lansing: pic.twitter.com/iPBtxzLRnN
The response to this touchdown run is something to behold.
@justnfields https://t.co/N1Mu1UNHCc pic.twitter.com/iRK9ZiAF6I
— ADeVito (@_ADevito) December 5, 2020
@justnfields out here looking like @BraxtonMiller5 for that TD pic.twitter.com/JBI31uWQBx
— Joseph Wooster (@JoeWooster00) December 5, 2020
@justnfields pic.twitter.com/9s3DpYs0xK
— Jessica Hefner (@jess4OSU) December 5, 2020
@justnfields pic.twitter.com/2p3YnHyVKd
— Hamp (@Ron_Hamp) December 5, 2020
@justnfields is a dawgggggg
— Brandon Ellis (@brandonellis06) December 5, 2020
Not anymore, actually. He's a Buckeye now.
Watching @justnfields single-handedly pick apart Michigan State with a second-string offensive line and no head coach makes me ask hard and serious questions about @KirbySmartUGA
— Steve Eubanks (@jseubanks) December 5, 2020
Heh, timely.
.@justnfields flashed the arm after dominating on foot so far.
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) December 5, 2020
And @GarrettWilson_V does the rest for @OhioStateFB: pic.twitter.com/5rg58qiFcY
That touch, though.
Having @justnfields on your team is like using 5-1-4-^ before a game of NFL Blitz
— David (@corna_w_lime) December 5, 2020
Uh Oh. @justnfields took a shot for sure. Defense 86 drove him into ground. CJ Stroud in.
— Tim May (@TIM_MAYsports) December 5, 2020
Fields took a shot and had me holding my breath for a very long time, but fortunately he missed just one play.
@justnfields pic.twitter.com/sLO6rStqZY
— ASchwall55 (@schwall55) December 5, 2020
Justin Fields ran with his RB the whole way @justnfields @treyera @OhioStateFB
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) December 5, 2020
(via @BigTenNetwork)pic.twitter.com/OCJUOe7W3C
I mean, come on!
Bro did @justnfields just catch that dude for the block?????
— Buckeyes recruiting and news (@RecruitingBucks) December 5, 2020
@justnfields just ran 70 yards to throw a block for a @treyera TD pic.twitter.com/JL5FKcLeEX
— Theodore (@TheodoreR2020) December 5, 2020
@justnfields makes fast people look not fast pic.twitter.com/3rntEBj4Mo
— Tyler Neff (@Neffery_14) December 5, 2020
Even tho @justnfields is whooping my Spartans asses right now. Ive liked this kid since QB1. Good luck Justin, a bright future ahead.
— Releasin The Kracken Chapman (@TomChap21719319) December 5, 2020
Fields is really out here converting fans.
@justnfields takes a snap! pic.twitter.com/LAw0DCoBmR
— Jeff Nuckles (@COLUMBUSPEEDWAY) December 5, 2020
This is a throw certain trophy-winners make.
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) December 5, 2020
We're not saying, we're just saying. @justnfields and @OhioStateFB have been dominant today: pic.twitter.com/mhbmPa5uox
Accurate.
Hopefully this time next week, we'll be back here pointing and laughing at Michigan.
