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Joel Klatt: Ohio State is absolutely national championship caliber

Matt Connollyby:Matt Connolly•11/04/24•

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Carson Hinzman
Ohio State OL Carson Hinzman, OL coach Justin Frye and OL Seth McLaughlin (© Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt had questions about Ohio State entering Saturday’s game against Penn State. Those question marks were answered as the Buckeyes handled the Nittany Lions 20-13 on the road.

Klatt wasn’t sure that Ohio State was a team capable of winning a national title before Saturday, but he is a believer in the Buckeyes now.

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“I come out of that game, watching those four quarters of football and the way they played up front against that defensive front and in that environment, and now I’m bullish,” Klatt said on The Joel Klatt Show on Monday. “I think Ohio State is absolutely national championship caliber, based on what they did in those four quarters with their offensive line.”

Ohio State was banged up on the offensive line entering the matchup, but overall the group played well.

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Chip Kelly’s offense rushed for 179 yards against Penn State and moved the chains on the ground late when it needed to.

“They came in as a mess, and they left as an answer – cohesive and ready to go – 40 carries, 179 yards, including what you’re watching right now, which is just running it right down Penn State’s throat when they got the ball back with about 5 minutes to go on their own 1-yard line,” Klatt said. “Defense creates a big stand and then they just decided to run the football and they ended the game with the ball on the field.

“That is a championship mindset, OK? When you know that you’re going to run the football, and they know that you’re going to run the football, and you still do it, that is eating up front. And they played terrific.”

Klatt admitted that the performance wasn’t perfect. After all, Ohio State allowed three sacks and six tackles for loss.

But overall he loved what he saw from the Buckeyes and would not be surprised at all if Ohio State comes out on top win the season comes to an end.

“Ohio State with the ability to run the football is a scary football team. That’s just the bottom line,” Klatt said. “Because you know that they’re going to be able to throw it. You know that they’re going to be able to be creative. You know that they’ve got weapons on the outside with Egbuka and Jeremiah Smith and Ennis caught a touchdown and Carnell Tate went for 100 against Nebraska. They’re loaded on the outside. We know that.

“We know their backs are great. The question was about this offensive line and those questions were serious. And they were answered in an emphatic way and in a positive fashion for the Buckeyes fans. So I came into this game with serious doubts that this was a national championship caliber team. I left that game, this is absolutely a national championship caliber team based on the way those five guys played up front.”