What We Learned as Buckeyes gear up for Big Ten title game

COLUMBUS — Nobody would have blamed Ohio State for being upset about missing out on a chance to win its ninth-straight game over Michigan.

The Buckeyes practice, train, lift weights and study film with their rival on their minds 364 days each year. To have that game canceled after a full year of work could have been devastating for one of the best teams in the country. Maybe a lesser team would have hung its head.

But once the Big Ten rightfully changed its rule to allow the Buckeyes — the clear best team in the East Division — into the championship game despite only playing five games, the Michigan cancelation was in the rearview. The idea of playing for Gold Pants and bragging rights gave way to play for new rings.

It’s Championship Season.

“I think that we’re focused on it being the championship season,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said Sunday as the Buckeyes begin prep for Northwestern. “I think it’s something that they really want to look forward to anyway. So now that we’re here, it’s like OK, we’re playing for rings now.

“I’ve seen an excitement in their eye and a great look in their eye. … Now as we’re getting toward the end of the season, they know we have a chance to win this thing. There’s been a lot of excitement.”

Ohio State captains Justin Fields and Jonathon Cooper joined Day on Sunday to share the excitement of playing for a championship this week with the media. And Lettermen Row is breaking down What We Learned as the Big Ten East champs go for a fourth-straight conference title and a chance to make another College Football Playoff run.

Buckeyes quickly moved on from missed rivalry game

The Woody Hayes Athletic Center is pasted with graphics and reminders of the most important game on the Ohio State schedule. So when Michigan canceled The Game last week due to COVID-19 concerns, there was obviously a let-down effect in the Buckeyes facility.

But they quickly found a way to get over it and turn focus to the title game and earning a fourth-straight Big Ten ring.

“It’s something we have had to become really good at,” Day said. “I think if this was something where it just happened last year and everything was going normal and this game got canceled, it would probably take a lot longer to recover from. But we’re actually getting used to receiving bad news and having to move on quickly. I think we’ve become hardened as a team to that.

“Because of that, we moved on pretty quickly and transitioned right to playing in this championship game because that’s what matters next.”

Ohio State attempting to maintain rhythm through cancelations

When the Big Ten released its revised eight-game schedule plan in September, it wasn’t realistic to expect all eight games to be played, especially with no off-dates built into the schedule.

But the Buckeyes still weren’t expecting to only play twice in the final five weeks of the regular season leading up to the Big Ten title game. So when that happened through the last five weeks, Day and the Buckeyes had to adapt to make an attempt at keeping a rhythm and maintain the championship level.

“What we tried to do is on those off-weeks, we try to make it as much of a game as possible,” Day said. “We did that on Friday. We tried to simulate a game, we played a half of football. We had special teams go out there, everybody was on the sideline. So we’re trying to simulate that the best we can, keep that rhythm and try to keep that momentum going the best we can.”

They’ve done that so far. And after another cancelation last week, they’ll need to keep the momentum into the matchup with Northwestern.

Jonathon Cooper ‘blessed’ to be back in Big Ten title

Last season, Ohio State had one of the most dominant teams in the country and bulldozed its way to the College Football Playoff without one of its best pass-rushers. Jonathon Cooper had to watch from the sideline has his teammates made that run without him. He was glad to redshirt and return, but watching last season was hard.

“To put it frankly, it sucked having to watch my team do everything that I wanted to do,” Cooper said. “But I did everything that I could, being a leader, speaking up, trying to coach the young guys up out there and help out the best way I could. That made me happy, especially when they went out there and won. I was happy regardless.”

Now that Cooper is back for one final run at a Big Ten title and a potential College Football Playoff appearance with the Buckeyes, the happiness grows — even under the unusual circumstances of his final Ohio State season.

“Obviously this year hasn’t gone the way I thought it would,” he said. “But I don’t think it’s gone the way anybody thought it would. It’s been a crazy year. Games canceled on us left and right, everybody and this whole COVID situation. Even with all that, I just feel blessed that I got the opportunity to come back and play.”

Justin Fields not worried about Heisman campaign, resume

Justin Fields is arguably the best player in college football. The Heisman finalist from a year ago was certainly expecting to lead the Buckeyes to the College Football Playoff yet again this season, only this time winning it. But he also had some personal goals in mind as he entered his junior season.

Now with only a five-game resume, the Heisman Trophy seems out of reach for the one-time favorite to win it. With a relatively small body of work, Fields may not win the ultimate individual award in college football, but he can still chase a national title.

“No,” Fields said when he was asked if he was upset that he might not win the Heisman Trophy. “I tend to focus on the things that I can control, so whatever that is, the number of games, whatever that comes into effect in winning that award, I can’t control that. So what I can control is just going out there and playing my hardest for my teammates and my brothers and just try to piece together a good game.

“So as far as that, I’m not really worried about it. I’m just worried about winning games.”

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