Analyzing the Rushing Battle for Ohio State vs. Texas

Photo by Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The No. 8 seed Ohio State Buckeyes (12-2) will take on the No. 5 seed Texas Longhorns (13-2) on Jan. 10 in the Cotton Bowl to decide which team will play in the College Football Playoff National Championship. Both teams have made their living on offense through the passing attack recently with their explosive receiving targets. With that said, the rushing battle may end up playing a much bigger role than fans may initially think.

Ohio State's Rushing Offense

It is no secret that Ohio State struggled to run the ball in their 13-10 loss against Michigan (8-5) on Nov. 30. It is also no secret that the Buckeyes' offense has looked very different since that game. Head coach Ryan Day and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly have heavily adjusted their offensive strategy. They seemed to be trying to prove a point that they could run the ball whenever they wanted to against the Wolverines. That resulted in them not moving the ball and being forced into obvious passing downs. In their two games since that loss, they have passed on early downs and then attacked with the run once defenses adjusted.

Against Tennessee (10-3), the Buckeyes attacked downfield early. The rushing attack then followed quickly afterward. They would finish with 156 rushing yards on 4.7 yards per carry. They also added 4 total rushing touchdowns in that first round playoff matchup at Ohio Stadium. Following that, they would total 181 rushing yards against the No. 1 Oregon Ducks (13-1). In that second round contest, they averaged 5.8 yards per carry and scored 2 rushing TDs as they coasted to the win. Their seemingly new philosophy of passing to open up for the run has taken their offense to the next level.

Texas' Rushing Offense

The Longhorns ran all over the Clemson (10-4) defense in their first playoff game. They averaged 6.1 yards per carry and rushed for 292 yards and 4 TDs. Getting their rushing offense going early allowed them to control the game throughout all four quarters on their way to victory. Against Arizona State (11-3), they were much less successful with their ground game. They averaged only 1.8 yards per attempt and only totaled 53 rushing yards. Quarterback Quinn Ewers did score their lone rushing TD in the game on a 5-yard run in the second half.

In the other games where Texas struggled, they also had very little production on the ground. They averaged just 1.1 yards per attempt in both of their losses to Georgia (11-2). However, against their common opponent with Ohio State in Michigan, they ran for 4.5 yards per carry and 143 total rushing yards. The Buckeyes only totaled 77 yards on 3 yards per carry against Michigan. When Texas has success in the run game, they win comfortably. When they struggle, the scoreboard mirrors those results.

How Do They Match Up?

Both teams do a great job of stopping the run in their top matchups. The Texas defense routinely holds opponents under 4.0 yards per attempt and under 150 rushing yards in their biggest games. They did struggle more so in their last game against the Sun Devils. They gave up 214 rushing yards on a 4.4 yards per attempt average. Texas will need to contain the Ohio State rushing attack if the passing game can gain momentum and force defenders out of the box. QB Will Howard is a threat and they have their skilled running back duo of TreyVeon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins. Slowing down all three of those threats will prove to be a challenge with how they have played in their last two outings.

The Buckeyes' defense has been stellar against the run all season long. They have carried that success into the postseason. Ohio State held both the talented Penn State and Tennessee rushing offenses to under 4.0 yards per carry. In their most recent matchup against Oregon, they forced the Ducks to minus-23 total rushing yards. Part of that was from the 8 sacks the defense had on QB Dillon Gabriel. Taking out his rushing numbers, the Ducks still had only 20 yards on 16 rushes. The Ohio State defense is seemingly improving each week somehow this late into the year. The "silver bullets" will now have their work cut out for them with the explosive Texas running backs in Quintrevion Wisner and Jaydon Blue. Head coach Steve Sarkisian will use that tandem in his unique run scheme that will constantly stress the Buckeyes' defense.

Ohio State and Texas both have very good defensive lines and linebackers that are more than capable of stopping the run themselves. However, the X-factors for both teams will be how excellent their defensive backs are in their run fits. Ohio State's Caleb Downs and Lathan Ransom very well might be the two best in the country at getting downhill and making textbook tackles with consistency. Texas has their own defensive backs who play the run well in Jahdae Barron and Andrew Mukuba. Both defenses have their entire unit prepared to defend the run as well as anyone. Perhaps the unit who makes just one or two big-play saving tackles will make the difference in the game.

Both teams have a deadly passing attack with their offensive weapons and veteran coaching staffs. Their ability to compliment that attack with their ground game could very well be the key to the game's ultimate outcome in Arlington, Texas.