Ohio State Football Retrospective: The Season of “What If?”

Best Single-Gamer Performance: Ezekiel Elliott

When the Ohio State offense couldn’t struggle more, it found itself in a shootout with lowly Indiana. Twenty-three carries, 274 yards, and three touchdowns later, Elliott willed the Buckeyes to a win. He had scoring runs of 55, 65, and 75 yards, all after running for only 31 yards in the entire first half. Even better than the four touchdowns in the Fiesta Bowl, this game will be the signature game for Elliott, one where he showcased, speed, power, and an ability to rise to the occasion when his team needs him in critical moments.

2015 wasn’t the dream season Ohio State fans thought it would be when the Buckeyes were a unanimous preseason number one. It was still a great year, finishing at 12-1 with a New Year’s Six bowl win and another top-five recruiting class on the way. There is plenty of talent leaving, but Urban Meyer has proven that he can reload with the type of recruiting success he has enjoyed in recent seasons. Don’t forget, this senior class leaves as the winningest class in college football history. That alone is no small feat.

Ohio State fans always set the bar high and 2015 might have seen them set it too high with too much hype and too much pressure. It’s hard to believe that it did not have an effect on the team on the field and followed players everywhere they went off of it.

Next: 3 NFL Comparisons For Ezekiel Elliott

But that pressure won’t die down, it will only fuel Meyer and his team during the offseason to remember that 2015’s promise went unfulfilled. I can imagine that the relative let down will be something of a recurring theme for returning players this winter, as it should be. Nonetheless, the 2015 version of the Buckeyes added trees to Buckeye Grove, Gold Pants, and a Fiesta Bowl trophy. I’d say that’s a great season.