The sky isn’t falling… OSU is just that good.

[hUTch2002]

You really thought we were going to beat them?

I thought we had a good chance. I underestimated how thin and beat up we were at some spots as we had freshmen playing a lot of skill positions. Of course the big change was how well Ohio State played. My belief was based on how they played throughout the year. Kudos to them that they opened the offense up and came in fired up. It’s hard not to wonder if it plays out differently had we not gotten the face mask penalty on their first drive and then put up points on our first drive but that’s not what happened. We did get the penalty, they played a great game and they just whipped us. It was still a very good year overall and I’m happy about our overall trajectory.

 

[RespectAPA]

60 minutes of football is never fully representativ of a team. OSU is niether as good as their blowout win against Oregon, nor as bad as their loss to a mediocre Michigan.

But their full resume, 840 minutes of football, demonstrates that they're one of the best teams in the sport this year. Sux that they had to lose so late and for us to be the team that got matched up with 'em. C'est la vie.

 

[swampfoxfan]

Oregon is a good team. Ohio State is just that damn good. More talent at every position than every other team in the country this year.

I,hoped Tennessee would beat OSU, made that prediction. That said OSU has been bringing in tons of talent the last few years and in my heart I knew it would probably be long night for the vols.
I also bet Tennessee would beat Alabama every year since 1973.

Hope you have a great new year

 

[Volnanza]

Best team money can buy. but if it works we just need a bigger checkbook

Unfortunately, we are still right at the start of this fiasco. NIL will make many twists and turns in the next few years. Rule #1: There is ALWAYS someone out there with a bigger McDonalds' bag. You better be able to have other things to sell.

 

[hUTch2002]

It doesn't feel that way to me anymore SY (love your name BTW! Zappa is a musical hero of mine!). I think our record last season has given a lot of people a false view of the actual quality of this team. It reminds me of that one season Richt had at Miami when they won 10 games, but struggled in most of them, winning by very slim margins. Then the very next season they tanked. Programs on the come-up do not lose entire position groups to the portal. Programs on the come-up don't fail to develop a single offensive lineman out of high school in 4 years. Programs on the come-up don't play so undisciplined and make so many stupid, unnecessary mistakes. I'm telling you, we need to brace ourselves because 2025 is going to be a very underwhelming year for the Vols.

I agree there are some concerning signs BUT we have a favorable schedule again next year and we’ve plugged 10+ wins 2 out of the last 3 years after 15 years of mediocrity, and that’s being kind. That is a program on the rise if you ask me. Not everything is perfect though and you bring up legitimate concerns. Heupel has done a great job getting us here. Can he take us to the next level where we’re playing for and winning the SEC, in the playoff regularly, making the final 4 and maybe even winning the Championship? I don’t know. We shall see. In no way should Heupel be remotely in trouble though.

 

[DaddyChad]

I,hoped Tennessee would beat OSU, made that prediction. That said OSU has been bringing in tons of talent the last few years and in my heart I knew it would probably be long night for the vols.
I also bet Tennessee would beat Alabama every year since 1973.

Hope you have a great new year

Same here. I thought after the Michigan game we might have the advantage over their Oline. They quickly corrected anything we were able to do that first drive then it was all downhill from there. Ohio State has had a wealth of talent several years; Day just flubs up things. He’s finally got enough talent and the right coordinators to get him over the finish line IMO. I think someone said the defense has 9 starters that have been in that system for four years or more. That’s a damn good team with a lot of experience on the defensive side of the football and a wealth of talent on the offensive side.

Hope you and yours have a great new year as well.

 

[GVF]

Unfortunately, we are still right at the start of this fiasco. NIL will make many twists and turns in the next few years. Rule #1: There is ALWAYS someone out there with a bigger McDonalds' bag. You better be able to have other things to sell.

That is true. UT will never have a $20 million roster. Probably always have had one. Saban Bama would have never existed to the level it did without a substantial under the table business going on. Or Texas, or OK, or OSU, or Oregon. I'd wager the uniforms were the least of Nike's investment in Eugene.

 

[GVF]

Same here. I thought after the Michigan game we might have the advantage over their Oline. They quickly corrected anything we were able to do that first drive then it was all downhill from there. Ohio State has had a wealth of talent several years; Day just flubs up things. He’s finally got enough talent and the right coordinators to get him over the finish line IMO. I think someone said the defense has 9 starters that have been in that system for four years or more. That’s a damn good team with a lot of experience on the defensive side of the football and a wealth of talent on the offensive side.

Hope you and yours have a great new year as well.

They put that graphic up last night. All but one starter on D for OSU had 4-5 years experience. Also puts OSU on a serious reload venture for next year. It will be a very young D.

 

[DeepSpringsVol]

I think they threw that Michigan game to avoid the conference championship. No way they go from lazily running up the middle every play into the Michigan buzzsaw to this dynamic offense just because a loss "got them fired up". It's too big of a gap

They did not throw it or they wouldn't have wanted to fight after Michigan took ownership of their field. What I believe happened though is they stubbornly thought they could out physical Michigan with personnel they had. Which benefitted Michigan shrinking the playback and play defense and ball control.

 

[Illinoisvolfan2]

No way PSU nor ND would beat us that bad. Not sure they would beat us

Their DLs would maul our OL. Watch what ND is doing to UGA.

 

[Delmar]

Unfortunately, we are still right at the start of this fiasco. NIL will make many twists and turns in the next few years. Rule #1: There is ALWAYS someone out there with a bigger McDonalds' bag. You better be able to have other things to sell.

This is what the college football world has devolved into and the fans are the losers. You are going to see the same 4 or 5 teams every year at the top and it will be the ones with the deepest pockets.

 

[Delmar]

Their DLs would maul our OL. Watch what ND is doing to UGA.

I don’t know about maul but they would give our slow line fits. We had trouble protecting Nico against good teams. They are giving up 50 lbs per man to Georgia. But they are dang sure quick and their coordinator is dialing up a good plan.

 

[Illinoisvolfan2]

I don’t know about maul but they would give our slow line fits. We had trouble protecting Nico against good teams. They are giving up 50 lbs per man to Georgia. But they are dang sure quick and their coordinator is dialing up a good plan.

Yes. The ND line is very quick. They are getting the edge against the UGA tackles

 

[901 Orange]

OSU not only has the highest overall talent level - they have used the Michigan loss to galvanize the team and play up to their potential. I was a doubter of theirs for most of the season but give credit where credit is due, they have used a bad loss in the correct way and it is going to be incredibly tough for any team to beat them. Ryan Day has legitimately saved his job with the performance against TN & the first half against Oregon.

Idk if it's just me but I think Chip Kelly saved Day's job. I have never been a big fan of Chip but I'll give credit where it's due. That man did some soul searching and reinvented himself. He is calling plays on another level in the playoffs.

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

Their DLs would maul our OL. Watch what ND is doing to UGA.

Uh huh

 

[Unconditional Surrender]

Disagree. We were down 21-10 and getting the ball first in the second half at their place at night. Oregon was down 34-0 midway through the second quarter at a neutral site. Both were blowouts, but OSU had to actually play in the second half against us, while they went into the football version of the 'four corners' yesterday.

Fair.