Ohio State football has heard all season long that it is only good because it bought all of its talent.
But, little did many remember that, outside of Caleb Downs and a few other select players, most of Ohio State’s star-studded defense stayed in Columbus from a season ago.
On the offensive side of the ball, sure, Quinshon Judkins has played some role, but it has been freshman Jeremiah Smith and long-time Buckeyes star Emeka Egbuka carrying much of the offensive load.
That’s why analyst Kirk Herbstreit felt comfortable fighting back against that claim, especially after the Buckeyes throttled the Tennessee Volunteers and Oregon Ducks in the College Football Playoff.
Herbstreit makes a good point too, and with the Buckeyes looking like the best team in the country, there’s something to be said about how important NIL is for the upcoming generation of talent.
Ohio State has proven that it can take recruits and transform them into players who can compete at the highest level in the sport. That’s what may drive many athletes moving forward.
Herbstreit hit the nail on the head, but that’s not what gets the clicks, especially if Ohio State continues surging at the level it has been. The Buckeyes will face the Texas Longhorns in the Cotton Bowl Friday evening.
That will be the real test to see if they belong among the best two teams in the country or not.
This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Kirk Herbstreit sounds off on Ohio State football perception
