Against All Odds, the Buckeyes Win It All as First NCAA CFP Champions

On Monday, Urban Meyer's Ohio State Buckeyes may have cast off the perennial "Three yards and a cloud of dust" label of the Woody Hayes era in favor of "thirty yards and a wisp of smoke" smoothly executed by running back Ezekiel Elliott. The sophomore gained 246 yards and scored four times to win the Offensive Player of the Game honor. The Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the Oregon Ducks 42-20 in the very first NCAA College Football Playoff Championship.

No doubt this victory pleased many fans engaged in betting on the Ohio State Buckeyes football team. The Buckeyes earned their spot in the championship game by delivering an impressive upset in the 2015 Sugar Bowl against Alabama's Crimson Tide. Ohio legal sports betting should be very popular for the 2015/2016 season as they will be favorites to win it all.

And sophomore quarterback Cardale Jones, third on the Buckeye quarterback depth chart at the beginning of the season, completed an incredible football trifecta in his only three starts by winning the Big Ten Championship game, the Sugar Bowl semi-final against top-rated Alabama, and the inaugural NCAA Football Playoff Championship game against the Heisman-led Oregon Ducks. Jones completed 16 passes in 23 attempts for an average of 10.5 yards per reception. And, at several key points in the game, Jones bowled over tacklers with his 6'5" 250 pounds of momentum for critical yardage.

After Oregon scored on a seemingly easy 11-play, 75 yard opening drive, Duck fans at ATT Stadium must have believed that nothing would stop Heisman winner Marcus Mariota's Ducks. Following their New Year's Day pummeling of undefeated Florida State in the Rose Bowl, the Ducks' fast-paced offense seemed to be clicking on all those cylinders that led the nation in several offensive categories.

When the Buckeyes first possession fizzled, the Oregon defense seemed to be in control. But on their second possession, the underdog Ohio State Buckeyes reversed the momentum as running back Ezekiel Elliott blasted, then shifted, his way to a 33 yard scoring run. For the balance of the game, Elliott's rushing, combined with Jones scrambling, passing and ball handling and a very tenacious defense put the Buckeyes in the lead to stay.

Statistically the game was not as lopsided as the final score. Total yardage for both teams was similar, though Oregon's running game was held to a meager 132 yards by a Joey Bosa-led defensive effort. Success on critical plays kept Ohio State from stalling at several points during the game. By comparison, Oregon accomplished an embarrassing 2 for 12 on third down conversions while Ohio State converted 3 for 3 on fourth down attempts. These conversions were a major key to off-setting the Buckeyes' four turnovers.

The first NCAA Championship Playoff Game introduced two teams from conferences that had seemed to be sliding into second-rate positions against the perennial powerhouses in the SEC and ACC. During the 16-year era of the ballot-and-computer-rated BCS system, the Big Ten and the Pac 10 (now Pac12) had only won the NCAA Title twice: Ohio State in 2002 and USC in 2004. Criticisms that these conferences were too slow and conventional were likely correct. But now, after their head-to-head win against Alabama and Florida State in the semi-finals, this assessment seems no longer valid.

As always, Oregon will undoubtedly reload in 2015, whether Mariota opts for the NFL draft or not. Look for the Ducks to be back in the Top Ten at the beginning of the season. Ohio State has an excellent chance of returning to the playoffs in 2015. Meyer will have nearly all key players back, since exactly half of the starting offense and defense were freshmen or sophomores. Add to that an unbelievable lineup of three outstanding game-proven quarterbacks who, if healthy or do not decide to move on, will be competing for the starting job.

There remains little doubt now that this victory fully endorsed the decision of the Playoff Committee to include the Buckeyes in the final four teams. Arguments to include TCU or Baylor were certainly valid, but the Buckeyes proved convincingly that they belonged in that group. Refining the process will be discussed endlessly in the coming years. At least for now, the Champion was decided exactly where it needed to be decided…on the field of play. This is not only a distinct improvement for Ohio football, but for college football in general.