Twistity Sports Exclusive: BUCKEYE BLOWOUT

 
When the College Football Playoff selection committee issued its final rankings, unhappiness reigned.

Why was TCU dropped from third place to fifth after a 55-3 win to close the season? Was Ohio State’s 59-0 win in the Big Ten championship game over Wisconsin sufficient to have it leapfrog others into the fourth spot? Could OSU compete with a third-string quarterback?

Well, TCU was done an injustice, but a four-team bracket can only hold four teams. And the first-ever national championship decided via playoff validated the selection committee.

The Buckeyes dominated Oregon on Monday night, a late touchdown only adding insult to physical injury in a 42-20 pounding. Oregon led 7-0 in the first quarter and never again and Ohio State scored a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter to complete the rout.

 
Running back Ezekiel Elliott gained 246 yards on 36 carries and scored four touchdowns as Ohio State attacked the middle of the Ducks’ over and over. Oregon’s up-tempo offense produced yards but not points. Buckeyes quarterback Cardale Jones completed 16 of 23 passes for 243 yards, throwing a touchdown pass and an interception and losing a fumble.

Urban Meyer joined Alabama’s Nick Saban as the only coaches to win national titles at two schools. Saban won one at LSU and has collected three with the Crimson Tide. Meyer won a pair at Florida and now has one at Ohio State, where his teams are 38-3 in his three seasons.

The next bit of drama? Will Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota, a junior who won the Heisman Trophy, opt for the NFL draft? He has until Thursday to decide.
 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman .