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Ohio State’s offensive players react to loss to Alabama in National Championship Game
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This wasn’t how Ohio State envisioned it would end.
Heading into Monday night’s College Football Playoff National Championship Game, the Buckeyes believed they had a chance to take down top-ranked Alabama and win their second title of the Playoff era. And while Ohio State put up a strong fight early in the game, the Crimson Tide were too strong for Ryan Day and company.
Alabama cruised to a 52-24 win in the championship game, giving Nick Saban his seventh title as a college football head coach. Ohio State had no answer for the Crimson Tide’s offensive talent, including QB Mac Jones, RB Najee Harris and WR and Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith.
It wasn’t just the defense that struggled, though. Ohio State’s offense failed to take advantage of opportunities, and was stuffed time and again by one of the toughest defenses it faced all season long.
After the game, Ohio State’s offensive players met with the media to talk about the game. Interviews were with a handful of offensive players, including QB Justin Fields, TE Jeremy Ruckert and WR Chris Olave. Here’s what they said:
OSU QB Justin Fields: "End of the day I was able to play and didn't get the job done.
Of course I could have been healthier, but I was healthy enough."— Nathan Baird (@nwbaird) January 12, 2021
Justin Fields: "Definitely wanted a different outcome. I'm going to miss everybody."
On his injury: "At the end of the day, I was able to play, and I didn't get the job done." He says he "could have been healthier" but was "healthy enough."
— Colin Hass-Hill (@chasshill) January 12, 2021
Justin Fields says he was telling the young guys on the team to "remember this feeling" walking off the field after a loss and to "never let it happen to this again."
— Colin Hass-Hill (@chasshill) January 12, 2021
Ohio State WR Chris Olave credited Alabama with playing a better game and that it deserved to win: "It's tough. We have high standards for ourselves. High standards for each other. … We didn't play our best today. … You've just gotta soak it in and bounce back." pic.twitter.com/wk8jFmTpY8
— Zack Carpenter (@Zack_Carp) January 12, 2021
On Justin Fields: "He's a warrior. He's a guy you always want on your team. He's a leader on and off the field. … I've got all love and respect for him and can't wait to see him do big things."
— Zack Carpenter (@Zack_Carp) January 12, 2021
Jeremy Ruckert meeting with the media. On the TEs not being as involved in the offense tonight as it was vs. Clemson, Ruckert said, "If the ball comes my way, I'm gonna do everything I can to make a play. But if it doesn't, I'm gonna do whatever it takes to help the team win." pic.twitter.com/KkBbWMBgdA
— Zack Carpenter (@Zack_Carp) January 12, 2021
Ruckert says his relationship with Justin Fields goes back to high school.
Ruckert: "He's one of the toughest teammates I've ever played with."
— Zack Carpenter (@Zack_Carp) January 12, 2021
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB