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Ohio State wins, says ESPN’s David Pollack if J.K. Dobbins doesn’t get hurt
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Ohio State was manhandling Clemson to start the Fiesta Bowl. At one point, the Buckeyes led 10-0. Then they tacked on two more field goals to make it 16-0.
Running back J.K. Dobbins was controlling the game with over 100 rushing yards in the first quarter alone. But then he injured his ankle.
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Dobbins would end up returning, getting hurt and then returning again. But, he was never the same. You could tell when watching him run.
Clemson obviously went on to win the game 29-23, eliminating the Buckeyes from the College Football Playoff. On Tuesday, ESPN’s David Pollack talked about if Dobbins’ didn’t get hurt, would the outcome have been different?
“And by the way, he was dominating the game,” the former Georgia linebacker said. “And I think Buckeye fans would agree with me, if he doesn’t get hurt, Ohio State wins. I don’t think there’s any doubt about it. He wasn’t even near the same guy when he came back in. There were other mistakes that they could have made, Dobbins could have caught the ball in the red zone. That could have ended it. But you’re talking about the toughness against the No. 1 defense. The way he’s built, he’s thick, low to the ground, can catch the ball out of the backfield. So he’s a guy that’s going to be very successful. I like the way he handled himself at the end of the game too, shaking everybody’s hands. Class personified.”
What do you think? Would a healthy Dobbins have been the difference?
Kevin covers Big Ten football for Saturday Tradition.