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J.K. Dobbins says Ohio State would have ‘definitely’ beat Clemson if he didn’t get injured
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Former Ohio State running back J.K. Dobbins believes his sprained ankle in the Fiesta Bowl cost the Buckeyes a chance to play for the national championship, and he isn’t afraid to say it.
On Wednesday, Dobbins met with reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine and talked about the “very high ankle sprain” he sustained against Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl. Though he still churned out a ton of yardage in that game, the running back’s injury proved to be costly in the second half and Ohio State fell 29-23 to Clemson.
Dobbins was asked what he thought would have happened if he didn’t get injured in that game. His answer was direct.
“We definitely win that game,” Dobbins said, according to Dan Hope of Eleven Warriors.
“I thought we were the better team. We just didn’t execute like we should have.”
J.K. Dobbins on what he thinks would have happened against Clemson if he didn't hurt his ankle: "We definitely win that game."
"I thought we were the better team. We just didn’t execute like we should have."
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) February 26, 2020
Ohio State owned a 16-0 lead in the first half of the game before Clemson rallied to pull off the victory. Dobbins’ injury played a huge role in that, but the back still finished with 174 rushing yards and 47 receiving yards and one touchdown in the loss.
It was the second-straight time the Buckeyes fell to the Tigers in the College Football Playoff, also dropping the 2016 Fiesta Bowl to Clemson 31-0.
We’ll never know what would’ve happened if Dobbins didn’t sustain the injury in the game, but he’s pretty confident the Buckeyes would’ve headed to New Orleans.
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