An undefeated season dies hard: Highlights and lowlights from Ohio State's football season

The Buckeyes have lost only one game this season, but that defeat is all anyone thinks about right now, unfair as that might be.

A schedule that looked challenging on paper at the start of the season proved to be underwhelming. So as Ohio State and Michigan marched to seemingly inevitable 11-0 records heading into their showdown last week, everything was at stake.

We know what happened.

Michigan now plays in the Big Ten championship game Saturday night against Purdue. The Wolverines are a lock for the College Football Playoff.

Ohio State needs help to get a back-door CFP invitation. Buckeye fans will be rooting for Utah to beat Southern California in the Pac-12 title game and for Kansas State to rout TCU in the Big 12 championship. A close loss for TCU probably would be enough for the Horned Frogs to get a CFP spot.

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C.J. Stroud is likely to be a Heisman Trophy finalist again. Wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. was spectacular. The defense under Jim Knowles was excellent for most of the season.

But unless they are fortunate this weekend, the Buckeyes will be headed to a non-CFP bowl. It’s not what they expected.

Here’s a look at the highs and lows of the 2022 season:

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Best Ohio State football performance

The Penn State game. The Buckeyes were far more dominant in other games, but this was one where they showed their mettle. Penn State took a 21-16 lead with 9½ minutes left and an upset seemed quite possible. Starting with a 41-yard touchdown run by TreVeyon Henderson, the Buckeyes scored 28 points to leave the Nittany Lions in the dust as sophomore defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau had a game for the ages (see below).

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Worst Ohio State football performance

The Michigan game. Duh. After all the buildup and all the preparation to get revenge after losing in Ann Arbor last year, the Buckeyes again cracked in the second half. Ohio State controlled play for most of the first half, but coverage breakdowns on two long Michigan touchdowns kept the Wolverines within 20-17 at halftime. Michigan then outscored Ohio State 28-3 in the second half. Donovan Edwards broke 75- and 85-yard touchdown runs late to turn the game into a blowout. Unless OSU gets into the College Football Playoff, where they could meet Michigan again, it’s going to be a long 12 months until Ann Arbor.

Best individual performance by a Buckeye

J.T. Tuimoloau vs Penn State.  The sophomore defensive end spent the first half of the season mostly making plays that helped the team but didn’t show up on the stat sheet. That all changed on Oct. 29 in State College with a game as dominating as any Buckeye defensive player in memory. Tuimoloau had two interceptions, including a pick-six to cap OSU’s scoring. He had two sacks, forcing a fumble on one, and a tipped pass intercepted by Zach Harrison. Tuimoloau was a one-man show.

Biggest pleasant surprise for OSU

The emergence of linebacker Tommy Eichenberg. The linebacker position was a weakness last year for the Buckeyes. Eichenberg was a first-year starter in 2021, and it showed. His 17 tackles in the Rose Bowl win over Utah was a hopeful sign, but few would have expected Eichenberg to be the force he was this year. Not even fractures in both hands slowed him. Eichenberg excelled at diagnosing plays and closing fast on the ball, aided by a defensive line that mostly kept him free.

Biggest disappointment for Ohio State

Poor play by OSU’s cornerbacks. Blame injuries for some of the problems. Denzel Burke and Cameron Brown missed significant time in the offseason, training camp and the season. Jordan Hancock was expected to challenge them for a starting spot but also missed much of the season with a hamstring injury. The cornerbacks never got in a groove. They usually were in position to make plays, but too often didn’t. It proved particularly costly against Michigan. Burke got beat on a deep ball that resulted in a Wolverines field goal. Brown’s missed tackle on Cornelius Johnson allowed Michigan to score a game-changing touchdown.

Most impactful Ohio State injury

Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Harrison, Emeka Egbuka and Julian Fleming were a potent receiving trio, with Harrison emerging as elite. But Smith-Njigba might have been the best receiver in college football. Adding him to that receiving mix might have made the OSU passing game unstoppable. It certainly would have made converting short-yardage situations easier because of Smith-Njigba’s sure hands and ability to get open. Instead, Smith-Njigba played only in parts of three games because of a hamstring injury. It’s possible that Smith-Njigba could return if OSU backs into the CFP, but even that feels like wishful thinking. Oh, what might have been.

Best Buckeye freshmen

Caden Curry and Dallan Hayden. Nobody emerged as an immediate star the way Henderson or Burke did last year. This team had a more veteran lineup that was tougher to crack. But Hayden shined when given the opportunity because of injuries to other running backs. Especially in a 147-yard performance against Maryland, he delivered. With his toughness and vision, he earned consideration to be part of the rotation next year. Curry saw limited action, but the defensive end popped when he did. He’s going to be a good one.

Most emotional moment for Ohio State

Kamryn Babb’s touchdown catch vs. Indiana. Normally, the final score in a blowout of IU is forgettable. Not Babb’s. The wide receiver tore anterior cruciate ligaments four times starting in his senior year of high school in St. Louis, twice in each knee. Each time, he rehabbed and got ready to play, only for the knee to fail again. His determination and leadership caused teammates to name him a captain in 2021 and ’22. Babb had another non-ACL knee injury in training camp that kept him out the first nine weeks of the season. He finally was healthy enough to play against Indiana. When he entered late in the game, he made the moment magical. With OSU at the IU 8, Babb got open and cradled a pass from Stroud. Babb dropped to his knees in prayer and then was mobbed by his teammates. OSU drew a penalty for the excessive celebration. That was a flag that Ryan Day was thrilled to get. It was Babb’s only career catch.

Biggest upcoming decision for Buckeyes

How do Day and his team handle another devastating loss to Michigan? Don’t expect a staff overhaul like Day undertook after last year’s defeat in Ann Arbor in a season when the defense was dysfunctional. Last week’s game was hardly Knowles’ finest hour as a defensive coordinator, but he’s in no danger of being fired. But how do the Buckeyes cope psychologically with another ugly performance against the Wolverines, knowing they can’t dismiss it as an aberration? It’s amazing to realize that only players in their fourth year in the program have beaten Michigan. The teams didn’t play in 2020 because of COVID. Is the heightened pressure the Buckeyes put on themselves to beat Michigan counter-productive? It’s just one issue around that game the Buckeyes need to solve.

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State football highlights and lowlights from the 2022 season