‘It was pretty bad’: Ohio State football is ready for its refereeing fortunes to change
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‘It was pretty bad’: Ohio State football is ready for its refereeing fortunes to change

Posted on by Amelia Pressman

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The title of national champion can only go to one of 134 FBS teams, and Ohio State is the betting favorite for that title when the College Football Playoff ends in two weeks.

However, as one of one, the Buckeyes already have a not-so-coveted title.

Ohio State ranks 134th nationally in opponent penalties per game. The Buckeyes’ opponents are penalized just 3.6 times per contest, an average of 27.4 yards.

As Ohio State prepares for a semifinal game against Texas in the Cotton Bowl on Friday, the lack of calls — particularly against opposing offenses — has been a talking point.

Only once this season has a hold call been called against an OSU opponent that was not offset by a penalty assessed by the Buckeyes. It happened on an inconsequential 11-yard run in the first quarter of Ohio State’s 49-14 win over Marshall…

… on September 21st.

“Yes, we know the statistics,” linebacker Sonny Styles said this week. “But we don’t pay too much attention to it. You just have to play through it. Just let your talent take over. Don’t let it come down to a referee’s decision.”

Those in the trenches weren’t as passive with Styles.

“I think our entire D-line is held up every game,” defensive tackle Tyleik Williams said. “I don’t know what the refs are seeing or what’s going on with it, but you turn on the tape and really look at it, we get caught on almost every play.”

The screenshot-happy section of social media supported his claim, posting various images showing hold calls that were not made against Oregon’s offensive line in a Rose Bowl loss to Ohio State on Jan. 1.

The dominant play of the Buckeyes’ defensive line last week suggests that opposing offensive lines will have to hold on at some point.

Ohio State collected 12 sacks and 57 pressures in CFP wins against Tennessee and Oregon, according to Pro Football Focus.

“We can be actors, but we don’t actually teach that,” Williams said. “I don’t know if it’s because we’re Ohio State, we let things go or what it is, but it was pretty bad.”

Texas ranks 93rd nationally with 5.4 opponent penalties per game. The Longhorns’ defense, which ranks fourth nationally with 44 sacks this season, has drawn 14 hold calls.

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