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Ohio State’s performance against Penn State left Urban Meyer making an honest admission about the Buckeyes

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Brandon Little | Last updated Nov 6, 2024 7:24 PM ET

Ohio State didn’t blow out Penn State and it was a one-score game, but it was enough for former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer to not have any more worries about the team.

After losing to Oregon earlier in the season, the 20-13 win over Penn State made things feel a lot better about the Buckeyes.

“The most physical team will win the national championship,” coach Meyer said on his The Triple Option podcast. “I used to say it to our players, the team that punches the hardest will win the national title. It’s historic, I mean, it’s time-tested. That’s what happens. Ohio State, there were concerns (and) I don’t have any more concerns. I saw what I saw. We were live there. That was the best four-minute drill I can remember seeing.”

Specifically, Neyer was impressed with the offense's ability to run it down the field on Penn State at the end of the game to seal the win. It started with a four-yard quarterback sneak, then the running backs got involved.

“There’s five minutes and 13 seconds left. They ran the ball 10 straight times for 59 yards on the road of Penn State from the one-yard line. And they basically said we’re running the ball. Stop us,” Meyer explained.

Physicality and toughness are something that the Buckeyes have perhaps lacked lately. Over the past couple of years, it appeared that Michigan out-physical them without much of a struggle. This is a different roster now and the Buckeyes seem very bought in on their goals.

At 7-1 on the season, everything remains in front of the No. 2 Buckeyes. Games against Purdue, Northwestern, Indiana, and Michigan in the regular season. A rematch with the Ducks in the Big Ten Championship is possible and would have big-time College Football Playoff implications.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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