COLUMBUS, OH – Ohio State’s dominant defensive performance against Illinois in Week 7 has earned the entire unit a spot on FOX Sports analyst Gus Johnson’s “GOT IT!” team. The Buckeyes’ defense continues to excel despite significant offseason departures, solidifying its status as one of the nation’s elite.
Ohio State showcased its disruptive capabilities against the fighting Illini with multiple game-changing plays. Defensive end caden Curry registered a sack and a fumble recovery,while cornerback Jermaine Mathews Jr. also contributed a sack – his third-quarter takedown of Illinois quarterback Altmyer resulting in a fumble. Defensive lineman Kayden McDonald forced a fumble and recovered it,and linebacker Payon Pierce intercepted a pass,setting up an early 10-0 lead for the Buckeyes. Safety caleb Downs, considered by many to be the top player in college football, led the team with nine total tackles.
“Behind all of those dogs is defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, an aeronautical engineer who got his Master’s degree in mathematics,” Johnson said. “I got an equation for you: brains + bronze = natty.”
The Buckeyes currently rank first in the FBS in scoring defense, allowing just 6.8 points per game, and are tied for fourth in total defense, conceding 229 yards per game. This success comes after losing eight players to the NFL Draft and their defensive coordinator, Jim Knowles, to Penn State. New defensive coordinator Matt Patricia has seamlessly continued the unit’s success,having also effectively schemed against Texas’ Arch Manning earlier in the season.
Johnson playfully dubbed the defensive squad “Matt Patricians,” praising Patricia’s impact. “Matt and his boys are not just mathematicians, they’re Matt Patricians,” he stated. “That’s why Ohio State’s defense has GOT IT!”
