Ohio State's reign is only beginning after national title win over Oregon

Ohio State may be starting a dynasty after beating Oregon 42-20 to win the first national championship of the College Football Playoff era.

Michael Rosenberg | Jan 13, 2015

Ohio State's reign is only beginning after national title win over Oregon /

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Cardale Jones sat at his locker, in both a most familiar and unusual place. He had just won the national championship, but he still has not won Ohio State’s starting quarterback job. He has started three games yet could leave for the NFL. The right shoulder of his jersey was torn, and we can only assume it took three Oregon players to tear it. Yet even after this superhuman performance, he seems like a young kid.

His teammates danced and hugged and celebrated, and yet several said, as delicately as they could: This? This impressed you? Watch what we do next year.

As receiver Michael Thomas said: “We’ll be back.”

Urban Meyer's motivational mastery propels Ohio State to a national title

Was this the start of a dynasty? Put it this way: It was the start of something fascinating. Ohio State is poised to make a run at another national title next year, with the strangest quarterback situation of any contender in recent memory. Jones, J.T. Barrett or Braxton Miller could lead the team to the national title … or one or two could leave, either for the pros or for another school.

The beauty of this, for Urban Meyer, is that he will win big regardless. Meyer is building a program that may surpass the one he built at Florida, and it was there for the country to witness in the national championship game Monday night. Ohio State was supposed to be a year away from this, but somewhere in the last six weeks the impossible became inevitable.

Ohio State did not just beat Oregon 42-20. It physically dominated the Ducks. Nike founder Phil Knight has spent hundreds of millions on Oregon's facilities, and you wonder if he forgot to buy a bench press. The truth about this game was that Ohio State players felt it was over before it started. They watched film. They knew running back Ezekiel Elliott would barrel through the Oregon defense.

“Do what works,” said Barrett, who started fall camp as the backup, finished the season in a cast and was still the team’s MVP. “Today, feed Zeke. Feed Zeke. Zeke is really good. Feed him the ball, let the O-line do their job, move people out of the way, let Zeke run through the holes, everything is going to be all right.”

cardale-jones-ohio-state-national-championship-trophy — John W. McDonough/Sports Illustrated

Even as Oregon cut the Ohio State lead to 21-20 in the second half, Barrett had no doubts. “Someone that is just watching it can feel like it’s too close. Mariota and his offense can score at any time … we don’t worry about that,” Barrett said. “We know what we can do offensively. Control the line of scrimmage. We just had to eliminate the mistakes and execute and we were gonna win the game.”

Elliott looked like the NFL’s next great power back as he rushed for 246 yards. Incredibly, he carried the ball 36 times and was not tackled for a loss once. But maybe more incredible is this: On Dec. 1, the Big Ten released its all-conference teams. Elliott was not on the first team. He was also not on the second team. He was honorable mention, and in a league loaded with great backs, that is likely where he belonged. Yet there he was pummeling Oregon for his third straight 200-yard game.

That, right there, is the story of the Ohio State season. Has a team ever come on so strong at the end of a season? In September the Buckeyes lost to Virginia Tech. Meyer told them afterward that they could still achieve all their goals, but that’s just what coaches say. Ohio State looked a long way from a national title.

But then virtually every unit on the team got better, and by December, it didn’t even matter who played quarterback. Meyer likes to tell his team “the plan is infallible.” Who can argue now?

As Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany said afterward: “They proved they are the best team in the country tonight.”

After missing golden chance to win title, Oregon left to ponder what if?

They were not the best all season, but the new College Football Playoff has a dash of March Madness to it: As long as you get in, you have a chance. In any of the last 30 years, Ohio State probably would have gone to the Rose Bowl, beaten Oregon and watched Alabama play Florida State in the Sugar Bowl for the national title. But in this format, the No. 4 team at the end of the regular season can win it all.

It was a signature victory for Meyer, who wrestled the unofficial title of Best Coach in College Football away from Nick Saban, at least for the moment. It was also enormous for the Big Ten, though Delany was reluctant to admit it.

“We’re not trying to change anything about what anybody thinks,” Delany said. “People want to draw general conclusions, and sometimes they’re over-broad. There is a lot to be written in seven days, and games are only played on one day. There is a general sense that if you’re the champion, you’re the best, and the SEC has won a lot of championships, so I think it naturally follows. But it doesn’t always follow. Each year is unique. Each game is unique.”

That was as close as Delany would come to crowing about the victory, and let’s face it: He has every reason to crow. For years, he heard his conference was third-rate, even when it had some good seasons. Nobody wanted to hear the Big Ten frequently faced the stiffest bowl competition of any conference, because it is a TV juggernaut, and because Delany is so good at cajoling bowl reps to take his teams.

Well, what can people say now? As Delany said: “We beat the No. 1 team [Alabama], the No. 2 team [Oregon] and the No. 5 team [Baylor, which lost in this same building to Michigan State].” And the Big Ten looks poised to compete with anybody for the next five years. Meyer has Ohio State rolling. Mark Dantonio’s Michigan State is now a top-10 fixture. Penn State has James Franklin recruiting like crazy. Michigan just hired Jim Harbaugh. Wisconsin hired probably the right coach, Paul Chryst.

The competition to win the league will be riveting, but it’s Ohio State’s league to win, next year and for the immediate future. Thomas was asked about Ohio State supposedly being a year away, and said, “That’s what they say. It’s all ‘He say, she say …’ The reality is right now.”

He said Ohio State will be back. But he wouldn’t say who the quarterback would be. Two-time Big Ten player of the year Miller was supposed to be the starter but injured his shoulder in preseason camp. Barrett was the 2014 Big Ten player of the year but wrecked his ankle against Michigan on Nov. 29.

Jones was so good in the past three games that it’s easy to wonder why Meyer left him on the bench all season. What was Meyer thinking? Well, one source indicates that Meyer watches all of his team’s practices. A second source tells me he really likes to win. And a third source mentioned, ever so gently, that perhaps Urban Meyer knows more about football than you do.

Miller is a terrific player who had the most experience; no coach in the country would have benched him to start the season. But Barrett is the best quarterback on the team, even though Miller is a much better athlete and Jones is bigger and has a stronger arm. Barrett has the smarts, the nerve and the touch to lead Ohio State back to the “rare air” that Meyer talks about so often.

Barrett celebrated with his teammates Monday night, but the biggest day of his week may be Thursday. That’s when the cast comes off and he won’t need a scooter to move around. “The scooter was cool for a minute, but now it’s getting on my nerves,” he said.

He sounded like a man who is anxious to get back to work and to lead this team to another national title. Barrett wants to be there to finish the job. Meanwhile, even as Elliott said he couldn’t believe what Ohio State had done, he said his friends at other schools started winter workouts Monday. “We’re a day behind,” he said.

They’ll catch up real fast. Get used to this sight, America. Ohio State is just getting started.

GALLERY: SI's Best Photos From the National Title Game

SI's Best Photos From Ohio State-Oregon

Ohio State quarterback Cardale Jones celebrates with the Buckeyes' mascot after his team's 42-20 win over Oregon in the National Championship game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Jan. 12, 2015.

Ohio State wide receiver Kato Mitchell celebrates with his teammates after the Buckeyes' 42-20 win over Oregon.

Ohio State's Jeff Heuerman (5), Nick Vannett (81) and Marcus Baugh (85) whoop it up at the national title game.

Oregon Ducks players and coaches walk off the field as the confetti falls in the wake of their 42-20 defeat at the hands of Ohio State.

Ohio State Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer fist pumps during his team's 42-20 win over the Oregon Ducks.

An Ohio State receiver catches the ball behind the back of an Oregon Ducks cornerback at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott runs over two Oregon Ducks for one of his four touchdowns.

Ezekiel Elliott celebrates with teammate Corey Smith after one of his four touchdowns.

Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota tries to stiff arm Ohio State linebacker Michael Bennett (53).

Ohio State receiver Jalin Marshall evades an Oregon defender along the sideline.

Ohio State quarterback Cardale Jones drops back to throw. Jones finished with 242 yards against the Oregon Ducks in the Buckeyes' 42-20 win.

Ohio State wide receiver Devin Smith attempts a catch over Oregon cornerback Reggie Daniels.

Oregon was called for pass interference on this play in the end zone.

Ohio State tight end Nick Vannett goes to the ground after his touchdown catch in the first half.

Ohio State safety Tyvis Powell stops Oregon running back Thomas Tyner short of the goal line in the Buckeyes' 42-20 win.

Oregon wide receiver Charles Nelson rises for a catch between two Ohio State defenders.

Ohio State quarterback Cardale Jones stumbles in his own end zone as the Oregon defense pursues him. Jones avoided a safety on the play.

Ohio State quarterback Cardale Jones spun out of a tackle and bulled his way in for a touchdown on this play.

Replay officials took a close look to see if Byron Marshall let the ball go before he crossed the goal line on this play.

Byron Marshall could have cost his team a touchdown had he celebrated by dropping the ball too early.

Ohio State quarterback Cardale Jones prepares to throw in the face of three Oregon defensive linemen. Jones completed 16 of his 23 passes during the Buckeyes' 42-20 win.

Ohio State lines up for a quarterback sneak at the one-yard line against the Oregon defense.

Ohio State quarterback Cardale Jones leaps over two Oregon defenders. Jones ran for 38 yards on 21 carries in the Buckeyes' 42-20 win.

Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott ran for over 200 yards in all three games that Cardale Jones started at QB for the Buckeyes.

Ezekiel Elliott evades an Oregon defender -- something he did all night.

Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota tries to evade Ohio State defensive lineman Adolphus Washington. Mariota threw for 333 yards in the Ducks' loss.

Ohio State quarterback Cardale Jones throws from his own end zone during the Buckeyes' 42-20 win.

Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota drops back to pass. Mariota combined for 372 yards in the air and on the ground.

Oregon wide receiver Keanon Lowe catches a touchdown pass for the first score in the National Championship game.

Keanon Lowe's touchdown gave the Ducks false hopes that this would be their night. Despite getting four Ohio State turnovers, Oregon scored only 20 points.

Oregon celebrates its first touchdown.

Oregon offensive lineman Hanitelli Louisi leads the Ducks on to the field for the National Championship game.

Ohio State Buckeyes players line up across the school's marching band before the start of the National Championship game.

The Ohio State Buckeyes marching band performs.

Ohio State players run out onto the field before the start of the first ever College Football Playoff National Championship game.

AT&T Stadium, home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, hosted the first final of the new College Football Playoff.

The Ohio State marching band performs on the field during the first championship game.

Published Jan 13, 2015

MICHAEL ROSENBERG

Michael Rosenberg is a senior writer for Sports Illustrated, covering any and all sports. He writes columns, profiles and investigative stories and has covered almost every major sporting event. He joined SI in 2012 after working at the Detroit Free Press for 13 years, eight of them as a columnist. Rosenberg is the author of "War As They Knew It: Woody Hayes, Bo Schembechler and America in a Time of Unrest." Several of his stories also have been published in collections of the year's best sportswriting. He is married with three children.