Ohio State Star Says Michigan Loss Was 'Spark' For Playoff Run
01/20/2025 02:32 PM
Ohio State has looked unstoppable during the College Football Playoff. Fans may need to thank their arch-rival for revitalizing the Buckeyes.
On Nov. 30, Ohio State ended its regular season with a 13-10 loss to Michigan at The Shoe. The upset cost Ryan Day's team a chance to play for the Big Ten title and potentially enter the 12-team postseason as the No. 1 seed.
However, the Buckeyes have responded with three double-digit victories. They can capture the national title by defeating Notre Dame on Monday night.
Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly recently downplayed the notion that losing to Michigan fueled Ohio State's CFP run, but Quinshon Judkins appears to disagree.
Via The Athletic's Chris Vannini, the star running back discussed the Wolverines planting their flag at Ohio Stadium after the win. Judkins credited that act as a catalyst for the Buckeyes' recent dominance.
"I think in that moment that kind of gave us a little spark," Judkins said. "Like, definitely, I would say it made us want to go harder, man, and realize, OK, like that was super disrespectful. I think it made a lot of guys wake up in that moment."
That said, Judkins doesn't think anything fundamentally changed about Ohio State's team after falling to Michigan.
"I think we prepared the same way and have the same edge as we did in the beginning of the season," he added. "So I think that just made us just really go a little harder."
Since losing to Michigan, Ohio State has outscored Indiana, Oregon, and Texas by 59 combined points in three straight CFP victories. The Buckeyes have tallied 1,343 yards after getting held to 252 by the Wolverines as double-digit home favorites.
After mustering 46 yards against Michigan, Judkins scored twice against the Volunteers and twice more against the Longhorns. The Ole Miss transfer has formed an explosive backfield tandem alongside TreVeyon Henderson with 1,110 yards and 13 touchdowns.
That duo will be pivotal to Ohio State ending Monday night as national champions. They'll oppose a Notre Dame defense that, despite limiting opponents to 3.7 yards per carry this season, allowed 204 rushing yards and three touchdowns to Penn State in the semifinal.
The National Championship Game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Related: Chip Kelly Shoots Down Narrative About Michigan Before National Title
