NCAA Recaps and Reports

4th quarter: LSU 31, OSU 17 - Time running out for Buckeyes.

LSU’s up by two scores, but the Buckeyes aren’t dead just yet, though their pulse is starting to fade, with only nine minutes to play.

The tide could have severely turned already, but Ohio State thought they’d make their hole a little deeper before they decided to crawl out of it.

LSU got the ball out of the locker room, and after a couple of first downs, the Tigers were forced to punt. But, on the punt, the Buckeyes were called for a roughing the kicker penalty, and they were punished fully for it.

LSU moved the ball to the 4, and on first and goal, Flynn swung the ball out to Early Doucet, who made a few defenders miss and got into the end zone to put the Tigers up by three scores.

Things finally started turning for the Buckeyes late in the third when Matt Flynn made his first big mistake of the night, as he was picked off by corner Malcolm Jenkins, who returned the ball to the LSU 11.

The defense stiffened, but OSU went for it on fourth and goal from the five, and Boeckman found Brian Robiskie for the touchdown to make it a two-score game.

Ohio State’s defense just got another stop, and now the offense has a chance to pull within a score with plenty of time to play.

After getting knocked back for three first downs, LSU’s defense just made a big stop, sacking Boeckman on third and short near the 30.

And after the timeout, Boeckman goes back to throw, LSU’s defense swarms him, linebacker Ali Highsmith nails him and knocks the ball loose, and Harry Coleman picks it up and returns it to the OSU 32. That may well be the nail in the coffin, unless the Buckeyes can come up with another turnover.

Related posts on The Red Zone Report

• LSU (12-2) 38, Ohio State (11-2) 24 - LSU wins BCS title. (0)
• LSU 24, Ohio State 10 entering the second half of BCS title game. (0)
• Red Zone Rewind: Bowl Notes by the Numbers. (2)
• Buckeyes’ backup QB situation a revolving door (0)
• Who is ‘Linebacker U?’ (12)