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Ohio State Football: 3 storylines to follow vs. Oklahoma

By Terrance Singleton

GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 31: Head coach Urban Meyer of the Ohio State Buckeyes takes the field during the second half against the Clemson Tigers during the 2016 PlayStation Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 31, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 31: Head coach Urban Meyer of the Ohio State Buckeyes takes the field during the second half against the Clemson Tigers during the 2016 PlayStation Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 31, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /
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NORMAN, OK – SEPTEMBER 17: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Oklahoma Sooners runs out of the pocket away from Nick Bosa #97 of the Ohio State Buckeyes at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 17, 2016 in Norman, Oklahoma. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images) /

2. Oklahoma offensive line vs. Ohio State defensive line

No matter how fancy the game gets, the “big uglies” will always be a key fixture in a team’s success.

If your offensive line can’t protect your quarterback, he can’t work his magic. And if your defensive line can get to the opposing quarterback, he also can’t work his magic.

It’s as simple as that.

If Ohio State’s defensive line can hit Baker Mayfield early, the Buckeyes have a good chance to win the game. In Mayfield’s career he does not play well against defenses that get to him early.

In the 2016 playoff, Clemson got to Mayfield multiple times. He and the Sooners lost 37-17.

Houston, in 2016, got to him multiple times. Houston won the game 33-23.  Also in that same season, Mayfield and the Sooners played Ohio State. They lost that game 45-24. The 2016 Ohio State defense sacked Mayfield three times and hurried him twice. That equated to two picks from Mayfield and a QB rating under 25.

This offensive line for Oklahoma is well-improved, but can they protect against this Ohio State front? We will find out on Saturday.

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