Nobody can know except Ohio state players and coaches that talked about how McCord was hesitant to push it until he had to and they then found openings.
Like wut? This is the basis of your argument?
Certainly you understand the nuances that in the game of football when a team is behind and down to their last possession and staring at the face of defeat, they at that point will have no other option but to push the ball downfield? Like you get that, right?
And you also know that the defense that is playing for the team that is ahead will also adjust the manner in which they defend the offense with a style that lends itself to easy access throws down the field and less pressure applied to the quarterback? Right?
You also realize that--yes, in big games--teams will definitely want to be cognizant of taking care of the football but not to the extent that they'll just purposely go into a shell the entire game until their very last possession and THEN decide to unleash hell on their woefully out matched opponent? Right?
You also realize that players may be on copes in their post-game pressers and just running their mouths off--although admittedly this is speculative on my part
Lets look at the playchart for OSU's possessions outside of their two play scoring drive on the back of a 61 yard TD run and their last drive of the game with the extenuating circumstances already mentioned above at play in that final drive:
1st qtr -- first possession
two first downs, punt
1st qtr -- second possession
3 and out, punt
2nd qtr -- third possession
four first downs, turnover on downs at ND 1yd line--good drive
2nd qtr -- fourth possession
three first downs, fg
3rd qtr -- sixth possession
two first downs, punt
4th qtr -- seventh possession
one first down, punt
OSU was clearly contained by ND the entire game thru a combination of great defense and ball control on offense.
And its not even like ND was sputtering on offense that night like say the Duke or Ville games. They pretty much moved the ball on all their possessions
So no offense but its a little hard to digest your "Well OSU could've just been able to go up/down the field all night but McCord didnt figure it out until the last drive--he even said so in his presser" argument
Sorry