Ohio State Is Fast Enough to Keep Pace with Alabama, SEC Speed

In the 2007 and 2008 BCS National Championship Games, Ohio State was run off the field by faster and more agile SEC teams. The Buckeyes were outscored by an average of 20.5 points in their losses to Florida and LSU—falling to teams that had more speed on the perimeter and in the trenches.

That won't be the case when Urban Meyer takes his fourth-ranked Buckeyes to New Orleans for a matchup against No. 1 Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. 

The question was posed to members of the Ohio State football team last weekend: Can the Buckeyes match the incredible pace of their southern challengers on New Year's Day? 

Their answers revealed an unmistakable irritation and, unsurprisingly, a desire to put that question to bed.

“What exactly is SEC speed?” Ezekiel Elliott said, according to Todd Porter of The Canton Repository. “I think we have great speed on our team.” 

The Buckeyes certainly have some blazers. Elliott himself was running a 4.4-second 40-yard dash as a high school senior two years ago. So were wideouts such as Jalin Marshall and Dontre Wilson—the two players tasked with playing the "Percy Harvin position" in this year's offense.

And then there's senior Devin Smith, who has clocked 4.3-second 40-yard dashes routinely throughout his collegiate career. He's the Buckeyes' big-play threat, and he's coming off of one of the best performances of his career.

Jay LaPrete/Associated Press

Against Wisconsin in the Big Ten title game, Smith got behind the Badgers' secondary three times, hauling in a trio of touchdown passes that went for an average of 41.7 yards. The senior has made a habit of coming up with the big play—he's averaging 39.1 receiving yards on his 29 career touchdown receptions.

Linebacker Joshua Perry feels that Ohio State's speed should be obvious. 

What will that film reveal?

For starters, it will show an offense with weapons all over the field. Receiver Michael Thomas, who ranks second on the team with 680 receiving yards and eight touchdowns, joins Smith, Wilson and Marshall on the perimeter. There's Elliott in the backfield, with speedy freshman Curtis Samuel as his primary backup. 

That speed has fueled an explosive Buckeyes offense. Ohio State is averaging an incredible 6.9 yards per play this season, which is tied for second nationally, according to TeamRankings.com.

There's also plenty of speed on the other side of the ball.

It starts up front with the defensive line, which is bolstered by unanimous first-team All-American Joey Bosa. The sophomore defensive end has been an absolute terror coming off the edge this year, ranking fifth nationally in sacks and seventh in tackles for loss.

He's the best playmaker in a defense that can run sideline to sideline and cover a lot of ground. The unit is coming off of its best performance of the season after holding Heisman Trophy finalist Melvin Gordon to just 76 yards on 26 carries in a 59-0 shutout over Wisconsin.

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

“What is SEC-caliber, really? Big Ten-caliber? How about that?” Bosa said, via Porter. “I think coach Meyer was looking for that speed, and big, athletic, fast guys. That’s what we’ve got on the D-line and all around.”

Ohio State will need that speed in its semifinal matchup against Alabama. The Buckeyes are coming into the game as 9.5-point underdogs, according to OddsShark.com, and will be playing the Crimson Tide in the heart of SEC country. Meyer's squad is looking to make its case and prove that it belongs among the nation's elite.

“It is definitely a game where a statement will be made,” Elliott said, according to Patrick Maks of Eleven Warriors. “The Big Ten is looked at as one of the weaker conferences and the SEC is one of the most dominant ones, we have a lot to prove in this game.”

If the Buckeyes come up short against Alabama, though, it won't be because they're not fast enough.

All recruiting information via 247 Sports. Unless otherwise noted, all stats via NCAA.com and B/R research.

David Regimbal covers Ohio State football for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @davidreg412.