I’ve heard a lot of commentary about OSU looking like a completely different team in the playoffs. That is partially true. The 4th straight loss to Michigan seems to have triggered a radical change to manufacture a ground game. Ryan Day surprised me by installing a very different running attack and PA passing off of that. Day has been a zone scheme coach in Columbus.
They came out against Tennessee with gap scheme blocking. This was so different that the Vols looked completely confused and there was no tape to prepare for such a radical scheme change. The result: 156 yards, 4.7 YPC and 4 TDs. That was a huge upgrade from what they did vs UM: 77, 3.0 YPC, 0 TDs. Of course that made the whole offense more effective, with the other UT defense actually having to honor play action fakes. Pearl Harbor effect in the first round.
The surprise effect diminished significantly in the second round. OSU ran the ball very well here but they already had done so in the first meeting. In the playoffs: 181 yards, 5.8 YPC, 2 TDs. In their regular season meeting: 141, 4.3 yards, 2 TDs. The playoff performance was better but not a step function improvement. Frankly OSU should have won the first game but -2 in TO margin cost them the game. OSU run defense, WR development and eliminating TOs were more important factors in the CFP game than changes to their own run blocking scheme.