Sugar Bowl: Ohio State wins The marquee game; defeats Oklahoma 31-17

The Sugar Bowl between #4 seed and Big XII champion Oklahoma and #5 at-large invite Ohio State was the game circled on many tournament brackets since selection Sunday.  Many see the winner of this game to have a legitimate shot at the National Championship.

During the first drive of the game, Oklahoma’s offense showed the electricity that made them a popular choice to win the title.  Behind Samaje Perine runs, and Baker Mayfield passing, the Sooners moved right down the field, until Perine ran it in for 1 yard out for the touchdown.  But Ohio State was up for the task, and running back Ezekiel Elliott’s big day started with a 2 yard TD run.

After the 7-7 first quarter, scoring alternated in a fast paced finish to the first half, as an Elliott 1 yard run was followed by a Sooner Austin Seibert 22 yard field goal.  Then another Elliott 1 yard run, followed up by a Mark Andrews 11 yard pass from Mayfield continued the back and forth scoring.  OSU led at halftime 21-17.

But the Buckeyes imposed their will in the second half, holding Oklahoma scoreless, as Elliott added a 47 yard TD in the third quarter and Buckeye kicker Sean Nuernberger hit a fourth quarter field goal.

The marquee game’s plot fizzled in the second half, but the story line coming out of this game was that Ohio State is a team to watch in this tournament, and fears no others.

UPDATED TOURNAMENT RESULTS!:

FIRST ROUND:

In Shreveport, LA:
7 Iowa 16
10 Houston 34
 
In Chicago:
8 Notre Dame 28
9 Texas Christian 30
 
BCS BOWLS (Quarterfinals):

Orange: 
1 Clemson 37
9 Texas Christian 22
 
Sugar: 
4 Oklahoma 17
5 Ohio State 31

Peach: 
2 Alabama 38
10 Houston 8

Rose:
3 Michigan State 0 
6 Stanford 29


SEMI-FINALS in San Antonio

1 Clemson
5 Ohio State

2 Alabama
6 Stanford
 
BCS CHAMPIONSHIP in Glendale, Arizona

?
?