No Denzel Ward, no problem.
The fifth-ranked Ohio State football team has jumped out to a 17-0 lead over No. 8 USC, fewer than two minutes into the Cotton Bowl Classic. The Buckeyes' latest score came when Buckeyes safety Damon Webb intercepted Trojans quarterback Sam Darnold for a pick-6 interception early in the second quarter.
Ohio State's three-score lead comes as the result of a first-quarter touchdown run by quarterback J.T. Barrett and a second-quarter field goal from Sean Nuernberger. Darnold's interception may come of interest to fans of the Cleveland Browns, as the redshirt sophomore signal-caller is considered one of the top quarterbacks in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Earlier this week, Darnold indicated that unlike UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen, he wouldn't shy away from being picked by the Browns. His performance against Ohio State -- which thus far, hasn't been too impressive -- however, could go a long way toward determining where Darnold is selected, should he declare for the 2018 draft.
For all the latest on the Buckeyes' 2017 finale, follow our live blog at WKYC.com and join the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #3Bucks.
