Anyone watching Ohio State's 17-14 loss to Michigan State on Saturday probably wondered why Ezekiel Elliott only touched the ball twice in the second half and 12 times total.
So did Ezekiel Elliott.
MORE: SN's 2016 NFL mock draft | Week 12 photos | Iowa is B1G's best team
The junior running back went on an epic post-game tirade not often seen at the college ranks, ripping the Buckeyes' coaching staff before declaring Saturday his final game at Ohio Stadium. Quarterback Cardale Jones also said he'll be forgoing his final season.
Enjoyed my last buckeye walk. Gonna miss all the fans who had a couple too many trying to break my hand with the high fives 😅
— EzekielElliott#⃣1⃣5⃣ (@EzekielElliott) November 22, 2015Elliott finished the game with 33 yards on 12 carries. He had at least 100 yards in every game this season, and touched the ball fewer than 19 times just twice.
He entered the day with 1,425 yards on 220 carries (6.5 yards per), 16 touchdowns and a shot to win the Heisman Trophy, depending on how the last few weeks of the season shook out. No more.
MORE: Top 10 Ohio State players of all time
Elliott: "We weren't put in position to win this game." Said he lobbied Meyer on sideline for calls and did not get them.
— Pat Forde (@YahooForde) November 22, 2015Elliott: "I deserve more than 11 carries. I really do. I can't speak for the playcaller. I don't know what was going on."
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) November 22, 2015Elliott said he was lobbying Meyer to call more plays for him: "We weren't put in the right situation to win this game."
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) November 22, 2015Columbus is in flames right now. The only thing up for interpretation is whether you believe Elliott's words were brutally honest or a merely an attempt to throw his coaches under the bus for an all-around disastrous performance.
MORE: Draymond Green rubbing Spartans' win in LeBron's face already