Ohio State vs. Penn State 2017: Start time, live stream, TV schedule and Game Thread
Meredith Hein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Buckeyes are looking for redemption on their quest for a perfection in the Big Ten.

After five weeks of relative ease, the Ohio State Buckeyes will finally be put to the test tonight against the No.2-ranked team in the nation. Penn State represents the first major opposition the Buckeyes have faced since their Week 2 loss to Oklahoma in Columbus, and the Nittany Lions bring the Heisman Trophy frontrunner Saquon Barkley alongside one of the conference’s best quarterbacks in Trace McSorley to lead the charge.

For Ohio State, the bitter memory of last season’s sole regular season defeat in Happy Valley still stings. The undefeated Buckeyes lost on a series of special teams blunders that could just as well have cost them a chance at the College Football Playoff. Now, Ohio State gets the Nittany Lions in Columbus, following a bye week, with every shot at redemption.

Penn State, meanwhile, is looking for payback of its own. Despite defeating the Buckeyes, the Nittany Lions were shut out of the CFP and relegated to the Rose Bowl against USC.

This matchup, naturally, has massive implications for the college football postseason this year. With the Big Ten East race currently in a three-way tie for first among Ohio State, Penn State and Michigan State, the winner of Saturday’s matchup will be in control of its own destiny for the remainder of the conference season (Penn State is scheduled to face Michigan State next week in East Lansing). And while the Buckeyes were written off early by some, a win over the Nittany Lions would go a long way in convincing members of the College Football Playoff committee ahead of this week’s opening poll.

The game we have all been waiting for has finally arrived.

When is the game and how can I watch?


Game Date/Time: Saturday, Oct. 28, 3:30 p.m. ET

Location: Columbus, OH

TV: FOX

Online: FOXSportsGo

Radio: 97.1 FM/1460 AM

Where is GameDay today?


In Columbus, of course! This week will mark the crew’s second visit to Ohio Stadium this season, and the third game involving the Buckeyes this year (GameDay opened in Bloomington, Ind., for a special, Thursday night edition of the show during Week 1). It will also be the second-straight week featuring a Penn State matchup, after the Nittany Lions laid waste to Michigan last weekend.

What’s the rest of the Big Ten up to this weekend?


At noon, No. 5 Wisconsin heads to Illinois on ESPN while Illinois gets Rutgers--winner of two straight in the Big Ten--takes on Michigan on BTN. In a heavy slate of 3:30 p.m. matchups, No. 16 Michigan State travels to Northwestern on ESPN, and Indiana goes to Maryland on BTN. At 6:30 p.m., Iowa faces Minnesota in Kinnick Stadium on FS1 before the 7:30 p.m. kickoff of Nebraska at Purdue on BTN.

Join the conversation


Below is your Ohio State-Penn State GameThread. Be respectful, be kind and as always, keep it classy. If you like GIFs, lay ‘em on us. In all, be good fans, cheer for your teams, be cool to each other (even if somebody else isn’t) and everyone wins. Let’s keep the season going strong.

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Ohio State’s bowl projections entering Week 9
Geoff Hammersley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Some say College Football Playoff, while others say Fiesta Bowl against Notre Dame or Washington

These are getting a tad bit more fun to do. A few weeks ago, one of the bowl projections for the Ohio State Buckeyes pointed to the Citrus Bowl; now, once again, all the analysts/writers in this week’s bowl prediction round-up have the Scarlet and Gray in either a playoff game or a New Year’s Six bowl contest.

Let’s get this show on the road, and see who is believing in a College Football Playoff appearance for the Bucks.


Jerry Palm at CBS Sports has been a believer for the past few weeks. This week, it’s the Rose Bowl (again) as the projected landing spot for OSU in the postseason. He also reiterates the belief that a rematch with the Penn State Nittany Lions would happen in the Rose Bowl—meaning he has OSU winning on Saturday vs. PSU.

SB Nation’s own Jason Kirk also has Urban Meyer coaching the team back to the playoffs. Like Palm, Kirk’s matchup has a rematch flavor in the Grandaddy of them All.

Whether it’s the Oklahoma Sooners or Nittany Lions, a rematch seems to be in store for the Buckeyes—if everything else goes according to plan.


[inhales deeply, then sighs]

The Fiesta Bowl is, once again, another popular prediction for where the Buckeyes will be spending their postseason. If this is true, it would make for a three-year run in Glendale, Ariz.

Don’t get me wrong, the Fiesta Bowl is a nice bowl game to go to. But for Ohio State fans, a change in bowl game scenery would be a welcomed sight.


I just mentioned that a change in scenery would be nice, but be careful what you wish for.

ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura has the Buckeyes in the Cotton Bowl, but their opponent would be Notre Dame, the same foe they faced in the 2016 Fiesta Bowl.

David Hale has an Orange Bowl appearance for OSU, with Miami getting a virtual home game. It wasn’t too long ago that the Buckeyes were in this bowl. In 2014, Meyer’s first bowl appearance as head coach of Ohio State was an Orange Bowl.

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Buckeyes fans preparing for big day - ABC6OnYourSide.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes fans preparing for big day
ABC6OnYourSide.com
It's not if the Buckeyes will win, it's by how much. The OSU-Penn State showdown is not only a battle between Big Ten titans, the implications are high for the college playoff. One things for sure, OSU fans are gearing up for a Saturday full of food ...

and more »

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Following the future includes Gill vs Harrison 5-star showdown - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Following the future includes Gill vs Harrison 5-star showdown
247Sports
And you can follow how the Buckeyes' verbal commitments are doing in action all weekend on our Front Row message board thread. And another big weekend it is. In fact, I will be at a game on Friday night that features Buckeye 5-star H-back commitment ...


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Preview: #2 Penn State (7-0, BIG 4-0) vs #6 Ohio State (6-1, BIG 4-0)
Richard Tongohan via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here



With a little over 24 hours until the gameday, the anticipation is unbearable. This highly anticipated clash between two Top 6 BIG teams that are both fighting for a spot in this seasons CFB Playoffs. A season ago, the higher ranked Buckeyes slept on the Nittany Lions during a White Out and they ended up losing after a FG was returned for a TD.

Black Out at the Shoe

This year Ohio State will host Penn State in another Blackout at the Shoe game that will feature new uniforms for the Buckeyes. They will be sporting an all gray uniforms that will impress even the most close-minded, traditionalist fans who always seem to complain.

This uniform combination will display the Buckeyes staff willingness to venture outside of the traditional Scarlet and Gray to impress the nation and any recruiting targets that will tune in or be present at the game itself. This will provide a unique and electric atmosphere that could sway the momentum in the Buckeyes favor because last season they lost at Penn State during a White Out. The Buckeyes will use this new found swag in their favor to avenge their defeat from a season ago.

Battle of the Dual Threats

J.T. Barrett and Trace McSorley will be leaned on heavily during the entirety of this clash. Both have the improved as the season progressed and both have the same tools to will their teams to a victory.

J.T. Barrett has improved a lot since the blunder against Oklahoma. Although it was mostly against inferior teams the Buckeyes high-powered offense is tied for the lead with UCF in scoring offense averaging 47.3 PPG with 44 total TD’s so far this season. This Buckeye offense will be the toughest challenge for the Nittany Lions this season. The playmakers are making timely, high impact plays and Barrett is playing at a high, concentrated level, but he will have difficulties against the nations top ranked defense that is giving up 9.6 PPG.

Trace McSorley also has a Top 20 ranked offense coming in at 17th in the nation averaging 40.0 PPG. They have weapons at every level which will make it interesting to watch. McSorley has to establish himself early against the inconsistent and often penalized Cornerbacks that Ohio State starts. Ohio State ranks as the 10th best defense and is giving up 15.4 PPG.

BIA/Linebackers/Rushmen vs Barkley/Gesicki/Hamilton

Ohio State will have their hands full this weekend at every level on defense. Penn State has by far the most talented offense that is similar to Oklahoma but they have an effective running game with weapons at every level.

McSorley has Saquon Barkley at RB, Daesean Hamilton and a bunch of talent at WR and Mike Gesicki at the TE position. Combined they make up a formidable offense that could give the Buckeyes trouble early and possibly even often. Each level have a playmaker and another that is almost as effective as the last.

The Buckeyes must make it a priority to play disciplined and error free to leave victorious. To do that they must not fall for the misdirection and fakes that Penn State has in their playbook. They must also bottle up Barkley who is their do it all playmaking back that has Penn State faithful thinking Heisman and eventually a Championship. Barkely has 1,930 yards combining his one pass, receiving and rushing with 12 total TD’s.

After that the combination of Gesicki and Hamilton scares me a tad bit more that Barkley. Together they account for 709 yards and 8 touchdowns and that isn’t including Johnson and Blackalls contributions at receiver.

On the Buckeyes side of things, the glaring weakness for Penn State is their Offensive Line which plays into their strength their Rushmen package. Paired with the Linebackers and Big Play Baker, the Buckeyes could dominate if they control the trenches on defense. It will not be easy because of McSorley’s ability to run, but it is attainable.

BIA will be challenged in this game until the final whistle blows. The collection of receivers that the Buckeyes will face poses a threat to them due to their inconsistency and their habit of earning holding and pass interference penalties.

Special Teams Blunders

Special Teams will have a huge chip on their shoulders after last seasons unexpected loss to Penn State. The recurring storyline for Ohio State is their lack of success or consistency in the Special Teams department, which is coincidentally Urban Meyers specialty.

This season, they have struggled mightily as they limp into this game. With a combination of giving up big returns to missed or blocked FG’s Penn State could hurt the Buckeyes with Barkley in this phase of the game.

Coach Meyer must be laser focused and the team needs to perform for this phase to avoid another last minute blocked FG. The importance of this game will not overlook the issues that have plagued the Buckeyes this season and with that, Meyer will look to excel at this phase and all other phases of the game to leave with another win.

Prediction

I personally want to see a blowout win for the Buckeyes but I cannot overlook Penn State because of the many weapons that they possess on both sides of the ball. This will be another slow burn game that will develop over time.

I believe balance will be the key and Dobbins and Weber will be needed to establish the run while Barrett makes the passes necessary to move the ball into scoring positions. Barrett will be harassed and the right side will be tested once again. Prince and Knox will be tested because they were targeted a lot because of their inability to protect Barrett.

Final: 38-31 Buckeyes












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Penn State-Ohio State headlines a Week 9 afternoon of ranked matchups
Alexis Chassen via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Here’s the full slate of college football games this weekend.

The main event on Saturday is the 3:30 p.m. showdown between the No. 2 Penn State Nittany Lions and No. 6 Ohio State Buckeyes for, not only top spot in the Big Ten East division — along with Michigan State, somehow --, but for a chance to control their destiny heading into the College Football Playoff.

Aside from arguably one of the best matchups of the entire season taking place in Columbus, there are three other top-25 games and at least one SEC game with big upset potential. Your best option in the Noon time-slot is No. 11 Oklahoma State at No. 22 West Virginia, with No. 4 TCU-No. 25 Iowa State and No. 14 NC State-No. 9 Notre Dame competing for the afternoon audience.

Another 3:30 p.m. game that could get interesting is No. 3 Georgia vs an unranked Florida team. While the Bulldogs sit undefeated, anything can happen during rivalry games, and this has the potential to shake up the top of the rankings heading into the first official College Football Playoff rankings, to be released on Tuesday.

Here’s the full slate of games this weekend, and how to watch:

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Watch: Bobby Hoying recognized by Agonis Club - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Watch: Bobby Hoying recognized by Agonis Club
247Sports
10, one day before the Buckeyes host Michigan State. OSU football historian Jack Park will be the featured guest. The Agonis Club has already scheduled its annual golf outing for June 4, 2018, at Medallion Country Club. The club will recognize former ...


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Ohio State recruiting: Breaking down the weekend visitors list as the Buckeyes host Penn State; talking about 2 QBs ... - Landof10.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State recruiting: Breaking down the weekend visitors list as the Buckeyes host Penn State; talking about 2 QBs ...
Landof10.com
Anyway, yes, Emory Jones' visit is the most important this weekend because the Buckeyes need to know exactly what's what, period. No more conjecture, no more, “I'm committed but I want to see Bama,” etc. This is the time when classes – slowly built ...
Ohio State Buckeyes will edge powerful Penn State: Livingston (photos)cleveland.com
Ohio State football: Buckeyes scheming to stop Penn State's Barkley ...NCAA.com
Buckeyes scheming to stop Barkley, 'the best we've seen'The Philadelphia Tribune
FOXSports.com -TribDem.com -SB Nation
all 398 news articles »

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Ohio State is in control of its own destiny on Saturday against Penn State
Alexis Chassen via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Also, coaches around the country have opinions about J.T. Barrett, and tight ends have being increasingly important in college football.

“Typically, a game like this is defined by the road underdog. What can that team do to puncture the home team’s shield? How can it steal some easy points and put pressure on the favorite?

Really, though, this game is more about the home favorites.”

-Bill Connelly, SB Nation


There have been a lot of questions surrounding Ohio State’s improvement over the past five weeks, and whether things have actually gotten better, or if it was all a result of a lower level of competition. All of those questions will be answered on Saturday when No. 2 Penn State comes to town, and the Buckeyes face one of the country’s best all-around team.

Despite the slow start to the year, it’s quickly turning into a recreation of the 2014 National Championship season for Ohio State. This year, like back then, the Buckeyes faced a Week 2 loss at home under the lights, only to turn on the burners to finish out the year on the upswing heading into one of the greatest wins in Ohio State history against Nick Saban’s Alabama.

The Buckeyes have been sitting at the No. 1 spot in Connelly’s weekly S&P+ rankings for the past few weeks, with them being the most well-rounded and complete team in the country -- on paper. Whether or not that translates into a win on Saturday is yet to be seen, but they’ve at least got all of the weapons to prove once and for all whether or not they are still the best in the Big Ten.

“Opposing coaches have noted that Barrett has lingered less on his first read, moving to his second and third read quicker the past handful of games. They attribute that to both tempo and an evolution in Ohio State’s pass game, with multiple coaches using the word “clean” to describe it.”

-Pete Thamel, Yahoo! Sports


Heading into one of the most anticipated games of the 2017 college football season, Pete Thamel of Yahoo! Sports spoke to head coaches and coordinators throughout the country to get their input on the matchup. More times than not, the conversations quickly turned to QB J.T. Barrett and how he manages the game, his improvement over the past few weeks, and some of his known tendencies.

Thamel’s piece was a list of the top-10 keys to the Penn State-Ohio State game this weekend, and it quickly became evident that the biggest key for the Buckeyes would be Barrett. If he can find success early on in the contest, and if his receivers can continue their hot streak, the Ohio State offense should have no problem matching Saquon Barkley and the Nittany Lions point for point.

“It's a huge game at Ohio Stadium and another chapter in a rivalry that heated up when the Nittany Lions joined the Big Ten in 1993. Ohio State leads the series 17-14, and this marks the seventh top-10 showdown between the Big Ten East rivals.”

-Bill Bender, Sporting News


It might not carry the same weight as the rivalry against That Team Up North, but Penn State is quickly becoming the second most important rival for the Buckeyes. With six meetings before Saturday as top 10 teams, the Nittany Lions have consistently put up a challenge for Ohio State, and has ruined enough post-season opportunities to make Buckeye fans mad for years.

The rivalry has certainly be turned up a notch over the past couple of seasons, with last year serving as a tipping point. After losing thanks to two special team plays aided Penn State en route to 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter, the Nittany Lions earned their spot in the Big Ten title game only to watch the Buckeyes take their spot in the College Football Playoff. If anything, Ohio State ended up having to play one less game and risk fewer injuries on their way to a playoff run... not that it helped.

This year’s matchup will only fan the rivalry flames. Sitting at No. 2 and No. 6 respectively, the Nittany Lions and Buckeyes are very much fighting for the same things as last year. To the victor on Saturday goes the (likely) Big Ten East title and a clear path into the CFP.

One thing’s for sure, James Franklin won’t be leaving Columbus comparing the team to Akron.

“It could be argued that’s what is needed to be a truly complete offense in this era, a tight end that helps the running game and the passing game by blocking with the line and taking part in pass protection, not to mention running routes as a credible receiver.”

-Time May, Columbus Dispatch


Tight ends haven’t typically seen many touches in Urban Meyer’s offense, but that doesn’t mean that they haven’t been critical to that side of the ball. Over the years, Meyer’s TEs have grown into superb blockers while seeing a limited number of targets.

Penn State on the other hand, boasts one of the largest tight ends in the country and uses him to completely dominate DBs down field, serving as one of QB Trace McSorley’s top targets. The Buckeyes have Marcus Baugh and Rashod Berry, who have had their share of success this year, but the stat lines between teams look completely different.

This, however, doesn’t make either more or less important to their teams. Since the inception of the College Football Playoff, teams who have found success, did so behind their tight end talent. In 2014, the Buckeyes had Jeff Heuerman and Nick Vannett, Alabama had O.J. Howard in 2015 and Clemson featured Jordan Leggett in 2016.

As some of the other skill positions on offense get more of the spotlight, it’s the tight end position that continues to grow in importance regardless of how they’re utilized.

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• Starbucks is offering something called a ‘Zombie Frappuccino’ through Halloween, and it looks....bizarre. (Although, it’s supposed to taste caramel apple-y.)

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Young Buckeyes fan gets special gift from Urban Meyer, police officers - NBC4i.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Young Buckeyes fan gets special gift from Urban Meyer, police officers
NBC4i.com
Wagner loves the Buckeyes, and was hoping to get a signed football one day. Columbus Police said Friday that one of their narcotics officers was able to buy a football and get it signed by Head Coach Urban Meyer before Saturday's big game against Penn ...
Urban Meyer reveals why JT Barrett is such a vital piece to the Buckeyes' continued successFOXSports.com

all 3 news articles »

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BB73 said:

The Big 'O' once averaged a triple-double for an entire season in the NBA.

1962 - 30.8 ppg, 12.5 rpg, 11.4 apg

But Bill Russell won one of his 5 MVP's that year.

Click to expand...

And Oscar finished 3rd in the voting.....



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Ohio State’s Jerome Baker is at his best when the lights shine brightest
Ian Hartitz via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Buckeyes All-World LB is no stranger to balling out in marquee matchups.

Ohio State’s defensive line deservedly gets heaps of praise from the media and opposing coaches alike, but the linebacker trio of Chris Worley, Dante Booker and Jerome Baker is one of the better units you’ll see. The expectations couldn’t have been higher for Baker in particular, as the first-team preseason All-American is coming off a season where he starred alongside Raekwon McMillan and generated some of the season’s biggest highlights:


Baker’s sideline-to-sideline speed makes him more than capable of holding up against both the run and pass alike. He’s second on the team with 29 tackles this season, and has also been comfortable in the opponent’s backfield with four tackles for a loss and two sacks. Baker is a stud, and his status as the team’s most-versatile defender means he’s first in line to take away Penn State’s Heisman-frontrunner Saquon Barkley.

Of course, Baker isn’t a stranger to balling out in big games:



Still, it’s going to take an extraterrestrial effort to slow down Barkley. The Buckeyes appear as qualified as anyone to do so, as both Baker and Booker run 4.4-second 40-yards dashes. Chris Worley is quicker and better in coverage than your typical MIKE linebacker — but he’ll need to prove it. Last season the Nittany Lions attempted to exploit McMillan’s perceived lack of coverage skills with some well-designed motion and a wheel route from Mr. Barkley:


The Buckeyes managed to hold Barkley without a catch during each of their last two contests, but he’s been an entirely different monster in the passing game this season. Barkley posted a respectable 28/402/4 receiving line as a sophomore, and already has gone for 32/448/3 in seven games this season. Baker and Booker will likely draw Barkley in coverage out of the backfield, with Damon Webb and Jordan Fuller also seeing time when Barkley splits out into the slot.

The Buckeyes haven’t had much of an answer for Barkley as a runner. He’s gained 293 yards on 38 carries against Ohio State over the past two seasons, good for an average of 7.7 yards per rush. Still, Barkley is yet to find the endzone against the Buckeyes, and the Nittany Lions have only scored three offensive touchdowns in their last eight quarters against Ohio State. A bend-but-don’t-break strategy against an offensive as explosive as Penn State can make the fan nervous, and it’d be encouraging to see the Buckeyes find a way to create some negative plays to keep Penn State behind the sticks.

The Buckeyes need to do a better job containing Barkley in the run game this time around, and that starts with Baker continuing to make life miserable for running backs in all facets of the game:


The matchup between Barkley and Baker hasn’t gone unnoticed on the Buckeyes side, and Baker is more than up for the challenge:


The Buckeyes have played well since their loss against the Sooners and are in a position to correct that early-season mistake. A win over the Nittany Lions on Saturday will vault Ohio State into the forefront of playoff contention, and Baker’s ability to help contain Barkley will be one of the biggest deciding factors in achieving that goal.

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Watch: Meyer joins Cris Carter on FS1's First Things First - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Watch: Meyer joins Cris Carter on FS1's First Things First
247Sports
The friendship between Meyer and Carter goes back to the mid-1980s when Meyer was an OSU graduate assistant and Carter was an All-American wide receiver for the Buckeyes. Meyer discussed OSU's homefield advantage in Ohio Stadium, what makes ...

and more »

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Audio: Listen to your Big Ten women’s basketball preseason teleconference
BTN.com staff via Big Ten Network

On Friday morning, the 14 Big Ten women’s basketball coaches held a Big Ten teleconference with reporters from around the country. You can listen to the audio from each coach right here.Filed under: Audio

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2017-18 B1G Basketball Preview: The Ohio State Buckeyes - Off Tackle Empire
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


2017-18 B1G Basketball Preview: The Ohio State Buckeyes
Off Tackle Empire
On the floor, there are reasons for Ohio State fans to be optimistic. The front court could be a strength this year, even though they lost a lot of production. On the wings, Keita Bates-Diop returns from injury and Jae'Sean Tate is the Buckeyes leading ...

and more »

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The Penn State-Ohio State showdown headlines Week 9’s Big Ten College Football betting lines
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Nittany Lions and Buckeyes clash in Columbus on Saturday afternoon in a matchup that will shake up the College Football Playoff.

Last week ATS: 3-8 (2-3 National, 1-5 B1G)

Season ATS: 55-52-2 (22-20 National, 33-32-2 B1G)

Penn State-Ohio State isn’t the only game between ranked teams this weekend, as three more are on tap nationally on Saturday. You can find my picks for those games and three other intriguing national games here.

B1G games:


No. 5 Wisconsin (-26) v. Illinois - 12:00 PM EST - ESPN

Illinois was able to at least keep last week’s game against Minnesota close until giving up two touchdowns late, but Wisconsin is no Minnesota. The Badgers are going to run all over the Fighting Illini. Jonathan Taylor adds to his tremendous freshman year as the Badgers stay undefeated with a easy win over Illinois.

Wisconsin 54, Illinois 14

Rutgers v. Michigan (-24) - 12:00 PM EST - Big Ten Network

How things have changed in just over a year. In early October 2016, Michigan laid a 78-burger on the Scarlet Knights in Piscataway. Now the Scarlet Knights have actually won two games in a row, while Michigan is completely lost.

Last week the Scarlet Knights gutted out a 14-12 win over Purdue, surviving a two-point conversion attempt from the Boilermakers late in the game. Rutgers still can’t do much on offense, and that won’t change against the Wolverines. Where Rutgers will need to find their points is by forcing John O’Korn into some turnovers that the Scarlet Knights can turn into points.

Can Michigan even score 24 points? Right about now I’m not all that sure they can. Take away the Ohio State game, and the only team that has scored at least 30 points against the Scarlet Knights has been Washington. Rutgers isn’t going to win, but they at least show some fight against a struggling Michigan team.

Michigan 27, Rutgers 14

No. 16 Michigan State (-2) v. Northwestern - 3:30 PM EST - ESPN

After last week I pretty much want to pick against Michigan State every week. I took Indiana as a touchdown underdog to the Spartans and all was looking good with the Hoosiers clinging to a 9-3 lead in the fourth quarter. Then the Spartans come out of nowhere to score two touchdowns in the last six minutes to cover the spread.

Northwestern earned their second win a row last week, outlasting Iowa 17-10 in overtime. I honestly have no idea what to think about Northwestern. They really haven’t done anything noteworthy this year. A couple wins here, a couple rather lopsided losses there. Just blah.

At what point is Michigan State’s luck going to run out? The Spartans have won four games in a row, all but eight points or less. I think Michigan State extends their winning streak to five before falling next week to Penn State. Even though I’m not crazy about taking the Spartans on the road here, I do like them at essentially a coin flip.

Michigan State 21, Northwestern 17

Indiana (-4) v. Maryland - 3:30 PM EST - Big Ten Network

Indiana squandered a golden opportunity to inject some excitement into the second half of their season last week when they blew a fourth quarter lead to Michigan State in East Lansing. Now the Hoosiers hit the road again, and will see if Peyton Ramsey can make some noise against a suspect Maryland defense.

On offense the Terrapins do have some pieces in running back Ty Johnson and wide receivers Taivon Jacobs and D.J. Moore. It’s just a shame they couldn’t stay healthy at quarterback, or they could have made a little more noise in the Big Ten.

After a couple of close losses, Indiana puts together a more complete performance Saturday against the Terrapins. The defense will carry the Hoosiers early on and eventually wear a beaten up Maryland team down. Indiana will return to Bloomington for next week’s game with Wisconsin with a little pep in their step.

Indiana 33, Maryland 20

Minnesota v. Iowa (-7.5) - 6:30 PM EST - FS1

Neither of these teams are very fun to watch right now. Minnesota slogged through a 24-17 win over Illinois last week, snapping a three-game losing streak. The Golden Gophers have issues at quarterback, with Demry Croft only completing five of his 15 passes last week. Luckily, Minnesota had Kobe McCrary and Rodney Smith to shoulder the load, combining for 256 yards on the ground.

Iowa is in just as rough a shape as Minnesota, with the Hawkeyes having lost three of their last four games. The Hawkeyes should be better on offense with quarterback Nathan Stanley and running back Akrum Wadley, but something just isn’t clicking. It’s like the loss to Penn State totally derailed the season for the Hawkeyes.

With both teams looking terrible of late, I just can’t bring myself to give a touchdown and the hook. Iowa wins in a game that is close all the way and doesn’t feature a whole lot of scoring.

Iowa 17, Minnesota 14

Nebraska v. Purdue (-5.5) - 7:30 PM EST - Big Ten Network

For as terrible as they have played this year, Nebraska is somehow still tied for second in the Big Ten West. The Cornhuskers got a much needed bye last week after getting housed in Lincoln by Ohio State. At least Nebraska saw something from redshirt freshman wide receiver J.D. Spielman, who is the nephew of Chris Spielman.

Things were looking good early on in the season for Purdue, but lately it has gotten dark for the Boilermakers. Last week Purdue fell to Rutgers 14-12, and now the Boilermakers have to find three wins in their last five games to become bowl eligible. The quarterback position is a bit of a mess right now, with neither Elijah Sindelar or David Blough performing well on a consistent basis.

Aside from Northern Illinois, Nebraska is at least beating teams they should beat on their schedule. Purdue is better with Jeff Brohm as their head coach, but I’m wondering if they came out of the gates a little too hot. There hasn’t been nearly as much excitement on offense lately for the Boilermakers. I trust Tanner Lee and what Nebraska has on offense to move the football a little more than I trust Purdue right now.

Nebraska 31, Purdue 27

No. 2 Penn State v. No. 6 Ohio State (-6) - 3:30 PM EST - FOX

Say goodbye to the cupcakes, Ohio State is playing a real football team. The Buckeyes are in the midst of their best offensive stretch in school history, racking up at least 500 yards in each of the last five games. It’ll be tough for Ohio State to extend that streak though, as Penn State is the nation’s leading scoring defense, only allowing 9.6 points per game.

Much like Ohio State, who has Penn State really played lately? Sure, Michigan is tough on defense but their offense is non-existent. A win under the lights at Iowa is nice, but since Penn State won in Iowa City the Hawkeyes have fallen off the map. The only thing we truly know about the Nittany Lions is that Saquon Barkley is really, really good.

I’m not expecting Ohio State to completely shut Barkley down, but I do think they are more likely to slow down the running back than Penn State is likely to shut down Buckeye running backs J.K. Dobbins and Mike Weber. The Ohio State running game will open up some holes in the improved Buckeye passing game which J.T. Barrett will exploit. The senior quarterback will break the tie with Drew Brees for most passing touchdowns in Big Ten history.

Unlike earlier this year when the Buckeyes laid an egg against Oklahoma, Urban Meyer will have his team ready to play. I’d love to see Ohio State blow Penn State out but I know the Nittany Lions are going to give the Buckeyes a tough game. I could see this game being within a touchdown for two or three quarters but by the end the Buckeyes end up winning by double digits.

Ohio State 34, Penn State 24

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Urban Meyer reveals why JT Barrett is such a vital piece to the Buckeyes' continued success - FOXSports.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Urban Meyer reveals why JT Barrett is such a vital piece to the Buckeyes' continued success
FOXSports.com
Urban Meyer reveals to Nick Wright and Cris Carter why J.T. Barrett is such a vital piece to the Buckeyes' continued success. Big Ten · CFB · FBS (I-A) · First Things First · J.T. Barrett · Mid-American · Ohio Bobcats · Ohio State Buckeyes · Saquon ...

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Examining Penn State-Ohio State conference and playoff implications
Kyle Sumner McKinnon via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


One of the biggest games of the year has even bigger implications.

The strength of the Big Ten has seldom been greater with No. 2 Penn State and No. 6 Ohio State set to face off on Saturday.

Well, the strength of the Big Ten East, that is.

In a crowded division, the implications to follow the heavyweight matchup are a plenty. The East has two top 10 teams and three ranked teams overall, each with no more than one loss as we head into the final six weeks of the college football season.

And with Michigan having already tapped out, that leaves Ohio State, Michigan State, and Penn State in the race for a spot in Indianapolis. All three have yet to play each other.

Cue the Big Ten insanity.

Here’s a look at the remaining schedules for the East’s contenders.

Ohio State (6-1, 4-0)

vs. Penn State

at Iowa

vs. Michigan State

vs. Illinois

at Michigan

Penn State (7-0, 4-0)

at Ohio State

at Michigan State

vs. Rutgers

vs. Nebraska

at Maryland

Michigan State (6-1, 4-0)

at Northwestern

vs. Penn State

at Ohio State

vs. Maryland

at Rutgers



The timeliness couldn’t be anymore perfect, but it’s hardly new territory for the teams involved.

Ohio State, Michigan State, and Penn State have successfully run the B1G gambit in recent years since divisions and a conference championship game were introduced prior to the 2011 campaign.

The Spartans have made three appearances in the Big Ten title bout in that time, winning twice. Coming off a down season, Mark Dantonio has Michigan State back on track. They’re tied for second in the East with Ohio State and earned a signature victory over rival Michigan in Week 6.



Dual-threat quarterback Brian Lewerke has paced their offense with 1,362 passing yards and 10 touchdowns. He’s added another 313 yards and three scores on the ground.

What’s more, the Spartans are ranked fourth nationally in total defense. They’re eighth in the FBS with 93.6 rushing yards per game allowed and lead the Big Ten in rush defense, yielding 72.5 yards per game in four conference contests.

Lining up across from Michigan State in about a week is Penn State.

The Nittany Lions captured their first Big Ten title in eight years last season, James Franklin’s third at the helm.

Now the folks in Columbus might take issue, but there isn’t a better backfield in college football today than Trace McSorley and Saquon Barkley. Barkley and his 1,494 all-purpose yards, 13 touchdowns, and ever-looping highlight reel are why he’s the Heisman Trophy frontrunner.



Defensively, a stingy secondary anchors Penn State’s No. 1 ranked scoring unit.

Then we have Ohio State.

The Scarlet and Gray are riding a five-game win streak. During that time, J.T. Barrett has thrown for 1,838 yards, 21 touchdowns, with a 72.1 completion percentage and zero interceptions. He’s run for 359 yards and five touchdowns, too.

For a better idea of how efficient Ohio State has been with the ball in their hands, they’re currently No. 3 in the country in total offense, No. 18 in rushing, No. 12 in passing, No. 4 in passing efficiency, and No. 2 in scoring.



Per the usual throughout the past two years, the Buckeyes defense is one of the very best in nation. Led by Nick Bosa, Sam Hubbard, and Jerome Baker, the defensive front is the backbone of the team.

So, if it isn’t clear by now, allow me to interject: No conference in all of college football has a division that’s as contentious as the Big Ten East.

It’s not even close.

The implications for Penn State’s meeting with Ohio State are at stratospheric levels.

Should the Nittany Lions lose, they risk putting the Buckeyes back in the driver’s seat. If Urban Meyer and Co. can’t pull off the upset, there’s no chance they qualify for the playoff, let alone the Big Ten championship game.

And what about Michigan State?

Regardless of who wins between Penn State and Ohio State, the Spartans season comes down to a critical two-week stretch in November featuring their aforementioned conference rivals.

There’s more on the line than a mere ‘W’ this Saturday.

The next month will be telling.

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I Got Five on it: Can Ohio State avoid Tecmo Bowl playcalling against Penn State?
Colton Denning via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Plus, kicking to Saquon Barkley isn’t a very good idea.

The game we’ve all been waiting for is finally here, and no, I don’t mean Northwestern-Michigan State.

After five weeks of Pacman-ing their way through delicious cupcakes —plus a bye week— Ohio State squares up against No. 2 Penn State in a game with major national implications, and that will probably determine who wins the Big Ten East.

For Penn State, it’s a chance to prove last year wasn’t a fluke, to cement Saquon Barkley as the Heisman Trophy favorite, and firmly entrench themselves towards a spot in the College Football Playoff.

For Ohio State, it’s an opportunity to redeem last year’s bitter loss in Happy Valley, prove that the offense has indeed turned the corner (praying hands emoji), and remind everyone who the real king of the Big Ten is.

With that in mind, let’s move past the lame fluff and get to the bad jokes, plus five things to watch for tomorrow:

Avoiding the ‘J.T. Barrett left, J.T. Barrett right,’ crutch


Throughout Barrett’s four years as starting quarterback, it’s almost a given that if Ohio State needs a first down in a close game, No. 16 is running the ball. The strategy has produced one of the most hilariously good moments in program history, but more often than not, it’s resulted in some confusing outcomes. It’s one thing to put the ball in the hands of your best player with the game on the line; it’s another to revert to Tecmo Bowl-ass playcalling because you don’t trust anyone else:


Ohio State’s close game playbook

This isn’t a knock on Barrett. He’s as tough as they come, and honestly, there are worse options than bludgeoning him up the middle when you need a first down. Ultimately though, it isn’t a winning strategy for the Buckeyes to utilize against Penn State, or any other top-flight team if they want to win a championship.

So, in what’s almost assuredly going to be a close game, will Meyer and Co. trust that the rest of the Buckeyes’ offensive weapons can contribute in crunch time, or will they revert to Barrett trying to gut out 20 carries once again?

Judgement day for the passing game


The best way to eliminate the “Barrett student body left/right” playcalls is for the passing game to show that the last five weeks wasn’t all smoke and mirrors. Even marginal success in the air means not letting Penn State crowd the box like they did last year:


A 100% real and completely un-photoshopped picture from last year’s game

While it’s been awesome watching Barrett and his receivers rebound from the Oklahoma game over the last month-plus, tomorrow presents the first real chance for them to show it against a top-flight defense.

You can bet that the Nittany Lions will bring up their safeties and trust their corners by themselves until Zone 6 proves they can make them pay, and that’s probably the key to whether Ohio State wins this game or not.

In short, a successful day throwing means Ohio State is in the drivers seat for a spot in the College Football Playoff by Saturday night. Another unsuccessful day, and we’re asking the same questions we did after the Oklahoma and Clemson games.

Breaking the streak


I’m sure you’ve already heard, but Penn State has allowed a total of zero first quarter points this season. In total, they’ve outscored opponents 90-0 in the opening frame, which seems good, in my opinion. Recent history doesn’t suggest Ohio State will be the first to score on them.

In their last three games versus ranked opponents (Oklahoma, Clemson, Michigan), the Buckeyes haven’t scored in the first quarter, and have averaged a meager 3.3 yards per play. Spoiler: That probably won’t cut it against the No. 2 team in the country that likes to kill its opponents right off the bat. Ohio State doesn’t have to score in the first quarter to win tomorrow, but it sure would go a long way towards helping them win.

Defending Saquon Barkley


Michigan linebacker Mike McCray is a very good football player. He’s without question one of the best defenders in the Big Ten. At 6’4”, 242 pounds, he has the size to play inside, and is quick enough to have registered seven tackles for loss this season. What he’s not built for is covering Saquon Barkley:



One of the reasons Michigan got dirt-napped so bad last week was that players like McCray were put into unwinnable situations against Barkley, and Penn State made them pay. He’s going to produce no matter what, but Michigan’s apparent lack of strategy for defending him meant that they didn’t really defend anyone at all.

Whether Ohio State opts for Iowa’s plan of letting Barkley run wild, and clamping down on everyone else, or making it the focal point of the defense to stop him like Northwestern and Indiana tried to do, literally any strategy would be better than what Michigan came up with.

Keep an eye on Jerome Baker’s play-to-play movements, as he’s the linebacker best suited to match up with Barkley’s athleticism. If they don’t go that route, Greg Schiano might opt to just trust that Buckeyes’ talented defensive line can limit his damage. Either way, No. 26 is going to be a handful.

Avoiding the big mistake


Here are some things Ohio State did in last year’s game that should have been more than enough to win:

• Outgained Penn State by over 100 yards.
• Converted seven more third downs, plus a fourth down.
• Held a 15 minute time of possession advantage, and ran 27 more plays.
• Forced a turnover and didn’t commit one.
• Held a 19-13 advantage in first downs.

In all, the Buckeyes had a 64% win expectancy, but two huge special teams plays ultimately changed the tide of the game. Tomorrow is probably going to be another close game, and a clean day on special teams could mean the difference between winning and losing.

That starts with not kicking the ball to Barkley. He already has one kickoff return touchdown, and giving him any more chances to beat you seems like an unwise decision, especially for an Ohio State kick coverage group that’s been bad (111th in kickoff success rate).

By almost any measure, Ohio State should win this game. They’re more talented, have a better offense and defense, and are playing at home in what will be a crazy environment. But as we saw last year, one special teams play can change everything, and that has to be worrisome given what we’ve seen from Ohio State’s third phase this season.

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Urban Meyer discusses the revenge factor with his Buckeyes facing the Penn State Nittany Lions - FOXSports.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Urban Meyer discusses the revenge factor with his Buckeyes facing the Penn State Nittany Lions
FOXSports.com
MINNEAPOLIS — Just five games into the season, the Minnesota Timberwolves are quickly learning how valuable newcomer Jimmy Butler is to their success. While Butler sat out consecutive games because of an upper-respiratory infection, Minnesota ...

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Ohio State football | Tight ends for Buckeyes, Nittany Lions capable of big plays - The Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State football | Tight ends for Buckeyes, Nittany Lions capable of big plays
The Columbus Dispatch
Call up the Penn State highlights and tight end Mike Gesicki — a player the Buckeyes once coveted — jumps off the screen at key moments. Do the same for Ohio State and it's obvious tight ends Marcus Baugh and newcomer Rashod Berry have become ...


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New coach tries to put struggling Buckeyes back together - New York Daily News
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


New coach tries to put struggling Buckeyes back together
New York Daily News
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The offseason for the Ohio State basketball program was strange and tumultuous. First the Buckeyes missed the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season, finishing 7-11 in the Big Ten. Center Trevor Thompson left early for ...

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Ohio State vs. Penn State 2017: Game preview, prediction, and 6 things to know
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Ohio State will be fighting to stay in the College Football Playoff race on Saturday afternoon when they host Penn State.

Following their loss to Oklahoma in early September, Ohio State has handily won five straight games. Fresh off their bye week, Ohio State welcomes Penn State to Ohio Stadium for Saturday afternoon’s contest, and the Buckeyes have revenge on their minds.

Last year Ohio State was undefeated when they made the trip to Happy Valley to take on the Nittany Lions. The Buckeyes looked to be in good shape to stay undefeated when they entered the fourth quarter with a 21-7 lead. Ohio State wasn’t able to hand Penn State their third loss of the season though, as the Nittany Lions scored the final 17 points of the game to pull off the upset. The game-winner for Penn State came with just under five minutes remaining, when Grant Haley returned a block field goal 60 yards for a touchdown.

Last year Penn State came into their matchup against the Buckeyes off their bye week, and the Nittany Lions put their time off to good use, by formulating a game plan that resulted in the upset of the Buckeyes. This year Ohio State is the team coming off a bye week, and Urban Meyer is 45-4 when he has more than a week to prepare for his opponent.

With the week off, Ohio State was able to watch last Saturday night as Penn State hosted Michigan in State College. The Nittany Lions impressed, scoring 28 unanswered points in the 42-13 victory over the Wolverines. Penn State was able to add to Michigan’s woes on offense, holding the Wolverines to just 269 yards in the win. Saquon Barkley continued to add to his stellar season, rushing for two touchdowns and catching a third.

The bye week came at just the right time for Ohio State, as they probably need the full two weeks to solve a Penn State defense that is allowing just 9.6 points per game, which is the best in the country. The Nittany Lions have already recorded two shutouts this year, and they have yet to allow an opponent to score 20 points. Seniors Jason Cabinda and Marcus Allen lead the Penn State defense. Cabinda leads the team with 53 tackles this year, while Allen is just 10 tackles away from 300 for his career in State College.

Ohio State is going to have their work cut out for them running the football, as Taz Bateman is the only opponent Penn State has allowed to eclipse 100 yards on the ground this year. The Georgia State running back needed 29 carries to hit the 100-yard mark. The Buckeyes are going to have to continue to get strong play from their offensive line if they want to get J.K. Dobbins and Mike Weber in a rhythm early, so the running game could possibly relieve some pressure the Nittany Lions will throw at quarterback J.T. Barrett.

Ohio State’s biggest advantages


Brimming with confidence. Say what you will about the competition Ohio State has faced over the past five games, but the Buckeyes have done what has been expected of them since their loss to Oklahoma. During the five-game win streak, Ohio State has racked up at least 500 yards of total offense in each game, marking the first time in school history they have eclipsed 500 yards in five straight games.

Ohio State has scored at least 50 points in each of the last four games, and now have scored at least 50 points 23 times under Urban Meyer. Many of those touchdowns have come from the arm of J.T. Barrett, who has thrown for 18 touchdowns during the five-game win streak. The next touchdown Barrett throws will break a tie with Drew Brees for the most touchdown passes in Big Ten history. Currently Brees and Barrett both have 90 career touchdown passes.

Unlike last year when Ohio State’s wide receivers struggled with consistency, this year Barrett has been getting many of his teammates involved in the passing game. So far this year Ohio State has eight players who have caught at least 10 passes, nine players who have amassed at least 100 yards receiving during the year, and 10 players who have caught at least one touchdown pass. The variety of weapons Barrett has to choose from could be the difference against a Penn State defense that hasn’t seen a passing game so far this year as dynamic as what they’ll see from the Buckeyes on Saturday.

Tough nut to crack. Following the first two games of the season, Ohio State’s defense was under fire for their lackluster performance. Since losing to Oklahoma, Ohio State has allowed just 56 points, and only 42 of those can be pinned on the defense, as one of UNLV’s touchdowns was an interception return, and Maryland returned a kickoff for a touchdown.

Ohio State has been especially stingy on defense when opponents have found their way inside the red zone. Opponents have gotten inside Ohio State’s 20-yard line 17 times this year, but the Buckeyes have only given up 10 touchdowns, which is sixth-best in the nation.

Ohio State’s strong defensive line can be given a lot of credit for setting the tone for the rest of the defense with the pressure and penetration they have been able to create. Nick Bosa has been even better than advertised in his sophomore season, as he leads the team with 10 tackles for loss. Ohio State will need another strong outing from Bosa and his mates on the defensive line, as they’ll have a tough task in trying to slow down Trace McSorley and Saquon Barkley.

Revenge on their mind. While it is never hard for Ohio State to get up for a game against Penn State, the result of last year’s game has the Buckeyes itching for another crack at the Nittany Lions. Ohio State dominated last year’s contest in State College pretty much everywhere except on the scoreboard. The Buckeyes outgained Penn State by over 130 yards and possessed the football for nearly 15 minutes more than the Nittany Lions, only to see the game decided by a fluky blocked field goal for a touchdown.

Saturday’s game will mark the eighth time in which both teams enter the game ranked inside the top 10, with Ohio State winning four of the seven previous matchups. The Ohio State faithful are hoping the result will be a little different than the last time these two teams met in Columbus with both ranked in the top 10. In 2008, Penn State entered the game ranked third in the country, while Ohio State was ranked 10th. The Nittany Lions were able to grit out a 13-6 win over the Buckeyes.

The atmosphere for Saturday’s game will be a little different, as for the first time since Urban Meyer took over at Ohio State, the game between the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions will kickoff before 5:30 p.m. ET. Even with the earlier start, as well as some possible cold and rainy weather in the forecast, it doesn’t mean the crowd inside Ohio Stadium will be any less juiced. Penn State had some issues on the road at Iowa, committing a season-high eight penalties, so any noise from the Buckeye crowd that could throw the Nittany Lions off their game would be an added bonus.

Penn State’s biggest advantages


The real deal. Saquon Barkley has been the most electrifying player in college football so far this year. The junior is one of the front runners for the Heisman Trophy, and it’s not hard to see why. Last week Barkley set the tone for the win over Michigan with a 69-yard touchdown run on just the second play of the game, and then followed it up with a 15-yard touchdown run just a few minutes later. The 14-0 deficit was something the Wolverines weren’t able to overcome.

The running back is a threat both on the ground, and through the air, as he is averaging 108 yards rushing per game, along with 64 yards receiving per game. If that wasn’t enough for opponents to try and stop, Barkley has returned a kickoff for a touchdown this year, and he also threw for a touchdown against Indiana. The 211 all-purpose yards Barkley is averaging per game leads the nation.

Barkley is the first Penn State player, and just the fourth player in Big Ten history to rush for 3,000 yards and rack up 1,000 receiving yards in his career. If those stats weren’t impressive enough, Barkley is the first junior to accomplish the feat. Barkley’s ability to hurt defense not only on the ground, but also in the passing game is what powers Penn State’s offense, because with the added attention Barkley demands, it can free up some of the other playmakers the Nittany Lions have on offense.

Trace MoxieSorley. Penn State has to feel like they hit the jackpot for the job Trace McSorley has done in replacing Christian Hackenberg. The senior has thrown at least one touchdown in 22 straight games, and his 45 passing touchdowns are just three shy of tying the school record.

What the senior quarterback has that not many other quarterbacks in the country have is no fear. On the final play of the game with the Nittany Lions trailing at Iowa earlier this year, McSorley zipped a seven-yard touchdown pass to Juwan Johnson to give Penn State a 21-19 win.

What makes McSorley even harder to defend is he does have the ability to make some plays with his legs when needed. To go along with the 14 touchdowns he has thrown this year, McSorley has also added seven rushing touchdowns. Ohio State has to be careful not to over pursue and allow McSorley to break contain and keep drives alive with his legs.

Even though Ohio State lost to Penn State last year, they did a good job for the most part in holding McSorley in check. The quarterback completed just eight of his 23 passes for 154 yards and a touchdown, and added 63 yards and a touchdown on the ground. If Ohio State can hold McSorley to similar numbers and maybe add in a couple turnovers, they’ll have a good shot at taking down the Nittany Lions.

Send ‘em home early. Last year Penn State was an exciting team to watch, especially at the end of the year, but some of that was because they were able to dig themselves out of some early deficits. In the 2016 Big Ten Championship Game, the Nittany Lions found themselves behind Wisconsin 14-7 at the end of the first quarter, and by halftime it was 28-14 in the Badgers favor. Penn State was able to come back and beat Wisconsin to earn a spot in the Rose Bowl, where they fell behind USC 13-0 after 15 minutes of play.

The Nittany Lions have learned from some of their mistakes from last year, and are starting games a lot stronger. So far this year the Nittany Lions are outscoring opponents 90-0 in the first quarter. It’s no coincidence that Penn State has won every game except for one by double figures.

Along with jumping out to an early lead, Penn State is also not beating themselves. This year the Nittany Lions are averaging just 3.57 penalties per game, which is second-best in the country. The only game where Penn State committed more than five penalties this year came against Iowa, where the Nittany Lions committed eight infractions for 90 yards. If the crowd noise inside Ohio Stadium doesn’t throw the Nittany Lions off their game, it’ll make an already tough task in beating Penn State that much harder.

Summary


F/+ Projection: Ohio State 33, Penn State 24

Win Probability: Ohio State 71.1%

By the numbers this will be a hard-fought game, with both defenses struggling after feasting for most of the season on subpar competition. Ohio State should be able to find a few more holes with the arm of J.T. Barrett, along with the legs of J.K. Dobbins and Mike Weber in this contest.

While Penn State will have some trouble slowing Barrett, Dobbins, and Weber, Ohio State’s tough defense will have a more success slowing what Barkley and McSorley will bring to the table. The Buckeye defensive line is a game changer with the pressure they can create.

Despite what happened to Ohio State last year in State College with the blocked field goal that was returned for a touchdown, it’s a little easier to trust Ohio State’s special teams in a close game. Penn State kicker Tyler Davis has hit just six of his 13 field goal attempts this year, and has missed all four of his attempts from 30-39 yards.

This game should be an entertaining one, as it’ll mix in the Big Ten toughness of years past, along with some of the new-age offenses. The colder temperatures and possible rain could add to the Big Ten feel. The Buckeyes find a way to stay in the playoff picture as they snap Penn State’s 15-game regular season winning streak.

How to watch, stream, listen to Penn State v. Ohio State:


Game time: Saturday, Oct. 28th, 3:30 p.m. ET

TV: FOX

Streaming: FOX Sports Go

Radio: 97.1 WBNS-FM

Know your enemy: Black Shoe Diaries

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PREVIEW: No. 6 Ohio State hosts No. 2 Penn State on Saturday - Dayton Daily News
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


PREVIEW: No. 6 Ohio State hosts No. 2 Penn State on Saturday
Dayton Daily News
Ohio State's Urban Meyer walks the sideline during a game against Penn State on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016, at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pa. David Jablonski/Staff. COLUMBUS. Who: No. 2 Penn State (7-0, 4-0) at No. 6 Ohio State (6-1, 4-0). When: 3 ...


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After struggling last year, Ohio State’s wide receivers are having fun again
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Zone 6 has had plenty of touchdowns to celebrate so far this season.

“That’s something we take pride in. When we go out, we want everybody to know that we’re there. If that’s energy or putting in work being quiet, we’re doing what we’re supposed to do. We’re just a bunch of hard-working dudes. That’s all we are. We do what we can, we do what we’re supposed to do and we do what we’re asked.”

Ohio State wide receivers coach Zach Smith via Austin Ward, Land of 10


After Ohio State dealt with inconsistency from their wide receivers last year, it’s obvious “Zone 6” is having a lot more fun this year. The Buckeye wide receivers have found the endzone plenty of times this season, and they are hoping to continue the trend when Penn State comes to town on Saturday.

Wide receivers coach Zach Smith heads up Zone 6, but it has taken a lot of hard work to get where he is now. Smith knew from an early age he wanted to be a coach, especially since his grandfather is Earle Bruce. The former Ohio State head coach told Smith to go to Bowling Green to learn from Urban Meyer. The current Buckeye head coach eventually went to Florida, and Smith wound up on Meyer’s staff from 2005 until 2009.

Meyer and Smith eventually reunited at Ohio State, and they have been together since. During his time at Ohio State, Smith has helped develop receivers like Michael Thomas, Devin Smith, and Noah Brown. Now the Buckeyes have a talented group of young receivers, which could be on their way to the NFL over the next few seasons. Zone 6 works hard, but they also know when they can have a bit of fun. With the way they have played so far this year, they deserve to enjoy some of the fruits of their labor, but Smith undoubtedly has his wide receivers hungry for more.

“Always be aware of where he’s at, know where he is every play, every down. That’s just pure respect.”

Ohio State linebacker Jerome Baker via Mitch Stacy, Associated Press


Penn State’s Saquon Barkley can do it all. The junior running back is the first Penn State player to eclipse the 3,000 yard rushing mark and 1,000 yard receiving mark in his career. Oh yeah, Barkley has also returned a kick for a touchdown this year, as well as thrown a touchdown pass. Really all that is left to Barkley to do is record a defensive touchdown.

So far teams have had no luck in slowing down Barkley this year, but Ohio State hopes their disciplined approach will be able to keep Barkley from being the difference in the game. Penn State has used mismatches to free up Barkley for some big touchdowns this year, but the Buckeyes know they have to account for the running back on every down. But there is a fine line because the Buckeyes can’t give Barkley too much attention either, because the Nittany Lions have a number of other weapons on offense who can hurt opposing defenses. All of this is why Barkley is considered one of the front runners for the Heisman Trophy this year.

“I want to believe what I’ve seen these last five games. So do you, Buckeye Nation. Your team still hasn’t beaten a ranked opponent this season because it fell to the only one it played.”

Dennis Dodd, CBS Sports


It’s easy to understand why some people might not be ready to completely buy into Ohio State quite yet. The Buckeyes have demolished their last five opponents since losing to Oklahoma, but those five opponents have a combined record of 17-19. Ohio State isn’t the only team facing questions like this though.

Who really has Alabama played this year? While Penn State has beaten Iowa on the road, and Michigan last week at home, the Nittany Lions schedule has been rather soft. The College Football Playoff could see a serious shakeup if the Buckeyes are able to beat Penn State on Saturday.

What has made the lead-up to the Penn State game even more exhausting that normal, is the uncertainty of which Ohio State is going to show up against the Nittany Lions. Will it be the Buckeye team that laid an egg against Oklahoma, or the buzzsaw fans have seen over the past five games. Were those beatings the Buckeyes handed out over the past month and a half really getting the team more comfortable for these tougher or conference games, or did they just pad stats? Saturday can’t come soon enough for Buckeye fans to find out.

“I think the reality is you have other programs in the state that have been really high-achieving programs. I get why we haven’t played some of those schools in the past, but I also recognize that, I think perhaps if those programs were really struggling programs that wouldn’t be beneficial for us. I don’t think that be in Ohio State’s best interest, but they’re programs that have had success and makes it mutually beneficial.”

Ohio State men’s basketball coach Chris Holtmann via Edward Sutelan, The Lantern


Ohio State men’s basketball head coach is more focused on prepping his team for the upcoming season, but the first-year Buckeye coach is also trying to help put together a Crossroads Classic-type event in Ohio. While he was at Butler, the Bulldogs participate in a yearly event, which saw the four best teams in Indiana square off in Indianapolis. In his first year on the job, Holtmann’s Bulldogs took on Indiana, followed by Purdue and Indiana again in his final two seasons at Butler. The only team he didn’t face off with during his time at the school in the Crossroads Classic was Notre Dame.

Any type of Crossroads Classic event in Ohio would likely include Ohio State, Cincinnati, Xavier, and Dayton. Fans have been calling for an event like this for years, but putting it together is easier said than done. In the past Ohio State hasn’t really had anything to gain by participating in an event like this. Now with the Buckeyes rebuilding, and the other three schools seeing more success at this time, if there was ever a time to put an event like this together, it would be now.

One recent change would could get in the way of Ohio State being involved in an event like this would be the recent change by the Big Ten, increasing the number of conference games from 18 to 20. With Ohio State involved in the CBS Sports Classic for at least a few more years, the Buckeyes might be hesitant to add an event like this to their schedule. If Ohio State is able to work an event like this into their future schedules, it’ll be sure to increase interest on the hardwood in the Buckeye State.

STICK TO SPORTS

• Ohio State has issued a neighborhood safety alert after an armed robbery early Thursday morning.
• Hot Chicken Takeover’s Easton location will open on November 6th.
• The new White Castle headquarters building has been approved.
• There is still time to get free sushi at P.F. Chang’s today.
• Check out this visual tour of some of the restaurants from ‘The Sopranos’.

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