Gameday+ | Rearview mirror: Ohio State 28, Nebraska 20 - Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Gameday+ | Rearview mirror: Ohio State 28, Nebraska 20
Columbus Dispatch
So Hopalong Cassady was in uniform when the Buckeyes, fresh off a Big Ten championship and a national co-championship, opened the '55 season against Nebraska. Stars: Cassady had a splendid start, and it became a common theme in his senior season ...


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Buckeyes play in honor of Dave Boston - Athens Messenger (registration)
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Buckeyes play in honor of Dave Boston
Athens Messenger (registration)
LOGAN — Nelsonville-York quarterback Hunter Edwards turned and pitched the football to tailback Alex Mount on the first offensive snap for the Buckeyes in their game at Logan on Friday. Mount picked up six yards on pitch-18, a play that was certainly ...

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Gameday+ | Season to date: Secondary, offensive line exceed expectations - Columbus Dispatch
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Gameday+ | Season to date: Secondary, offensive line exceed expectations
Columbus Dispatch
Stein: I'll assume that neither of you is surprised that Ohio State is 3-0, because both of you have picked the Buckeyes to win all three weeks, but what aspect of the opening run has most amazed you? May: The defense, primarily the secondary. Raekwon ...
Women's soccer puts past behind them, focused on No. 10 Nebraska and IowaOSU - The Lantern
Ohio State Travels to Bowling Green Saturday NightThe SkyBoat (blog)
Ezekiel Elliott is making adjustments after last week's Cowboys winLand-Grant Holy Land
cleveland.com -Lima Ohio
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Wisconsin sweeps Buckeyes to open Big Ten play - The Daily Cardinal
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Wisconsin sweeps Buckeyes to open Big Ten play
The Daily Cardinal
Initially, the Buckeyes battled hard with the Badgers, even gaining a slim lead in the early going. But that success quickly gave way to a number of self-inflicted wounds, as Ohio State's lead was quickly relinquished thanks to a string of three ...
Badgers crack the BuckeyesUniversity of Wisconsin Badgers

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Crystal Ball outlook for Buckeyes' top remaining 2017 targets - 247Sports
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Crystal Ball outlook for Buckeyes' top remaining 2017 targets
247Sports
Urban Meyer has 18 verbal commitments in what is the country's No. 1 ranked class in the 247Sports recruiting rankings. But there is still more work to be done if Meyer and company are going to sew up that top spot. Meyer and his staff are still going ...


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Get to Know The Buckeye Battle Cry: Brandon
Mike Meals via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Buckeye Battle Cry has recently reached a milestone for the site. Over the weekend of the Oklahoma game, the Facebook page reached 10,000 likes. With reaching that milestone, we wanted to spend a little time interviewing the writers and editors of the Best Damn Website out there. Add that into the 10 year anniversary of the site this week, and it has been an exciting time indeed for us all.

For episode 2 of our series of videos introducing the writers, editors, and contributors to The Buckeye Battle Cry, I sat down and talked with Brandon Zimmerman. Brandon joined The BBC about a year ago, first as a writer who has recently moved up to being one of the co-editors of the site.

We had to do about 3 takes of this particular interview. The first was posted earlier this week, but was not up to Buckeye standard, so we pulled it down and re-recorded the interview. I personally take the blame for that, for I am not tech savvy and suck at these kinds of things.

Brandon grew up in a small Ohio farming town named Wapakoneta, which is also the hometown of Neil Armstrong and The BBC’s own Mike Meals. Needless to say, sometimes I wish this wasn’t a family-friendly website, because the two of us could spend hours telling stories on each other.

As it says in his BBC Bio: Brandon Zimmerman grew up in the great state of Ohio as a Buckeyes, Reds, and Bengals fan. After graduating from high school in 2000, Brandon joined the Air Force and has worked in the government since then. Brandon has a B.S. in Sports Management and currently lives in Falcon, Colorado. He is married with two children. You can find him on twitter: @bzimmerman9




The BBC’s own Mike Meals, Brandon Zimmerman, and a couple great Buckeyes (Brent and Angie) outside Sunlife Stadium


I asked Brandon about his recent trip to Norman to watch the Buckeyes destroy Oklahoma, got his views on OSU, the B1G, and college football in general. We also had a few lightening round questions, picks for the College Football Playoff, and a loving story involving Brandon’s then 1 year old son trying to kill a loving, sweet, and wonderful uncle of his.

You can watch the parts of our interview that were appropriate for public consumption here:






(PS…watch around the 4 minute, 7 second mark…you are welcome!)

The post Get to Know The Buckeye Battle Cry: Brandon appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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#BasicDefense
Kade 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




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Ezekiel Elliott is making adjustments after last week’s Cowboys win
Geoff Hammersley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Zeke looks to show off his improvements in primetime

"He played a lot of really good teams in college and was really successful playing really good players, but these guys up here are professionals that are taught how to get the ball out. If they see a crack in your armor, they're going to find it.”

– Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Scott Linehan on Ezekiel Elliott, as reported by Jon Machota


Even though the Dallas Cowboys got the win on Sunday against their rivals from Washington, there were some changes to be made on offense surrounding former Ohio State Buckeye Ezekiel Elliott. After fumbling twice in that contest, the name of the game this week in practice for Elliott was keeping control of the rock.

Offensive coordinator Scott Linehan talked about the importance of keeping possession, and how NFL players are more keen on sniffing out the weaknesses in the opposition. For Elliott, the adjustments made going into this week are part of the learning curve associated with becoming a player in the NFL. According to the article by Jon Machota, Zeke only fumbled three total times at OSU. The two fumbles in last week’s game, as Elliott said, marked the first time he’s dropped the rock twice in the same game.

Great players have fumbled the football before. With Elliott, learning from mistakes is the way to becoming a great player. With another week’s worth of adjustments under his belt, Elliott will take part in a primetime matchup this Sunday, as the Cowboys take on the Bears at 8:30 p.m. on NBC.

“Everybody’s eager to learn. Everybody’s eager to get better. Obviously with the way we ended last season, we all want to prove collectively that we’re a lot better than we’ve shown last year and we’re just motivated every single day to get better.”

– Ohio State guard Kam Williams, as told by Adam Jardy of the Columbus Dispatch


Buckeye basketball is just around the corner. On Thursday, reporters were allowed to take a sneak peek at the team putting work in at the workout facility.

From pushups, typical weight exercises, and even some clowning around, the team’s ability to do activities together will go a long way. Strength coach Dave Richardson told Adam Jardy of The Columbus Dispatch that the team plans to do these kind of activities, rather than work in small groups – something that was done in seasons past.

The early team bonding and togetherness will hopefully change the trajectory of where this team is headed. Last season, the Buckeyes’ season ended with a loss to the Florida Gators at the Value City Arena in the NIT. At times during the 2015-2016 campaign, Thad Matta’s squad seemed disjointed; when Ohio State traveled to Maryland in January 2016, the Terrapins shell shocked the Buckeyes, 100-65.

This year seems to be different. Richardson pointed out that Kam Williams has made some improvements, and Jardy noted that Williams said he’s improved his bench presses and squats. JaQuan Lyle was also cited as having made improvements since getting to Columbus, Ohio.

With the Buckeyes making noise even before the season tips off, this is the kind of thing you’d expect from a top coach like Thad Matta. Expect to hear more about OSU’s improvements on the hardwood.

“It’s a big road test for us and, after our loss on Sunday (to Michigan), it’ll be interesting to see how we bounce back against Big Ten competition. Ohio State and Penn State are always great teams, so I’m excited to go out and play.”

– Nebraska senior Jaycie Johnson, as reported by Jake Crandall of the Lincoln Journal Star


If you’re in Columbus, then you have the chance to catch a top 25 matchup on the women’s soccer circuit.

A fresh ranking sheet on NCAA.com has Nebraska slotted as the No. 10 team in the country and Ohio State at No. 17. On Friday evening at 7 p.m., the two programs will match up at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in a pivotal Big Ten conference contest.

The Buckeyes are looking for their first win in conference play, while the Cornhuskers have struggled in away conference matches over the past two years – they’ve gone a collective 2-9-1, according to the Lincoln Journal Star.

Ohio State traveled to their first two conference matches, so expect a decent turnout at home as fans of the game will get to see their first Big Ten showdown of the season. Additionally, there could be some career milestones surpassed in this game. Nichelle Prince is tied for ninth in OSU history with 24 goals, and has found the back of the net twice this season.

If you can’t make it out for the game, then you can watch the action unfold on BTN+ at 7 p.m.

“I think Michigan is always a game where it doesn’t really matter what either team’s done up to that time. It’s kind of nice because we bring out the best in each other because we’re all so hyped up for the game. It’ll be interesting to see where it takes us.”

– OSU field hockey midfielder Carolina Vergroesen, as reported by Nicholas McWilliams The Lantern


With Ohio State being such an athletically rich school, there are a bunch of sports in action while the football team is on its bye week. Unlike the women’s soccer team, the field hockey team goes into enemy territory twice to battle Michigan and Michigan State.

OSU gets the Wolverines on Friday at 7 p.m. before making the trip to East Lansing to face the Spartans on Sunday at 2 p.m. At the moment, UM stands at 6-1 and hasn’t lost to the Buckeyes since 2011, according to Nicholas McWilliams at The Lantern.

A Buckeye win would be huge, as they’ve stumbled of late. Before making the trip to the Mitten State, the scarlet and gray have been outscored 7-2 in two losses by the sticks of Northwestern and Louisville. Granted, both the Wildcats and Cardinals are ranked in the top 20 in the NCAA.com field hockey polls, but losses are still losses no matter how you look at them.

You can follow goaltender Liz Tamburro and the Buckeyes’ match against the Wolverines using this gamecast.

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tBBC Alumni Interact: Founder Jeff, Former Editors Mali and Ken
WVaBuckeye via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


It’s the tenth anniversary of the night that Jeff created the Buckeye Battle Cry in his mothers basement, and what a better way to celebrate it than including the three people who helped make it what it is today. Jeff spent years building and burping his baby until handing over to Mali who was our fearless leader when I first came on. Technically I replaced Jeff as a writer that year but nobody can replace Jeff as a writer. Then Ken came along and was the glue that held us together during our post-Mali era. He wrote more articles in the time he was here than anyone else combined. I appreciate they’re participation in this weeks edition of The Fans Interact.



The Silver Bullets are beginning to become the true strength of this years team, what are you the most surprised with after only giving up 14 to the Sooners in their stadium?



Jeff – Speed. There’s so much speed on this team, it reminds me of Urban’s 2006 team that kicked our tails in the BCS title game. The opponent doesn’t see what’s coming until it is too late.



Mali – I was impressed with the aggressiveness of the defensive calls and pressure on Mayfield. Given that he’s pretty comfortable scrambling, I thought they might try to pocket contain him… not a chance. “Release The Hounds!!”



Ken – The secondary’s ability to make plays. Be it deflections or turnovers, they seem to have a knack of getting to the ball.
JT Barrett’s leadership skills are on display regularly, who else’s leadership on offense do you think is making the bigger impact right now?



Jeff – Curtis Samuel. He was waiting for his moment to shine, watching how Zeke handled success the last two seasons. He learned from one of the best and is allowing us to see what he learned.



Mali – Pat Elflein. Everything starts with the center, from the blocking and protection calls to the snap of the ball.



Ken – Too many new faces and too soon in the season to point to anyone else.
The normally strong special teams showed a crack in their armor during the Oklahoma game, specifically Mixon 97 yard kick-off return for a TD. Was it a product of his abilities only or is there something to worry about?



Jeff – Two guys ran into each other early in the run and it blew up the lane Mixon was running through. Simple mistake. Same guy got a handful of returns after that, never got past the 30 if I’m not mistaken.



Mali – Nah- it was a fluke… one missed lane assignment (on a cross stunt to the boundary). Shows again why it’s important for everyone to do their job… and why it’s important to carry the ball all the way into the end zone.



Ken – It looked like it could have been a blown lane coverage assignment. Mixon is very talented, though, so credit due to him. Nothing to see here…
Bonus – So, was Oklahoma as big of a test everybody was wanting for this young team early or are they just overrated? Why did the Buckeyes have such an easy time in Norman?



Jeff – They’re not overrated, in my opinion. Mayfield has success because he’s got a killer running game. He marched the Sooners right down the field in the first drive. But once Ohio State had a double-digit lead, we took them out of their game plan and they had to rely on a pass-heavy offense. Our defense was able to counter because we knew most down were a passing situation. They’re a REALLY good team that we curbstomped. They’re not #3 like they once were ranked, and they’re not #25 like they currently are placed. It’s more in between those, like 12 or 13, and whipping a Top 15 team in their home stadium is a huge accomplishment. They’ll get back to their rightful place soon.



Mali – Huge test, and also overrated. Oklahoma is a good team, and well coached. However, they don’t have the resilience to play all four quarters, and you could tell that they found themselves pretty stunned being down so early.



Neither Oklahoma nor Notre Dame should be ranked in the top 15 until they both prove themselves… no more of this “Irish Mystique” or “Big Game Bob” benefit of the doubt.



Ken – The Sooners are a talented team, particularly on offense. Beating them in Norman was a big test passed by Ohio State. I wouldn’t say it was that easy, but Ohio State just had a couple more playmakers on offense that Oklahoma couldn’t handle. I don’t think that stat line reflects the score; OSU just made a few more “plays” than OU.



Thank you again to all three for brushing off the moth balls and helping us this week and thank you to all three for playing some a huge role in making this blog what it is today!

The post tBBC Alumni Interact: Founder Jeff, Former Editors Mali and Ken appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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College football picks | How we see it: Winners include Spartans, Hoosiers but not Boilermakers - Columbus Dispatch
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College football picks | How we see it: Winners include Spartans, Hoosiers but not Boilermakers
Columbus Dispatch
The Buckeyes rolled up more than 500 yards in total offense against Western Michigan, but Urban Meyer still sees room for improvement. Tim May and Bill Rabinowitz talk about that game and Ohio State's upcoming Big Ten opener against Indiana.
25 years of OSU memoriesLima Ohio

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Gameday+ | Rob Oller commentary: With week off, Meyer should tune into Big Ten - Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Gameday+ | Rob Oller commentary: With week off, Meyer should tune into Big Ten
Columbus Dispatch
Meyer should pay attention, considering that the Buckeyes visit Wisconsin on Oct. 15 and Michigan State on Nov. 19. Meyer is 3-0 against Wiscy, but remove the 59-0 pasting in the 2014 Big Ten championship game and his two other wins were by seven ...
Ohio State Buckeyes defense embracing 'basic'MyDaytonDailyNews
Why Ohio State's 'basic' defense is so hard to beatSB Nation
JT Barrett says Ohio State has rules for scoring to avoid premature celebrationsESPN
BuckeyeGrove.com (subscription) -Youngstown Vindicator -247Sports
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BM5: Which Buckeyes will leave early for NFL? Schiano update - 247Sports
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BM5: Which Buckeyes will leave early for NFL? Schiano update
247Sports
An update on Greg Schiano's car accident. * Have we revised our preseason predictions for Ohio State, as far as overall record? What's next for the Buckeyes? Make sure you're in the loop -- take five seconds to sign up for our FREE Buckeyes newsletter now!
Ohio State LB Justin Hilliard, a former five-star prospect, reports serious injury on Instagramcleveland.com
Ohio State LB Justin Hilliard says 'I'm hurt,' out for six monthsLand-Grant Holy Land
Ohio State Linebacker Justin Hilliard Out for YearEleven Warriors

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Making The List: Chic Harley
jcollingsworth via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Who was the first star for the Buckeyes? I am talking back – back – back in the day! It is a legitimate question …. We’d have to go back to 1916 ….

Charles William Harley was born on September 15, 1894 in Chicago. Thus, his nickname “Chic”. His family moved to Columbus when he was 12 years old where he’d eventually become a huge star with East High School. Schools such as Notre Dame, TTUN, NYU, and WVA would come knocking – offering scholarships. But it would be The Ohio State University that he would accept.
Chic Harley joined the Buckeyes in 1916. This team would march on to a 7-0 record while winning their first Big Ten Conference championship. This team amassed an amazing 258 points in the course of seven games while only allowing 29 against them. Their victories against two powers in the season, Illinois, 7-6, and Wisconsin, 14-13 spoke of the dominance of this team – in this season. Seemingly, this still did not gather the troops, But, what it did do, was gave birth to the rabid love we in Buckeye Nation know today. The next year Harley would be named as a consensus first-team All-America, along with a spot on Walter Camp’s authoritative list. Now the believers began to filter in.
The Buckeyes repeated as conference champions in 1917. Their record would be 8–0–1. In 1918, just as many young men in the era did, Harley was off to war. The United States had joined in on the WWI efforts. Harley became a pilot for the US Army Air Service during this time. He would return to The Ohio State University in 1919 after “not” seeing any action. The Buckeyes finished this year 6-1. It would be Harley’s lone loss. The Buckeyes would go on and lose the conference title to Illinois on a field goal with a mere eight seconds on the clock.
It is specifically the 1919 season that is perhaps the strongest memory in Buckeyes’ lore, as it would be the first Buckeyes win against TTUN. They would win 13-3 and Harley played a major role, scoring twice and kicking one extra point. Yes, that’s right – he’d account for all 13 points – along with four interceptions. At the end of the game TTUN’s legendary coach, Fielding H. Yost, was granted a moment, certainly a rarity for a visiting coach to address the Ohio State team. It would be a splendid moment in history indeed: “You deserve your victory, you fought brilliantly,” Yost began. “You boys gave a grand exhibition of football strategy and while I am sorry, dreadfully sorry, that we lost, I want to congratulate you. And you, Mr. Harley, I believe, are one of the finest little machines I have ever seen.”
The sports writers agreed with Coach Yost. Harley, again, was named a consensus first-team All-American in 1919 and became the first three-time All-America selection at Ohio State.
Harley played both sides of the ball, quite common in the beginning era of football – halfback and safety. He would also serve as the team’s punter and kicker. In his 23 game’s while at OSU Harley scored 201 points. This record would stand for OSU until the fifties when Howard “Hopalong” Cassady journeyed onto campus.
Harley never had the opportunity to play before the massive crowds at Ohio Stadium which wasn’t ready for play until 1922; so only 20,000 or so would have the pleasure of witnessing the talents of Mr. Harley at Ohio Field. And in 1950, he’d be voted onto the All Star first-team for the first-half of the century for college football by the Associated Press. Others on that list was Jim Thorpe and Red Grange who was voted to the second team. When asked to explain his vote, one writer said, “Red Grange was a great runner, but that’s all he was. Chic Harley was a great runner, a great passer, a great kicker and a great defensive back. That’s why he’s on my first-team.” In 1951 he’d be in the first group (44) of players and coaches to be heading into enshrinement of the College Football Hall of Fame.
Chic Harley was our first “real” star. He was recognized nationwide, and honored so. The recognition that he brought to the program in Columbus is truly deserving of honor. But aside of that minor point is that he was a bona fide athletic star. He was our first star. So, and I apologize Chic, that I am only now getting around to acknowledging your greatness. Chic Harley was one of the greatest Buckeyes ever.

The post Making The List: Chic Harley appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Ohio State LB Justin Hilliard says ‘I’m hurt,’ out for six months
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Linebacker’s injury could cause depth issues for Ohio State

It sure looks like Ohio State's defensive depth just took another hit.

In an Instagram post on Friday, Ohio State linebacker Justin Hilliard revealed that an arm injury will require six months of rehab, effectively ending his season.


Hilliard also shared this news from his Twitter account:


Hilliard, a former five-star recruit from Cincinnati’s St. Xavier High School, had been playing on special teams for the Buckeyes. With the recent injury to fellow LB Dante Booker, depth at linebacker corps could become a concern for Luke Fickell and Greg Shiano.

The true freshman has played in all three of Ohio State’s games thus far, recording four tackles, including two solo.

Ohio State has not officially confirmed Hilliard’s status, and we will update this post as more information is known.

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A showdown between Wisconsin and Michigan State headlines Week 4’s Big Ten college football bets, odds
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 Spartans welcome the Badgers into East Lansing, while Michigan hosts Penn State in Ann Arbor

If you missed yesterday’s big national game picks for the week, you can find them here.

Last week ATS: 8-7-1 (2-4 National, 6-3-1 B1G)

Season ATS: 23-25-1 (9-10 National, 14-15-1 B1G)

B1G games:


No. 11 Wisconsin v. No. 8 Michigan State (-6) - 12:00 PM EST - Big Ten Network

So far I’m 0-3 in predicting Wisconsin games this year. Last week I expected them to crush Georgia State and the Badgers barely squeaked out a victory. Silly Badgers. Now Wisconsin will be starting Alex Hornibrook at quarterback and it is yet another week in which running back Corey Clement is questionable heading into a game. If it wasn’t for a strong defense, who knows what Wisconsin’s record would stand at through three games.

Michigan State quieted a lot of doubters last week with an impressive performance in the victory against Notre Dame. Quarterback Tyler O’Connor can now add a victory in South Bend as Michigan State’s starting quarterback to his win in Columbus last year. Mark Dantonio always seems to have his teams ready to play ranked teams, with the Spartans winning six of their last seven against ranked teams.

I haven’t been very high on Wisconsin this year, and that’s not changing after last week’s performance. I just don’t see how they are going to score enough points to win this one. On the other hand, I could see the Spartans getting a couple of turnovers to set themselves up with good field position.

Michigan State 24, Wisconsin 13

Iowa (-13.5) v. Rutgers - 12:00 PM EST - ESPN2

Poor, poor Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights are going to be the sacrificial lamb for Iowa to take their frustrations out on after the Hawkeyes lost to FCS power North Dakota State last week. The loss was C.J. Beathard’s first as Iowa’s starting quarterback since 2014.

The only chance Rutgers has in this game is if they can get a huge game from Janarion Grant. The running back and kick returner is fourth in the nation with 562 all-purpose yards. It’s not too crazy to think that’ll happen though after Iowa surrendered 239 yards on the ground last week.

Even though it’s never good to lose to a FCS team, at least Iowa lost to the best FCS team out there. I wouldn’t doubt that North Dakota State could beat Rutgers right now. The Hawkeyes rebound with a big win against Rutgers in their Big Ten opener.

Iowa 38, Rutgers 17

Colorado State v. Minnesota (-17) - 12:00 PM EST - ESPNU

Last year Minnesota barely squeaked out a win against the Rams in Fort Collins, but it’s quite obvious that Colorado State isn’t quite as talented as they were last year. Mike Bobo’s squad got walloped by Colorado in the season opener, and while they have responded with two wins, it’s never an easy trip to Minnesota.

The Golden Gophers had last week off after starting the season with wins over Oregon State and Indiana State. Mitch Leidner has been solid so far this year for Minnesota, and there’s no reason to think he can’t continue to get it done both through the air and on the ground on Saturday.

This is one of those matchups where I feel like whatever side I’m on will end up being the wrong side. I don’t particularly like laying this many points with Minnesota, but with a week off I feel like they’ll be up to the task to cover it before heading into Big Ten play.

Minnesota 42, Colorado State 20

Nevada v. Purdue (-5.5) - 12:00 PM EST - ESPNews

This will already be Nevada’s second trip of the year to Indiana, as the Wolf Pack got run over by Notre Dame 39-10 in the second week of the season. Last week Nevada was able to rebound at home with a win over Buffalo in which they rolled up over 500 yards of total offense.

Purdue had a week to lick their wounds after a loss in West Lafayette to Cincinnati. Quarterback David Blough did throw for 401 yards against the Bearcats, but he also did have five of his passes caught by Cincinnati defenders.

It’s always dangerous to back Purdue when they are a favorite, but I think this case might be one of the few exceptions. At least the Boilermakers get a team from out west traveling east for an early kickoff. As long as Purdue gets a little production from their defense they should be able to earn Darrell Hazell his fourth career win against a FBS team.

Purdue 34, Nevada 24

Wake Forest v. Indiana (-7.5) - 3:30 PM EST - Big Ten Network

I have no idea how, but Wake Forest is undefeated heading into this week’s game against Indiana. The Demon Deacons have done most of their damage on the ground this year, but that could be tough against a Indiana defense that has surprisingly good against the run so far this year.

Indiana knows a win is crucial with games against Michigan State, Ohio State, and Nebraska coming up to start Big Ten play. After losing quarterback Nate Sudfeld and running back Jordan Howard following last year, the Hoosiers haven’t missed a beat with Richard Lagow and Devine Redding replacing them.

The Hoosiers thwart Wake Forest’s drive to open the season at 4-0 for the first time since they went to the Orange Bowl in 2006. While the Demon Deacons are definitely improving under Dave Clawson, the Hoosiers are just too much for them to handle.

Indiana 31, Wake Forest 14

Penn State v. No. 4 Michigan (-18.5) - 3:30 PM EST - ABC

Unlike previous years, Penn State is getting it done with on the offense side of the football while the defense struggles. The Nittany Lions defense took even more of a hit this week when it was announced linebacker Nyeem Wartman-Wright will be out for the rest of the year. Not only that, but two other Penn State linebackers are injured and their status is up in the air for Saturday’s game.

Michigan looked like they were in trouble early against Colorado last week, but they rebounded for a 45-28 win over the Buffaloes. Jabrill Peppers was all over the field on Saturday, so Penn State will have to be aware of where the junior is at all times. Wilton Speight so-so against Colorado, but should have an easier time against a struggling Penn State defense.

I keep looking for reasons to take Penn State in this one, but I just can’t find any. I know the Nittany Lions have Saquon Barkley but I think Michigan shuts him down, which puts all the pressure on quarterback Trace McSorley. That won’t go well. The Wolverines get a big win to open up Big Ten play.

Michigan 45, Penn State 21

No. 20 Nebraska (-7.5) v. Northwestern - 7:30 PM EST - Big Ten Network

Four out of the last five meetings between these two schools have been decided by three points or less. The only meeting that wasn’t came in 2014 in Evanston when Nebraska won 38-17. Why should this meeting be any different than their recent close history?

Nebraska is coming off a 35-32 win over Oregon, so they could be in a spot for a letdown. The Cornhuskers are better on offense and their defense is starting to click, so it makes no sense that this game should be close. Sometimes football makes no sense though. I just get the feeling that Northwestern’s defense will find a way to at least slow down Tommy Armstrong Jr. and company.

After seeing Northwestern in their first two games where they lost to Western Michigan and Illinois State, it makes even less sense that they could keep this game close. The Wildcats rebounded with a 24-13 win against Duke, and quarterback Clayton Thorson was effective not only on the ground, but also through the air. Add in Justin Jackson’s effectiveness at running back and this ends up being the most exciting Big Ten game of the weekend.

Nebraska 28, Northwestern 24

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Ohio State Buckeyes defense embracing 'basic' - MyDaytonDailyNews
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State Buckeyes defense embracing 'basic'
MyDaytonDailyNews
In an interview taped for Sooner Sports TV days before the game in Norman, he said, “I think (the Buckeyes) have a really basic defense. Baker (Mayfield), he'll light them up. I'm really looking forward to it, and if my number's called, I think I can ...
Gameday+ | Rob Oller commentary: With week off, Meyer should tune into Big TenColumbus Dispatch
JT Barrett says Ohio State has rules for scoring to avoid premature celebrationsESPN
Buckeyes feel there is plenty to work onBuckeyeGrove.com (subscription)
Youngstown Vindicator -247Sports
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Why Ohio State's 'basic' defense is so hard to beat - SB Nation
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Why Ohio State's 'basic' defense is so hard to beat
SB Nation
You can forgive the Buckeyes for preferring a “basic” defense after they lost defensive coordinator Chris Ash to the vacant head coaching job at Rutgers, six starters to the NFL draft, and another starter to the NFL. The Buckeyes have been pretty ...
JT Barrett says Ohio State has rules for scoring to avoid premature celebrationsESPN
Ohio State football | Cameron Johnston's punts give Buckeyes an edgeColumbus Dispatch
Buckeyes feel there is plenty to work onBuckeyeGrove.com (subscription)
MyDaytonDailyNews -Waiting For Next Year -Youngstown Vindicator
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Drama in the SEC highlights a Saturday without Ohio State football
Colton Denning via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Former Purdue quarterbacks take center stage for some reason.

After last week’s stellar performance in Norman, Ohio State has earned a bit of a breather, don’t you think? The Buckeyes have already shattered the modest expectations bestowed upon them in preseason and have arguably looked like the best team in the country through three weeks. While there is a lot of season left, it’s been quite the impressive start for a team that lost 16 starters from 2015. Before Big Ten play begins next weekend, however, the Buckeyes get to watch week four from home. And luckily for us, there are still plenty of things to watch this weekend across the college football landscape.

If you haven’t heard yet, former Purdue quarterbacks are major players in the SEC! What a time! While the quarterback situations, and ranked match-ups in the SEC are the big stories heading into the weekend, Big Ten and Pac-12 conference play also begin with a bang. So while we’d all prefer to be watching Ohio State play, there’s more than enough that will pique your interest tomorrow.

With that in mind, here are five things to watch during Buckeyes’ bye week:

You’re fired

Les Miles and Gus Malzahn have combined for some pretty crazy moments at their respective schools. The two have also combined for a National Championship, three title game appearances, and three conference championships. Despite that success, they share a division with Nick Saban. That, coupled with some recent sputtering, makes Saturday’s game between LSU and Auburn feel like a must-win for both:


Not only is this game big for both teams, but each still have a bevy of tough conference games left, so the loser is basically guaranteed three losses, and probably at least one more.

As far as the game goes, Miles is trusting his job security to a former Purdue quarterback, while Malzahn’s once potent offense doesn’t seem to have an identity anymore. The first three meetings between the two haven’t been close games, so it’ll be interesting to see if a lack of offense keeps the 2016 edition closer than usual.

You should watch this game for storyline purposes alone, but if you need extra incentive, count how many times you appreciate who the head coach at Ohio State is during it.

More southern drama

Continuing with the SEC theme, most of the marquee games take place in the south this weekend, highlighted by three games between ranked teams.

The Tennessee-Florida game comes with storylines aplently, (and more former Purdue quarterbacks!) and Butch Jones and his thus far unimpressive team would be well served to get a win now with the slate they have coming up:


Yikes

Speaking of looking unimpressive; Despite a 3-0 record, Georgia enters its game versus Ole Miss as a bit of an enigma. The Dawgs have looked downright bad offensively at times in back-to-back games versus Nicholls State and Missouri, and have quickly fallen to 27h in S&P+. To their credit, they’ve also found ways to win each game. They’ll need to play much better to win in Oxford tomorrow.

It’s also a crucial game for the Rebels, who are already 1-2, thanks to early losses to Florida State and Alabama. A win against a talented team like Georgia would be a nice reset heading into the second portion of the season, but a loss has the potential to completely derail what looked to be another very promising campaign.

And finally, some HAM (literally) to end the night. BERT and company are no strangers to close games as of late, and Saturday night’s game in Arlington versus Texas A&M should be no different. They’ve gone to overtime the past two seasons, and it wouldn’t be a shocker to see it happen again.

The winner might also quietly have the inside track to being the second best team in the SEC West, depending on how LSU-Auburn shakes out. No matter what other games you decide to watch tomorrow, this is the one you absolutely should not miss.

Big Ten (B)East

With three teams in the AP top ten — and Wisconsin at 11 — there’s been a lot of love for the Big Ten this week, and even talk that it might be taking the SEC’s place as the premier conference in the country. While that’s debatable (at best), it’s clear that Ohio State, Michigan, and Michigan State have established themselves as the cream of the conference crop. Though the Buckeyes are off this week, that may be even more apparent after tomorrow.

The Wolverines are currently 18-point home favorites versus Penn State, and a few hiccups against Colorado aside, have very much looked the part of a top-5 team early in the season. The offense has been perfectly solid, while the defense is loaded with playmakers. Also, for the love of god, if you play Michigan, find a way to get a punt off without giving up a block or a touchdown.

The Nittany Lions have been up-and-down for the most part, but the offense still has Saquon Barkley and the requisite talent out wide to try and duplicate some of the success the Buffaloes had last week. Still, it’s hard to see a team as young as Penn State doing enough to win in that environment, and a Michigan victory will only widen the perception gap between Penn State and the top three in the Big Ten East.

Wisconsin and Michigan State is the only game between two top-15 teams this week, so it feels like it should be getting a little more attention, right? Well, the Badgers are coming off of a 23-17 home win over Georgia State, and are giving a redshirt freshman quarterback his first career start in East Lansing. Good luck with that.

While a loss by one, or both, of Ohio State’s division rivals would be hilarious, it’s quite likely that both roll and we march ever closer to what should be an epic race for the Big Ten East crown at the end of the season.

Watch other conferences!

Because of the bye week, your whole day is now free. If you choose to spend it with family, friends — or by doing something constructive with your life — kudos to you. For the rest of us, there is still college football to be watched.

While you won’t want to miss any of those bigger games, the undercard abounds with intrigue, especially outside of the B1G. The worst thing you can do with your free day of college football is watch Iowa-Rutgers, so here are three other games to watch:

• Florida State at USF
• Colorado at Oregon
• South Carolina at Kentucky

After an embarrassing loss to Louisville last week, Florida State travels to Tampa to take on a very scrappy South Florida bunch that can make a case as the best non-power five team in the country with a win. The ‘Noles are banged up, and USF already gave them a reasonably tough game in Tallahassee last season. It’s not out of the question for USF to come out of this with a win, somehow.

The Buffs are coming off a surprisingly good performance against Michigan and despite the injury to quarterback Sefo Liufau, have another shot to prove they’ve escaped the bottom tier of power five teams. Oregon looks to rebound after losing to Nebraska, and might want to call better two-point conversion plays this week.

Lastly, the South Carolina-Kentucky thing was a joke. Don’t subject yourself to that.

Pac-12 after dark

What better way to end this column than the way each college football Saturday concludes? The Pac-12 has already gifted us with some incredible late-night gems, and that’s sure to continue this weekend. Unless you’re a #mad #online east coast sportswriter — or hate touchdowns — do yourself a favor and find a way to watch these two games.

The matchup between Cal and Arizona State in the desert should live up to the standard the stereotypical late-night Pac-12 game: Offenses that can score, and defenses with an aversion to making tackles in the open field. Combine the two and it’s no surprise that the over/under for this one is currently at 82.5.

While Washington at Arizona doesn’t fit the profile of a high scoring game, it certainly has other things going for it.

The Huskies were seemingly everyone’s sleeper team to start the year, and despite not facing strong opposition yet, S&P+ has backed that initial faith up. The offense has been good enough, but the defense’s ability to render explosive plays almost non-existent has stood out through three weeks. They get their first chance to make good on that off-season promise versus a bruised up Wildcats bunch. Regardless, picking up a win in a place where weird things tend to happen would be a another nice step for the young Huskies.

No matter what, be sure to take some time out of your night to bask in the glory that is #PAC12AFTERDARK.

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Heard Around the ‘Shoe – 9/23/2016
Ben van Ooyen via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Welcome to your tri-weekly look at all things Ohio State recruiting. Let’s get started!

Urban On the Road:


While the Buckeye offensive line recruiting has gone really well this season, the consensus is that they still might want to get one more into the class this year. They already have commitments from Josh Myers, Jake Moretti and Wyatt Davis who are all rated in the top 75 of Rivals rankings. They are still chasing Trey Smith out of Tennessee to become their 4th commitment along the line. Smith is rated as the #4 offensive tackle in the class, and the 2nd overall prospect from the state of Tennessee.

Coach Meyer and Coach Studrawa were in Jackson, Tennessee early this week checking in on the 5-star lineman. Bill Kurelic from Bucknuts ($) spoke to his head coach Rusty Bradley about the visit.

“Coach Meyer and coach Studrawa came by to say hello and check in,” University School head coach Rusty Bradley said. “Ohio State is absolutely in the running. Trey has narrowed it down to six schools and Ohio State is one of them. It’s Tennessee, Alabama, Clemson, Ole Miss, Notre Dame and Ohio State.”

While Smith hasn’t scheduled any of his visits yet, his head coach says that the Buckeyes will certainly get one of them.

“Ohio State will definitely be one,” Bradley said. “He’s in the process of setting them up now. He should have them set up in the next two to three weeks. But Ohio State will be one. He’ll get up to Ohio State for a game.”


Buckeye Coaches Hitting the Road Hard:


The off week has been good for the Buckeye players as they have been able to practice a little and rest up for the grind of the Big Ten season. The coaching staff however never rests. The staff was out and about scouring the country, talking to some of the top uncommitted prospects of the class of 2017 and 2018 while also checking in on some of the current commitments.

The social media department at Ohio State has been hard at work as well, putting out videos such as the one seen on Luke Fickell’s tweet below showing the talent coming from the states of Florida and Georgia to Ohio State and the success they have had. The Buckeyes have a lot of targets from these two states for the classes of ’17 and ’18, and when you are putting guys into the NFL at the rate the Buckeyes are, recruits will take notice.









Buckeyes Offer Michigan Legacy:


The Buckeyes offered a 4-star tight end from Jacksonville, Florida on Wednesday named Will Mallory. Mallory is a Michigan legacy as his dad and two uncles both played for Michigan during the 80’s. While it is a long shot that Mallory would even consider the Buckeyes, the success that they are having recruiting Florida shouldn’t go unnoticed.

Mallory currently has 23 offers, but is 100% crystal balled to Michigan. He is the 11th ranked tight end in the class of 2018 and the 34th best prospect in Florida.




High School All-American Teams


Two of the more highly sought after recruits in the class of 2017 were awarded their U.S. Army All-American Bowl jerseys Thursday. Baron Browning from Kennedale and Jeffrey Okudah from Grand Prairie, Texas were selected the play in the game that takes place January 7th, 2017 in San Antonio, Texas.





Browning, who will enroll early at the school of his choice, will be making his final decision on November 29th. He will be choosing between Alabama, Texas, Michigan, Notre Dame and Ohio State among a few others. He will visit Ohio State for The Game on November 26th, three days before his decision.

As for Okudah, there has been a lot of internet speculation that he committed or reaffirmed his commitment to the Buckeye coaching staff after the Oklahoma game. While the commitment has not been made public, Okudah still plans on making all of his official visits before announcing his college of choice.

After the Oklahoma visit, he is scheduled to visit Ohio State, Florida and Texas as well this fall.

The post Heard Around the ‘Shoe – 9/23/2016 appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Ohio State men's basketball | Worth the weight: Buckeyes come together for workouts - Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State men's basketball | Worth the weight: Buckeyes come together for workouts
Columbus Dispatch
Thursday, the Buckeyes opened the curtains and allowed reporters to watch a team session inside the Mike Conley Jr. Weight Room at Value City Arena. There, mammoth freshman center Micah Potter was seen being cheered on by teammates while he ...
See Ohio State basketball's preseason workout: What is strength coach Dave Richardson doing with them?cleveland.com

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Watch: Is it fair to say 'national title or bust' for Buckeyes? - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Watch: Is it fair to say 'national title or bust' for Buckeyes?
247Sports
Ohio State had a lot of question marks entering the 2016 season, but everyone knew the Buckeyes would be very talented. Well, one-fourth of the way through the regular season, it's quickly turned to a "national championship or bust" feeling in Columbus.


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After The First Quarter Of 2016, Where Does Ohio State Stand?
Chip Minnich via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Embed from Getty Images​

Three games into the 2016 college football season, and even though the bye week seems to have arrived early for the Ohio State Buckeyes, the first quarter has come and gone. Only nine regular season games remain in the season, with the Buckeyes in the conversation as a possible College Football Playoff participant.

As stated up above, there is still lots of football to be played. Many a college football season has gone awry after a promising start, so it will be up to Ohio State Head Coach Urban Meyer and his assistant coaches to keep the players intently focused upon finishing strongly.

Urban Meyer: "We're not near as good as everyone thinks we are." #Buckeyes

— Dave Biddle (@DaveBiddle) September 22, 2016​

Below are some random thoughts as to what I have seen so far from the Buckeyes. As always, please feel free to hit me up on Twitter @ChipMinnich to let me know your thoughts…

Biggest Surprise So Far, Position Group: The performance of the Ohio State secondary. If you had told me that Ohio State would lose three starters from its 2015 team, and be able to perform as well as they have so far in 2016, I would have been highly skeptical. It is still relatively early in 2016, but the pick-six touchdown returns by true freshman Rodjay Burns in the latter portion of the season opener versus Bowling Green, plus the crucial interceptions by Marshon Lattimore and Malik Hooker versus Tulsa in game two, are tremendously reassuring heading into B1G play.

Biggest Surprise So Far, Player: PK Tyler Durbin. What can you say about a walk-on who has been 23-23 on PATs and 3-3 on FGs three games into the season? I believe Durbin has the PK job for the duration of the 2016 season, no matter if Sean Nuernberger comes back healthy.

Withholding Judgment: The Ohio State defensive line. This position group has long been a concern of mine going into the 2016 season, and losing Tracy Sprinkle in game one versus Bowling Green only exacerbated those concerns heading into B1G play. The emergence of players such as Dre’Mont Jones, Robert Landers, and DaVon Hamilton have been reassuring to this point, and the defensive line played well against Oklahoma’s running game, but the true tests will arrive when power running teams such as Wisconsin, Northwestern, and Michigan State are going to line up against the Buckeyes.

Early Freshman Of The Year: Offensive guard Michael Jordan. There are many freshmen and redshirt freshmen who have contributed to Ohio State’s 3-0 start in 2016, and it is entirely possible that other players could emerge, but I have to give the nod to Michael Jordan at this point. Jordan became the first starter on the Ohio State offensive line since the legendary Orlando Pace did the same back in 1994. Yes, I know that Mike Weber is the starting tailback – I am going to go with a true freshman for this evaluation.

Send Out The Search Party: It’s not entirely his fault, as he is battling injury, but WR Corey Smith has been a non-factor so far this season. Best hopes and wishes for Smith to finish up his final season strongly.

Urban Meyer said Corey Smith will have surgery on his hand on Sunday. Plan is to cast him up and have him play again just like tonight.

— Eric Seger (@EricSeger33) September 18, 2016​

Please Clean Up…The penalties. Ohio State has begun the 2016 season with an alarming penalty rate. So far, the penalties have not hurt the Buckeyes, but these are the kind of mistakes that can be impactful as the stakes get higher later into the season.

Please Cut Down On…Running QB J.T. Barrett as much as the coaching staff has so far this season. Barrett has added 159 yards and three touchdowns on the ground, but the visions of Barrett sustaining the season-ending injury versus That Team Up North in 2014 are difficult to shake. Fewer carries by Barrett will help keep me calm.

The Most Impressive Play So Far…How can I pick anything except this reception from Noah Brown versus Oklahoma?

Think Noah Brown’s TD grab was amazing? He’s just getting started (by @SIPeteThamel) https://t.co/lGPaRPYCCz pic.twitter.com/sgR1isdydQ

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) September 22, 2016​

Are you kidding?!

Noah Brown with the FILTHY Touchdown catch for @OhioStateFB! #OSUvsOU
https://t.co/3KVgmKjYQW

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 18, 2016​

The post After The First Quarter Of 2016, Where Does Ohio State Stand? appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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What Do You Want To See? Idle Week
Scott via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

OK, Buckeye fans.
Time to take a break for a week.
Ohio State is idle. Maybe it comes at the wrong time as the Buckeye Express seems to be rolling after stomping Oklahoma with its basic defense.
Anyhoo, that doesn’t stop our crack staff from producing its weekly wish list.
Ready?

Scott
B1G up: Need the conference to have a good week.
Irish eyes: Wouldn’t mind a Notre Dame win.

JC
Stay on same page: I would like to see Warriner and Beck repeat with call-playing. They did well this past week. I am still not sold. Oklahoma and Stoops are overrated, I think, and always have been. This journey must go through Wisconsin, *ichigan State, Nebraska, and of course the circus act masqueraded as TTUN.
Eat it: I would like a full confess from Jim Harbaugh about the booger he ate too. Admitting it will only set him free. Perhaps he could be the national spokesman, or super-hero for booger eaters. Just admit it Jimbo.

Mike M.
Take a dive: I want to see if J.T. Barrett learns to slide at all. I love him being tough and fighting for what we need, but he takes some unnecessary hits. Once you have the first, unless a TD is possible, don’t take hits you don’t need. Barrett means too much to this team. The fact that we have to nitpick something like this is a good problem to have.
Not a snooze fest: I also want to see good games this week. As a football fan in general, I want to be entertained this week with the Bucks having a well-deserved off week.

Ben
The big mo: For Ohio State I want to see them keep up the momentum. I don’t want to see a fall off in two weeks when we play Rutgers. Have to keep getting better every week, and I am glad we have a week off between games so the guys can come down off the high of beating a good Oklahoma team.
Good weekend of games: I want to see how Clemson does at Georgia Tech. Can the TIgers avoid this trap game? Can Ole Miss win a game they lead at halftime this season? They play Georgia this week at home and a 1-3 start would be disasterous. The Battle of the Big Ten with Wisconsin and Michigan State should be a great game, and it’s a noon kick which makes it better. Wisconsin has a rotating quarterback position and Michigan State looks like it hasn’t dropped off a bit since last year. Another good weekend of college football which will go a long way to shaping the landscape of where things finish at the end of the season.

Wva
Top ranked pain: Here’s hoping the bye week for the Buckeyes turns into a fun watch party with lots of upsets and they become the number one team.
Um, nurse: Get everyone healthy this week, lots of knicks and dings with starters. Take the opportunity to take it easy and stay out of trouble.
Rankings galore: Let the national powers figure out what needs to be done with the rankings. The committee better not be paying attention to those and make pretty good decisions around who the best teams are.

The post What Do You Want To See? Idle Week appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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View From the Fan – Bye Week Edition
Ben van Ooyen via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


This article originally appeared at ohiostate.scout.com

Thoughts on Last Week


Much like Urban Meyer, I was concerned about how this young team would respond to a hostile road environment at Oklahoma. I was nervous all day – the delayed kickoff didn’t help – but once the ball was in the air, and the Buckeyes put up a couple of quick scoring drives, I knew this team was going to come out of Norman with a big win.

Honestly, I’m surprised Ohio State ran the ball so much, but it obviously worked, so there was no reason to stop. Mike Weber and Curtis Samuel again made the thunder and lightning combo look lethal. Samuel got the ball on 4th down and took it to the house, and Weber averaged nearly seven yards a pop on the ground. Although J.T. Barrett only completed 14 passes all night, four of them went to Noah Brown in the end zone. His infamous touchdown catch on the defensive player’s back was one of the best – if not the best – catches I’ve ever seen. Despite Brown’s heroics, I’m still a little worried about the Buckeyes’ wide receiver play going forward. Their other wide receivers only had four catches for 36 yards. Fortunately Ohio State had such great success running the ball, or the game might’ve had a different outcome.

The defense was lights out again. Even though they gave up 400 yards of offense and the first two touchdowns of the season, the Buckeyes made big plays when they needed them. The athletic Jerome Baker grabbing a pick-six, and Marshon Lattimore’s fourth interception of the season were the highlights for me, but in the end, the Buckeyes’ bend-don’t-break strategy held strong and kept the Sooners from finding a rhythm. Baker Mayfield struggled against Ohio State’s “basic” defense and never looked like himself all night. Joe Mixon averaged nearly nine yards a carry, but he and Samaje Perine failed to make much difference. The defensive line exerted a lot of pressure, and the linebackers held their ground while the secondary continued their ball-hawking ways. Chalk up another big win for this young team – they certainly grew up last Saturday.

A Fan’s Playoff Predictions


Alabama – The Crimson Tide looked terrible in the first half against Ole Miss, but a late rally spurred by big special teams and defensive plays sealed up another top 25 win. Their early win against USC doesn’t look so hot right now, but they still possess more talent on the field than probably everyone but Ohio State.

Ohio State – After going on the road to Oklahoma and dominating the game from start to finish, this young Buckeye team is certainly on the rise. The defense is hard to crack, and the offense seems to be a well-oiled machine. The Buckeyes have some tough tests coming up in October, so things could change quickly.

Louisville – I thought Louisville would be good, but this good? Lamar Jackson his team rolling right now, and that train could continue all the way to the playoffs. However a looming trip to Death Valley against Clemson will probably leave one of them on the outside looking in.

Clemson – A 59-0 shellacking of South Carolina State didn’t put the Tigers back in the top four, but their talent level and Deshaun Watson put them back on my list. They still have tough games remaining, especially against charging Louisville. Win out, and they will be here in the end.

A Fan’s Heisman Standings

Lamar Jackson – The way he ran rampant over Florida State’s defense gave me flashbacks to another Jackson – Bo. Eighteen touchdowns in three games is incredible, and he should have another big week against Marshall before traveling to Death Valley to face Clemson.

J.T. Barrett – There may not be a smoother operator in all of college football than Barrett. The command he has over the offense, and the trust he instills in the guys around him makes for a pretty formidable offensive attack. Some of his throws last weekend against Oklahoma were not great, but Noah Brown made them highlight-reel worth.

Christian McCaffrey – Another run of the mill performance from McCaffrey this week against USC. He added 238 yards of total offense, along with two touchdowns. He leads the country in all-purpose yards per game at 235 per game.

Donnel Pumphrey – A new name to my list, but after two consecutive 200-yard games, he deserves to be here. San Diego State is off to a 3-0 start, and Pumphrey averages almost 200 yards per game with seven touchdowns. He averaged 1,750 yards a season over the past two seasons and he shows no signs of letting up this year.

The post View From the Fan – Bye Week Edition appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Ohio State makes an offer to a 2018 TE
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Recruiting has no bye week.

The Buckeyes are still fresh off a win over national power and former playoff participant Oklahoma. With this week being Ohio State's "bye" week, the coaching staff has had time to get their players well rested before they open Big Ten play next Saturday with Rutgers coming to town. No football game this weekend allowed for recruiting to once again take focus – much like it does during the off-season when coaches hit the trails in search for the next great Buckeye.

Bucks offer Florida Tight End


The tight end position for Ohio State has had its handful of names that have brought nothing but success to the position group. Each of the last to play the position for Urban Meyer has thrived and gone on to the next level. With that success, recruiting pitches speak for themselves. The Buckeyes hope that to be true again, as they are in search for the next tight end to bring success to Ohio State.

Late Wednesday night, it was announced publicly by Will Mallory, via his Twitter account, that Ohio State was the latest to offer the stand-out product.


Mallory (Jacksonville, FL/ Providence) is a 6-foot-5, 200-pound four-star that boasts quite the impressive offer sheet. With over 20 offers to choose from, the Sunshine State product is certainly not new to the recruiting process.

With schools such as Alabama, USC, Wisconsin and Michigan in the mix, it's no secret what kind of caliber player Mallory can be. Currently, Mallory is ranked as the No. 11 tight end in the country for the 2018 class – and a top forty player in the talent rich state of Florida.

As of right now, the 247sports crystal ball predictions are in total favor of the Buckeyes arch rival, the Michigan Wolverines, but anything is possible in recruiting. Reason being for Michigan to be the favorite? Will's father, Mike, and two uncles all played for the Wolverines in the 1980s. Will is definitely a Wolverine fan, but Urban Meyer has had nothing but success when it comes to "The Team Up North".

Browning receives All-American honors


One of the remaining five-star targets Ohio State is chasing is Baron Browning (Kennedale, TX /Kennedale). The 6-foot-3, 230-pound monster linebacker is the No. 2 man at his position and the No. 3 best prospect overall in the state of Texas for 2017. The Buckeyes have their class full of five-star talents already, but would love to add Browning to the mix.

Yesterday, of the many accolades Browning is responsible for, none may be more meaningful than the presentation of the U.S. Army All-American jersey, a game that Browning will be playing in this coming January.


Baron will already be enrolled at his school of choice before donning the U.S. jersey. With plans to announce this coming Nov. 29, the countdown is on. Ohio State may be the last school Browning sees as he plans to visit Columbus just three days before his final decision.

Coombs heads to the Mitten State


Of the incredible recruiters on the Ohio State staff, none may make the impression that cornerbacks coach Kerry Coombs does. With his fiery attitude and intensity, it's hard to not want to play for Coombs and the Buckeyes. Yesterday, Coombs made his way north across the border as he was in the Detroit area, which is his main recruiting responsibility area besides his hometown Cincinnati.


On his visit, Coombs stopped by to see current 2017 linebacker commit Antjuan Simmons of Ann Arbor Pioneer High School, a school that is literally in Michigan's backyard. With his presence at Pioneer made clear, the relationships Coombs is creating with Michigan high schools is something to watch.

Young Florida star likes OSU


The success Ohio State and Urban Meyer have had recruiting in Florida is something to take notice. With five-star prospects heading north to play for the Buckeyes at a rate faster than ever, it's no secret Meyer's presence in Florida is still heavy.

One product who may not be in contact with the Buckeyes yet, Keyvone Lee ( Clearwater, FL / Clearwater Academy International) is only a freshman, but is already turning heads to say the least. With offers from Eastern Kentucky and Iowa State coming this week alone, Lee's recruitment is about to take off.

Off-season 7-on-7 coach Bj Hall expressed to Land-Grant Holy Land Lee's interest and hopes to draw the attention of the elite programs such as Ohio State. With a freshman campaign as good as his already and three years of prep football still to be played, the sky is the limit for the young Keyvone Lee.

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