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
all 167 news articles »

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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

all 2 news articles »

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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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Buckeyes offer Michigan legacy - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes offer Michigan legacy
247Sports
Since Urban Meyer arrived at Ohio State he has had no problem going for the top prospects in the state of Michigan. So it should come as no surprise Meyer and the Buckeyes are not going to back off a Michigan legacy. Jacksonville (Fla.) Providence 2018 ...

and more »

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Spartans push past Buckeyes - Athens Messenger (registration)
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Spartans push past Buckeyes
Athens Messenger (registration)
ALBANY — The Nelsonville-York Buckeyes convincingly won the second set against Alexander on Thursday, but Spartan senior Lexi Whitney was determined to get the momentum back. "We were just thinking, we can't let that second set happen again," she ...


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Bicyclist in stable condition after being hit by Greg Schiano's car - ESPN
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Bicyclist in stable condition after being hit by Greg Schiano's car
ESPN
A former head coach at Rutgers and with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and also a longtime friend of Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer, Schiano has had an instant impact on the defense, thanks to his expertise in the secondary. Ohio State leads the country with ...
Ohio State football | Assistant coach Greg Schiano hits bicyclist with vehicleColumbus Dispatch
Buckeyes' Schiano hits cyclist with carKRDO
Ohio State Buckeyes coach Schiano hits cyclist with carDayton Daily News

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Gameday+ | Recruiting: Ohio State prospect connects with special-needs students - Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Gameday+ | Recruiting: Ohio State prospect connects with special-needs students
Columbus Dispatch
Simmons said he gets ribbing about his college choice, especially when he wears Buckeyes clothing. “But it's nothing bad — no mean slurs or anything like that,” he said. Pioneer got off to a slow start this season, losing its first three games until ...
Watch: Future Buckeye Antjuan Simmons' senior season highlights247Sports

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Ohio State football | Assistant coach Greg Schiano hits bicyclist with vehicle - Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State football | Assistant coach Greg Schiano hits bicyclist with vehicle
Columbus Dispatch
Schiano, 50, is in his first season with the Buckeyes. A New Jersey native, he brought long-downtrodden Rutgers to national prominence in 11 seasons as coach from 2000 to '11. In 2006, Schiano was named national coach of the year after leading the ...
Bicyclist in stable condition after struck by Greg Schiano's carESPN

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Solid season finale. Anyone else picked up the show yet?

After last week’s highlight reel catch, even bigger things could be on tap for Ohio State’s Noah Brown
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Four touchdowns last week, and he isn’t even 100% yet as he recovers from last year’s broken leg.

“He’s just a monster. And when the ball is in the air, he’s going to come down with it.”

-Ohio State wide receivers coach Zach Smith on Noah Brown, via Pete Thamel, Sports Illustrated


After last week’s performance against Oklahoma, it might not seem too far-fetched to think that Noah Brown is able to catch anything. Following a broken leg he suffered last August just before the 2015 season started, Brown put himself back on the map with a four touchdown performance in Ohio State’s win against Oklahoma on Saturday night. The most memorable of those touchdowns came late in the second quarter, when Brown wrapped his arms around Oklahoma cornerback Michiah Quick to make the catch. What Brown did was reminiscent of what Stanford’s Francis Owusu and Alabama’s Tyrone Prothro have done in the past.

The scary thing is that Brown is doing this while he isn’t yet 100% in his recovering from the injury he suffered last year. Not only did Brown have surgery to try and repair his broken leg, but he also needed a second surgery in November. As Brown continues to work his way back to full strength, Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer is planning on resting Brown during the bye week. The news that Brown has room to improve the rest of the year is something that has to have the rest of the Big Ten worried, since he has already established himself as the top receiver for the Buckeyes with his performance against the Sooners.

“We make sure we keep the ball high and tight, and after you score, go give the ball to an official and hug a big guy. That’s what we do.”

-Ohio State H-back Curtis Samuel, via Austin Ward, ESPN


Ohio State got an up-close view of what not to do when heading into the end zone. On a kickoff return, Oklahoma’s Joe Mixon appeared to drop the football before crossing the goal line. Somehow the referees and replay officials didn’t notice the miscue before the extra point so it wasn’t reviewed. Mixon wasn’t the only one to drop the football before coasting into the end zone on Saturday, as similar plays happened in the Texas-California game, as well as the Clemson game.

If an Ohio State player was to drop the football before heading into the end zone, Buckeye fans would likely see Meyer’s head explode on the sideline. To make sure that doesn’t happen, the Buckeyes have a rule for scoring, where they give the ball to an official and go to hug a big guy. The dropped touchdowns, including Mixon’s that wasn’t called, mostly didn’t end up having a real impact on the outcomes of the games they were committed in, but soon enough it is going to end up deciding a game. Luckily the Buckeyes have a plan in place so it doesn’t end up being the difference in a game late in the year.

“You don’t want to outkick your coverage, but with the way the gunners got out there — Parris (Campbell) and Terry (McLaurin) — they’re ridiculously fast. You give yourself a chance so that when you do go after it, they’re going to get there.”

-Ohio State punter Cameron Johnston, via Bill Rabinowitz, The Columbus Dispatch


It isn’t like Ohio State has needed the services of punter Cameron Johnston all that much so far this year, but he has been excellent when called upon. Early in Saturday night’s game, Johnston uncorked a 68-yard punt to flip the field position and pin Oklahoma at their own 11. The Sooners would go three-and-out and Ohio State responded with their first touchdown of the game.

All of Johnston’s five punts ended up inside Oklahoma’s 20, and they all were downed or fair caught. Johnston finished the game with his five punts averaging 50.6 yards and he was named the Ray Guy Punter of the Week for his performance. Johnston is just another in a long line of rugby-style punters from Australia and he is now in his third season with the Buckeyes. What has really impressed Johnston’s teammates and coaches is his ability to put the football exactly where it needs to be. Luckily with their offense it doesn’t seem like Ohio State will need Johnston all that much, but it has to be reassuring to Urban Meyer and the rest of the Buckeyes that they have a weapon in the punting game when needed.

“They’re not babying me, not at all, and I’m glad to be here and help.”

-New York Jets linebacker Darron Lee, via Randy Lange, newyorkjets.com


Usually when moving to the NFL there is a bit of a learning curve, but former Ohio State linebacker Darron Lee has quickly found his way into plenty of playing time early in his rookie season. Through two games, Lee is tied for the team lead with 12 total tackles, with 10 of those being solo tackles. Last Thursday in just his second career game, Lee earned his first NFL start against the Buffalo Bills. Lee made the biggest play of his young career in the fourth quarter, when he stood up Buffalo running back LeSean McCoy on fourth down.

Lee has already earned the trust of the coaching staff, as he has been on the field for three-quarters of the Jets’ defensive plays so far this year. That’s saying a lot with the amount of talent the Jets have on the defensive side of the football. Last year the Jets only allowed opponents to convert 10 of 23 third-and-1 plays, and have picked up right where they left off this year, not allowing their opponents to convert any of their three opportunities so far. The Ohio State product knows there is plenty of room for improvement, but with the strides he has made so far, the sky is the limit for the former high school quarterback.

STICK TO SPORTS

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• Surprisingly Ryan Lochte wasn’t involved in this.
• A baseball-sized spider caused a rollover crash in Portland.
• Anytime Anthony Bourdain makes fun of Guy Fieri it is a must read.

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The 3 most unexpectedly explosive Ohio State offensive plays so far
Christopher Jason via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Buckeye offense is rolling on all cylinders.

Through three games, Ohio State has averaged 56.7 points per game, which totals to a whopping 170 points. Sure, the defense has added their share, but in two of the three games, the offense has been dynamic and most importantly, unstoppable. They’ve racked up 83 first downs — 51 on the ground, 28 through the air and four by penalty.

What’s made the offense so difficult to stop has been the ability to spread the ball around to an array of playmakers, in a variety of creative ways. Six players have carried the ball and 12 (!) players have caught a pass. J.T. Barrett, Curtis Samuel, Mike Weber and — most recently — Noah Brown have been the primary playmakers, but the selflessness and the number of guys who Barrett has confidence in, is what makes the offense truly unstoppable.

Here are a couple of the most explosive offensive plays by players who most wouldn’t expect explosiveness out of:

1. If there were Vegas odds on who would score the first Ohio State touchdown of the season, what would the odds be on K.J. Hill? 100:1?

Not only was this the first touchdown of the season, but more importantly, it showed the confidence that Barrett had in all of his receivers. Last season on the perimeter, it was Michael Thomas when they needed a play, and then sometimes Jalin Marshall and Braxton Miller. Now, it doesn’t matter what the down-and-distance is, or what the scoreboard says, Barrett will sling it to anyone who’s earned playing time.

Bowling Green decided to run man-coverage against Ohio State’s elite perimeter athletes. Big time mistake. Hill was matched-up on with a safety, he used a jab-step to fake a post pattern, then blew by the defensive back for an easy 6.


2. Urban Meyer calls the running back position, “a Cadillac position in sports” and rightfully so. With the departure of Ezekiel Elliott — the Cadillac of the Ohio State offense for the past two seasons — redshirt freshman Mike Weber has taken the wheel.

On Weber’s first carry, the bruising back showed his mix of explosiveness and physicality. Ed Warinner dialed up a sweep — the same sweep that Elliott busted for 85-yards through the Alabama defense — for his new tailback. Weber ran horizontally, and like Elliott, he saw a crease, planted his outside foot into the ground and exploded through the crease. Weber broke a cornerback’s arm tackle, stumbled forward and then bowled over the poor Bowling Green safety. Weber has yet to break the big one, but he’s shown a mix of speed, power and agility, which will make him the next Cadillac in the Buckeye backfield.


3. If there’s one player who’s been a surprisingly key factor in the offense, it would be Dontre Wilson. We all know Wilson’s story at Ohio State. Highly touted as the first of the “next Percy Harvins” recruited by Urban Meyer, played as a true freshman and then has battled a foot injury the past two seasons. He looks like he filled out his frame and most importantly, he looks healthy.

Wilson has been used a variety of ways this season. Here, he motions to the backfield, is involved in play-action and runs a pattern into the flat. Barrett checks down to Wilson and he instantly gives Buckeye fans a flashback to the player they thought he would be coming out of high school. He effortlessly jukes a linebacker and then rips a Braxton Miller-esque spin-move on another defender. Wilson looks rejuvenated. Next to Samuel, he’s been my favorite player to watch this season.

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Beyond Buckeye Lines – Hookin ‘Em a Rott
Mike Meals via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

http://gty.im/487064768

Besides getting into the heart of college football season, we are (unfortunately) also in the middle of election season. And in the name of fairness, I have to offer equal time to be compliant with federal election laws. Since we had a Texas A&M Aggie sit down last week, this week we are going Beyond Buckeye Lines with a Texas Longhorn. My guest this week is a man known to the Twitter world as Rott.

Rott, who is a native of the Houston area, was raised in a family of football coaches before going off to Austin to attend Texas. Talking with him, you could hear the coaching coming out. He naturally breaks down the ways a team plays from a view even most football fans wouldn’t do. Now he spends his time outside of Austin, while living entirely in the Texas Football Bubble. (And if you have ever lived in Texas, you know what this means. Football is a way of life here, from youth through the NFL).

Being nearly the same as I am, it was interesting to hear the similarities between high school football in Ohio, in my mind, and hearing his descriptions of high school football here in Texas. We both were raised when you had to play other sports after football, no matter if you are spending time working on your jump shot, curveball, or track. A big change to both of us is how high schools here in Texas have full blown Spring Games, much like big time college football programs.

Longhorn Football Breakdown

As I mentioned in my opinion piece earlier this week, Texas lost a shootout to Cal last week, 50-43. When I asked Rott for his views on what happened with the game, he was quick to point out that he is a big supporter of Charlie Strong, but “that was a game where the coaches clearly did not have the players ready to play. I understand having a young, shorthanded defense…but this is the one game where I don’t think Charlie Strong had the team ready to play. There is no way in HELL that Cal should’ve beat Texas.” Rott is of the belief that Strong will be taking over control of the defense this year. I asked him for his thoughts on the reports and rumors that Vance Bedford will be fired due to this game. “I don’t think Charlie Strong will fire him officially this season, I just think he will take over the defense.” He did mention that, in his mind, Strong is loyal to a fault, so Bedford won’t be fired, but at the end of the year, Bedford will just take off and leave the program. Rott attributes this to the loyalty and friendship between the two.

It was interesting, during this time, to hear the coaching family talk coming out. Rott says he honestly thinks Charlie Strong is one of the best coaches in the country, one of the best defensive minds in the country, but it is going to take time to get his system and players playing to the level needed. There is a lot of support for the changes being made, noting that Strong “is laying bricks, not just putting patchworks on, to fix the program. And even if he were to get fired, he (Strong) has left the program better than it was when he took over.”

Expanding the Big 12

I asked Rott about the Big 12 expansion. He tells me that he feels that the Big 12 is dying, stating that he feels like when the contract is up, Texas will leave. In his mind, there are no teams worth bringing in. There are no programs that are big enough, money wise or other, to make sense for the conference to expand. When questioned about the potential impact recruiting would have after the expansion, and Rott tells me he’s not worried about UH coming to the Big 12. He told me he’s more worried about Herman going to LSU and the SEC, putting Herman (and his staff) in Louisiana and the SEC, and that’s enough to make someone P*ss down his leg. “That scares the hell out of me”. Although, he did mention if OU ever fires Bob Stoops and hires Tom Herman, it would be a nightmare for Texas fans (actually, there was a lot more colorful language here, but I have to keep this rated PG).

I thought it was interesting to hear this point of view. I know from what I have seen and heard, it feels like the football fans of the conference are generally against UH coming in, but Rott was the first one to point out that he’s not scared of the team. He is more against it due to the finical impacts as opposed to fearing the team or recruiting.

Big 12 Outlook

With Texas, he fully expects to drop a game or two, but there is nobody in the Big 12 he is scared of outside of TCU, saying “It’s a completely different conference from 2 years ago, Baylor isn’t the same Baylor they were then. The whole Art Briles thing is as close to the Death Penalty as you can get. They’re not buried yet, but they are in the casket. In 2 to 3 years, they will be the Baylor of the last 50 years. Texas Tech will score 70 but give up 90. Kansas is still Kansas. West Virginia is better than people give them credit for. You’ve seen what Oklahoma is. Kansas State will always be a solid team with Bill Snyder there. I’m a big fan of Bill Snyder…who has a very limited talent pool, but still manages to win 8-9 games. TCU is in a transition period, with a new quarterback and their defense having to recover from the loss of talent to the NFL.”

When asked for who wins the Big 12, his initial reaction was TCU, although he did point out that he could see Texas winning if a few things go their way. He also threw out a dark horse in Texas Tech, if they can ever manage to stop someone.

Ohio State and the B1G

When asked what his and Texas fan’s thoughts are on OSU and the B1G, Rott says “Not Much. I do, I like the B1G. I love the defense and power football. That’s what I look to the Big Ten for. I love Michigan State and their coach. I hate Harbaugh, he’s a whiny little (female dog). But you know what sucks though, is that he’s good. I don’t know if he don’t burn out, either at Michigan or just in his job.” He was quick to point out Harbaugh needs to take a chill pill and take it down a few notches.

Regarding Urban Meyer, he’s not a fan, personally. But he does respect the “living hell out of him as a coach. I think he’s about as crooked as he can be, but I love the way he coaches, and how is able to get more out of his players and his coaches. He’s a great CEO.” He also pointed out that Urban must be doing something right, as he wins everywhere he goes.

I did get a good laugh though, as Rott did follow this up with telling me that it wasn’t that Texas didn’t think much of the B1G out of disrespect to the conference. It’s more of a Texas thing, with all the high school, college, and pro teams here in Texas. He thinks it is more because people are so entangled with Texas football than they disrespecting other conferences. Rott did want me to point out that Mack Brown and Texas say “You’re welcome for your quarterback. Mack Brown says he regrets not recruiting him.”

I did ask if he would rather play Michigan or Ohio State, and he said Ohio State. When asked if he would rather play them in the regular season or the playoffs with a month to prepare, he said playoffs. Rott says he’s not scared. He wants to play the best, telling me “I want to go to the Big 10, I want to go the SEC. I want to play the best”.

Prediction Time

As said above, Rott thinks TCU or Texas wins the Big 12. When I asked him for his College Football Playoff teams, he leaned more to picking just the 4 best teams now, knowing it’s not likely, but his top 4 teams are Alabama, OSU, Michigan, and Michigan State. That would be an interesting round robin, in my mind, but we have seen the SEC play itself for a BCS title, so anything is possible.

As for end of the season awards, Rott thinks Christian McCaffrey will win this year’s Heisman, but you can put Texas Tech QB Patrick Mahomes as the sleeper pick. I asked about Lamar Jackson, and he tells me he can’t put his finger on why, but he doesn’t think Jackson will win.

Wrap Up

I personally have always had a warm spot in my heart for Texas fans. Even living here, for the most part, they are a great fan base. There are a lot of passionate and intelligent fans in the fanbase, and Rott was no exception. Even after the heartbreaking loss Ohio State suffered in the Fiesta Bowl I attended a few years ago, I have always enjoyed my interaction with them. Rott was no exception. He had a lot of really good thoughts and opinions, and was not afraid to say things that people might not agree with. He did leave me with one thing that I wanted to make sure I quoted him on also. When talking about Charlie Strong, Rott said “I’m proud to say he’s my coach, and not a lot of programs can say that”. As a Buckeye, I can appreciate that passion for his team and coaches.

Once again, I want to thank Rott for sitting down and giving me an hour of his time. Make sure you follow him on twitter also, and spread the love of college football we have in Ohio with our counterparts here in Texas.

The post Beyond Buckeye Lines – Hookin ‘Em a Rott appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Stanford-UCLA and Arkansas-Texas A&M provides the best of Week 4’s 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


Christian McCaffrey and the Cardinal look to stay undefeated, while Bret Bielema and Arkansas hope to take down another ranked foe.

Last week’s national picks featured a lot of what could’ve been. Cincinnati was putting a scare into Houston heading into the fourth quarter until the Cougars ran away with the game. Also, Alabama had an 18-point lead before they allowed Ole Miss to close within one score. Even with all that, somehow MC&J was able to exit the third week with a winning record for the week.

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)

National games (All games Saturday unless otherwise noted):


No. 5 Clemson (-10) v. Georgia Tech - Thursday 7:30 PM EST - ESPN

Even though they are 3-0, Clemson hasn’t had the most impressive start to the season. Sure they won on the road at Auburn to open the season, but Auburn might not be as good as some thought heading into the year. Then they only were able to beat Troy by six at Death Valley a couple weeks ago. Now the Tigers have to not only travel to Atlanta to take on Georgia Tech’s option attack, but they have to do so on a short week.

After a terrible season last year, Georgia Tech has already matched their win total from 2015. Even with last year’s 43-24 Clemson victory, the Yellow Jackets have fared well against Dabo Swinney. The 4-5 record Swinney has posted against Georgia Tech is just one of two ACC schools that Swinney has a losing record against.

It’s hard for me to lay the points in this one with Clemson having a short week to get ready for Georgia Tech. The Tigers might leave Atlanta with a win, but I don’t think it’s going to be easy. Clemson’s defense is talented but still young, which means the Yellow Jackets could find some holes and keep the score within a touchdown.

Clemson 31, Georgia Tech 27

No. 12 Georgia v. No. 23 Ole Miss (-7) - 12:00 PM EST - ESPN

Georgia will be looking to secure their 11th straight win over Ole Miss, although those numbers may be a little stale since the two schools haven’t played since 2012. The Bulldogs have to feel great if Ole MIss jumps out to a big, early lead since the Rebels have had trouble holding on to those this season. Hugh Freeze’s squad has blown two first half leads of more than 20 points, the latest coming last week against Alabama. Georgia has trailed in all three of their games this year and gone on to win all three games, but none of those have been 20-point deficits.

The Bulldogs have things going in the right direction under new head coach Kirby Smart, but they still have plenty of work to do. As long as the Rebels don’t allow running back Nick Chubb to run all over them, Ole Miss should be fine in Oxford. Another key for the Rebels is to not turn the football over, something they’ve done way too much to start the season.

This will be a bounce-back game for Chad Kelly and Ole Miss. If the Rebels are able to jump out early, I just don’t see Georgia having the firepower to be able to stage the kind of comebacks that Florida State and Alabama have.

Ole Miss 37, Georgia 24

No. 19 Florida v. No. 14 Tennessee (-6) - 3:30 PM EST - CBS

Could this be Tennessee’s year to finally snap their losing streak to Florida? The Volunteers have lost 11 straight to the Gators, but this could be their best shot in recent memory to end the drought. Florida will have Purdue graduate transfer Austin Appleby starting at quarterback after Luke Del Rio was injured in the win last week against North Texas.

Tennessee has their own injury issues, mainly on the defensive side of the football. Cornerback Cam Sutton and linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr. are out for the game, and while Jalen Reaves-Maybin should play, he likely won’t be 100%.

The Volunteers haven’t impressed against Appalachian State and Ohio at home, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if they weren’t able to end their losing streak against Florida. I’m not too confident in picking a winner for this matchup, but I am a lot more confident in saying this will be a close game, with the last two meetings being one-point Florida wins. I’ll take the home team here by a field goal just because I think Jalen Hurd will end up being the difference after a slow start to the season.

Tennessee 27, Florida 24

No. 18 LSU (-3.5) v. Auburn - 6:00 PM EST - ESPN

This game definitely has potential to be the weirdest of the weekend. Both Les Miles and Gus Malzahn are on the hot seat and while a loss on Saturday night won’t be the final straw for either, it certainly won’t help. Both teams have had serious problems to start the season, so it’s only right that they play each other to see which team is a little less weird at this point of the season.

LSU did everything they could to try and lose last week’s game to Mississippi State. Danny Etling was just 10-30 for 215 and a touchdown against the Bulldogs, but I guess that is better than what Brandon Harris can do. Luckily Leonard Fournette is around to save LSU.

Auburn looked even worse in a 29-16 loss to Texas A&M and I truly don’t know who is going to play quarterback for them. Whoever it is, they’ll have problems against the LSU defense. Two teams have already come into Jordan-Hare this year and left with a win, and on Saturday night LSU will become the third to do so.

LSU 28, Auburn 17

No. 7 Stanford (-3) v. UCLA - 8:00 PM EST - ABC

Stanford was able to navigate the first game of a tough three-game stretch, when they took down USC 27-10 last week. Now the Cardinal take on UCLA before a showdown with Washington next week. All we really need to know about Stanford is Christian McCaffrey. Sure, there are some other players who are capable of making some plays, but McCaffrey gets the bulk of the workload.

UCLA has their own star in sophomore quarterback Josh Rosen, and if it wasn’t for an overtime loss in the first weekend of the season, the Bruins would also come into this matchup undefeated. The bad news for Rosen is he doesn’t have a whole lot around him. The Cardinal should be able to pressure Rosen, and last week we saw them shut down JuJu Smith-Schuster, so they can handle anyone UCLA throws at them

The Bruins haven’t beaten Stanford since 2008 and I’m surprised this line wasn’t a little higher. Not that I think UCLA is a bad team, I just think at this point Stanford is just a tier above them. If Stanford plays to the level their capable of, I see this game being decided by more than a touchdown.

Stanford 31, UCLA 21

No. 17 Arkansas v. No. 10 Texas A&M (-5.5) - 9:00 PM EST - ESPN

JerryWorld is the site for this game because when you have a chance to plaster BERT’s fat face on that giant scoreboard, I guess you have to do it. The Razorbacks are fresh off their layup against Texas State last week and are ready to open up SEC play. Rawleigh Williams looks to be the next running back to make a name for himself in Bielema’s offense, rushing for 354 yards and three touchdowns so far this year.

Stop me if you’ve seen this one before: Texas A&M starts the season strong, moves into the top-10, before floundering to close the season. So far the first two describe the Aggies season so far. We’ll have to wait on the third, but they usually go 5-0 before hitting the wall.

The Aggies got a road win in the SEC last week, which isn’t easy to come by, but at this point of the season I’m more intrigued by the Razorbacks. If Arkansas keeps progressing they might just have the smashmouth offense that could Alabama some trouble. Somehow BERT and company take down another ranked team from Texas.

Arkansas 30, Texas A&M 27

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Jensen records hat trick in Buckeyes 4-1 win over Valparaiso - OSU - The Lantern
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Jensen records hat trick in Buckeyes 4-1 win over Valparaiso
OSU - The Lantern
OSU junior defender Niall Logue (5) prepares to kick the ball while OSU sophomore midfielder Abdi Mohamed (26) follows during the Buckcyes game against Valparaiso on Sept. 21 at the Jesse Ownes Memorial Stadium. The Buckeyes won 4-1. Credit: ...

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No Ohio State contact yet with recent Michigan decommitment

Antwuan Johnson, a four-star linebacker from Dayton (Ohio) Dunbar decommitted from Michigan just about two weeks ago, but he the 2018 prospect has not heard from Ohio State since reopening his recruitment.

“Ohio State has not been in contact,” Johnson told Landof10. “I’ve been hearing the most from Pitt, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan State, Penn State, Rutgers, Iowa and Tennessee.”

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Survey: Who is the best QB in the Big Ten?
Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer via Big Ten Network

Who has been the most impressive QB in the Big Ten so far? BTN.com senior writer Tom Dienhart asked some of the top media members who cover the conference.

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