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Ohio State-USC prediction: Buckeyes win high-scoring Cotton Bowl -- Bill Livingston (photos) - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State-USC prediction: Buckeyes win high-scoring Cotton Bowl -- Bill Livingston (photos)
cleveland.com
It's also homecoming for Ohio State's Barrett, from Wichita Falls, Texas, running back J.K. Dobbins (LaGrange, Texas) and the Trojans' Ronald Jones II (the Dallas suburb of McKinney.) It should be an enjoyable game for fans of shootout football. The ...
College Bowl Preview: Cotton Bowl pits Buckeyes vs. USCChattanooga Times Free Press
Ohio State recruiting: Urban Meyer addresses negative recruiting; Matthew Baldwin knee updateLandof10.com
Buckeyes treating bowl as their playoff gameAshland Times Gazette
OregonLive.com -The Ohio State University News
all 416 news articles »

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Ohio State looks to finish out 2017 with a recruiting bang
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Buckeyes will look to finish their 2018 class strong as we approach the new year.

Tonight marks the long awaited Cotton Bowl where the Buckeyes square off against Southern California at the home of the Dallas Cowboys, and all focus is locked in on the Trojans. With this being the finale of the 2017 season, a win would be the only way to send this group of seniors off.

As tonight’s game is the highlight of sports television for the week, all eyes—including many of the country’s top recruits—will be glued to Ohio State and USC. With those highly-touted prospects watching, the Buckeyes will look to impress and take care of business. The staff itself knows at the conclusion of this game means the last efforts to solidify the rest of their 2018 recruiting class.

Numbers are tight at the end


Yesterday, in a media day interview at the Cotton Bowl, Urban Meyer answered various questions, but one in particular had to do with this year’s current recruiting cycle. With the early signing period already in the fold, Ohio State was able to sign twenty-one prospects, which currently sets them as the second-ranked class in the country behind Georgia, but still atop the Big Ten as the conference’s number one class. Fortunately, the Buckeyes have two fewer players in their class than Georgia, so landing more would maybe give them the ability to “leap” the Bulldogs and regain the top class for 2018.

To be specific, Meyer was asked in his interview how many guys they will be able to sign and it’s looking more and more likely that two spots are all that remain in the Buckeyes’ 2018 class. Two may not seem like a lot, but with unanswered questions still on the present roster in terms of who may leave early for the NFL Draft, two roster slots is the latest news from the head man himself.


Fortunately, Ohio State may hear some great news this coming January 4 at the Under Armour All-American game, when in-state defensive end Tyreke Smith of Cleveland Heights announces his final decision. Earlier this week, Smith announced his final schools, but in reality this one is down to an Ohio State and Penn State race, something the recruiting world has seen for a while now. If Smith does in fact choose to stay home and suit up for the Buckeyes, Ohio State will not only keep the top defensive end in the state home, but also fill a position of serious need.

In the other spot, well, the Buckeyes are hoping for another top defensive end in Jayson Oweh, who also will announce between Penn State and Ohio State at the Under Armour All-American game. Hopefully, Urban Meyer and Larry Johnson have a deja vu affect and see double the success. Rumors have progressed that Oweh may in fact be leaning toward the Buckeyes thanks to the confirmation that Larry Johnson is in fact not leaving Ohio State for retirement. If that is in fact the case, the defensive end position is once again reloaded with talent. Penn State, though, does have a serious lead in the 247sports crystal ball forecast, but the time is coming soon for a decision.


On the other hand, if Ohio State only lands one of the two in Oweh and or Smith, the other position of need is at offensive tackle. As the in-state Jackson Carman selected Clemson last week and spurned the Buckeyes, the coaching staff knows the importance of adding depth to a critical position on the field which will protect next year’s quarterback. Two names to keep eyes on now near the finish line are Rasheed Wallker and Nicholas Petit-Frere. Walker, a Maryland native, is thought to be a Penn State lean, but with Ohio State needing a tackle, they have made Walker a serious priority. On the other hand, Florida native Petit-Frere has also become a priority for Ohio State near the home stretch.

Petit-Frere is the third ranked offensive tackle in the country and Florida’s third best prospect overall in an always-loaded Sunshine State. Easily proving his 5-star ranking, the home team Florida Gators are thought to be the leader in this recruitment, but Urban Meyer has had success on more than one occasion in his old home. As it stands right now, it’s either a defensive end or an offensive tackle will be the positions of need and you can guarantee this coaching staff will get the job done rounding out another incredible haul of talent heading to Columbus.

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Cotton Bowl: Ohio State Buckeyes vs USC Trojans score, TV channel, how to watch live stream - OregonLive.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Cotton Bowl: Ohio State Buckeyes vs USC Trojans score, TV channel, how to watch live stream
OregonLive.com
The Big Ten champion Buckeyes and Pac-12-winning Trojans may not be in the Playoff, but their meeting Friday in the Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, carries its own special aura. "These matchups are just as exciting, and our ...
Ohio State recruiting: Urban Meyer addresses negative recruiting; Matthew Baldwin knee updateLandof10.com
Buckeyes treating bowl as their playoff gameAshland Times Gazette
College football: Rosy Cotton Bowl for BuckeyesThe Courier
Toledo Blade -cleveland.com -The Columbus Dispatch
all 377 news articles »

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College Bowl Preview: Cotton Bowl pits Buckeyes vs. USC - Chattanooga Times Free Press
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College Bowl Preview: Cotton Bowl pits Buckeyes vs. USC
Chattanooga Times Free Press
ARLINGTON, Texas — Ohio State coach Urban Meyer could have easily stoked a debate about expanding the four-team College Football Playoff after his Buckeyes were the first team left out this season. Instead, he focused — as much as he could — on ...
Should Ohio State expect to be a College Football Playoff team every year? Buckeyes football analysiscleveland.com
Buckeyes spread some cheer at Children's Medical Center ahead of Cotton BowlABC6OnYourSide.com
Full Meyer (& Helton) Video: Coaches' final Cotton Bowl comments247Sports
Land-Grant Holy Land
all 27 news articles »

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Dot Commentary: With what we know now, how many Big Ten teams will dance?
Alex Roux, BTN.com editor via Big Ten Network

We've seen nearly all the highs and lows that 2017 non-conference hoops has to offer, plus a two-game Big Ten sample. So, how many teams will be dancing come March?

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Counting down top remaining 2018 targets and chances with each - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Counting down top remaining 2018 targets and chances with each
247Sports
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! So, who are the top remaining targets and what are their chances with each? Today I have my count down of my Top 7 ...

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Cold from three, Huskers fall to Buckeyes in Big Ten opener - Lincoln Journal Star
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Cold from three, Huskers fall to Buckeyes in Big Ten opener
Lincoln Journal Star
Nebraska's Nicea Eliely (5) goes up for a layup while guarded by Ohio State's Stephanie Mavunga (1) during the first half Thursday at Pinnacle Bank Arena. KAYLA WOLF, Journal Star. Facebook · Twitter · Email; Print; Save. The Nebraska women's ...
Husker women slow Buckeyes' powerful offense, but upset bid falls short in fourthOmaha World-Herald
No. 12 Ohio State Opens Big Ten Play With a 73-61 Win Over NebraskaEleven Warriors

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Husker women slow Buckeyes' powerful offense, but upset bid falls short in fourth - Omaha World-Herald
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Husker women slow Buckeyes' powerful offense, but upset bid falls short in fourth
Omaha World-Herald
LINCOLN — The Nebraska women's basketball team was able to frustrate and slow down Ohio State's high-octane offense for most of Thursday night, and, for a moment, NU had a big comeback and potential upset in its sights. But the No. 12 Buckeyes had the ...
Cold-shooting Huskers fall to Buckeyes in Big Ten openerLincoln Journal Star
No. 12 Ohio State Opens Big Ten Play With a 73-61 Win Over NebraskaEleven Warriors

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Ohio State recruiting: Urban Meyer addresses negative recruiting; Matthew Baldwin knee update - Landof10.com
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Ohio State recruiting: Urban Meyer addresses negative recruiting; Matthew Baldwin knee update
Landof10.com
First, it will allow him to acclimate to college and familiarize himself with his teammates and coaches six months earlier than he would otherwise. Because of those benefits, every quarterback Ohio State has signed under Meyer has enrolled early. But ...
3 keys: Buckeyes look to down USC in Cotton BowlToledo Blade
Buckeyes treating bowl as their playoff gameThe-review
Ohio State recruiting math; deciphering early QB competition talk: Buckeyes football daily nuggetscleveland.com
The Ohio State University News -MyDaytonDailyNews -NBC4i.com
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Urban Meyer admits that a Cotton Bowl loss would tarnish Ohio State’s season
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The coach also isn’t a fan of expanding the playoffs.

“Meyer and Helton both expect all of their available players to play in Friday's bowl game, which means neither coach is expecting draft-eligible players to sit out as long as they're healthy.”

-Bill Landis, cleveland.com


In their final media availability before tomorrow night’s game, both Ohio State and USC head coaches Urban Meyer and Clay Helton, respectively, talked about all aspects of the bowl matchup on both macro and micro levels.

From a Buckeye perspective, Meyer discussed how happy he was that fifth-year senior quarterback J.T. Barrett won a Big Ten title as a starting quarterback, and how much he respects, and enjoys coaching, Barrett’s three back-ups. The head coach also breaks down what the defense will have to do to contain Trojan signal-caller Sam Darnold, and discussed the process of adding a 10th assistant coach this offseason.

However, the first of the two biggest things that jumped out to me was Meyer admitting that a loss in the Cotton Bowl would significantly taint the memory of this season. Even though this battle of conference champions is a New Year’s Six bowl game, for many around the college football world, the assumption is that for blue-blood programs, anything short of a College Football Playoff berth is meaningless.

For Meyer, that appears to be completely unfounded. Traditional coach-speak would dictate brushing off the question and focusing on the B1G championship win and defeating “our rival” for the sixth straight year. However, Meyer purposely leans into the question here and admits that the loss would “tarnish” the season. An unusually honest answer from a coach who has been struggling to meet expectations for the past few seasons.

Pulling back from this specific game, the other thing that seemed especially noteworthy from the presser was that both Meyer and Helton seem to currently be opposed to expanding the CFP from its current four-team setup. Since both OSU and USC won their respective Power 5 conferences, if the playoff did expand to the popular eight-team model, both would theoretically be in, but neither coach seemed all that excited about the potential move.

“You start extending this thing and you start to talk about adding one more game and it's not just another game. It's two sledgehammers going at each other,” Meyer said. “I don't see where that calendar would work.”

As Meyer has done with road, night games, his emphasis seems to be on the players’ academic and physical well-being, where it should be. But, his follow up to these statements is probably the point that will make a playoff expansion an inevitability.

"I think it's very strong right now,” Meyer said of the CFP. “And a lot of televised sports are kind of going down in certain areas. College football is just hitting on all cylinders right now, so I don't know how much I'd change."

The four-team College Football Playoff makes a lot of money, so it stands to reason that an eight-team playoff would make even more. So it’s probably safe to assume that it will happen sooner rather than later.

“After the analysis of hundreds of pages of data starting with the 2011-12 school year and concluding with 2015-16, a trend emerges. Although resources and budget were never in issue, Ohio State was putting in fewer hours on the recruiting trail while consistently missing out on prospects that could have injected life into the program.”

-Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch


The saying goes that recruiting is the lifeblood of college athletics, and Jardy and the team at the Dispatch have done an incredible job detailing exactly how recruiting went so wrong that athletic director Gene Smith was practically forced to unceremoniously remove the winningest men’s basketball coach in Ohio State history.

Jardy’s article details the process that went into first collecting and then analyzing the OSU men’s basketball recruiting logs from 2011-2016. He concedes that these reports, which are used by OSU coaches to account for money spent while recruiting, are not complete, and only tell part of the story, but it is pretty obvious to spot the trend that coincides with the Buckeyes’ decline in on-the-court production.

In the 2011-2012 academic year, Jardy reports that former head coach Thad Matta went on 32 out-of-town recruiting visits. However, that number significantly and steadily declines to just 13 in 2015-2016. While it has been a part of the story surrounding Matta’s sudden departure over the summer, his deteriorating health has often been only a footnote in the discussion of his recruiting failures, but it seems fairly logical that it is actually the reason for those recruiting failures.

Matta never made a secret about his chronically bad back, but he also didn’t dwell on it publicly. But, when looking at these reports, it is obvious that he just wasn’t able to do the necessary legwork to land the level of recruits that he had in the more successful days of his Columbus tenure.

Likewise, Jardy’s report notes that the basketball staff also spent increasingly less money on recruiting nearly every year. The 2011-2012 year is a bit of an outlier, as the staff spent a considerable amount of money on private planes flying to New York City. In total that school year, they spent $204,548.23.

In subsequent years, Jardy notes that flights of this kind weren’t even listed, which indicates that they took place on planes owned by donors or boosters. However, even with those flights factored out, the amount spent in that season dwarfs the $66,938.11 spent in 2015-2016.

In the article, Smith notes that the decline in spending was not mandated by the university or athletic department, and that “Nothing changed (budget-wise). Operational dollars were always there.”

So, the only conclusion that you can logically make when looking at the report is that Matta and his staff were either unable to, or uninterested in, putting in the work to recruit at the highest levels. For a man as beloved in the OSU community as Matta is, it is disappointing to know that effort, or lack there of, was what ended an era.

"As soon as this game is over I'm going to try to get in the middle of that one and find out, because of our love we have for Eli. I know our players have talked to him, but I don't know the whole thing."

-Urban Meyer via Doug Lesmerises, cleveland.com


I honestly don’t even know what to say about the Eli Apple soap opera in New York. Our friends over at Big Blue View have been doing a great job chronicling the entire debacle, but at the press conference mentioned above, Meyer was asked about the situation, and seemed genuinely concerned.

"As soon as this game is over I'm going to try to get in the middle of that one and find out, because of our love we have for Eli,” Meyer said. “I know our players have talked to him, but I don't know the whole thing."

Between the news of his parents’ messy divorce in May and his mother’s brain surgery last month, it is easy to understand why the former Buckeye might be having a difficult time right now, but it looks like the situation has likely escalated past the point of no return for Apple and the Giants.

So, if the former OSU great is able to reconnect with his Buckeye teammates and coaches, hopefully they will help him refocus on what’s most important and salvage what’s left of his NFL career.


I don’t really have any clever or insightful to say here, other than, “Awwwwwwww.”

STICK TO SPORTS

• Ohio-native Guy Fieri’s American Kitchen will close in New York this weekend. Let’s take this opportunity to revisit the greatest restaurant review EVER.
• This year was brutal in terms of mega-natural disasters, and it’s not going to get any better in 2018.
• Take a look back at the biggest video game stories of the year.
• These 11 charts wrap up the strangeness that was 2017.
• “The OHenry Report” says that Bruce Springsteen and TicketMaster are some of the biggest Broadway stories of 2017.

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Buckeyes treating bowl as their playoff game - Ashland Times Gazette
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Buckeyes treating bowl as their playoff game
Ashland Times Gazette
Ohio State coach Urban Meyer tries to fire up his team during a playoff win over Alabama on Jan. 1, 2015. The Buckeyes didn't reach the playoff this season, but Meyer said a win in the Cotton Bowl would cap “a great season.” GateHouse Media Ohio file ...
3 keys: Buckeyes look to down USC in Cotton BowlToledo Blade
Ohio State football | Buckeyes target talent in Texas recruiting hotbedThe Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State football podcast: If Buckeyes lose to USC, it won't be from lack of motivationLandof10.com
MyDaytonDailyNews -The Ohio State University News -NBC4i.com
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Should Ohio State expect to be a College Football Playoff team every year? Buckeyes football analysis - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Should Ohio State expect to be a College Football Playoff team every year? Buckeyes football analysis
cleveland.com
We're in the playoff twice, and twice we're right on the edge of not being in it. And I think if they extended the playoff .... but I don't see it happening. "I think it's very strong right now. And a lot of televised sports are kind of going down in ...
Ohio State's Meyer confirms Cowboys' Elliott will be with Buckeyes at Cotton BowlFort Worth Star Telegram
Buckeyes spread some cheer at Children's Medical Center ahead of Cotton BowlABC6OnYourSide.com
Ohio State Buckeyes have not finalized Alex Grinch as 10th ...247Sports
Scout
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Ohio State is a better team than USC, but the more motivated team will likely win
Chad Peltier via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


You can’t take motivation for granted in non-playoff bowl games

Ohio State is a better team than USC and should win the Cotton Bowl unless the Buckeyes come out flat — which is a real possibility.

The Buckeyes have so far downplayed any hint that they’re not motivated. But there’s still a real threat that missing out on the playoff was a fatal blow to the team’s psyche. Sure, playing USC, the Pac-12 Champion, avenging all of those losses to the Trojans, and sending out the seniors on a high note, should be enough motivation. But players come to Ohio State to win championships, so we can’t just assume the team will play — or have prepared — to the best of their ability.

Another way to think about it could be in terms of volatility. On average, using opponent-adjusted advanced stats, Ohio State has been the best team in the country this year. If USC and Ohio State played 100 times, the Buckeyes would be projected to win about 3⁄4 of those Cotton Bowls.

But they’ve been far, far from consistent. Coming back against Penn State, blowing out Michigan State, and defeating S&P+ teams Michigan and Wisconsin all prove that Ohio State is one of the best teams in the country. But they were also unprepared and unfocused in the blowout loss to Iowa, and not equal to Oklahoma in their first loss of the season. So while the Buckeyes would win the vast majority of the time Ohio State and USC played each other in these simulated games, Ohio State would have more than a few total blowout losses, too.

That’s why it’s useful to measure the quality of a football team by a range rather than a single point. While Ohio State averages out to be the best team in the country going by the S&P+, they’re also capable of turning in two sub-21% percentile performances, showing wide volatility. Compare that to Alabama — who had only one game below 68%, or even USC, who had only one performance below 52%. So it’s not unreasonable to imagine a blowout Ohio State win or USC rolling in the Cotton Bowl — and both teams’ motivation to be there might be the determining factor for what kind of performance we’re likely to get.


One other thing here: I think it’s really important for Ohio State to get a win on Friday night. There have been a recent string of disappointments, including missing out on the playoff to losing Jackson Carmen, Jaiden Woodbey, and Emory Jones on early signing day. Add in a loss to USC, and despite objectively positive things in Ohio State’s season — the second-ranked recruiting class! A Big Ten title! Another win over Michigan! -- it would be easier to connect these recent disappointments with others, like the losses to Iowa and Oklahoma, and last year’s loss to Clemson. But win this one and the team regains momentum and changes the tone for the offseason.

Offense


On paper, Ohio State is well-built to take advantage of USC’s defensive weaknesses. The Buckeyes could follow the Notre Dame template: run the ball and the stop the run. USC had a zero percent win expectancy based on the advanced stats from the game — partly due to USC’s -3 turnover margin — but also because Ronald Jones II was held to 2.67 yards per carry while Josh Adams ran for 191 yards and quarterback Brandon Wimbush added 116. The result was a 49-14 blowout where Sam Darnold’s 54 percent passing success rate performance wasn’t enough to keep up with Notre Dame’s incredible rushing attack. Wimbush only threw for 120 yards and completed less than 50 percent of his passes, but a dominant run game put the game way out of reach.

It wasn’t just Notre Dame, either. Khalil Tate ran for 197 yards on 21 carries. Bryce Love had 160 in their first meeting, then 125 in the Pac-12 Championship without any threat from the quarterback run game.

Ohio State should be able to follow this game plan. In opponent-adjusted rushing S&P+, Ohio State ranks second overall while USC’s defense is 53rd. The Trojans defense is 91st in rushing success rate, allowing successful runs on nearly 45 percent of opponent attempts, and 5-yard gains on 41.4 percent of opponent runs. USC fails to get a lot of pressure, either, stuffing only 15.4 percent of runs, which ranks 112th in the country.

When Ohio State gets in to short-yardage situations — that J.T. is probably the best in the country at converting — USC may be a little tougher, but they still rank just 38th in power success rate. That’s good, but not great — and hardly anyone is better than Barrett and the Ohio State offense at picking up the first down in short-yardage situations.

Notre Dame, which had a fairly one-dimensional offense all season, piled up the points on the Trojans without throwing the ball very effectively. So the blueprint is there for Ohio State to do the same behind Barrett, Dobbins, and Weber. But it’s obviously not ideal.

It will be interesting to see how Ohio State chooses to attack the Trojans through the air. The Trojans’ pass defense gives some mixed signals. On the one hand, they’re ranked 12th in opponent-adjusted passing S&P+, and 12th in passing success rate too. Looking through USC’s schedule, you actually won’t find too many elite quarterbacks (as passers, because obviously Brandon Wimbush and Khalil Tate are both incredible running quarterbacks) — really just Josh Rosen. But the best passing quarterbacks have found some success against the Trojans: Rosen threw for 421 yards (7.15 per attempt), and Texas’ Sam Ehlinger, playing in one of the first games of his college career, had 298 passing yards, too (5.96 per attempt).

What those two performances have in common are big plays. Texas’ Collin Johnson averaged an astounding 27.3 yards per catch for 191 total receiving yards (on 7 receptions). UCLA’s Jordan Lasley had 204 yards, averaging 20.4 yards per catch. While neither quarterback was very consistent in terms of yards per attempt (7.15 and 5.96 being pretty pedestrian averages), they did have a ton of big plays.

That trend is reflected in USC’s season-long numbers too. They rank 115th in the country in plays of 20+ yards allowed, with 71. That puts them in company with Texas Tech, Ole Miss, and Syracuse, and much worse than Ohio State opponents like Maryland and Rutgers. This likely equates to some big-time runs for Dobbins and/or Weber on the ground, and at least one receiver emerging for some big receptions. But it also means that we shouldn’t necessarily expect the most efficient passing performance, either.

Instead, we’re most likely to see both Dobbins and Barrett have efficient days on the ground, with a few explosive runs here and there, combined with a fairly inconsistent but explosive passing game.

Defense


Even though Sam Darnold is the face of the USC offense, the key to shutting down the Trojans might actually be in stopping the run.

Darnold has taken some heat this season for turnovers, throwing six interceptions in his first three games against Western Michigan, Stanford, and Texas. But he hasn’t had a multiple-interception game since, and he’s averaged at least 9.4 yards per attempt in each of his last four games. He leads the eighth-ranked passing S&P+ offense, which is also eighth in success rate and top-40 in IsoPPP.

Deontay Burnett (by far Darnold’s most-targeted receiver), Tyler Vaughns (best catch rate of his top-5 targets), and Steven Mitchell Jr. (shorter, but higher yards/catch average than the top two targets) are the top-3 targets, though 6’4 tight end Tyler Petite and 6’4 sophomore receiver Michael Pittman Jr. are also legitimate receiving threats. Running backs Stephen Carr and Ronald Jones II are also excellent pass-catchers, as well, which could be dangerous given the Buckeye linebackers’ performance against running backs in the passing game this season.

But even though the passing game may be the best part of the USC offense, the Buckeye defense may find the most success by first stopping the run. Ohio State should have a big advantage here: Ohio State has the top-ranked rushing S&P+ defense, shutting down Jonathan Taylor and Saquon Barkley, while USC has the 52nd-ranked rushing S&P+ offense. The Trojans are 30th in rushing success rate, and worst of all, they are 54th in stuff rate, failing to gain positive yards on nearly a fifth of their rushing attempts.

Those stats aren’t to diminish Carr or Jones II as individual players — both average over 6.2 highlight yards per opportunity and Jones II is actually 9th in the country in average rushing yards per game with nearly 124. But he’s also a very high volume runner. For comparison, Dobbins averages nearly 1.5 yards per attempt more than Jones II and has a 10+ yard run about 5 percent more of the time (roughly 21 percent compared with 16 percent). The offensive line doesn’t seem to open a ton of huge holes though, as the team’s rushing opportunity rate is 40.5 percent (41st). So there’s definitely an opportunity for Ohio State’s front seven to create a lot of negative running plays and force the game into Sam Darnold’s hands.

Finally, Ohio State should have a big advantage by forcing stalled drives in or near the red zone. USC averages just 4.41 points per scoring opportunity (76th), while Ohio State’s defense is 21st in that category. USC is also just 74th in touchdown percentage in the red zone, scoring a touchdown on only 60 percent of red zone attempts.

Takeaways

1. Ohio State should be able to run on the Trojans defense, which ranks 53rd in rushing S&P+.
2. The Buckeye offense should also create some big plays, since the Trojans rank 115th in plays of 20+ yards allowed, 84th in plays of 10+ yards allowed, and 76th in overall IsoPPP.
3. The Trojans pass defense is good though, as they rank 12th in opponent-adjusted passing S&P+. The pass defense’s worst performances have come on big plays against the top quarterbacks on their schedule (Rosen, Ehlinger).
4. Sam Darnold is a great quarterback leading the 8th-ranked passing S&P+ offense in the country, so the key to stopping the Trojans offense might be in creating negative run plays (USC is 54th in stuff rate and Ohio State is 15th).
5. Forcing field goals should be a top priority, as USC is just 74th in red zone touchdown percentage.
6. Ultimately though, Ohio State has been highly volatile this season. So while on average the Buckeyes have been the better team, motivation to be there should be the game’s deciding factor.

Picks


S&P+: Ohio State 36, USC 24. 75.9% win probability

F/+: Ohio State by 5.1, 61.5% win probability

Adj. S&P+: Ohio State by 4, 59.2% win probability

My pick: Ohio State 34, USC 30

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3 keys: Buckeyes look to down USC in Cotton Bowl - Toledo Blade
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


3 keys: Buckeyes look to down USC in Cotton Bowl
Toledo Blade
3 keys: Buckeyes look to down USC in Cotton Bowl. By Nick Piotrowicz | BLADE SPORTS WRITER. Published on Dec. 28, 2017. Rose-Bowl-Football-20. USC quarterback Sam Darnold threw for 453 yards and five touchdowns in last season's Rose Bowl, a performance ...
Ohio State football | Buckeyes target talent in Texas recruiting hotbedThe Columbus Dispatch
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The Ohio State University News -Chronicle Telegram -MyDaytonDailyNews
all 316 news articles »

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Buckeyes treating bowl as their playoff game - The-review
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes treating bowl as their playoff game
The-review
Ohio State coach Urban Meyer tries to fire up his team during a playoff win over Alabama on Jan. 1, 2015. The Buckeyes didn't reach the playoff this season, but Meyer said a win in the Cotton Bowl would cap “a great season.” GateHouse Media Ohio file ...
Ohio State's Meyer confirms Cowboys' Elliott will be with Buckeyes at Cotton BowlFort Worth Star Telegram
Buckeyes spread some cheer at Children's Medical Center ahead of Cotton BowlABC6OnYourSide.com
Ohio State's backup QB battle; JT Barrett's final game; 10th assistant coach: Urban Meyer Cotton Bowl updatescleveland.com
247Sports -Scout
all 26 news articles »

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Ohio State's Meyer confirms Cowboys' Elliott will be with Buckeyes at Cotton Bowl - Fort Worth Star Telegram
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State's Meyer confirms Cowboys' Elliott will be with Buckeyes at Cotton Bowl
Fort Worth Star Telegram
The full expectation of Ohio State coach Urban Meyer is that former Buckeyes star running back Ezekiel Elliott, also known as the current Dallas Cowboys star running back, won't be hard to find Friday at the 82nd annual Goodyear Cotton Bowl. “I texted ...

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Bowl-bound Buckeyes support Goodwill with service project - The Ohio State University News
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Bowl-bound Buckeyes support Goodwill with service project
The Ohio State University News
Buckeyes give back. That was the message today in Dallas as dozens of students, faculty, staff and alumni from The Ohio State University teamed up to aid the Goodwill in Dallas. President Michael V. Drake led the annual Ohio State Service Project on ...
Ohio State Buckeyes QB derby for 2018 will start when Cotton Bowl endsHamilton Journal News

all 1 news articles »

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Sam Hubbard has a message for concerned Buckeye fans - 247Sports
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Sam Hubbard has a message for concerned Buckeye fans
247Sports
DALLAS -- A lot of Ohio State fans seem to be concerned that the Buckeyes will not be properly motivated for the Goodyear Cotton Bowl against USC after barely missing out on the College Football Playoff. Bucknuts passed along the concern to OSU ...


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Ohio State football | Buckeyes target talent in Texas recruiting hotbed - The Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State football | Buckeyes target talent in Texas recruiting hotbed
The Columbus Dispatch
DALLAS — Kevin Wilson is the offensive coordinator for Ohio State, but he has spent the last week in what amounts to his home away from home, the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. It's his primary recruiting territory, an outpost in a state in which the ...
Buckeyes release trailer before Friday's USC gameNBC4i.com
Ohio State football: Buzz building in Big D ahead of Buckeyes-USC Cotton Bowl clashLandof10.com
Behind-the-scenes effort helps the Buckeyes prepare for the Cotton BowlThe Ohio State University News
Chronicle Telegram -cleveland.com -MyDaytonDailyNews
all 314 news articles »

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It's a toss-up: Buckeye fans torn between Clemson, Alabama in playoff semifinal - The Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


It's a toss-up: Buckeye fans torn between Clemson, Alabama in playoff semifinal
The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State fans will surely have their sights set on the Buckeyes beating the University of Southern California tonight as the two storied programs — winners of their respective conferences — meet in the Cotton Bowl. But the bowl game — to be played ...

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Ohio State Buckeyes QB derby for 2018 will start when Cotton Bowl ends - Hamilton Journal News
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State Buckeyes QB derby for 2018 will start when Cotton Bowl ends
Hamilton Journal News
Ohio State players, including Tate Martell (18), break a huddle during practice at AT&T Stadium on Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. David Jablonski/Staff. DALLAS. The 2018 Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback derby will start as soon as the ...

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BM5: Will Buckeyes take back No. 1 class ranking? - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


BM5: Will Buckeyes take back No. 1 class ranking?
247Sports
The Buckeyes were knocked off their loft recruiting perch during the Early Signing Period. Georgia is the new No. 1. Ohio State sits No. 2. Can they get back on top down the stretch? There are still many quality recruits out there and the Buckeyes are ...

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Ohio State and USC square off in the Cotton Bowl, plus picks for 8 other College Football bowl games
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 Buckeyes and Trojans meet for the first time since 2009 on Friday night in Dallas.

Bowl games ATS: 10-11 (8-11 National, 2-0 B1G)

Season ATS: 103-104-4 (53-51-2 National, 50-53-2 B1G)


Military Bowl: Virginia v. Navy (-1) - 12/28 1:30 PM EST - ESPN

Virginia and Navy both had tremendous starts to the season, but saw their hot start fizzle out in the second half of the year. Navy won their first five games of the year, while Virginia started the season winning five of their first six games. Now both teams will be trying to stay above .500 with a win in their final game of the year.

While finishing below .500 might be something Virginia is used to, Navy has only finished with a record below .500 in two seasons since 2002. The Midshipmen will look to Malcolm Perry to help Ken Niumatalolo to his ninth season with seven or more wins in the 10 seasons he has coached at Navy.

Had it not been for Kurt Benkert, who knows how bad Virginia might have been this season. The senior quarterback has thrown 25 touchdowns and just eight interceptions for the Cavaliers this year. Virginia has needed all of Benkert’s arm this year since they have had very little success running the football this season.

It may seem pretty idiotic to go against Navy in the Military Bowl, but this Navy team doesn’t instill as much confidence as some of the others in recent memory. Add in the fact that Virginia got some experience going against an option attack last month in a 40-36 win over Georgia Tech. It won’t be pretty, but the Cavaliers find a win on Thursday.

Virginia 27, Navy 20


Camping World Bowl: No. 22 Virginia Tech v. No. 19 Oklahoma State (-5) - 12/28 5:15 PM EST - ESPN

These two teams have to be wondering what could have been. Virginia Tech and Oklahoma State had their eyes on bigger prizes but both teams suffered two losses in November to destroy any of their dreams of heading to bigger bowl games. Instead the Hokies and Cowboys will square off for the third time ever, and the first time since 1972.

After starting off the season strong, November wasn’t very kind to freshman quarterback Josh Jackson, who threw just two touchdowns and four interceptions in the four games he started during the month. Oklahoma State’s defense is suspect, but Jackson will be at a disadvantage as wide receiver Cam Phillips won’t be available for this contest.

Unlike Jackson, Oklahoma State quarterback Mason Rudolph will have all his weapons in this game. Not only did running back Justice Hill rush for 1,347 yards and 14 touchdowns this year, but wide receivers James Washington and Marcell Ateman combined for 123 catches, 2,472 yards, and 20 touchdowns.

I’m not thrilled about picking against Virginia Tech’s defense, especially when Bud Foster has extra time to prepare, but I think Oklahoma State has just too much on offense to keep in check. The Hokies will get some points, but without Phillips they just don’t have the horses to keep up with the Cowboys.

Oklahoma State 41, Virginia Tech 28


Alamo Bowl: No. 13 Stanford v. No. 15 TCU (-3) - 12/28 9:00 M EST - ESPN

Stanford and TCU will both be trying shake off losses in their conference championship games and end the year on a high note. Bryce Love will also be trying to finish out the year with a bang, as he is just 27 yards away from 2,000 rushing yards for the season. Pretty impressive considering Love was hampered by an ankle injury the last half of the year.

After a difficult season last year, TCU quarterback Kenny Hill bounced back this year with 21 touchdowns and just six interceptions. While the Horned Frogs may get running back Darius Anderson back from injury, I’m not all that impressed with what TCU has on offense besides Hill.

This will be a hard fought game against two solid teams, but I just like what Love and Stanford have a little more than what Hill and TCU bring to the table. In a game that I feel will be pretty tight throughout, I’ll gladly take the points.

Stanford 28, TCU 24


Holiday Bowl: No. 18 Washington State v. No. 16 Michigan State (-1.5) - 12/28 9:00 PM EST - FS1

Mike Leach against Mark Dantonio. I’m not sure there are many coaches out there that are as opposite as these two. This matchup almost didn’t happen, as Leach was flirting with Tennessee before the Volunteers decided to hire Jeremy Pruitt. As if the last month wasn’t strange enough for Leach and the Cougars, leading receiver Tavares Martin Jr. was dismissed from the team, and second-leading receiver Isaiah Johnson-Mack was granted his release from the team.

After a terrible 2016, Dantonio and the Spartans rebounded with a strong 2017. The Michigan State defense did most of the work, but quarterback Brian Lewerke had his moments as well, throwing for 400 yards in back-to-back games against Northwestern and Penn State.

Even though Leach just signed an extension with the school, I’m wondering if his flirtation with Tennessee hindered bowl preparation at all. It also can’t help that two of the team’s leading receivers aren’t going to play against Michigan State. The Spartans will have a plan ready to slow the Cougars down, and give Dantonio his fourth year in East Lansing with at least 10 wins.

Michigan State 34, Washington State 27


Belk Bowl: Wake Forest (-3) v. Texas A&M - 12/29 1:00 PM EST - ESPN

Can’t say I really like either team all that much overall, but I’ll give the edge to Wake Forest because they have a little more stability at quarterback with John Wolford. It also doesn’t hurt that the Demon Deacons will be playing just an hour and a half from home.

The future should be bright for Texas A&M with Jimbo Fisher taking over as head coach. The hiring of Fisher isn’t going to help the Aggies here though, as Wake Forest wins their second straight bowl game.

Wake Forest 38, Texas A&M 30

Sun Bowl: No. 24 North Carolina State (-6.5) v. Arizona State - 12/29 3:00 PM EST - CBS

I have no idea at all what Arizona State is doing. They fired Todd Graham so they could hire Herm Edwards, yet Graham is still coaching the bowl game. It isn’t often that a fired coach gets to coach in a bowl game, but it doesn’t seem like Arizona State cares about doing anything conventionally anymore.

North Carolina State had a chance for a big year, but losses in the last half of the season to Notre Dame, Clemson, and Wake Forest hurt the Wolfpack’s bowl standing. Dave Doeren’s team still has plenty of talent, especially at defensive end with Bradley Chubb, who won the Nagurski and Hendricks Awards.

I know there is a possibility Arizona State could rally around Graham in his final game, but I just feel more confident in siding with the Wolfpack here. Chubb should make Manny Wilkins’ life miserable, while the North Carolina State offense has some exciting pieces that will find holes against a Sun Devil defense that has had issues most of the year.

North Carolina State 34, Arizona State 20


Music City Bowl: Kentucky v. No. 21 Northwestern (-7.5) - 12/29 4:30 PM EST - ESPN

Kentucky fans certainly should be familiar with the Music City Bowl now. This marks the sixth appearance by the Wildcats in Nashville since 1999, with Kentucky posting a 3-2 record in their previous Music City Bowl appearances.

Mark Stoops’ squad might have a tough time snapping a three-game bowl losing streak, as they’ll be taking on one of the hottest teams in the country. Northwestern has won seven straight games, and they’ve done it with a pretty balanced attack. Running back Justin Jackson will get one more game in his college career, and is just the second running back in Big Ten history to rush for 1,000 yards in each of his four years on campus.

Kentucky does have a solid running back of their own in Benny Snell Jr., but I’m just not sure how the Wildcats will move the football if Northwestern can put the clamps on him. Northwestern earns their fifth 10-win season in school history.

Northwestern 30, Kentucky 17


Arizona Bowl: New Mexico State v. Utah State (-4) - 12/29 5:30 PM EST - CBS Sports Network

Just call this the Aggie Bowl and be done with it. This game may have a little more meaning for New Mexico State, since they haven’t played in a bowl game since 1960. Don’t sleep on Tyler Rogers, who threw for 3,825 yards and 26 touchdowns for New Mexico State this year.

Chuckie Keeton has exhausted all his college eligibility, so there really isn’t any point in rooting for Utah State here. I don’t have much more analysis on this game, so just take the points in a game we probably aren’t going to watch any of.

New Mexico State 31, Utah State 21


Cotton Bowl: No. 8 USC v. No. 5 Ohio State (-7.5) - 12/29 8:30 PM EST - ESPN

Ohio State playing a bowl game before New Year’s Eve? What world is this? The last time Ohio State played in a bowl game before New Year’s Eve was back in 2004 when the Buckeyes took on Oklahoma State in the Alamo Bowl. Things worked out pretty well for Ohio State, who beat up on the Cowboys 33-7.

The Buckeyes will have a lot tougher test on Friday night when the take on Sam Darnold and USC. The highly-touted USC quarterback was inconsistent early in the year, but he has found a rhythm in the last eight games, throwing 17 touchdowns and just four interceptions.

Luckily, the Buckeyes have an outstanding defensive line to try and slow down Darnold. Sam Hubbard could be playing his last game as a Buckeye, and a big performance would boost his NFL stock, while Nick Bosa will look to close out his sophomore season on a high note.

J.T. Barrett will be making his final start at Ohio State on Friday night, but hopefully we aren’t in for a game where we see Barrett carry the ball 15-20 times. Let Barrett try and find his young wide receivers against a USC secondary that can be beaten, while mixing in some carries for J.K. Dobbins and Mike Weber. Hopefully Urban and company don’t try and overthink this.

This should be one of the most exciting bowl games of the year. Plenty of future NFL stars will be on display at Dallas, and while I think USC will test Ohio State, the Buckeyes will wear down the Trojans and build a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter. Barrett and the other Buckeyes donning the Scarlet and Gray for the last time go out with a win.

Ohio State 38, USC 27

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ScriptOhio said:

OK, if you went to scUM would you sign up for this class?

The University of Michigan’s American Culture Department offers “Rednecks, Queers, and Country Music,” which looks into how “homophobic and racist” music “serves as a medium for multicultural social and erotic exchange among queer country fans.”
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/12/1...king-up-queer-religion-and-sexy-vampires.html

This is really a class:

AMCULT 411 / WOMENSTD 411. Rednecks, Queers, and Country Music
One course in Women's Studies or American Culture. (3). May not be repeated for credit.

Queer identity is associated with urban, bourgeois, coastal lifestyles. Country music is linked to heterosexual white, rural, working-class, Southern, and Midwestern cultures and often to "redneck" bigotry. How has music that many people perceive as homophobic and racist become a medium for multicultural queer social and sexual exchange?

Click to expand...

Required course for kinesiology?