Sam Hubbard undecided on NFL future - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Sam Hubbard undecided on NFL future
247Sports
It became even more suspicious when the video of Hubbard going through the annual right of passage for Buckeyes before their final regular season game was deleted. While head coach Urban Meyer typically only allows players labeled seniors to take part ...
Buckeyes' Hubbard went through senior tackleToledo Blade
Ohio State Defensive End Sam Hubbard Focusing on Big Ten Championship Game, Not Potential Departure For NFLEleven Warriors

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FiveThirtyEight says if Ohio State wins, they’re in
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Take that with whatever sized grain of salt you wish.

According to FiveThirtyEight’s College Football predictions model, after this weekend, Ohio State could be as high as an 80% favorite to make the playoff.

- FiveThirtyEight.com


Well, last night’s College Football rankings show took what was already a convoluted situation and made it even worse. There were things to support both sides of the argument about whether Ohio State should or shouldn’t make the playoff field if they walk away from Indianapolis with the Big Ten title.

Sitting at No. 8, Ohio State’s chief rival for the fourth spot appears to be a one-loss No. 5 Alabama Crimson Tide — a team that will be idle this weekend after failing to make the SEC title game. Committee chairman Kirby Hocutt said that the committee saw little difference between teams ranked 5-8, insinuating that should Ohio State do something this weekend to separate itself (a la winning a conference title), they should have an advantage over the Tide.

According to FiveThirtyEight, if the Buckeyes knock off the Wisconsin Badgers, they will be a 58% favorite to claim the final spot, regardless of the other outcomes of Championship Saturday.

The only situation in which the Buckeyes do not have a majority is if chalk holds, and No. 1 Clemson, No. 2 Auburn, No. 3 Oklahoma, No. 10 USC, and No. 14 UCF all win. In that case, OSU will still have the plurality advantage with 37% over USC’s 33% and ’Bama’s 29%.

According to the data analytics site, Ohio State’s best chance would be if Clemson, Auburn, No. 11 TCU, No. 12 Stanford, and UCF all won. That would put them at an 80% likelihood to earn a spot (not necessarily the fourth). This scenario would also mean that a non-conference champion Alabama would be most likely to get in as well, according to FiveThirtyEight.

Now, there is a not-unpopular perspective from Buckeye fans making the rounds that while most would love for OSU to make the playoffs, because (as we learned in 2014-2015) you can’t win if you aren’t in, some are worried that this team might not be able to compete with the other semifinalists. And no one wants a repeat of last year’s Clemson skunking.

Either way, the first step for the Buckeyes is to win on Saturday against Wisconsin. Now, if only FiveThirtyEight had a data-driven prediction as to who would start at quarterback for Ohio State, we’d be getting somewhere.

“Sam Hubbard, a fourth-year junior who will soon get his degree from Ohio State, went through the Buckeyes' Senior Tackle ceremony last week. So this is most likely his final year with the program.”

-Bill Landis, cleveland.com


Look, I respect Hubbard for saying, "I'm not sure what I'm gonna do next year. I'm just focusing on winning a Big Ten Championship, but it's an opportunity I didn't want to pass up if I do make that decision. But I'm totally up in the air. I have no idea what I'm doing yet."

I get it, like his coach, he doesn’t want to talk about anything that could distract from the task at hand, and that is beating Wisconsin and winning the Big Ten title.

I also understand that this is likely not an uncommon practice for non-seniors to participate in Senior Tackle, especially since Urban Meyer moved it to a private ceremony. But, since a rogue OSU social media manager posted (and then deleted) the video of Hubbard’s “last” hit, it has become something that must be addressed with as much “coach speak” and feigned uncertainty as possible.

But let’s be real. Barring an injury or something else unforeseen, Hubbard is gone, and there’s nothing wrong with that. He has been out of high school for at least three years, making him eligible for the NFL Draft. So, if he thinks that moving on is in the best interest of him, his career, and his family, then that’s all that should matter.

However, Hubbard has been with the team for four years, and reportedly will graduate in December. So there is practically nothing that anyone can criticize him for if he left before his eligibility expired (although, I’m sure some will find something to complain about). The only bad part of this whole situation is that he can’t just come out and say he’s gone... because he is... and good for him.

“Because these were three quality opponents, how Ohio State played just in this tournament is relevant to study compared to the first four games, all of which were against sub-100 teams as ranked by KenPom.com. With that in mind, here’s what the cumulative stats from the PK80 tell us.”

-Adam Jardy, The columbus Dispatch


Ohio State basketball’s trip out west to Portland was a big step for Chris Holtmann’s young team. They got their first real taste of big-boy competition, and the crucible of the PK80 showed what the strengths and weaknesses of the team are.

The most glaring thing that the Buckeyes will need to address is how to get more consistency out of their veteran leaders, Keita Bates-Diop and Jae’Sean Tate. While both had spurts of productivity on offense, if Ohio State is going to compete in the Big Ten, these two will need to provide the foundation for a functioning offense, not just occasionally contribute to it.

The basketball Bucks can’t rely on junior C.J. Jackson or freshman Kaleb Wesson, and especially not Andrew Dakich, to be the scoring bedrock of the team. Clearly the opponents’ defensive focus will almost always be on Bates-Diop and Tate, but they are going to need to find a way to get buckets if OSU is going to have any chance at respectability this year.

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Wisconsin is a bad matchup for Ohio State
Chad Peltier via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Badgers have the best defense in the country, and their offense can attack similarly to Iowa and Michigan

At the beginning of the season, the Badgers topped the list of teams with the best odds to make the playoff, using the S&P+ projections. That projection is looking pretty solid now, as Wisconsin was able to breeze through their light schedule — which included just two games against teams ranked in the S&P+ top-40 (FAU and Michigan).

Besides the game against Michigan, the Big Ten Championship is their only truly difficult game of the season. So strength of schedule questions are legit.

But don’t let their light schedule distract you from the fact that the Badgers are still one of the best teams in the country and that they’re also a poor matchup for Ohio State — on both sides of the ball.


Wisconsin ranks third overall in the S&P+, and they’ve been dominant in almost every game they’ve played — including eight games with an 88% or better S&P+ performance. That’s not always reflected in the scoring margins, though.

The most astonishing thing here is that the vast disparity in recruiting talent. Wisconsin ranks 37th in total roster talent according to the 247 Composite, but even crazier is the difference in blue-chip recruits — 74% of Ohio State’s roster is composed of four- or five-star recruits, while just 7% of Wisconsin’s roster (six players) consists of former blue-chippers.

When Ohio State has the ball


Michigan was the best defense Ohio State had seen — until this week. Wisconsin has the country’s best defense according to the S&P+, and it’s extremely difficult to find any relative weaknesses.

They’re ninth in both rushing and passing S&P+, don’t allow big plays, and are third-best at preventing efficient ones. They’re the best team in the country in points allowed per opponent scoring opportunity (2.93!) and the best in opponent red zone touchdown percentage (30% — tops by a wide margin).

Their starting inside linebackers both have double-digit run stuffs, and defensive back Nick Nelson is tied for second in the country in passes defensed. Wisconsin is top overall in defensive havoc rate, fueled entirely by the linebackers (1st) and secondary (1st), as opposed to the defensive line (111th).

The Badgers get better as the game goes on, averaging 14th in defensive S&P+ in the first half, but 6th in the second half.

Wisconsin hasn’t allowed a single run of 30+ yards, and only seven of 20-29 yards (4th).


So how can Ohio State score on the Badgers? There are a few possibilities:

1. Despite ranking 9th in rushing S&P+, there might be some slight vulnerabilities on the ground, as the Badgers rank 25th in both adjusted line yards and opportunity rate, and don’t create an overwhelming number of negative plays in the run game, ranking 63rd in stuff rate. J.K. Dobbins and Mike Weber are one of the best pairs of running backs in the country, and the OSU run game now ranks 2nd overall in the S&P+. Both backs have over a 47.5% opportunity rate, and Ohio State only allows a run stuff on 12% (2nd overall) of runs. That suggests that Ohio State at least shouldn’t fall behind the sticks on early run downs, and could have at least moderate success in 5-9 yard runs, which are the bread and butter of the offense. Only three teams have averaged more than four yards per carry against the Badgers — Nebraska, Maryland, and Illinois, and Ohio State’s rushing attack is far superior to all of those.
2. Only four teams have been able to crack even a hundred total rushing yards against the Badgers, but that might be due to opposing offenses opting to pass pretty heavily against the Wisconsin defense. On standard downs, opposing offenses pass on 44.9% of plays, which ranks 116th in opponent run rate, and on 65.9% of passing downs (80th). That suggests that opposing offensive coordinators have often decided that the best way to attack the Badgers is by throwing early. Nebraska’s Tanner Lee averaged 7.7 yards per pass and had 277 total passing yards in their early October game. So we might see more mesh routes and RPOs than we did against Michigan last week. And expect both runs and passes to try and stretch Wisconsin horizontally, while the Buckeyes will likely also continue to use called runs without options — likely no matter which quarterback is in the game.
3. A fast start would help immensely. Not only is Wisconsin a little worse defensively in the first half, but their offense isn’t exactly notable for quick strikes (ranking 63rd in overall IsoPPP). Ohio State’s offense has generally been solid early, ranking 2nd and 3rd in first and second quarter offensive S&P+, but in big games they’ve often gotten behind due to defensive and special teams errors.
4. A little about Dwayne Haskins. Apart from last week against Michigan, almost all of Haskins’ snaps have been in garbage time — but Haskins has nevertheless been very solid, completing 70% of his passes at 9.1 yards per attempt. Haskins playing could have the benefit of surprise, since Wisconsin would have limited game film to prepare with. The existing film from the Michigan game shows a conservative offense that is not as focused on the read option game, relying more on called runs and Haskins’ stellar arm. If Haskins plays, expect Wisconsin to prepare extensively for called runs where the guard and center pull — where Ohio State found a lot of success last week with Barrett out of the game. But to be clear: a 100% healthy Barrett still gives this team the best chance to win next week.
5. Taking advantage of red zone opportunities will be absolutely critical. As mentioned above, Wisconsin is the best defense in the country at preventing touchdowns in the red zone and limiting the success of scoring opportunities. Expect field goals and fourth down attempts on drives past the Wisconsin 40 yard line. In those short yardage situations, it’s at least good that the Badgers rank 61st in power success rate (allowing successful conversions on a third of opponents’ short yardage runs).

When Wisconsin has the ball


Wisconsin, like Michigan and Iowa, has an offense that can exploit some issues with the Ohio State linebackers while potentially neutralizing the Buckeye defensive line.

The Badgers present two big concerns. First, Jonathan Taylor has essentially been the high volume version of JK Dobbins. They have nearly identical stat lines, even from the advanced stats:

• Dobbins: 164 carries, 7.3 yards per carry, 6.7 highlight yards per opportunity, 47.6% opportunity rate.
• Taylor: 258 carries, 7 yards per carry, 6.7 highlight yards per opportunity, 47.7% opportunity rate.

The difference, of course, is that Ohio State has Mike Weber and J.T. Barrett (assuming Barrett plays), while Wisconsin’s second-leading rusher, Bradrick Shaw, averages just 3.8 yards per carry with a 31.3% opportunity rate. Iowa found success with Akrum Wadley and Michigan found success running with Karan Higdon and Chris Evans through pro-style attacks that exploited the Ohio State linebackers’ ability to keep contain. Taylor is better than those three running backs.

Second, Wisconsin has a dangerously efficient passing game (16th in success rate) where tight end Troy Fumagalli is the leading target with 38 total catches this season. Ohio State has struggled against tight ends and running backs as pass catchers, and the 6’6 Fumagalli is one of the best in the country. He was the leading receiver in last year’s game, with seven catches for 84 yards. It, of course, doesn’t help that Greg Schiano’s attention was at least a little divided this week due to the Tennessee mess.

But Wisconsin’s offense isn’t unstoppable:

1. They’re largely predictable in terms of run/pass balance — running on 77.1% of standard downs (7th) and passing on 69.3% of passing downs (87th). Essentially, they run early and throw late — it’s just that Hornibrook has been very effective throwing even on passing downs, with the 7th-best passing-downs success rate.
2. Adding to their predictability, they have one of the slowest paces in the country — literally, at 128th in adjusted pace. That’s a huge negative when you’re down early and you’re trying to get back in the game, but that’s also not a situation that Wisconsin has found themselves in much this season, running only 32 total plays this season with a two-score deficit. It’s also not good if you go three-and-out, and the Badgers are 45th in first down rate, getting a first down on roughly 75% of drives. Going slow is a great way to limit total possessions and keep scoring margins tight.
3. Wisconsin’s offensive line is good, but not great. They’re solid in the run game, ranking 22nd in adjusted line yards and 23rd in stuff rate, but they rank 80th in adjusted sack rate, going up against Ohio State’s 26th-ranked adjusted sack rate defense. Hopefully pass protection problems plus run/pass predictability will add up to additional interceptions for Hornibrook, who already has 13 this year.

Takeaways

1. Wisconsin’s defense is incredible, ranking 9th against the run and the pass, and best in the country in finishing drives and red zone touchdown percentage.
2. The Badgers aren’t the best at piling up run stuffs though, ranking 63rd.
3. Opposing offenses have tended to pass heavily against the Badgers’ defense — their defense has the 116th-highest standard downs run rate.
4. Jonathan Taylor is every bit as good as J.K. Dobbins (47.7% opportunity rate, 6.7 highlight yards per opportunity), and has a much higher carry volume.
5. Alex Hornibrook has been surprisingly efficient, with the 9th-overall passing S&P+ offense and averaging 7.9 yards per attempt. Their tight end is their leading target.
6. The Badgers offensive line is 80th in adjusted sack rate and Hornibrook does have 13 interceptions, though.

Picks

• S&P+: Ohio State 27, Wisconsin 24, 56.3% win probability
• F/+: Wisconsin by .1, Ohio State’s win probability is 49.8%
• Adj. S&P+: Ohio State by 6.8, 65.3% win probability
• My pick: Ohio State 24, Wisconsin 21

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Ohio State football podcast: CFP committee chair Kirby Hocutt hints at Buckeyes' playoff future - Landof10.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State football podcast: CFP committee chair Kirby Hocutt hints at Buckeyes' playoff future
Landof10.com
On the latest edition, Kyle Lamb and Ryan Ginn debate various playoff scenarios, namely whether Alabama or Ohio State would make the playoff field with a Buckeyes' win on Saturday. They also discuss whether College Football Playoff committee chair ...

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QB Buckeyes have offered sets announcement date - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


QB Buckeyes have offered sets announcement date
247Sports
Make sure you're in the loop -- take five seconds to sign up for our FREE Buckeyes newsletter now! Williams has made official visits to both Ohio State and Miami. He visited Miami the weekend of Nov. 10 and the Buckeyes the weekend of Nov. 18 when Ohio ...


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Battleground Indy: Clash of the BIG 10 Titans
Richard Tongohan via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

In what has been an interesting and telling season for the Buckeyes, the battle for the conference championship at Lucas Oil Stadium is nearly here. An undefeated and dangerous Wisconsin Badgers team will face a 10-2 Ohio State Buckeyes squad that is coming off of a comeback win against their archrival that almost cost JT Barrett.

Both teams still have a lot to play for, and both of them will come focused and motivated when they face off. Wisconsin is searching for their 3rd conference title and Ohio State is hoping for their 2nd. Both of these teams are at .500 in the conference title game, Wisconsin 2-2 while Ohio State is 1-1. Between the two, the Buckeyes hold a win against the Badgers as they beat them 59-0, and the Badgers haven’t forgotten.

Points A-Plenty?

Wisconsin and Hornibrook have bullied teams with their bruising running game. True Freshman Jonathan Taylor is leading his team with 1806 yards on the ground with 13 TDs as the Badgers are ranked 18th in the nation in rushing offense averaging 243.3 YPG. They also have a star at the TE position in Troy Fumugali who was a matchup nightmare for the Buckeyes that is 42nd in the nation averaging 426.0 YPG.

Ohio State is led by JT Barrett and a pair of talented RBs, JK Dobbins and Mike Weber. Together, along with Zone 6, they are ranked as the 4th best team in total offense that is averaging 529.8 YPG. Barrett, Dobbins, and Weber account for 60 of the 105 TD’s that Ohio State has scored so balance among the many weapons on this stacked Buckeye team needs to be maintained to be successful and unpredictable.

Negating Offenses

The Badger defense is also stout and they are capable of turning the ball over and turning it into points. They are ranked 2nd in the nation, behind only Alabama in defensive TDs and scoring defense, scoring 5 TDs and surrendering 12.0 PPG respectively. Their strength is their defense, where they are #1 in the nation, giving up 236.9 YPG, #2 overall with 156.4 YPG through the air and 80.5 on the ground and they are also 8th in team sacks with 3.25 per game and 39 total, which does not bode well for the Buckeyes and their Offensive Line.

The Buckeyes are a capable team, also with a stout and suffocating defense. They are 8th in scoring defense, giving up 291.8 YPG, #15 in passing defense with 179.0 YPG, and #13 in rushing defense with 112.8 YPG. They are 20th in the nation surrendering 19.8 PPG and this group of defenders in 19th in the nation in team sacks, putting the opposing QB’s down 34 total times, while they average 2.83 per game.

Buckeyes Barrett-less?

I am no rocket scientist, but the circumstances around the Ohio State sidelines were shady at best given the magnitude of The Game and what was at stake for either team, bragging rights. With Ohio State defeating Michigan five straight years and looking to earn their 6th, any devoted fan would be desperate to inflict injury on a star player to prevent the streak from continuing.

Luckily for the Buckeyes, it was not a serious issue and it has been an on-going issue for him the entire season. Now, Barrett is probable for the big game at Indy, but the staff will be cautious as they give Barrett and Haskins some reps just in case.

Prediction

With both teams vying for a spot in the CFB Playoffs this game will have the drama and suspense that people crave will draw people across the nation to witness this. As it currently stands, Ohio State’s on-field product remains among the best in the country and a Big Ten Championship Game matchup with the Wisconsin Badgers will likely have the Buckeyes favored by the displayed sportsbooks at mytopsportsbooks.com.

Even if favored, this will not be an easy task to accomplish and a repeat of the last conference title game between the two is unrealistic at this point. Both teams will come to play and they will play harder than they ever had to this Saturday. With the status of Barrett and the potential of Haskins getting the starting nod, I believe that it’ll be close. Whoever starts, each would struggle. Wisconsin will have answers for everything Ohio State has in store for their opponent, but a late score will secure a win.

21-28 Ohio State defeats Wisconsin.






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Barrett, 23 other Buckeyes named to all-Big Ten team - NBC4i.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Barrett, 23 other Buckeyes named to all-Big Ten team
NBC4i.com
COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 18: J.T. Barrett #16 of the Ohio State Buckeyes throws a pass during the first quarter of the game against the Illinois Fighting Illini on November 18, 2017 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images).
Ohio State: Big Ten title should give Buckeyes edge over Alabama, spot in College Football PlayoffLandof10.com
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Buckeyes No. 8 in College Football Playoff rankingDayton Daily News
Waiting For Next Year -The Columbus Dispatch
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10 things to know about fifth College Football Playoff rankings
Brent Yarina, BTN.com Senior Editor via Big Ten Network

The penultimate College Football Playoff rankings were released Tuesday night, and the Big Ten has a team in the top four for the first time in the five polls.

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7 Ohio State players named to All-Big Ten Offense Team
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Quarterback J.T. Barrett named to third All-Conference team.

Yesterday, the Ohio State Buckeyes saw nine defenders named to the Big Ten All-Conference team, and today it was the offenses turn for recognition as seven Buckeyes were named to the media’s All-B1G teams.

For the third time, OSU quarterback J.T. Barrett was named to the coaches’ All-Big Ten first team. Three Buckeye lineman also joined him in the first group, center Billy Price, guard Michael Jordan, and tackle Jamarco jones.

Freshman running back J.K. Dobbins was named to the second team (behind Penn State’s Saquon Barkley and fellow freshman Jonathan Taylor of Wisconsin).

Wide receiver Parris Campbell and tackle Isaiah Prince made the third team. Tight end Marcus Baugh, receiver K.J. Hill, and running back Mike Weber were each honorable mentions.

For the media’s part, things were mostly the same, however, WR Johnnie Dixon also earned an honorable mention.

Check out the full All-Big Ten list, as selected by the coaches, below.

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Can Ohio State's improved O-line stop the Badgers defense? - Newsday
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Can Ohio State's improved O-line stop the Badgers defense?
Newsday
8 Ohio State's improved offensive line will have a big challenge slowing down No. 3 Wisconsin's powerful defensive front. The Buckeyes' line has stabilized after an inconsistent season in 2016. They'll face a Badgers front that anchors the best defense ...

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View the 2017 All-Big Ten Football Offensive Teams
BTN.com staff via Big Ten Network

On Tuesday, it was all about the defense and special teams. Today, it's time to shine the spotlight on the offense. Here are the 2017 All-Big Ten Offensive Teams.

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If Dwayne Haskins starts, what will Ohio State's offense look like against Wisconsin?
Chuck McKeever via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The backup QB was steady, if raw, against Michigan last week. Can he be better against the Badgers?

By now, the incident with a cameraman that left J.T. Barrett's already-shaky knee in bad enough shape to force him to leave The Game last weekend, has lit the college football world on fire. It was clear long before he left in the third quarter that Barrett wasn't at 100%, and the re-aggravation of his meniscus injury led to backup QB Dwayne Haskins being called in to execute the come-from-behind victory effort against Michigan.

Ever coy, Urban Meyer has released a depth chart for this weekend's Big Ten Championship Game that lists Barrett as the "probable" starter. While it's entirely possible that Barrett is healthy enough to play against Wisconsin, Meyer has learned a lesson or two from New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, and he has roughly 59 reasons to keep quiet even if he knows Barrett's status one way or the other.

So let's get ahead of the gamesmanship and assume that Barrett can't take the field against the Badgers. That would leave the B1GCG and a potential outside playoff berth in Haskins' hands. What might Haskins do, given what we know Wisconsin's defense is capable of?

The stats


Name: Dwayne Haskins

Position: QB

Number: 7

Year: RS Freshman

Height/Weight: 6'3, 214 lbs.

Line: 40-57 passing, 565 pass yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT; 21 carries, 107 rush yards

The from-behind win over Michigan was Haskins' coming-out party, but he's made solid, if low-impact, contributions to the Buckeye offense in relief all year. (It's a testament to just how high-octane Ohio State has been in 2017 that Haskins has gotten snaps in eight of 12 regular season games, which feels like an insanely high percentage.)

Now, there's a good chance—even if he doesn't get the start—that Haskins will be called upon once again to take on a national power of a defense on a huge stage.

Opposition research


On paper, this is not really a matchup that you want to thrust your young backup quarterback into. Wisconsin's defense has been absolutely smothering, carrying the load even when their offense is struggling. It's the No. 1 defense by S&P+ in the nation, and is No. 2 nationally in points allowed. There's zero margin for error when you play the Badgers, who play a juiced-up version of Tressel Ball that would've made The Vest's mouth water.

To wit: Wisconsin is actually only a little bit above average when it comes to creating tackles for loss or preventing short-to-mid-range power runs, but they absolutely slam the door shut the second you cross midfield. They're the country's best team at preventing points on drives that make it inside the 40; the long field goal often feels like opposing teams' only shot to get on the board. (They allowed just 14 points to Iowa the week after the Hawkeyes hung 55 on the Buckeyes, for example.)

The Badgers' D is led by impact linebacker T.J. Edwards, who ranks either first or second on the team in most major categories—tackles, TFLs, INTs, run stuffs, you name it. He's joined on the inside of the LB corps by Ryan Connelly, whose numbers have been almost as eye-popping as Edwards' have.

This tandem is a huge contributor to the Badgers' No. 1 LB havoc rate and overall havoc rate rankings, the stat that tracks how often a defense blows up an offensive play for a loss, a breakup, or a turnover. You can bet they'll be gunning for Haskins (or Barrett) as Ohio State faces the unenviable task of trying to run a read-option offense against one of the fastest defenses in football.

What to watch for


If Haskins starts, the crux of this game will be whether or not he can get up to speed in the read-option quickly. He ultimately did enough with his arm and his legs to help carry the Buckeyes to victory last weekend, but on four or five occasions, he made the wrong read at the mesh point and either got the RB blown up in the backfield or was brought down for no gain himself. Against a Badger defense that's been even better than Michigan's has, that can't happen if the Buckeyes want to win this game.

We can be reasonably optimistic about what Haskins can do in the passing game, though. He went 6-of-7 last week, showing off what we've all been hearing for a long time: he's a tremendous arm talent. Size-wise, he's just about the mid-point of J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones; he might also be the mid-point of their running and passing talents.

There are very few weaknesses on Wisconsin's defense, and no real silver lining to point to—they're equally ungenerous to the pass and the run, and flat out don't get scored on. The "ain't played nobody Pawwwwl" critique only holds if you're able to square the circle of Ohio State struggling against Michigan and losing to Iowa, both of whom Wisconsin dispatched in convincing fashion.

That said, the best offense that Wisconsin has faced so far in 2017 belongs to...Lane Kiffin and FAU, who have crept up to No. 8 in the S&P+ rankings. The Buckeyes got a taste of what it's like to face a top-five defense last week in Ann Arbor; the Badgers have yet to learn what it's like to take on a top-five offense. Until Saturday.

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Urban Meyer's test is keeping Buckeyes' 'laser focus' amid distractions - Sporting News
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Urban Meyer's test is keeping Buckeyes' 'laser focus' amid distractions
Sporting News
All of that takes a backseat to the College Football Playoff race, where the grand debate could turn into whether the Buckeyes or one-loss Alabama deserve the final College Football Playoff spot — assuming, of course, the Buckeyes take care of ...
Ohio State: Distractions everywhere test Buckeyes' 'laser' focus ahead of Big Ten title gameLandof10.com
Ohio State provides Big Ten with its account of sideline collision that ...ESPN
Buckeyes focus on Badgers despite Schiano controversyMyDaytonDailyNews
cleveland.com -Madison.com -WKYC-TV -TMZ.com
all 197 news articles »

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Big Ten coach breaks down 2017 Big Ten Championship Game
Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer via Big Ten Network

With Wisconsin set to take on Ohio State in the Big Ten title game on Saturday in Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, what better person to talk to about the matchup than a Big Ten coach who played both teams? No one. So, BTN.com senior writer Tom Dienhart did just that … off the record.

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Poll: Who wins the 2017 Big Ten Football Championship Game
Brent Yarina, BTN.com Senior Editor via Big Ten Network

Who wins the 2017 Big Ten Football Championship Game? Pick your winner, plus see BTN.com senior writer Tom Dienhart's score prediction, inside.

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How to watch Ohio State vs. Clemson: Preview, game time, live streaming online
Meredith Hein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Buckeyes look to bounce back in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge tonight.

After a 4-0 start to the season, the Ohio State Buckeyes men’s basketball team dropped two of its three games in the PK80 Invitational in Portland last weekend. The Buckeyes lost against No. 15 Gonzaga and Butler (both of whom, coincidentally, are the Bulldogs) while defeating Stanford. While the loss to the Zags was pretty thorough, the defeat by Chris Holtmann’s former team came by one point in overtime after the Buckeyes blew a 15-point lead. Now, the 5-2 Buckeyes face Clemson in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge tonight at 7:15 p.m.

The challenge has been going strong since 1999 and is the gold standard for inter-conference matchups. The ACC leads the all-time series 11-5-2, having won the first 10 consecutive challenges. While the Big Ten made a strong comeback over the years, the ACC took last year’s meeting 9-5. This season, the series is scheduled over four days and features 14 matchups, headlined by No. 3 Michigan State vs. No. 5 Notre Dame on Thursday night.

Ohio State is 7-9 in the challenge, having most recently lost to then-No. 6 Virginia 63-61 in Charlottesville, but the Buckeyes hold a 4-3 record at home. The Buckeyes are on a three-game skid in the series, with their most recent win coming in 2013 against then-ACC member Maryland. Clemson holds a 10-7 record in the challenge and is on a one-game win streak, having defeated Nebraska last year.

Clemson, meanwhile, hasn’t played a game since last Friday when they defeated Texas Southern 84-77. The Tigers are 5-1 on the season, with their only loss coming to Temple, a KenPom top-50 team. The squad is averaging 79 points per game en route to its best start since the 2013-14 season, when the Tigers started 5-0.

Head coach Brad Brownell is now in his eighth season with the Tigers, who were projected to finish 13th among 15 teams in the ACC during media days in October, ahead of only Boston College and Pitt. Clemson finished last season with a 17-16 record, including a 6-12 mark in conference play, and lost their leading scorer, Jaron Blossomgame, to the NBA Draft. Still, Clemson boasts an experienced squad, with all upperclassmen starters, including seniors Gabe DeVoe and Donte Grantham, who have already begun to play breakout roles this season.

Ohio State has only faced Clemson once before, also in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, back in 2004 when the Buckeyes fell 80-73 in South Carolina. Overall, Ohio State holds a 67-47 advantage over teams from the ACC.

After the challenge is over, things won’t get any easier for Holtmann’s squad over the next couple weeks. Saturday, Ohio State travels to Madison to face Wisconsin ahead of the Big Ten football championship between the same schools. The Buckeyes will come home to face Michigan Monday and will have a relative respite before taking on the 13th-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels in Columbus on December 23rd.

Numbers to know

0.92


This stat is seriously depressing. The Buckeyes have an assist-to-turnover ratio of 0.92. That mark is 234th in the NCAA. They are averaging more than 15 turnovers per game, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. Ohio State was plagued by a season-high 24 turnovers against Butler, but against Texas Southern--the same opponent against whom Clemson gave up 19 turnovers--the Buckeyes hiccuped the ball up just 10 times. The Tigers, meanwhile, have averaged 13.7 turnovers per game and a much better 1.13 assist to turnover ratio. While the numbers aren’t great for Clemson, the Buckeyes have been woefully inconsistent this season and will need to protect the ball versus the Tigers.

2


Senior forward Jae’Sean Tate, who led the Buckeyes in scoring last season, has fouled out of two-straight games against Stanford and Butler. He also recorded four personal fouls against Gonzaga over the weekend. Tate brings consistent shooting down low, and though fouls come with the territory, he and the Buckeyes will need to find a balance between his aggressive play and the need for Tate to actually be on the court at the end of games. Overall, Ohio State is averaging 18 personal fouls per game this season.

8.3


Keita Bates-Diop leads the Big Ten in defensive rebounds, pulling down more than eight boards per game. He’s second in the conference in overall rebounds behind Minnesota’s Jordan Murphy, and 22nd in the nation in the same category. Unfortunately, Bates-Diop hasn’t done as well cracking the offensive glass, pulling in just two per game.

Cast of characters

Ohio State

Keita Bates-Diop


The redshirt junior has been the Buckeyes most consistent and best player in the short season. He has averaged 16.9 points and 10.3 rebounds--both team highs--and has recorded a double-double in all but two matchups. Through seven games, he has also led his team from behind the arc, hitting 44 percent of his shots from three-point range. The Buckeyes greatly missed Bates-Diop’s presence last season, when the then-true junior missed most of the season with a series of nagging injuries. Now, in his fourth year with the program, Bates-Diop has emerged as a leader that could help to turn the Buckeyes’ fortunes around after a series of lackluster seasons, and has already shown sparks of what his talent could bring to the team.

C.J. Jackson


The spitfire point guard brought a surge of much-needed energy that was not quite enough to overcome Butler’s second-half antics Sunday. Still, he finished the game with a team-high 19 points, and is averaging 14 points and four assists per game. Jackson is also shooting just under 90 percent from the free throw line, and hit all eight of his shots from the line Sunday. Previously versus Stanford, Jackson led his team in scoring once again with 23 points on the day, including hitting 4-of-6 from behind the arc. Jackson will need to continue to bring this type of energy against a closely-matched Clemson squad.

Clemson

Elijah Thomas


The junior forward from Dallas, a transfer from Texas A&M, scored a career-high 23 points against Texas Southern to go with 16 rebounds--both team highs. Thomas is also among the best shooters in the nation, with a 70.5 field goal percentage, which is good for 10th in the NCAA. Even so, Thomas has been somewhat inconsistent, scoring under 10 points in two games this season. Texas Southern was a breakout game for the forward, who shot 91 percent from the field.

Donte Grantham


The senior is prepping for his 100th career start against Ohio State tonight, Widely regarded as one of the leaders of this Clemson team heading into the season, especially given the loss of Jaron Blossomgame to the NBA, the forward leads the Tigers in scoring through six games, averaging 16 points per outing. Even more impressive, Grantham is shooting nearly 70 percent from the field and 48 percent from behind the arc. Those numbers place the senior just behind Thomas with the 11th-best field goal percentage in the country. Ohio State will need to find a way to guard the forward who, at up to this point, has not been held below 54 percent shooting on the season. L

How to watch


Game time: 7:15 p.m. EST

TV: ESPN2

Radio: 97.1 WBNS-FM

Streaming: WatchESPN

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Rookie backs fuel both Badgers, Buckeyes - Janesville Gazette
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Rookie backs fuel both Badgers, Buckeyes
Janesville Gazette
A gifted freshman tailback who has made his team's offense more explosive—and probably sooner than expected. “He is awesome,” Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said of Dobbins, from LaGrange, Texas. “He is one of those guys who supplies energy every ...


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Ohio State football | Buckeyes up to No. 8 in playoff rankings - The Columbus Dispatch
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Ohio State football | Buckeyes up to No. 8 in playoff rankings
The Columbus Dispatch
What should encourage the Buckeyes are the comments of committee chair Kirby Hocutt about the potential of Ohio State rising to become one of the four teams in the playoff. “There's very little separation in the committee's eyes between teams 5-8 ...
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Wisconsin D tries to 'badger' Buckeyes' O-line
Sharonherald
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Walker Culver, Ohio State offensive line target, decommits from Colorado: Buckeyes recruiting news - cleveland.com
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Walker Culver, Ohio State offensive line target, decommits from Colorado: Buckeyes recruiting news
cleveland.com
Right now the Buckeyes have two committed, and took a step toward adding another one on Tuesday. Walker Culver, a three-star offensive tackle from Tennessee, announced his decommitment from Colorado. Culver is the No. 50 tackle prospect in the 2018 ...

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Ohio State commit set to play in U.S. Army All-American Bowl
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Jaiden Woodbey has an extra game to play before becoming a Buckeye.

We’re very rapidly nearing the busiest time of the recruiting cycle. With early signing day just under a month away, and normal signing day in just about two months, we’re nearing the homestretch for the 2018 class, and it’s a crucial time for coaching staffs to finalize their classes.

However, this time of year for recruits isn’t just about signing, as there’s another big event coming up very soon: All-American games, like the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, the Under Armour All-America Game, and the Polynesian Bowl. With their high school football careers complete, these games serve as the final chances for recruits to compete against fellow prospects before heading off to college, and today, a Buckeye commit announced which all-star game he’d be competing in.

Four-star safety and Ohio State commit Jaiden Woodbey announced on Twitter today that he’d be participating in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl on January 6th. Woodbey will be joining fellow Buckeye commits Dallas Gant, Jaelen Gill, Jeremy Ruckert, Taron Vincent, Max Wray, and Josh Proctor, as well as Buckeye targets Tyson Campbell, Jackson Carman, Tyreke Johnson, Cade Mays, Patrick Surtain, Rasheed Walker, Jarren Williams, Payton Williams, Kamryn Babb, Anthony Cook, Palaie Gaoteote, and Tommy Togiai. The full roster can be seen here.

Woodbey plans to enroll early at Ohio State, and wants to compete for playing time early with safeties Damon Webb and Erick Smith both set to graduate.

Cameron Brown rumors heating up


A few months back, Saint Louis receiver Cameron Brown was mentioned as a name to watch for Ohio State following his decommitment from Nebraska in June, but nothing came of it, with Brown recommitting to the Huskers in August.

However, with Mike Riley out at Nebraska, and much of his staff likely to leave as well, Brown seems to be looking at Ohio State once again, sparking a bunch of movement on the 247Sports crystal ball in the past few days.

Brown has picked up five predictions in the past day calling for him to flip from Nebraska to Ohio State, and in most cases, where there’s smoke there’s probably fire. This is certainly a name to watch in the next few days, as he could pull the trigger at any time.

The 6'1, 175-pound receiver is ranked 314th in the nation, 54th of all receivers, and is a teammate of another Buckeye receiver target: Kamryn Babb.

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Ohio State is No. 8 in latest playoff rankings: Why the Buckeyes' chances at making the final four could be better ...
The Athletic
Ohio State is No. 8 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings released Tuesday evening. Because the rankings are so subjective and in constant flux, here are observations, context and explanation from committee chair Kirby Hocutt: • Maybe you ...
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Ohio State men's basketball | Clemson notebook: Buckeyes expecting raucous student crowd - The Columbus Dispatch
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Ohio State men's basketball | Clemson notebook: Buckeyes expecting raucous student crowd
The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State is pulling out all the stops to try and encourage students to support this year's team Wednesday night against Clemson. When the Buckeyes tip against the Tigers in this year's installment of the ACC-Big Ten Challenge, they will do so in ...

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5 reasons Ohio State deserves to make the CFP - 247Sports
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5 reasons Ohio State deserves to make the CFP
247Sports
The Buckeyes are the second-highest ranked two-loss team in the country behind Auburn. OSU was not helped out last weekend when Alabama loss to the Tigers. A win by the Crimson Tide would have eliminated Auburn from the Playoff race and made a ...
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Ohio State football: Strong offensive line will be key for Buckeyes against Wisconsin's top-ranked defense
Akron Beacon Journal
With improvement in the passing game and running backs playing more significant roles this season, Ohio State's offensive line is getting its props. And that has generated confidence as the No. 8 Buckeyes (10-2, 8-1 Big Ten, CFP No. 8) prepare to face No.
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