Ohio State football: Cotton Bowl will hinge on success of Buckeyes' offensive line - Landof10.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State football: Cotton Bowl will hinge on success of Buckeyes' offensive line
Landof10.com
The Trojans have racked up an eye-popping 43 sacks this season, and slowing down a disrupter such as Rasheem Green will be imperative for the Buckeyes to keep the offense moving. For the most part this season, Ohio State has shown dramatic improvement ...
Ohio State: Elyria's own Tracy Sprinkle set for finale with BuckeyesChronicle Telegram
Buckeyes don't shy away from high expectationsMyDaytonDailyNews
Behind-the-scenes effort helps the Buckeyes prepare for the Cotton BowlThe Ohio State University News
FOXSports.com -Ashland Times Gazette -Toledo Blade
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Ohio State QB commit Matthew Baldwin updates status of injured knee: Buckeyes football news - cleveland.com
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Ohio State QB commit Matthew Baldwin updates status of injured knee: Buckeyes football news
cleveland.com
Ohio State QB commit Matthew Baldwin updates status of injured knee: Buckeyes football news. Updated December 27, 2017 at 4:11 PM ; Posted December 27, 2017 at 3:55 PM. Ohio State quarterback commit Matthew Baldwin won't know the status of his injured ...


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Schiano not ready to talk about losing Tennessee job - MyDaytonDailyNews
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Schiano not ready to talk about losing Tennessee job
MyDaytonDailyNews
Ohio State Buckeyes defensive coordinator Greg Schiano didn't want to touch the Tennessee story on Wednesday, telling reporters, “When the time's right, we'll talk about it. Let's focus on this game. That's why we're all here.” Schiano almost became ...

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Ohio State men's basketball | Lineup analysis: Bates-Diop's foul trouble crippled Buckeyes against UNC - The Columbus Dispatch
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Ohio State men's basketball | Lineup analysis: Bates-Diop's foul trouble crippled Buckeyes against UNC
The Columbus Dispatch
For the first time in nearly a month, Ohio State ran into problems it couldn't overcome when it faced No. 5 North Carolina on Dec. 23 in New Orleans. Against the Tar Heels, the Buckeyes fell behind during a seven-minute stretch in the first half and ...


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Bump - been a year and a half and I still play this one. Anybody else play? Bueller? Bueller?

The freshman Ohio State offensive lineman catching attention in ... - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


The freshman Ohio State offensive lineman catching attention in ...
cleveland.com
Which young Ohio State players are standing out during the Buckeyes' bowl prep for USC?
Watch: Ohio State Buckeyes players compete in Pop-a-Shot247Sports

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USC tight end on Ohio State defense: 'They just play hard' - Dayton Daily News
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USC tight end on Ohio State defense: 'They just play hard'
Dayton Daily News
Southern California tight end Tyler Petite talks to reporters on Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2017, at the Omni Dallas Hotel in Dallas, Texas. David Jablonski/Staff. DALLAS. Southern California players watching defensive film on the Ohio State Buckeyes notice ...


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Buckeyes don't shy away from high expectations - MyDaytonDailyNews
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Buckeyes don't shy away from high expectations
MyDaytonDailyNews
I remember when I first came in, it was very clear at Ohio State you win every game you play. It's hard to do. We don't shy away from the responsibility of playing at Ohio State. The guys who play understand the responsibility. That's what you signed ...
Billy Price says it's not the Ohio State Buckeyes goal to win a ...247Sports

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Nick Bosa is Ohio State’s key to shutting down Sam Darnold in the Cotton Bowl
Ian Hartitz via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Sam Darnold can’t throw very well from his back.

The Buckeyes will face USC on Friday for the first time since the Trojans defeated Terrelle Pryor and company back in 2009. Since that game, the Buckeyes have racked up three conference championships and one national title behind a 101-18 record, while the Trojans have just one conference championship, zero national titles, and an 82-36 record.

The Quarterback


Luckily for the Trojans, they’ve found their messiah in the form of Sam Darnold. He was the main factor behind their 2016 10-3 Rose Bowl winning campaign, and has certainly demonstrated the ability to make big plays in big moments. Still, his second-year as a starter hasn’t come without some bumps in the road, as his 26/12 touchdown/interception ratio pales in comparison to his 31/9 mark as a redshirt freshman.

The biggest difference for Darnold in 2017 is easy: pressure. After taking just six sacks in 2016, defenses have taken him down 21 times this season. Darnold’s loose hold on the ball hasn’t gotten any better, as he’s had nine fumbles in each of the past two seasons. Speeding up the decision-making of any 20-year old quarterback is a great way to cause turnovers, and Darnold hasn’t exactly done a great job at avoiding these types of mistakes in 2017.

The Bosa Factor


The Buckeyes have more than a handful of players in their front seven capable of making plays in the backfield, but none possess the down-by-down consistency of Nick Bosa. Ohio State’s sack leader also leads the defense in tackles for loss, as containing the first-team All-American has been equally difficult in the pass and run game.

Consistent disruption from Bosa against the pass will be needed more then ever Friday night, as Darnold is fond of creating plays with his feet and making throws outside the pocket. Bosa’s best quality as a pass rusher is his non-stop motor, a trait he shares with his older brother Joey. Combining this motor with brute strength and flawless technique isn’t the easiest thing for opposing offensive lines to handle:


The Big Ten’s reigning Defensive Lineman of the year hasn’t exactly been contained by anyone this season, as the Buckeyes’ plethora of wolves on the defensive front makes it difficult to consistently double team any single lineman. This is especially true in the run game, where getting a push against Bosa is much easier said than done:


This type of presence against the run will be needed to help slow down USC running back Ronald Jones, who has racked up 1.486 yards and 18 touchdowns on just 242 carries this season — good for an average of 6.1 yards per carry. Darnold is a red-zone threat on the ground himself as evidenced by his five rushing touchdowns. The Buckeyes are an especially terrifying defensive line when able to tee off on passing games that haven’t been able to establish the run, and having Bosa eliminate his side of the line is the first step in doing so.

It will take more than a solid performance from Bosa to get the job done against the nation’s No. 8 team, but he’s the one player on the defense most capable of having a sustained stretch where he’s the best player on the field. Bosa’s big brother helped neutralize Marcus Mariota as a threat three seasons ago, and Nick will need to do the same to Todd McShay’s early frontrunner for the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NFL draft.


Vegas currently has the Buckeyes as 7.5-point favorites with a game total of 65 points. An estimated final score of roughly 36-29 hardly sounds like a defensive slugfest, but getting in a shootout with the nation’s 24th-highest scoring offense isn’t a recipe for success. The Buckeyes need their best players to live up to their status as some of the best college athletes in the country, and nobody is more capable of doing exactly that than Nick Bosa.

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Cotton Bowl has special meaning for Ohio State, USC
Brent Yarina, BTN.com Senior Editor via Big Ten Network

No. 5 Ohio State and No. 8 USC stated convincing cases for inclusion in the College Football Playoff at the conclusion of their conference championship-winning seasons.

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Ohio State football: Buckeyes 'talked about' taking redshirt off Tate Martell this season - MyAJC
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Ohio State football: Buckeyes 'talked about' taking redshirt off Tate Martell this season
MyAJC
We were fortunate enough to stay healthy and we didn't need it.” The Buckeyes aren't going to need him against the Trojans and aren't going to waste that entire year on a bowl game. But Martell has proven to be an invaluable member of the scout team ...


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Changing face of Buckeyes - The Review
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Changing face of Buckeyes
The Review
5 Buckeyes just missed out on the fourth national playoff spot. The game is big to the Buckeyes who are playing — or may be playing — in their last college game. “After this game, I'm hoping I can celebrate in Dallas,” said Baker, who was third on ...

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Ohio State: Elyria's own Tracy Sprinkle set for finale with Buckeyes - Chronicle Telegram
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Ohio State: Elyria's own Tracy Sprinkle set for finale with Buckeyes
Chronicle Telegram
The fifth-year senior gets ready to take the field for the Buckeyes for the last time in the Cotton Bowl against No. 8 USC on Friday night. “I'm trying to enjoy my last moments while I can,” said Sprinkle, a former Elyria High standout who won the 2012 ...


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Ohio State made an offer to a 3-star defensive tackle from Texas
Geoff Hammersley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Lloyd Murray Jr., like current Buckeye quarterback J.T. Barrett, hails from Wichita Falls.

As the Ohio State Buckeyes are gearing up for their showdown in the Cotton Bowl with the USC Trojans, the Scarlet and Gray are continuing on the recruiting trail. Ahead of Friday night’s game at AT&T Stadium, the Bucks are still looking at building great recruiting classes for the future. (And one of those pieces to the future success may once again come from Wichita Falls.)

Another from Wichita Falls


Current OSU quarterback J.T. Barrett is from Wichita Falls, Texas. According to the Wichita Falls website, the city has over 104,000 for its population and is considered the “Gateway to Texas.”

With that being said, another native of that Texas city has a chance to be a Buckeye. 2019 three-star defensive tackle Lloyd Murray Jr. (Wichita Falls / Hirschi) made the offer known on Tuesday afternoon.


Right now, the 247sports composite has Murray listed as the 858th best prospect, 53rd ranked DT, and 108th best prospect out of Texas for 2019. Already, a handful of elite programs have made him offers. Florida State, Alabama and Auburn are just a few of the 23 schools that have thrown their hat into the ring for the Texan. Before Ohio State came calling, Georgia Tech was the last program to offer a spot—doing so back on Dec. 18, according to Murray’s 247sports profile page. And a couple weeks before the Yellow Jackets made a move, the Michigan Wolverines made an offer for Murray, too.

Even though Murray is just a sophomore, he has a couple years worth of stats already in the books. According to 247sports, in 2016, he had 19 tackles, with four of them counting as tackles for losses. This past season, he doubled his tackle total and recorded 40 of them. He also doubled his TFLs to eight, and earned two sacks.

On Hudl, Murray Jr. has a highlight reel from his sophomore season. That video clip is embedded below.

The focus shifts


As Ohio State made an offer on Tuesday, that was preceded by good news on Christmas evening. Four-star running back Miles Friday, a member of the 2020 class, posted on Twitter of the 11 schools that he’s focusing on as he goes into his junior year.

On that list were the Buckeyes.


Likewise, Ohio State’s Cotton Bowl opponent made the list for Friday, as did the Clemson Tigers—a team that beat the Bucks last season.

Not every school on Friday’s list has made him an offer, though. According to 247sports, the RB holds 19 offers, which includes the likes of Alabama. However, Clemson, Nebraska and USC are some schools that didn’t seem to register an offer on his profile page.

That’s normal, as Friday is a 2020 prospect and doesn’t have a grade yet. But if ‘Bama and OSU have entered the race this early, then they must see something in the IMG Academy product.

Quarterback coach Ryan Day and running back coach Tony Alford have taken the lead on his recruitment, according to 247sports.

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Buckeyes offer Texas star from Barrett's home town - 247Sports
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Buckeyes offer Texas star from Barrett's home town
247Sports
The Buckeyes are in Dallas getting ready for the Cotton Bowl and also working on recruiting. Today they offered a scholarship to Wichita Falls (Texas) 2019 defensive tackle Lloyd Murray. Blessed to receive an offer from THE Ohio State University ...


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Billy Price: The goal isn't to win a national title every year - 247Sports
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Billy Price: The goal isn't to win a national title every year
247Sports
DALLAS – Ohio State fans were disappointed when the Buckeyes were not ranked as one of the top four teams in the country by the College Football Playoff selection committee following conference championship weekend. This decision to rank Alabama No. 4 ...
Newberry: Barrett reflects as he gets ready for final college gameTimes Record News

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Ohio State: Elyria's own Tracy Sprinkle set for finale with Buckeyes - Chronicle Telegram
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State: Elyria's own Tracy Sprinkle set for finale with Buckeyes
Chronicle Telegram
The fifth-year senior gets ready to take the field for the Buckeyes for the last time in the Cotton Bowl against No. 8 USC on Friday night. “I'm trying to enjoy my last moments while I can,” said Sprinkle, a former Elyria High standout who won the 2012 ...


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Buckeye super fan couple credits OSU football with bringing them together - NBC4i.com
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Buckeye super fan couple credits OSU football with bringing them together
NBC4i.com
DUBLIN, OH (WCMH) — Buckeyes fans will soon make their way to Arlington, Texas for the Cotton Bowl, and one Dublin couple will be making the trip as one of the countless bowl games they have attended over the last forty years. Jeff and Cathy Sankey ...

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Ohio State football: Buckeyes 'talked about' taking redshirt off Tate Martell this season - Landof10.com
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Ohio State football: Buckeyes 'talked about' taking redshirt off Tate Martell this season
Landof10.com
Tate Martell-Ohio State-Buckeyes-Cotton Bowl Tate Martell had some reps with Ohio State starters during a practice for the Cotton Bowl. (David Jablonski/Cox Media Group). The Buckeyes aren't going to need him against the Trojans and aren't going to ...
Like LeBron James, Ohio State Buckeyes missed their families on Christmas - and they aren't proscleveland.com
Behind-the-scenes effort helps the Buckeyes prepare for the Cotton BowlThe Ohio State University News
Jack Looks Back: Buckeyes and Trojans very appealing match-upThe Columbus Dispatch
Dallas News (blog) -Akron Beacon Journal -Toledo Blade
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Like LeBron James, Ohio State Buckeyes missed their families on Christmas - and they aren't pros - cleveland.com
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Like LeBron James, Ohio State Buckeyes missed their families on Christmas - and they aren't pros
cleveland.com
DALLAS -- At Parris Campbell's home, they open presents Christmas morning from youngest to oldest. It starts with Campbell's younger sister, Jeriah, who is 9, then moves to Parris and his older, Kayla, as they take turns back and forth. Then it's on to ...
Ohio State football: Buckeyes 'talked about' taking redshirt off Tate Martell this seasonLandof10.com
Behind-the-scenes effort helps the Buckeyes prepare for the Cotton BowlThe Ohio State University News
Jack Looks Back: Buckeyes and Trojans very appealing match-upThe Columbus Dispatch
Dallas News (blog) -Akron Beacon Journal -Toledo Blade
all 123 news articles »

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Ohio State’s J.T. Barrett prepares for final game; not interested in coaching
Ian Cuevas via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Barrett’s legacy at Ohio State will be a great one, but he has a chance to put the cherry on top with a win.

“I am not sad or excited or anything. I have been here a while, guys. People joke around and say I have played college football for seven years. I think that's a little extreme but the same thing when I think about it is just grateful for the opportunity to be at a place like Ohio State.”

- J.T. Barrett via Doug Lemerises, Cleveland.com


J.T. Barrett has had quite the career at Ohio State and will have a chance to go out with a bang against the USC Trojans in the Cotton Bowl. Barrett is the first Buckeye quarterback to go 4-0 against Michigan, and has amassed a 37-6 record as a starter. He has the most career touchdowns in Big Ten history (145 and counting), surpassing Drew Brees and never looking back. He’s been heavily criticized since the 2014 season, but his record speaks for itself and Urban Meyer has consistently praised and backed his redshirt senior quarterback.

If Barrett can get the job done against the Trojans and help the Buckeyes (who just missed out on a playoff spot) get the win, it will go an extra mile in helping secure his legacy as one of the best quarterbacks in school history.

“It's not normal. We've looked at the great running backs we've had. Carlos Hyde was certainly not ready to play as a young player. Zeke Elliott was not -- he got pretty good real fast. But his freshman year was nothing compared to (Dobbins). And Weber took a minute to get to where he's had to get and he's fantastic right now. (It takes) a lot of maturity to be able to handle that position as a freshman.”

- Urban Meyer via Bill Livingston, Cleveland.com


There’s so much potential surrounding freshman running back J.K. Dobbins. He came in this season and started the Indiana game, something that not many (if any) were expecting, and took over the Buckeyes rushing attack. He broke Maurice Clarett’s freshman record for a first game with 181 yards against the Hoosiers. Dobbins finished the season with 1,364 yards on 181 carries and seven touchdowns. In the Big Ten championship game, Dobbins had 174 yards and was the game’s MVP.

The future is bright for the running back as he becomes a sophomore next season, and perhaps down the line could be considered a contender for the Heisman Trophy should he continue his dominance. From the jump cuts, to the vision and speed, Dobbins seems to have nearly every part that the Buckeyes need from a running back. And it seems like so far, it’s a match made in heaven.

“The team [Ohio State] that fell just short of the No. 4 spot this year should have a good chance to leave no doubt about its playoff profile in 2018.”

- Adam Rittenberg, ESPN


ESPN is already looking ahead to next season a bit by taking a look at who the top contenders will be for the next College Football Playoff. For the sake of the article, Adam Rittenberg left out the current top four (Clemson, Oklahoma, Georgia, and Alabama). Ohio State came first on the list, and for good reason. Urban Meyer’s squad barely missed out on the playoffs this season and return a lot of talent in 2018. The biggest question mark will be at quarterback, but Dwayne Haskins looked the part against Michigan and many called for him to be the starter against Wisconsin in the Big Ten championship game.

There’s a lot of talent returning on both sides of the ball, and the Buckeyes could receive even more hype if certain players were to return instead of declaring for the NFL Draft. Sam Hubbard, Denzel Ward, and Jerome Baker are the biggest names to stick out and have eligibility remaining after this season if they don’t declare. But, Ohio State still returns J.K. Dobbins, Mike Weber, Nick Bosa, Tuf Borland, and could return most of the receiving core: Parris Campbell, K.J. Hill, Terry McLaurin and Binjimen Victor.

STICK TO SPORTS

• The Space Station crew watched Star Wars: The Last Jedi from orbit.
• The 39 games to be looked forward to in 2018.
• The pre-2017 entertainment that got us through 2017.

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Ohio State football: Buckeyes 'talked about' taking redshirt off Tate Martell this season - Springfield News Sun
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Ohio State football: Buckeyes 'talked about' taking redshirt off Tate Martell this season
Springfield News Sun
We were fortunate enough to stay healthy and we didn't need it.” The Buckeyes aren't going to need him against the Trojans and aren't going to waste that entire year on a bowl game. But Martell has proven to be an invaluable member of the scout team ...


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Which teams are ready to crash next year's playoff party? - ESPN
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Which teams are ready to crash next year's playoff party?
ESPN
The College Football Playoff semifinals are less than a week away, so let's dive into ... which teams could end up in next year's top four! To make this more interesting, I'm going to examine the playoff contenders not appearing in next week's ...


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It’s not the playoff, but USC provides an excellent test for Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl
Colton Denning via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


We spoke with Conquest Chronicles about the Trojans, defending Sam Darnold and Ronald Jones, and more!

USC’s 2017 season should sound familiar to Ohio State fans. The Trojans came into the year as a trendy playoff pick, lost early, rebounded, had an embarrassing road loss, won their conference, but ultimately missed out on the playoff.


On this episode of the Hangout in the Holy Land, Conquest Chronicle’s Brendan Kearney chats with Colton Denning about USC’s season, whether it’s a disappointment that they missed out on the playoff, and how the Trojans match up with Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl.

Brendan tells us why the key to slowing down the USC offense starts with RB Ronald Jones and not QB Sam Darnold, whether their receivers can take advantage of one-on-one coverage, why the key to the game is how successful Ohio State’s run game is, and more!

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Watch: Buckeyes get feisty in Pop-a-Shot competition - 247Sports
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Watch: Buckeyes get feisty in Pop-a-Shot competition
247Sports
You know the Ohio State players are competitive on the field with the opposition, but what about off the field with each other? Apparently this team is very competitive, no matter the arena. On Tuesday afternoon, Buckeyes Terry McLaurin, Parris ...


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