Meyer: Competitive spirit 'off the charts' for Penn State's McSorley - Springfield News Sun
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Meyer: Competitive spirit 'off the charts' for Penn State's McSorley
Springfield News Sun
Sometimes, the simple sentences work. Beat No. 2 Penn State (7-0, 4-0) at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Ohio Stadium, and the No. 6 Buckeyes (6-1, 4-0) thrust themselves back into the playoff picture and make themselves the favorite in the Big Ten East ...


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Polls: It’s time to pick your Week 9 Big Ten football winners
Brent Yarina, BTN.com Senior Editor via Big Ten Network

Who wins Week 9 Big Ten football games? Pick your seven Big Ten winners, plus see BTN.com senior writer Tom Dienhart's score predictions, inside.

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2017 Buckeyes are top scoring team in Ohio State history; will it stick? - Buckeye Numbers - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


2017 Buckeyes are top scoring team in Ohio State history; will it stick? - Buckeye Numbers
cleveland.com
CLEVELAND, Ohio - The 2017 Buckeyes are the highest scoring team in Ohio State history, but the schedule ahead means it will be more difficult to keep up the pace. The Buckeyes have put points on the board at a rate of 47.3 a game, thanks in large part ...
2017-'18 Ohio State Buckeyes Season PreviewBT Powerhouse (blog)
BM5: 'Ohio State owes them; they have a debt to pay'247Sports
Q&A: Breaking down Ohio State with Bucknuts' Alex Gleitman247Sports

all 5 news articles »

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2017-'18 Ohio State Buckeyes Season Preview - BT Powerhouse (blog)
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


2017-'18 Ohio State Buckeyes Season Preview
BT Powerhouse (blog)
Along with reading BTPowerhouse's season preview post for the Ohio State Buckeyes, make sure to check out the site's podcast preview of the Buckeyes, featuring BTPowerhouse Manager Thomas Beindit and BTPowerhouse Contributor Jon Richardson ...
BM5: 'Ohio State owes them; they have a debt to pay'247Sports
Q&A: Breaking down Ohio State with Bucknuts' Alex Gleitman247Sports

all 2 news articles »

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College football: Grant Haley's big play led Penn State past the Buckeyes last season, but it's his overall play the ... - Chronicle Telegram
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


College football: Grant Haley's big play led Penn State past the Buckeyes last season, but it's his overall play the ...
Chronicle Telegram
Penn State's Grant Haley returns a blocked field goal for a touchdown against Ohio State in an NCAA football game, in State College, Pa. on Oct. 22, 2016. Haley made one of the biggest plays in recent Penn State football history when he returned a ...

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Chris Ward and Aaron Brown

I actually have copy of that exact program in my basement. Can you believe that back in 1977 the game programs just cost $1?

PSU looking for "residual effcts" of bye vs. rested Buckeyes - Scranton Times-Tribune
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


PSU looking for "residual effcts" of bye vs. rested Buckeyes
Scranton Times-Tribune
Franklin's Nittany Lions are preparing for the middle game of their three-game gauntlet against Big Ten East Division powers. With Michigan in the rearview mirror and Michigan State to follow the Buckeyes, the Nittany Lions faced a team ranked in the ...
Football: Penn State tight end Mike Gesicki presents Ohio State with 78-inch challengeOSU - The Lantern
Lions realize what a win will doAltoona Mirror
James Franklin Weekly Press Conference Notes: Ohio State WeekBlack Shoe Diaries
Eleven Warriors
all 28 news articles »

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4-star offensive tackle Rasheed Walker to visit Ohio State this weekend
Geoff Hammersley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Maryland prospect is one of the best OTs in the 2018 class.

Alrighty, we’ve hit Wednesday. We’re getting closer and closer to the colossal matchup in Ohio Stadium between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Penn State Nittany Lions.

The alternate jersey/uniform pics have been released out on the web—and you can buy your jersey here through Fanatics.

Even though this is OSU’s biggest conference game so far this season, there’s other things happening, too. (With recruiting being that big thing.)

Let’s take a look and roundup the latest news on the recruiting front, and see what the future holds for Buckeye football.

301 visiting the 614


Good news—let’s start with that first.

Ohio State will be getting a visit this weekend from four-star offensive tackle Rasheed Walker. Walker, who comes from North Point High School in Waldorf, MD, is ranked No. 6 in the Old Line State, according to the 247sports composite.

Walker tweeted about making the trip to Columbus on Oct. 23.


Selected to the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, Walker would be a huge get for any program in the 2018 recruiting cycle. The DMV (District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia) is a hotbed for football talent. Already, Walker has offers from Maryland, Penn State, and Ohio State. According to his 247sports profile page, the 6'6, 300-pound tackle made unofficial visits to PSU back in May and July.

Since the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions have both made offers, it's a perfect trip for Walker to make. 247sports has Larry Johnson leading the recruitment of Walker—and that makes plenty of sense. Johnson coached at the high school in the same county that North Point sits in. Back in 1974, Johnson was an assistant coach at Lackey HS; from 1975-1991, he was the head coach at McDonough, and won three state championships.

Having a Charles County coaching legend recruit a top Charles County prospect may play a big role in how this recruitment plays out.

(Fun fact: a product of the Charles County public school system wrote this story!)

Strange dreams


A four-star making the trek to Columbus was the good news. Ready for the not so good news?

Five-star weak-side defensive end Micah Parsons (Harrisburg, PA/Harrisburg) will be visiting Oklahoma this weekend. Parsons made it known that he was visiting Norman with a Stranger Things themed tweet.


The recruitment for Parsons has been a roller coaster. Back in July, he attended the Friday Night Lights camp at Ohio State, and then took an official visit on Sept. 9, the day of the OU game. (Yesterday, our own Dan Hessler wrote a little synopsis on Parsons in the recruiting roundup.)

It seemed like the Buckeyes were the program that would get the commitment of Parsons, but Penn State, Nebraska, and Oklahoma have all jostled for position for the standout DE. A member of the 2018 class, Parsons is ranked as the best WDE, the best prospect in the state of Pennsylvania, and the fifth-best overall prospect in the class, according to the 247sports composite.

While he’s taking a visit to the Sooners, the 247sports crystal ball has Penn State as the favorite right now with 82 percent of the votes.

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College football: Grant Haley's big play led Penn State past the Buckeyes last season, but it's his overall play the ... - Chronicle Telegram
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


College football: Grant Haley's big play led Penn State past the Buckeyes last season, but it's his overall play the ...
Chronicle Telegram
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — It'll likely go down as the most memorable play of his collegiate career, but Grant Haley has no desire to rewatch his game-sealing touchdown against Ohio State from a year ago. Although Haley's fourth-quarter, 60-yard return of a ...
Can Penn State's Explosive, Option-Heavy Offense Be Stopped?Eleven Warriors

all 19 news articles »

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Kurelic: WR Meyer checked on; Parsons and DE situation - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Kurelic: WR Meyer checked on; Parsons and DE situation
247Sports
Euclid 2019 wide receiver Dre'Von Lindsay is a prospect the Buckeyes' boss knows about. Lindsay is a transfer from Garfield Heights. He had a fine sophomore season at Garfield Heights, catching 45 passes for 746 yards and 8 touchdowns. Lindsay had a ...

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Monday's college football: Revenge pushes Buckeyes - Detroit News - The Detroit News
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Monday's college football: Revenge pushes Buckeyes - Detroit News
The Detroit News
Is revenge a motivator? Hell yeah, it is,” Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said of Saturday's game against Penn State.

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Ohio State Buckeyes favored by a touchdown against Penn State at some sportsbooks - Cincinnati.com
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Ohio State Buckeyes favored by a touchdown against Penn State at some sportsbooks
Cincinnati.com
Penn State outranks the Ohio State Buckeyes, but OSU is favored by 6.5 to 7 points at most sportsbooks in advance of Saturday's Big Ten clash in Columbus. Penn State ranks No. 2 and OSU ranks No. 6 in both the AP Top 25 and the Amway Coaches Poll.
Big Ten notes: Buckeyes aim for revenge on Penn State; Michigan looks for offenseOmaha World-Herald
Ohio State football: Buckeyes unveil all-grey uniforms for Big Ten clash with Penn StateNCAA.com
Monday's college football: Revenge pushes BuckeyesThe Detroit News
PennLive.com -Forbes
all 596 news articles »

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Ohio State has the revenge factor against Penn State
Ian Cuevas via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Buckeyes are looking to avenge their upset loss at Penn State last season.

“You've got to figure you're dealing with youngsters. Is revenge a motivator? Hell yeah, it is. I'm not saying this will be it. There have been times we used it and we looked silly using it, and there are times it worked. I don't know yet. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday isn't about that; it's about execution of a game plan and focus.”

- Urban Meyer via Associated Press


The last time Ohio State and Penn State met, the Buckeyes were the ones with an undefeated record, seemingly on their way to another College Football Playoff appearance. But when Urban Meyer’s team traveled to University Park, Ohio State was upset by the Nittany Lions. That win sparked James Franklin’s team en route to a Big Ten championship and Rose Bowl appearance. The Buckeyes did end up making the playoff, but their undefeated record was ruined. Now, Penn State is the team doing the traveling and also enters the game with an undefeated record. Revenge is certainly on the mind for the Buckeyes.

J.T. Barrett and Co. will have their work cut out for them as they host the No. 2 team in the country. Trace McSorley and Saquon Barkley headline the Nittany Lions as they look to repeat as Big Ten champions and perhaps make the College Football Playoff for the first time in school history. The Buckeyes have looked much better offensively since their game against Oklahoma, but will get a true test against Penn State on Saturday.

“[Best games of Ohio State-Penn State] 2. 2014: No. 12 Ohio State 31, Penn State 24 (2OT)”

- Tim Bielik, Cleveland.com


Tim Beilik of Cleveland.com is running through and ranking the best games from the Ohio State-Penn State series, and one of my personal favorites, the 2014 iteration is the second-highest ranked game on the list. (I don’t want to give away the whole list, so definitely check it out.)

The 2014 version of the series was an instant classic that went to double overtime and saw J.T. Barrett lead the Buckeyes to a win despite an MCL injury. Joey Bosa ended up getting a sack by ramming over the running back and forcing him into his own quarterback, Christian Hackenberg. The game was a bit of a springboard for the Buckeyes en route to their national championship run.

A couple of others that made the list were the 2004 game where Ted Ginn Jr. had a punt return for a touchdown and the 2008 game which saw the Buckeyes fall to the Nittany Lions at home when Terrelle Pryor had a crucial fumble in the late stages of a defensive game.

“[Nine best performances in Ohio State-Penn State history] Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller, 2013”

- Tim Bielik, Cleveland.com


In a similar vein, Bielik also ranked the nine best performances from both sides in the series, and if you know anything about me, you know I had to bring up Braxton Miller’s game in 2013. Hindered by a gimpy left knee, Miller still threw for 252 yards and three touchdowns as well as rushing for 68 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. The five-touchdown performance was key in the Buckeyes blowout of the Nittany Lions, who stood no match. The Buckeyes would get to a 24-game winning streak that season before falling to Michigan State in the Big Ten championship game.

There’s also some mentions of defensive players such as Ryan Shazier in 2012, when he helped the Buckeyes get a win on the road with a 17-yard interception return for a touchdown, all in addition to his seven tackles and forced fumble.

STICK TO SPORTS

• Stranger Things 2 is coming this Friday, which begs the question: To binge or not to binge?
• The Nintendo Switch now supports GameCube controllers. Just in time for Mario Odyssey.
• Thieves in Hawaii are stealing cans of spam.
• Looking to buy the new Ohio State alternate jersey? You can get it here.

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Big Ten notes: Buckeyes aim for revenge on Penn State; Michigan looks for offense - Omaha World-Herald
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Big Ten notes: Buckeyes aim for revenge on Penn State; Michigan looks for offense
Omaha World-Herald
The biggest game of the Big Ten season plays out Saturday when the Nittany Lions visit the Buckeyes. It'll also be Penn State running back Saquon Barkley's Heisman spotlight game. Barkley leads the nation in all-purpose yards — 757 rushing, 448 ...
Ohio State football: Buckeyes unveil all-grey uniforms for Big Ten clash with Penn StateNCAA.com
Penn State football | 'Confident' Lions gear up for showdown with rested BuckeyesTribDem.com
Monday's college football: Revenge pushes BuckeyesThe Detroit News
Cincinnati.com -PennLive.com
all 567 news articles »

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Can revenge push Ohio State? ‘Hell, yeah’ says Meyer
Brent Yarina, BTN.com Senior Editor via Big Ten Network

Ohio State coach Urban Meyer was direct when asked whether his players will be motivated by revenge in the long-awaited showdown with No. 2 Penn State this weekend.

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Audio: Listen to your Big Ten coach’s Week 9 teleconference
BTN.com staff via Big Ten Network

Each Tuesday morning during the Big Ten football season, the 14 Big Ten football coaches hold a Big Ten teleconference with reporters from around the country. We post the audio for each segment of the call here.Filed under: Audio Tagged: Teleconferences

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Ohio State kicking legend Mike Nugent signs with the Dallas Cowboys
Alexis Chassen via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Buckeye’s NFL career might have just been saved with Dan Bailey’s injury.

Kicker Mike Nugent has a very up and down career over the past 12 years since leaving Ohio State and heading to the NFL. Now, at 35 years old, the Buckeye’s career has been given a breath of life thanks to the Dallas Cowboys, according to Adam Schefter.

The Cowboys were in a precarious situation last weekend when their kicker Dan Bailey was sidelined with a groin injury. With only one kicker on the active roster, the team looked toward safety Jeff Heath to fill in. It was fine, but definitely not a long-term solution.

Nugent spent the preseason with the New York Giants, but was waived during the final 53-man roster cuts. Having been cut by the Bengals before the end of the 2016 season, the future looked bleak for the kicker, who was once among the most consistent and reliable kickers in the league.

After being drafted by the New York Jets in 2005, Nugent spent three years with the team before an injury and short stints in Arizona and Tampa Bay. In 2010, the Buckeye went back to his home state of Ohio, to play for the Cincinnati Bengals — where he suited up for the next six years. Between 2013-2015 Nugent hadn’t missed a single game, but didn’t seem to come back in quite the same way in 2016.

Last season was his worst yet, finishing the year 23-of-29 field goal attempts and 23-of-29 extra points. The latter was the more concerning statistic heading down the stretch. In his entire career, Nugent had never missed more than one — if any at all — point after attempt per season.

He seemed to make up for it during his preseason with the Giants, but failed to do enough to win the starting spot — and roster spot -- from rookie Aldrick Rosas.

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What 3 areas have Buckeyes improved most since Oklahoma game? - 247Sports
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What 3 areas have Buckeyes improved most since Oklahoma game?
247Sports
Urban Meyer was asked an interesting question on Tuesday's Big Ten teleconference, and did not hesitate in giving a detailed answer. The question was regarding how the Buckeyes have improved the most since their 31-16 loss to Oklahoma on Sept. 9.

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Ohio State releases depth chart for Week 9 against Penn State
Alexis Chassen via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Coming off a bye week, the Buckeyes have their roster set for Saturday.

This is it. Oct. 28 has been circled on Buckeye calendars all season, and discussions about “level of competition” should no longer be a thing when the No. 6 Ohio State Buckeyes host the No. 2 Penn State Nittany Lions on Saturday. ESPN’s College GameDay will be in Columbus, along with thousands of Buckeye fans ready for their team to exact revenge for last season’s loss.

As Urban Meyer and Co. prepare for the much-anticipated contest, the rosters are now set. Coming off a bye week, several players were able to recover fully from their injuries and get a little bit of much-needed R&R halfway through the season. Ohio State will need it’s best players to step up even further in order to best the second-ranked Nittany Lions en route to a Big Ten East title.

Here’s the depth chart heading into this Week’s rematch:

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The Ohio State defense will square off against a much-improved Trace McSorley
Christopher Jason via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Penn State’s quarterback can do it all.

This isn’t the same Trace McSorley who completed only 8-of-23 pass attempts in last year’s upset over the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes. Even though all four of his receivers who caught passes had long receptions of at least 20-yards that night, he was still inexperienced and was unable to consistently move the chains through the air.

With a full year of experience under his belt, McSorley has vastly improved as a passer. Most notably, his completion percentage has jumped from 57.9 percent to 66.8 percent, and he passes the eye test when he’s in the pocket.

During his destruction of Michigan’s defense on Saturday, McSorley carved up Don Brown’s vaunted secondary to the tune of 282 yards on 65 percent passing, while adding four total touchdowns. The Nittany Lions still air it out downfield, but they’re much harder to defend than they were last season.

• Looking at the chart above, it surprised me how much pressure the Penn State offensive line allowed. Sure, Michigan is talented up front, but McSorley was pressured on 29 percent of his dropbacks and he was actually hit on his first three dropbacks. This is an area where the beastly Ohio State defensive line has the obvious edge against Penn State.
• They ran this Wildcat wrinkle a handful of times, where Saquon Barkley lined up at quarterback with McSorley lined up at running back. It worked on the second play from scrimmage when the Michigan linebackers actually fell for the “zone read” fake to McSorley, leaving a cutback lane for Barkley for one of the easier 69-yard touchdowns you’ll ever see. However, Michigan made the adjustments and this formation didn’t do much the remainder of the game. Expect to see some of it on Saturday with trick play stemming off of it — a McSorley HB pass?

• It helps having one of the most talented running backs in Big Ten history in the backfield, but McSorley definitely takes advantage of over-aggressive defenses in the zone read. Below, keep an eye on the two Michigan linebackers as they flow towards Barkley, leaving a lane for McSorley to drive a bus through. The quarterback made the defense pay with his wheels. For the Buckeyes, it will be important to always keep an eye on Barkley, but they also have to understand that the quarterback has viable legs that can beat them for big yardage. This is a tough quarterback/running back combo to defend, and it will take a big week from Tate Martell to replicate McSorley in practice.

• If there’s anything that’s consistent with McSorley’s game from last season, it’s his tendency to put too much trust into his receivers to come down with ‘arm punts.’ His receivers possess terrific ball skills, but these have to come back to bite him in a big spot, right? Greg Schiano and Kerry Coombs have to drill it into their defensive back’s heads to get their head around and find the football when it’s in the air. If they don’t, there will be a bunch of pass interference calls or they’ll get moss’d by Mike Gesicki and co.

• For every ‘arm punt’ McSorley attempts, he’s also a very accurate downfield passer. As noted above, he trusts his receivers to make plays downfield, but he also has the accuracy to give his receivers a chance to make a play on the football. As shown below, McSorley trusts his arm on third-and-eight to go vertical and complete this ball against tight man coverage.

As one can see, Trace McSorley’s confidence is at an all-time high. He’s making defenses pay through the air and on the ground, with improved accuracy and the utmost confidence in both his arm and his pass catchers. The Ohio State secondary is going to be tested downfield, and they’ll have to play disciplined and smart to limit these receivers. Don’t expect this quarterback to complete 35-percent of his throws again.

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The District, Maryland, and Virginia Hotbed Paying Dividends for Both the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions - Eleven Warriors
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


The District, Maryland, and Virginia Hotbed Paying Dividends for Both the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions
Eleven Warriors
Ohio State and Penn State meet this weekend in what will be one of the biggest matchups of the college football season. The Nittany Lions are undefeated and ranked No. 2 in the country. The Buckeyes have one blemish on their record but are still right ...


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Drue Chrisman, Ohio State Buckeyes punter, shaves head for grandma battling breast cancer - Cincinnati.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Drue Chrisman, Ohio State Buckeyes punter, shaves head for grandma battling breast cancer
Cincinnati.com
Drue Chrisman, the Ohio State Buckeyes punter and former La Salle High School standout, showed support for his grandmother battling breast cancer by cutting his hair in a video starring his family, Tweeted by @OhioStateFB. .@DChrisman91's grandma ...

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Ohio State vs. Penn State one of biggest games of Meyer era - MyDaytonDailyNews
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Ohio State vs. Penn State one of biggest games of Meyer era
MyDaytonDailyNews
While Ohio State's 24-21 loss in State College, Pennsylvania, a year ago still stings, there are so many other reasons the Buckeyes want to win this week — to stay atop the Big Ten standings and to keep their playoff hopes alive being the most obvious ...


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3 things learned from Urban Meyer’s press conference
Geoff Hammersley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Both the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions bring dynamic offenses into Saturday’s game.

Monday brought us another Urban Meyer press conference. It’s been awhile since we had one; the Ohio State Buckeyes just came off a bye week, which means no presser in the lead up, and there wasn’t a presser going into the Nebraska game because of a personal matter Meyer attended to.

Now with the Penn State Nittany Lions headed to Columbus, Ohio this week, Meyer spent some time with the media at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center and previewed this clash of Big Ten powers.

Let’s take a look at the three biggest things we learned from that presser.

1. “And as I've said for many, many years, the quarterback gets too much blame and too much, you know, success aimed at him when it's really because we protected much better the last few weeks.”


The Buckeyes’ offense has been scary efficient over the past five games. Since the upset at home to the Oklahoma Sooners, the Scarlet and Gray have rattled off five straight games where they’ve compiled over 500 offensive yards.

That’s pretty good.

A big reason for that was because quarterback J.T. Barrett has played good. Actually, he’s played exceptional; the Buckeyes’ three-time captain has a stat-line of 1,351 passing yards, 18 touchdowns, and zero interceptions in the last five contests.

Is Barrett getting better? It appears so. But, according to Meyer, another reason for why the Buckeye signal caller and offense have gotten better was because of the pass protection. Against Nebraska, it seemed like Barrett had all night to make his throws— at the same time, his receivers were constantly open. Were the Cornhuskers a good litmus test? Probably not. Barrett torched the defense for seven (!) total touchdowns, and threw for 325 yards. However, the Buckeyes did get more experience on how to operate on both sides of the ball.

Penn State is, arguably, a better team than Oklahoma. The Nittany Lions have one of the stingiest defenses in college football, giving up an average of 282.9 yards per game. Barrett will definitely need his offensive line to show up again on Saturday if Ohio State wants to score some points—which, against PSU, is a premium. If the Buckeyes pull off the “upset”, the offensive line will be the MVP.

2. “It's settled. It's day to day. I'd like to think there's other guys on the program that are going to keep swinging and fight as hard as they possibly can for that spot. He did grade a winner. This will be hell of a challenge this week.”


Let’s get more micro on the offensive line. Since Branden Bowen went down with a fractured tibia and fibula against Maryland, Demetrius Knox got his first career start at right guard against Nebraska.

He did well enough to earn a champions grade against the Cornhuskers (and Meyer’s quote above is a peek into whether or not Knox has the RG position locked down).

While Knox is the guy right now, you have to figure that the Nittany Lions will be focused on trying to bust through his side of the line. If Knox holds his own on Saturday, then there is no doubt that he is the starter the rest of the season. However, if he falters, and shades of Fiesta Bowl vs. Clemson start to reemerge, then an outright battle may be among us for the RG spot.

Competition is a helluva motivator. I completely expect the guys below Knox (and the rest of the starting offensive line) to have some of the best practices this week leading up to the showdown in the ‘Shoe. Guys in the No. 2 spot on the depth chart have things to prove, and they become good dry runs for what to be expected by a Penn State team that is out to prove that they are a College Football Playoff contender.

With a big game like this looming, the preparation is key—and it’s a way to figure out who the next man up is going to be.

3. “A lot of those are run plays, a little bit like what we've done with J.T., the run plays. And the catch phrase is RPOs, run, pass, options. And the quarterback has to be a very good decision-maker, yet he's got to have very good players. This is one of the top offenses in America.”


Penn State, like Ohio State, utilizes the run, pass, options when on offense. In a way, both offenses are clones of each other. However, the Buckeyes have a Heisman dark horse at QB, and the Nittany Lions have a Heisman front runner in Saquon Barkley at running back.

When Meyer says the Nittany Lions are one of the best offenses in America, he’s not lying. Penn State pulls in roughly 463.3 offensive yards per game, and has been outscoring the opposition 90-0 in the first quarter. Against Michigan, the James Franklin coached squad put 14 points on the board in a hurry, with Barkley playing a big role in the scoring.

Yes, Penn State has an efficient offense, but Ohio State is averaging over 100 yards more on offense per game (577.3). So far, the options at the disposal of both QBs have allowed for a running game and passing attack to get established. However, points may be hard to come by for both sides, as both squads sport defensive juggernauts.

On Saturday, this game may very well come down to whoever gets the ball last. Already this season, the Nittany Lions have, literally, won on the last play of a game.


It’s a Big Ten football cliché we could be walking into on Saturday: a defensive battle that could yield a weird, low-scoring game.

Meyer is well aware that stopping quarterback Trace McSorley and Barkley is the key to shutting down the Nittany Lions’ Big Ten division dreams. With national eyes back on Ohio State at home in a big game, this is the best opportunity to show the country and pundits that OSU is for real, and that they’ve shaken off the Sooners loss from Week 2.

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Meyer's 'revenge game' track record bodes well for Buckeyes - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Meyer's 'revenge game' track record bodes well for Buckeyes
247Sports
That date marks the day following a game in which the Buckeyes blew a 21-7 fourth quarter lead, and saw a blocked punt and blocked field goal returned for a touchdown contribute to a 24-21 loss to Penn State in Happy Valley, ultimately costing them the ...

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