Numbers don't tell whole story of Raekwon McMillan's impact for Ohio State - ESPN (blog)
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Numbers don't tell whole story of Raekwon McMillan's impact for Ohio State
ESPN (blog)
Scrap them and count the single-digit misses or refer to the coaching grades that are so high the Buckeyes have to use a curve with the junior. Sacks or fumble recoveries? Those are down for McMillan. But they're up for his teammates, so start giving ...

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4 burning questions for Ohio State’s basketball team
Matt Brown via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The team might not win a Big Ten title this year, but that doesn’t mean the stakes aren’t high.

Ohio State’s first regular season basketball game is this Friday, when they travel to face Navy.

Normally, around this time of year, I’d write a column where I’d try to hype up this Ohio State basketball team as fun, or different from last year, and give you reasons to be invested.

I’m not going to do that this year. I have no idea if Ohio State basketball will be fun. I am cautiously optimistic that they will be better than last season. And perhaps exceed the modest expectations the national media has for them, but I certainly don’t know that for a fact. The Buckeyes have been frustrating and underachieving for the last few seasons. It’s certainly possible that they’ll finish that way again.

But I can write with a perfectly straight face that this Ohio State basketball team is going to be an important one.

The Buckeyes have watched their fortunes decline since a regional final appearance in the 2012-2013 season. Last year, they failed to make the NCAAs entirely, the first Ohio State team to do that since 2007-2008.

Already, one highly regarded recruiting class, featuring players like Amir Williams, Shannon Scott and Sam Thompson, failed to produce a roster capable of making much of a March run. Nearly all of the 2015 class, ranked in the top ten nationally, has transferred. And the bulk of Ohio State’s last large recruiting class, 2014, are now upperclassmen.

On some level, this is the year for Ohio State. Last year’s leading scorer, Marc Loving, is a senior. It is possible, if not probable, that some combination of Jaquan Lyle and Trevor Thompson will leave early to pursue professional basketball careers after this year. And the next cavalry of higher rated Ohio State recruits doesn’t really come in until the 2018 class. If the Buckeyes don’t make a move now, it might be a while before they’re able to.

Will they be able to take a big step forward? These questions will go a long way towards answering that.

What kind of impact will Chris Jent have?


Regular readers of this website know that we were supporters of Jeff Boals, who left this offseason to become the new head coach at Stony Brook. Under Boals, Ohio State continued to defend at an above average level, keeping them in games when their shot wasn’t falling.

But over the last few seasons, it was clear that those shots weren’t falling at a higher and higher clip. Replacing Boals is former Ohio State assistant, and offensive guru Chris Jent. Jent, who has coached in the NBA and personally tutored LeBron James, is an Ohio State guy through and through, and said to bring a more intense element to Ohio State’s coaching staff. Will he able to coax additional offensive improvement from a group that is experienced, but has yet to produce efficient offense, or will true improvement be found once Jent is able to bring in more of “his” guys?

Who is playing center?


Trevor Thompson, a 6’11 big man who played in every game last season, would seem like the favorite to land the most minutes at the five. After all, he returns the most experience, production, and even showed flashes last season of how he could be a productive professional basketball player. But the starter during Ohio State’s scrimmage against Walsh was freshman big man Micah Potter.

Potter represents a look that Ohio State hasn’t really had in years, as a floor stretching big man. While Thompson gives the Buckeyes a more conventional look, with rim protection and rebounding, Potter can help improve Ohio State’s anemic spacing, giving wings more room to get to the basket. He can also hit threes (he hit one against Walsh).

The adjustment period for freshman into Big Ten play is often a harsh one, so Potter may have a learning curve to navigate, but how this rotation works out could be fascinating. Given how long Ohio State is at other positions, perhaps they can get away with playing Potter at a five more often. But if Thompson’s minutes decrease significantly, does it increase chances that he leaves after the season? Can Potter provide the rim protection needed against say, a Purdue, or a Wisconsin?

Can this team cut back on turnovers?


If you don’t have a team that can be relied on to bomb away from downtown (which Ohio State doesn’t), efficient offensive play becomes even more critical. And nothing ruins that more than turnovers, something the Buckeyes struggled badly with last year, especially in the backcourt.

The addition of C.J. Jackson, a more traditional, pass-first point guard option to supplement JaQuan Lyle might help. Jackson had a team leading six assists against Walsh (against four turnovers), and earned the praise of nearly everybody around the Ohio State program, from coaches to players. Turnovers are going to be part of Lyle’s game, and something Ohio State will need to learn to live with, but can the rest of the roster mitigate them enough to win?

Will Ohio State help or hurt themselves before Big Ten play?


Last year, the Buckeyes drew what turned out to be a very easy Big Ten schedule, helping them pick up a gaudy win-loss record and push them closer to the bubble. But horrible losses to UT-Arlington, Louisiana Tech and Memphis damaged their RPI to the point that not even a win over Kentucky could salvage it. Ohio State simply needed to make up too much ground and didn’t have enough games to do it.

This year’s schedule is likely a little tougher, and the Buckeyes will probably need to win at least one of UConn, UCLA, and a road trip to Virginia. But there are other games that could trip them up, like a road trip at Navy, a game against a rebuilding Providence squad, and showdowns with Marshall and UNC-Asheville could be good enough to upset the Buckeyes if they overlook them.

This Ohio State team should be improved, but they may not be improved enough to absorb a terrible loss or two without crushing their postseason hopes.

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Ohio State basketball season preview: Predicting Buckeyes record, Big Ten finish - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State basketball season preview: Predicting Buckeyes record, Big Ten finish
cleveland.com
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State basketball failed to reach 20 wins in the regular season last year, and missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2008. What will happen this year in an important season with the Buckeyes bringing back their top ...


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Buckeyes secure huge 5-star official visit for Michigan game - 247Sports
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Buckeyes secure huge 5-star official visit for Michigan game
247Sports
What's next for the Buckeyes? Make sure you're in the loop -- take five seconds to sign up for our FREE Buckeyes newsletter now! Josh has been covering the University of Maryland for 247Sports since 2013. He serves as the site's football and basketball ...
Ohio State football: See the all-red uniforms Maryland's wearing in Saturday's game vs. the Buckeyescleveland.com

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gefootball10 said:

realistically, who's left on the big board for 2017?

Click to expand...

well, since you worded it like that probably no one unless you want to count Eastern(Sparty lean) or MJ Walker and he is going to wait until spring in all likelihood

Marshon Lattimore at receiver and other fake Ohio State position switches: Buckeye Talk Podcast - cleveland.com
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Marshon Lattimore at receiver and other fake Ohio State position switches: Buckeye Talk Podcast
cleveland.com
So that's what we did on this week's Buckeye Talk Podcast, which you can listen to below. We talked about the Buckeyes who are good in their current positions, but could possibly be just as good or better somewhere else on the other side of the ball ...


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A couple of 2018 recruits pick up Ohio State offers on Election Day
Austin Kemp via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Buckeyes throw their hat into the running for standout prospects.

Offers, offers everywhere


An offer was sent out to 2018 athlete Dyami Brown (Charlotte, NC / West Mecklenburg) on Tuesday afternoon. Though Brown is listed as an athlete, he’s expected to play wide receiver at the next level. At his current high school in North Carolina, Brown does a little bit of everything on offense including wide receiver, running back, and even quarterback. At 6-foot-2, Brown presents challenges when lined up on the outside and his great leaping ability extends his reach even more. He can take the top off of defenses too, as he possesses good speed. Currently, Brown is ranked as a top 200 player in his class, including being listed as the No. 8 overall player in the state of North Carolina.

With the Ohio State offer yesterday, his offer count now stands at 10. In addition to the Buckeyes, Brown has been able to accumulate notable offers from Michigan, Tennessee, Virginia Tech and Louisville. Though we’re still early in the process, it looks as if the Hokies are the favorite. Things can change in a hurry, though, especially if Brown is able to find his way to Columbus this fall or in the spring. The interest from Ohio State looks to be legit and they will continue to chase Brown over the next several months.


Speaking of offers, the Buckeyes sent out another one to class of 2018 WR and four-star talent Kevin Austin Jr. (Pompano Beach, FL / North Broward Prep) on Tuesday.


So far, Austin Jr. has secured 24 offers; some of those offers come from the likes of Notre Dame, Miami (FL), Tennessee and a few Big Ten institutions – those being Michigan State, Rutgers and Purdue. Those offers to the Pompano Beach talent are warranted, as he is a top 50 player in both the Sunshine State and in the nation at the WR position.

Revisiting recruits at the Nebraska game


Teammates Jashawn Sheffield and Jaylin Simpson were in Columbus over the weekend and reportedly “loved” their visits as the watched the Buckeyes dismantle Nebraska. From Georgia, both are 2019 prospects as Sheffield is slated to be one of the top WRs in his class and Simpson is expected to be one of the best overall athletes in his class. As always, the SEC powers will be tough to beat for the pair of Frederica Academy stars, but there is big-time mutual interest between both of the prospects and Ohio State. The Buckeyes are in it early and that’s all that can be asked at this point in the process.


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What team would be No. 4 based on metrics? It's complicated - ESPN
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What team would be No. 4 based on metrics? It's complicated
ESPN
What team would be No. 4 based on metrics? It's complicated · Ohio State Buckeyes. 5hSharon Katz. Pressure gauge: How will Cavaliers handle first loss as champs? Cleveland Cavaliers. 48mDave McMenamin. Washington moves into top 4 in CFP rankings.


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Ohio State notebook | Buckeyes move up to fifth in playoff rankings - Columbus Dispatch
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Ohio State notebook | Buckeyes move up to fifth in playoff rankings
Columbus Dispatch
After defeating Nebraska 62-3 on Saturday, there was speculation that the Buckeyes (8-1) might move into the top four. Last week, one-loss Texas A&M was ahead of undefeated Washington at No. 4. But this week the playoff selection committee moved the ...
College Football Playoff Rankings: Buckeyes move up to No. 510TV
Washington moved up one place to No. 4 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings. Photo by Doug Stringer/Icon ...ESPN
Ohio State Buckeyes No. 5 in playoff rankingDayton Daily News
Comcast SportsNet Chicago -Factory Of Sadness -Landof10.com
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Buckeyes offer 4-star Florida wide receiver - 247Sports
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Buckeyes offer 4-star Florida wide receiver
247Sports
The Buckeyes have recruited the state of Florida very well since Urban Meyer arrived in Columbus. They continue to work the Sunshine State hard and have offered a scholarship to 2018 Pompano Beach North Broward wide receiver Kevin Austin.

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Buckeyes' top rusher in no-contact mode, expected to play vs. Terps ... - NBCSports.com
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Buckeyes' top rusher in no-contact mode, expected to play vs. Terps ...
NBCSports.com
Coming off arguably its most impressive win of the season, Ohio State is going to be extra cautious with its bellcow in the running game. During the Week 10 ...

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Terps' DJ Durkin, Buckeyes' Urban Meyer reminisce about time together at Bowling Green - Baltimore Sun
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Terps' DJ Durkin, Buckeyes' Urban Meyer reminisce about time together at Bowling Green
Baltimore Sun
3 Wolverines put on the Terps, coaching against Meyer and the Buckeyes will be no different. "It's a game. You're playing someone you have a relationship with and someone you obviously want to do well — except for that day when you're playing them ...
Ohio State football: See the all-red uniforms Maryland's wearing in Saturday's game vs. the Buckeyescleveland.com

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Ohio State football | Team effort has Buckeyes turning interceptions into TDs - Columbus Dispatch
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Ohio State football | Team effort has Buckeyes turning interceptions into TDs
Columbus Dispatch
But is it a surprise that the Buckeyes — No. 5 in the College Football Playoff rankings — have set a school record with six interceptions returned for touchdowns, two of them coming last week by safeties Damon Webb and Malik Hooker in a 62-3 over of ...
Dotting the 'Eyes: More on Bubba Bolden, Martell's role as a leader, 5-star visitor updates and moreLandof10.com
Meyer's challenge focuses BuckeyesThe Steubenville Herald-Star
Buckeyes offer 4-star Florida wide receiver247Sports
Baltimore Sun -Morning Journal News -SalemNews.net
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How are the Senators getting it done?
T6S via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Through the first 11 games of the Ottawa Senators’ season, the team’s 7-4-0 record belies the team’s performance.

Sustained puck possession has been a problem for the Senators. Their 46.21 Corsi For percentage is the second lowest mark in the league per Corsica.Hockey and they also rank in the bottom ten of the league when it comes to the percentage of five-on-five shots for (49.07) and five-on-five shooting percentage (6.08).

So how are the Senators achieving their level of success?

It’s not the special teams.

Their power play has clicked at a 12.9% success rate (24th) and their penalty killing is better relatively speaking but it’s still near the middle of the pack (82.3%, 14th).

No, the reasons for the team’s success is that they’re capitalizing on their opportunities.

According to Corsica.Hockey’s numbers, the Senators are generating 55.9% of the scoring chances and rank 11th in xGF% (expected Goals For Percentage).

In other words, the data outlines a situation wherein the Senators are losing the possession battle but are coming ahead in terms of the chances and goal opportunities that they’re accumulating.

Provided the Senators are keeping the opposition to the perimeter and are defending their own end well, trading perimeter chances for quality chances is something that most fans could live with, but considering how disproportionate the possession game is for the Senators, the question becomes: is it sustainable?

Going through Corsica.Hockey’s data, only three teams have played a full 82-game schedule and generated a sub-48 CF% while generating a 50+ xGF% and more than 50-percent of the scoring chances: the 2015-16 Minnesota Wild, the 2011-12 New York Rangers and the 2007-08 Pittsburgh Penguins.

Put in those terms, what Ottawa’s doing is incredibly rare.

That Penguins team reached the Cup Final, while the Rangers disposed of the Senators in the quarterfinals before reaching the Eastern Conference Final, but the Wild were outclassed by the Dallas Stars.

What Ottawa is remains to be seen, but based on the historical data, it feels pretty safe to assume that Ottawa’s expected goal and scoring chance data will regress towards the norm if the team continues to lose the possession battle.



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Ohio State is ranked No. 5 in the latest College Football Playoff Top 25 rankings
Harry Lyles Jr. via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Buckeyes move up in the latest Top 25.

The Ohio State Buckeyes finally had that lively game on offense, and it came against the Nebraska Cornhuskers, who were ranked in the top 10 of last week’s College Football Playoff rankings. This week, the Buckeyes come in at No. 5.

Ahead of the Buckeyes are Alabama, Clemson, Michigan, and Washington. Texas A&M’s loss to Mississippi State set them back, just a week after the uproar over their No. 4 standing.

“The deliberations over much of the rankings this week were long and detailed,” said selection chairman, Texas Tech AD Kirby Hocutt. “There are very close calls at virtually every level. It is clear every member of this committee pays close attention to these games and they come prepared to discuss each team in great detail.”

This week, Ohio State is playing Maryland on the road, and will hope to have a repeat performance on offense as they continue to build their case to be in the playoff come season’s end.

Here’s the complete College Football Playoff Top 25:







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College Football Playoff Rankings: Buckeyes move up to No. 5 - 10TV
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College Football Playoff Rankings: Buckeyes move up to No. 5
10TV
In part, the Buckeyes were able to move up due to Texas A&M losing to Mississippi State. Washington, who was ranked No. 5, slide up to the No. 4 spot after beating California. The top three teams remained unchanged as Alabama defeated LSU, Clemson ...
Ohio State Buckeyes No. 5 in playoff rankingDayton Daily News
Washington moved up one place to No. 4 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings. Photo by Doug Stringer/Icon ...ESPN
Can Ohio State crack the top 4 of the College Football Playoff?Landof10.com
cleveland.com -CBS sports.com (blog) -NCAA.com
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Michigan remains No. 3, Ohio State moves to No. 5 in CFP rankings
Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer via Big Ten Network

Four Big Ten teams in the top 10. Five Big Ten teams total. No. 3 Michigan and No. 5 Ohio State pace the quintet, while Penn State replaces Nebraska at No. 10. See the full poll inside.

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Driven: Episode 10 - Badgers sweep Buckeyes, derail Boilermakers - University of Wisconsin Badgers
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Driven: Episode 10 - Badgers sweep Buckeyes, derail Boilermakers
University of Wisconsin Badgers
MADISON, Wis. — Keep up with the Wisconsin volleyball team all season long with "Driven", a weekly video series that delivers a unique mix of access to the program and game highlights. This week, "Driven" looks back at last week's road sweep against ...
Men's soccer: Badgers dominate in 3-0 shutout of BuckeyesThe Badger Herald
Badgers coast past Buckeyes, face No. 2 Indiana in semifinalThe Daily Cardinal
Badgers blank the Buckeyes 3-0 to finish unbeaten at homeWMTV

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Ohio State Buckeyes podcast - Ohio State Football - 247Sports - 247Sports
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Ohio State Buckeyes podcast - Ohio State Football - 247Sports
247Sports
Ohio State couldn't have written the script any better. The Dean of Ohio State Football Recruiting, Bill Kurelic, drops by to discuss the great recruiting weekend ...
Ohio State's recruiting weekend was the 'best it possibly could be': What it means for Bubba Boldencleveland.com

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Ohio State’s Thad Matta has a new spark in coaching this season’s team
Ian Cuevas via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


After some down years, Coach Matta is excited for the new season.

“I hope when the time comes that people look and say, ‘You know what, he did a hell of a job for this university. He did it the right way, he was true to his players, and he was true to himself.’ And if that’s said, then I’m good.”

- Thad Matta via Mark Titus, The Ringer


Mark Titus did a wonderful piece on Thad Matta’s rise and his slight downfall at Ohio State for The Ringer that I strongly recommend you take a look at. Titus covers Matta’s early years in which Matta was viewed as a great young coach going over his big win against Illinois and eventually going into the teams he was a part of - the 2006-07 team that made a run to the national championship, the Evan Turner years, etc. But he also covers the last couple of years in which the Buckeyes have struggled on the hardwood. Ohio State in the Big Ten has finished fifth, sixth, and seventh in consecutive years, and with a somewhat embarrassing second-round exit in the NIT, Matta is coming off a year in which he had one of his worst teams.

But still, Matta seems ecstatic about the upcoming season. Despite the questions about whether he’s peaked in Columbus, the veteran head coach still can do the job well and this season might have the roster and depth to make a solid run to the NCAA tournament yet again. With a senior in Marc Loving and plenty of talent around him such as Jae’Sean Tate, Trevor Thompson, and Kam Williams, the Buckeyes have a strong unit that can improve as the season progresses and may surprise some people.

“However, through seven games, the rookie has shown the fluid footwork necessary to break the press in the pros, even against elite talent on the other side of the football.”

- Mark Schofield, Inside The Pylon


There are plenty of former Ohio State players that you could point to as having a great season in their rookie years in the NFL. Ezekiel Elliott immediately comes to mind, as the young running back is on his way to shattering records left and right. But another standout is New Orleans wide receiver Michael Thomas. Taken in the second round by the Saints, Thomas has blossomed into one of the top rookie wide receivers in the NFL. His production with Drew Brees slinging passes to him has been top notch, and his game has transitioned extremely well on the professional level.

Through seven games, Thomas has caught 42 passes for 500 yards and three touchdowns with the Saints and has more than lived up to expectations thus far. Despite a limited route tree at Ohio State and not going against the press coverage much in college hasn’t affected Thomas’ game whatsoever, and he’s actually excelling in those areas specifically. If you haven’t already taken a look at the link, Mark Scofield breaks down in depth with video how Thomas is accomplishing this in his first season in the NFL.

“According to ESPN's strength of record metric, it is about as hard to go 9-0 against Washington's schedule as it is to go 8-1 against Ohio State's.”

- Heather Dinich, ESPN


Alabama, Clemson, and Michigan are the top three teams in the country and there isn’t much debate about that at all. But for the fourth spot in the College Football Playoff? There are several different routes and teams you could argue for. For one, you’ve got a one-loss Louisville team led by Heisman front runner Lamar Jackson. Another one-loss team is Ohio State who has bounced back strong after a recent loss to Penn State, demolishing a Nebraska team ranked in the top 10. Then there’s Washington, who still stands undefeated but with a schedule that has been lackluster.

Louisville right now is probably the team looking on the outside in between the three, as the Cardinals have only one marquee game on its schedule (a game they narrowly lost on the road) with Washington and Ohio State trying to earn their way into the top four teams. Washington has generally dismantled teams on both offense and defense, but the Buckeyes have arguably played a more impressive schedule with big wins over Oklahoma, Wisconsin, and Nebraska. Still, the Huskies are undefeated and as the quote says above, it mostly evens out. The College Football Playoff poll will come out Tuesday night to decide who gets slotted into the fourth spot for now.

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Ohio State’s offense will look to build on success against Maryland
E.L. Speyer via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Nebraska was just the beginning.

Ah, Maryland week. It’s a period of time that evokes thoughts like Why is Maryland in the Big Ten, or What in the name of everything holy are they wearing for uniforms this weekend, far more than the question of what Ohio State needs to do to win a ball game.

Ohio State’s offense, which has looked pedestrian at times this season, certainly won’t have to set the scoreboard on fire against Maryland this weekend. The Terrapins have beaten just one team with a winning record through nine games, and were absolutely bludgeoned by Michigan a week ago.

Still, after struggling for the better part of October on the offensive side of the ball, Ohio State’s attack finally found continuity in a 62-3 thumping of Nebraska last Saturday night.

Maryland might not represent a challenge for the Buckeyes, but it is an opportunity for the offense to continue its progression as we move closer to the all-important showdown with Michigan at the end of the month.

Against Wisconsin the Buckeye receivers had a miserable time gaining separation in coverage. Ohio State’s passing offense more or less amounted to J.T. Barrett buying extra time with his legs, extending plays until the defensive coverage finally broke down.

Barrett did not have the luxury to move around in the pocket the following week in Happy Valley, where the Buckeyes’ young offensive line deteriorated, as Penn State defense continued to suffocate Ohio State’s receivers.

Maybe the coaches lacked confidence in the offensive line to properly protect Barrett. Or maybe Barrett didn’t fully trust his receivers to truly cut the ball loose. Whatever the reason, the offensive game plan looked predictable and prehistoric against Northwestern, as Ohio State seldom broke tendency and completed just one pass of more than 20 yards in a narrow win.

So how was Ohio State able to turn things around so quickly, against the then 10th-ranked team in the country that boasted one of the better defenses in the conference?

For starters, the receivers finally found some space in the secondary, as Barrett dissected the Nebraska defense, spraying the ball to nine different receivers for 290 yards and four scores. It was the quarterback’s best output since the opener against Bowling Green, and his 75-yard touchdown strike to Curtis Samuel to open the second half was the team’s second longest play of the season.

“They’re coming into their own a little bit,” said Meyer on Monday while discussing his group of pass catchers. “That was their best game by far.”

Even in moments of missed opportunity, the receivers displayed explosiveness that had been missing for much of the Big Ten slate. Take Bin Victor, for example, who drew comparisons to A.J. Green during the TV broadcast, despite failing to complete an acrobatic catch in the end zone.



Meyer has raved about the rangy freshman from Florida, and it was telling that the coaches designed not one but two opportunities for Victor to haul in his first career touchdown catch in such a big game. It’s plausible that Meyer envisions a bigger role for Victor down the stretch run, and Maryland will provide another chance for the staff to further integrate this weapon into the offense.

Of course, the offensive line will need to keep Barrett upright for any of the receivers to thrive, and there may not be a position group on this team that has improved more since the Buckeyes’ lone loss. Against Penn State the offensive tackles looked like they were playing in skates, and Barrett was sacked a season-high six times. Nebraska failed to get to the quarterback once. It will be a positive sign if the line continues to enforce its will this weekend.

For all the improvement on the field, the offense’s quick turnaround can be equally attributed to the coaches’ ability to put their players in positions to succeed. Ohio State’s attack has been bogged down by predictable play calling as much as it was by a lack of execution, and that narrative seemed to shift against Nebraska.

An interesting development this year has been Ohio State’s inability to run jet sweeps and pop-passes, the bread-and-butter run plays for H-backs like Curtis Samuel in this offense. Meyer has attributed this to defenses keying in on the jet action, but the lack of those perimeter threats has allowed defenses to cheat against interior run plays.

It must have stunned Ohio State fans, let alone the Nebraska defense, when Barrett moved under center after initially showing a pistol formation on the offense’s second play of the game. Ohio State essentially never puts the quarterback under center, only doing it a handful of times during Meyer’s five years in Columbus, mostly to execute a QB sneak. By changing alignment and bringing the mesh point closer to the line of scrimmage, Samuel was able to hit the edge faster for a 16-yard gain.



It was thought that Ohio State would have to break tendency for its playmakers to truly thrive, but Meyer went a step further, briefly altering the offense’s identity in order to effectively use his most dynamic weapon. Two of Samuel’s five carries came off jet sweeps with the quarterback under center. On two other plays the offensive staff used misdirection; running a halfback counter to expose a defense over-pursuing the exterior run, and then directly snapping the ball to the junior H-back after Barrett quickly motioned away from the play.

Simply getting the ball in Samuel’s hands more was an obvious remedy to Ohio State’s problems offensively, and it will be interesting to see how Meyer balances finding new ways to feature the speedster from Brooklyn, verses keeping some tricks up his sleeve exclusively for Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines.

There’s a saying in journalism that three is a trend. If something happens once, it can be written off as a fluke. Twice can be considered a curious coincidence. But when something repeats itself three times, you have a statistically significant pattern on your hands.

That’s why it was so concerning to see Ohio State struggle offensively, not just a couple of times on the road, but for three consecutive weeks against less talented opponents.

Last week’s performance was a step in the right direction. If the receivers, offensive line and play calling continue to thrive against Maryland, and then the weekend after at Michigan State, then the offense will be trending in the right direction heading into the finale with Michigan.

And that’s what we’re really looking for out of the Buckeyes during these next two games, as we inch closer toward the crescendo of the season, a date we’ve been circling since before the year began.

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Ohio State won’t have any Friday night games in 2017
Luke Zimmermann via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The next step is ensuring they never have any.

Despite Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith indicating he’d be willing to go as far as hosting a Friday night game in the future, the Buckeyes won’t play one — at home or on the road — during the league’s first go at Friday Night Lights.

The Big Ten announced its inaugural slate of Friday night contests for 2017, which includes the following:

Fri., Sept. 1 Washington at Rutgers

Fri., Sept. 1 Utah State at Wisconsin

Fri., Sept. 8 Ohio at Purdue

Fri., Sept. 29 Nebraska at Illinois

Fri., Oct. 13 Northwestern at Maryland

Fri., Oct. 27 Michigan State at Northwestern

While there are those who aren’t bothered by the idea of Ohio State playing one Friday game a year, that’s mostly a contrarian opinion. Jim Harbaugh and Michigan have wisely elected not to participate, and the truth of the matter is for blue blood programs, the arrangement goes beyond “just one game.”

Besides the recruiting disadvantages (which even for one home contest can have a net negative effect), the impact on local high school football can’t be understated. To say nothing of the short week leading up to the game.

The OHSAA, Ohio high school sports’s governing body, tweeted out a Land-Grant Holy Land article recently siding with Friday night games being bad for both Ohio State and the state of Ohio:


It certainly can be a way for the Northwesterns and Rutgers of the world to get extra media attention, but it comes at little to no benefit for the conference’s power brokers.

At least for the first year, Ohio State won’t be part of it.

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Audio: Listen to your Big Ten coach’s Week 11 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-Maryland 2016 depth chart: Curtis Samuel at punt return, Parris Campbell at kick return
Ian Cuevas via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
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New faces in the return game highlight changes in the depth chart



Ohio State bounced back in a big way against Nebraska after the two previous outings and now the Buckeyes are looking to continue their roll against Maryland. Here’s a look at the depth chart for the game.

J.T. Barrett is the starting quarterback and will be for the entirety of the season, barring injury. Barrett came out firing on all cylinders, throwing for 290 yards and four touchdowns on 26-of-38 passing. He also rushed for 39 yards on 8 carries but was kept out of the endzone. Joe Burrow remains the backup.

At running back, Mike Weber remains the starter with OR in between he and Samuel. Weber rushed for 72 yards and a touchdown on only 11 carries with an average of 6.5 yards per carry. Samuel added five carries on the ground and amassed 41 yards to his name. With Maryland up next, the success should continue for these two.

The starters are the same as in previous weeks, as the receiving core continues its growth. Noah Brown starts at X, K.J Hill OR Corey Smith OR Johnnie Dixon all slotted for the third wide receiver spot, and Terry McLaurin OR James Clark at Z. Austin Mack and Binjimen Victor are the third-string options. 10 different players caught passes on Saturday, with K.J. Hill having perhaps the biggest night, with five receptions for 66 yards. Brown and McLaurin both added touchdowns on the evening.

The H-back spot remains with Curtis Samuel OR Dontre Wilson. Samuel continues to be one of the more electrifying players in the country, rushing for 41 yards on five carries. He also hauled in eight receptions for 137 yards and two touchdowns. Wilson had a better game than the past couple weeks with four receptions for 44 yards.

The tight end spot is firmly locked down by Marcus Baugh with A.J. Alexander listed as the backup. Baugh caught four passes for 35 yards while Alexander recorded three catches for 24 yards, his first catches since the opening game against Bowling Green.

The offensive line starters are listed as Jamarco Jones, Michael Jordan, Pat Elflein, Billy Price, and Isaiah Prince (from left to right). The offensive line finally seemed to be clicking, looking much stronger after shouldering a lot of the blame offensively over the recent weeks. They’ll have to be sharp over the coming weeks with Michigan looming in the distance.

On the defensive side of the ball, Sam Hubbard OR Jayln Holmes and Tyquan Lewis remain listed as the defensive end starters. The backups at defensive end are Nick Bosa OR Jonathon Cooper. In the middle, Michael Hill anchors the defensive line alongside Dre’Mont Jones who replaced Tracy Sprinkle and Davon Hamilton is listed as the co-starter with Jones.

The linebacking core continues to be a strong unit. Raekwon McMillan is still slotted in at middle linebacker. Surrounding him are outside linebackers Chris Worley and Dante Booker OR Jerome Baker. Booker suffered a slight MCL sprain early on against Bowling Green and a combination of Joe Burger and Jerome Baker have stepped in very well in his place. Rashod Berry, Joe Burger, and Craig Fada are your backups. Baker has been the one to fill in for Booker as of late, and has played well.

At cornerback, Gareon Conley is the starter on one end and Marshon Lattimore OR Denzel Ward on the other for the second corner spot. For safeties, Damon Webb slides over this season with Malik Hooker getting the other safety spot. Erick Smith is listed as the backup to Hooker, while Jordan Fuller is the backup to Webb. The secondary had another field day, picking off Tommy Armstrong from the opening possession for a touchdown, thanks to Raekwon McMillan and a nice return from Webb. Hooker added his own pick six later on in the game, speeding past the opposition as he continues his drive towards a potential Thorpe award.

For special teams, sophomore walk-on Tyler Durbin continues to be the starter at kicker for both kickoffs and field goals as Sean Nuernberger recovers from a groin injury that forced him to miss most of camp. Durbin connected on all eight of his extra points against Nebraska, and knocked in two field goals with a long of 28.

Senior Cameron Johnston remains as the punter, and that’s no surprise considering he’s been a mainstay since his freshman season and has done a tremendous job. Against Nebraska, Johnston wasn’t needed as the Buckeyes didn’t need to punt once.

At punt return, Curtis Samuel OR K.J. Hill take over after Dontre Wilson’s muffed punts. Handling kickoff returns will be Parris Campbell OR Dontre Wilson. The long-snapping duties are given to Liam McCollough, and holding for kicks is Cameron Johnston.

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