Friday Night Slights: Brian Kelly, TTUN Fans, Coaching Carousel, Fan Slights and Korman/Conway Blooper
WVaBuckeye via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


We live in a world where tomorrow is truly uncertain to a lot of human beings. The nice thing about having the freedom to say what you want and cut loose on some of these topics is that it is good for the soul! Huge shout-out to those not afraid to express their fears and also to those who help take care of those who cannot care for themselves. We can always count on @Kirk_Barton to lead us off each week!







Staff Slights


Scott – Brian Kelly said every position is up for grabs at Notre Dame. He even said he would consider using a freshman QB who was expected to red-shirt. There ya go coach. Ruin a year of eligibility for a player when your team is 2-3 and the offense isn’t the big problem.



WVa – I have to jump on this delusional TTUN fans bandwagon but not in a good way. I find it laughable that they believe all of the hype that’s involved with the program right now. They are forgetting the mass exodus of recruits that has been going on and their best star is really all they have. I for one cannot wait until The Game just to shut them up again!





Ben v. – Are we ready for the head coaching carousel to start going around and around? Miles is out at LSU, Kelly might be in trouble at ND, Franklin could be close to done in Happy Valley, Helton has a sinking ship at USC and so many others out there that will make changes before or at seasons end. It is nice to know that our coach isn’t going anywhere no matter what job opens up, but the same can not be said for teams like Houston and Western Michigan where their head coaches are doing a magnificent job and will be highly coveted by the teams mentioned above if they make a move.





JC – TTUN needs to accept that Harbaugh is bi-polar. Perhaps healing then can begin.





Fans Slights

















Weekly Funny



The post Friday Night Slights: Brian Kelly, TTUN Fans, Coaching Carousel, Fan Slights and Korman/Conway Blooper appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Scarlet and Gray Drive Time Re-Wind: Fans Interact, Indiana Preview, Know Your Opponent Quiz, Football Bloopers
WVaBuckeye via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Welcome to the daily rewind of the previous days or weekends articles here on the Buckeye Battle Cry with some commentary and links to the author’s twitter account!




@osusteelersJen @Buckeyetxgirl @bhammer1965 @JTows answer @wvabuckeye tough questions



@BuckeyeBVO throws out a pop quiz about the Hoosiers.



@Charles_BBC covers non-rev women’s hockey and they’re playing very well right now



@BuckeyeBVO brings us this weeks hype video from @OhioStateFB




Daily Funny



The post Scarlet and Gray Drive Time Re-Wind: Fans Interact, Indiana Preview, Know Your Opponent Quiz, Football Bloopers appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Former Ohio State coach Tom Herman says Meyer could take on Jim Harbaugh in a fight
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 Houston coach thinks Meyer would be a Vegas favorite if Meyer-Harbaugh ever turned into a bout.

Dan Patrick: Could Urban Meyer take Jim Harbaugh, if he had to?

Houston coach Tom Herman: Oh man, this quote is gonna be all over the Internet. Yes, absolutely he could. That’s where all my money would be; he would be a Vegas favorite.

– The Dan Patrick show (10/7/2016)


Morning sports talk radio rarely fails to deliver. This morning, veteran sportsman Dan Patrick ended his interview with Houston coach and former Buckeye assistant Tom Herman by asking: could Meyer take on Harbaugh?

It was a fun question to ask the head coach, who has dominated as head man for the Cougars. Unequivocally, Herman said that Meyer would be able to take on (and win) against the milk-drinking, khakis-wearing man in charge of the Team Up North.

While that question ended the interview, the whole interview delved into many topics on Herman. Ranging from his intro into sports broadcasting to his dream job in coaching, to what happens when someone walks in late to a meeting, Patrick does a pretty good job at gaining insight into Herman’s career.

Here is the interview in its entirety.

“Four games into the season, No. 2 Ohio State has pummeled its opponents by a whopping 191 combined points... what makes the Buckeyes’ run of routs so impressive is that their opponents have all come from college football’s top division.”

– Andrew Beaton, The Wall Street Journal


So far this season, the Ohio State Buckeyes have decimated opposing team after opposing team. It didn’t matter if you were a MAC squad (Bowling Green) or a blue-blood college program like Oklahoma; if you stood in the way of Ohio State and their path to a national championship, you felt the wrath of the Urban Meyer coached squad.

And that’s the scary part.

This season, OSU has outscored their opponents 228-37, and haven’t surrendered an offensive rushing touchdown. On top of that, the Buckeyes have housed four interceptions (tying a school record set in 1987 and 1996), hold a +8 margin in turnovers and are averaging a whopping 57.0 points per game – the most among schools in the Big Ten. Meyer is doing all these things with one of the youngest teams in the country. Just imagine if this crop of players were juniors or seniors.

The Wall Street Journal noted the Buckeyes dominance, but also listed teams that had similar stats in their first four games. Since 1980, among the top five teams that had the widest margin of points-scored to points-allowed in their opening quartet of games, none of them went on to have an undefeated season. In fact, three of the five teams incurred at least two losses after steamrolling their way to a 4-0 start.

As the Ohio State machine keeps on churning out wins, we’ll see if the Meyer can break the trend, and lead one of the most prolific scoring teams to that illusive undefeated season.

BTN Tailgate show takes place at Ohio State tomorrow


A few weeks ago, the Big Ten Network unveiled the six locations to where their traveling tailgate show will be at during the course of the season. On Saturday, it will be Ohio State’s turn to host BTN, as the BTN Tailgate Show will take place at the RPAC.

Dave Revsine, Gerry DiNardo and Anthony “Spice” Adams will be the experts breaking down this week’s matchups in the Big Ten and beyond. Since the event is taking place at OSU, Heisman winners Archie Griffin and Eddie George are slated to join the BTN cast on campus.

The show kicks off at 10:30 a.m., and will offer free doughnuts, coffee, chips and other swag, according to an Ohio State spokesperson. To get the freebies, you probably want to get their earlier. The spokesperson also noted that students and fans can begin entering the tailgate starting at 9 a.m.

“Kyle Snyder is king. It's possible he's the most over-qualified wrestler to step on an NCAA mat.”

– Christian Pyles, FloWrestling


Another week, and another NCAA wrestling ranking that came out. Unsurprisingly, the recent Olympic gold medalist Kyle Snyder is on top of the board at the 285 weight class. Snyder is the lone Buckeye in the top 20 poll, but quite a few fellow Big Ten members are on the board.

Nick Nevills (Penn State), Collin Jensen (Nebraska), Brooks Black (Illinois), Sam Stoll (Iowa), Michael Kroells (Minnesota) and Connor Medbery (Wisconsin) are the other wrestlers representing the Big Ten Conference.

While Snyder is top dog, the top five rankings also include Kroells and Medbery.

Ohio State’s wrestling schedule begins on Oct. 20 with ‘wrestle-offs’ at the French Fieldhouse in Columbus.

Stick to Sports

• FEMA’s unofficial ‘Waffle House Index’ has gone red.

• The process behind making a big-time video game, and the stress it can bring.

• Kid bullies teammate, coach makes bully run laps...and the coach gets fired.

• Back in 1976, there was the original spygate with the Oklahoma-Texas rivalry.

• Colombia’s President wins the Nobel Peace Prize.

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Happy 94th Birthday to the ‘Shoe
Ben van Ooyen via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Today marks the 94th birthday for the home of your Ohio State Buckeyes – The Horseshoe. The ‘Shoe – designed by Howard Dwight Smith – was built by E.H. Latham Comapny at a total cost of 1.49 million dollars ($21,361,367.26 in today’s dollar). At the time of completion Ohio Stadium was the largest concrete structure in the world.


Courtesy of OSU Library


The first game played in Ohio Stadium took place 94 years ago today, when the Buckeyes took on Ohio Wesleyan University. The ‘Shoe packed in 25,000 eager fans to watch the Buckeyes play that day. The Buckeyes would go on to win 5-0 that day and would finish the 1922 season 3-4.

Since 1922 Ohio Stadium has undergone many renovations to keep the stadium in the top tier of stadiums across the nation. The capacity has been increased from its original 66,210 back in 1922 to its current capacity of 104,944. This has included adding seats into the stadium in the South stands as well as lowering the field back in 1998-99, removing the track that encircled the field to get fans closer to the action. The scoreboard has gone through some major renovations as well. The JumboTron in the South end zone was replaced with a 124 ft. x 42 ft. high definition video board with LED lights. The field is made up of FieldTurf since the 2007 season, as it was becoming too expensive to keep natural grass in a playable condition from week to week.



With the additions to Ohio Stadium’s seating in 2014, the stadium sits as the third largest stadium in the country, and fifth largest in the world. The Buckeyes also had lights put in permanently so that they would be able to host more night games without renting lights. The Buckeyes have hosted 19 night games at the Horseshoe since 1985.

While every home game is sold out at Ohio Stadium, there have been a few games that have overflowed the capacity over the last three years. Last year’s Michigan State win over the Buckeyes drew 108,975 fans to the game and most of them left pretty upset at the end of that one. The Buckeyes led the nation in average attendance in 2014 with 106,296 people per game, and set the national spring game record this past April when 100,189 fans showed up for a glorified scrimmage.

The Horseshoe has not only played host to the Buckeyes and their opponents over the years, but also to some major events. The ‘Shoe has hosted Pink Floyd, Genesis, Elton John, Billy Joel and The Rolling Stones along with a few country festivals. The Ohio High School Athletic Association also hosted all championship games for the seven divisions in 2014-2015 at the Horeshoe. This past July, Ohio Stadium hosted a 2016 International Champions Cup match between Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid, drawing a record 86,641 fans for a soccer match.

If you have not had the luxury of attending a game or an event at Ohio Stadium, I highly suggest you make it one of your goals to make a visit. There is nothing like the feeling of when the band enters the field for the first time, and the players appear out of the tunnel. Cheering the Buckeyes on to victory with 106,000 of your closest friends is a feeling I will never forget.

The post Happy 94th Birthday to the ‘Shoe appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Ohio State and Michigan look to stay undefeated in Week 6’s Big Ten college football, bets odds
Brett Ludwiczak 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 Wolverines are huge favorites as they look to be on a collision course for their late November date in Columbus

Big Ten action not enough for you this week? Check out this week’s picks for the best national games here.

Last week ATS: 7-4-1 (2-3 National, 5-1-1 B1G)

Season ATS: 34-38-2 (13-17 National, 21-21-2 B1G)

B1G games:


Iowa (-1) v. Minnesota - 12:00 PM EST - ESPN2

Iowa has to be wishing it was still 2015, since 2016 has not been kind at all to the Hawkeyes. Not only has Iowa lost to North Dakota State and Northwestern, but they also struggled with Rutgers a few weeks ago. After being so solid on defense last year, it has been a bit of a surprise to see the Hawkeyes struggle so much this season, especially against the run.

Last week the Golden Gophers suffered their first loss of the season, and they only have themselves to blame after taking a 10-point lead into halftime. Running backs Shannon Brooks and Rodney Smith with look to exploit Iowa’s vulnerable run defense and keep the Hawkeyes on their toes to open the passing game up for Mitch Leidner.

This is the most Big Ten game out there since the winner gets a trophy of a pig, Floyd of Rosedale. Minnesota won in 2014 and Iowa took the trophy back in 2015, but I have a feeling the trophy is going to change homes against this year. Something is just off about Iowa this year, while aside for the second half and overtime last week, Minnesota has been playing solid football.

Minnesota 27, Iowa 24

Maryland (-2) v. Penn State - 12:00 PM EST - Big Ten Network

How good has the hire of D.J. Durkin been for Maryland so far? The Terrapins are 4-0 and playing some really good football. Sure, their schedule has been pretty easy, but it’s what the team needed to build some confidence. Last week Maryland throttled Purdue behind 204 yards on the ground from Ty Johnson, who did his damage on just seven carries. The biggest change for Maryland this year is they aren’t turning the football over, something they did at an alarming rate last year.

Penn State was able to right the ship just a little bit last week with their overtime win against Minnesota, but Nittany Lion fans still have plenty to be concerned about. Running back Saquon Barkley is going through a bit of a sophomore slump, but then again he doesn’t have the greatest offensive line blocking for him.

The Nittany Lions are also still working through plenty of injuries on the defensive side of the football, something that might not bode well against a Maryland team that is finding their stride on offense. I went back-and-forth on this game, and while it wouldn’t surprise me at all to see Penn State win again, somehow the Terrapins get their third win ever against the Nittany Lions.

Maryland 34, Penn State 27

Purdue v. Illinois (-10.5) - 3:30 PM EST - Big Ten Network

Purdue is about the only team out there that Illinois should be a double-digit favorite against. At least the Fighting Illini did hang around with Nebraska last week. On the other hand, Purdue was destroyed by Maryland and things aren’t going to get better anytime soon. I’ve already wrote more about this game than I probably should have since it’s going to be bad.

Illinois 38, Purdue 21

BYU v. Michigan State (-6) - 3:30 PM EST - ABC

After losing the first two games of their Big Ten schedule, Michigan State is probably happy to step by out of conference on Saturday. The last time the Spartans lost two games in a row was back in 2012. It’s no coincidence that the Spartans have lost both games that Riley Bullough has missed, and the linebacker is slated to miss this week’s game.

BYU won a thrilling 55-53 contest against Toledo last week, and while Michigan State doesn’t have the same offensive prowess that the Rockets do, the defense has to be a concern for the Cougars. BYU will need another big performance this week from running back Jamaal Williams, who rushed for 286 yards and five touchdowns last week.

Michigan State at least ends their losing streak this week, but they still have some work to do if they want to put a scare into Michigan and Ohio State later in the year. Quarterback Tyler O’Connor threw three touchdowns last week, so even though Michigan State lost, the senior actually played well. The Spartans finally get a win without Bullough before heading back into Big Ten play.

Michigan State 31, BYU 21

No. 4 Michigan (-30) v. Rutgers - 7:00 PM EST - ESPN2

The biggest question this week will be if Rutgers can actually score a point. Last week the Scarlet Knights were shutout by Ohio State, and that comes on the heels of scoring just seven points against Iowa. All Rutgers has to do now is try and figure out a Michigan defense that has given up 14 points or less in four of five games.

The Michigan offense left plenty to be desired last week against Wisconsin, but some of that was because of how solid the Badger defense is. While the offensive issues won’t show up this week against a lowly Rutgers team, it’s something to keep your eye on heading forward. There are plenty of questions about the kicking game for the Wolverines after they missed three field goals last week.

Jabrill Peppers will probably have a big game since he’s playing back in New Jersey and everybody will for some reason want to claim him as Heisman Trophy candidate. Because only special players can do things against Rutgers. Michigan has little problem with the Scarlet Knights, but at least Rutgers scores somewhere during the game.

Michigan 41, Rutgers 7

Indiana v. No. 2 Ohio State (-29) - 3:30 PM EST - ESPN

Ohio State just keeps on rolling, but it’s easy to see why fans might be a little nervous heading into this week after the Hoosiers almost upset the Buckeyes last year in Bloomington. I don’t think Ohio State will have quite the same scare, as Urban Meyer will have his team focused before a trip to Madison next week.

Indiana has been a very tough team to get a read on this year. A couple weeks ago they lost at home to Wake Forest, and last week they didn’t look all that great for a good chunk of the game against Michigan State before taking down the Spartans in overtime. Quarterback Richard Lagow has been solid for the Hoosiers this year, but he also threw five interceptions against the Demon Deacons. With the way Ohio State’s secondary is playing, I wouldn’t be surprised for the Buckeyes to get Lagow to commit a couple turnovers.

The Ohio State offense is really hitting on all cylinders right now, and I just don’t think Indiana will have what it takes to slow the Buckeyes down. Sure, the Hoosiers are better on defense than previous years, but that’s not saying much. Really it comes down to which weapons the Buckeyes will want to feature in this one. Whether it be Mike Weber continuing his growth at running back, or Curtis Samuel racking up even more all-purpose yards. The Buckeyes should again be able to score at least 45 points in this game, something they have done in each game this year.

The only thing I’m worried about in this one is Indiana is competent enough on offense that I could see them putting in a touchdown or two to get a late cover. But I also thought that might happen against Bowling Green and Tulsa and we saw just how that worked out. The Buckeyes will want to head into the Wisconsin game with an impressive performance, and they get that against an Indiana team that might be ripe for a bit of a letdown after their big win last week.

Ohio State 54, Indiana 20

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What Do You Want To See? Indiana
Scott via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


If this was a basketball game, I would be more worried.
But it’s football. And it’s Indiana.
It was a nice win over Michigan State the Hoosiers had, but Sparty was grossly overvalued.
I can’t see Indiana coming into the Horseshoe and pulling a Sparty on us.
But here’s what I along with the other BBC writers would like to see.

Scott
A win: Obviously.
No false starts: Gonna keep asking for this.
No injuries: Stay healthy guys.
Air Buckeyes: We know OSU can run the ball. I want to see an aerial assault.

Ben
Play well: I want to see another solid all around win against a gritty Indiana team. This might be the best team Kevin Wilson has had in his tenure at Indiana, and they are coming off a high of beating Michigan State in overtime. Hopefully we have some nice weather and the Buckeyes take care of business early.
JT TD: I would also like to see JT Barrett become the all-time leader in touchdowns at Ohio State. He needs five to do it, but that isn’t unreasonable.

WVa
Don’t let history repeat itself: I don’t need to remind everybody of the first Urban Meyer coached team’s trip to Bloomington or how these Hoosiers seem to always be very prepared for the Buckeyes. Aside from Rutgers they will get everyone’s best shot.
Slow start will be deadly: Come out with all cylinders firing and mix things up enough that they don’t know what hit them. I am happy Mike Weber Jr., has been performing at a very high level, but Indiana will focus on stopping the run. If it’s not working early use the stars that have been shining in Curtis Samuel, Dontre Wilson and Noah Brown.
Keep the crowd in it: Fans need to be the best they have been so far. Was fairly disappointed in the empty seats last Saturday and the lack of crowd interaction. Granted the Buckeyes were killing Rutgers, but there weren’t even that many drunks.
(Editor’s note: tBBC does not endorse or condone underage drinking.)

Brandon
A win: This is a given.
No injuries: For either team.
Domination: No close victories this year.

Mike
A victory: One where IU doesn’t put the fear of God into Buckeyes again. Since Kevin Wilson arrived, it seems like we have had much closer games than any Buckeye wants to see. Not just a win, but an overall victory.
A clean game: No stupid mental mistake, false starts, etc.
100-yard receiver: Not an H-Back or RB, but an actual 100-yard receiver. Preferably Parris Campbell, but I’d take any .

The post What Do You Want To See? Indiana appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Get the @BTNStatsGuys Big Ten football facts ahead of Week 6
BTN.com staff via Big Ten Network

Our @BTNStatsGuys crank out the fun facts ahead of Saturday's football games.

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Poll: Fans believe Buckeyes could beat Browns - ESPN
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Poll: Fans believe Buckeyes could beat Browns
ESPN
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Forget the College Football Playoff. A majority of respondents to a recent poll in the Buckeye State believe Ohio State could jump a level and beat an NFL team. According to the results released this week by Public Policy Polling, ...
Kam Williams wins Ohio State basketball dunk contest at 'Buckeyes on the Blacktop' (video)cleveland.com
Indiana Hoosiers vs. Ohio State Buckeyes Preview and PredictionAthlonSports.com
OSU players soar at Buckeyes on the Blacktop event247Sports
Land-Grant Holy Land -The Spun (press release) (blog) -Columbus Dispatch -Public Policy Polling
all 111 news articles »

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Ohio State football vs. Indiana game picks: Will Buckeyes get trouble from the Hoosiers again? - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State football vs. Indiana game picks: Will Buckeyes get trouble from the Hoosiers again?
cleveland.com
Ohio State 49, Indiana 10: For the first time all season, I'm picking the Buckeyes to cover, so watch out. This is from the guy who picked Indiana to beat the Buckeyes straight up last season. Urban Meyer has been talking up the Hoosiers this week, but ...
Indiana Hoosiers vs. Ohio State Buckeyes Preview and PredictionAthlonSports.com
Skull Session: The Stoic Slobs, Ohioans Think Buckeyes Could Beat Browns, and 2006 SimilaritiesEleven Warriors
OSU players soar at Buckeyes on the Blacktop event247Sports
Land-Grant Holy Land -The Spun (press release) (blog) -Columbus Dispatch -Public Policy Polling
all 104 news articles »

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Dienhart: It’s time the NCAA implements an early signing period
Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer via Big Ten Network

The NCAA is considering an early signing period, and it’s about time one is implemented, writes BTN.com's Tom Dienhart.

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Ohio State looks to end its string of close games against Indiana
Colton Denning via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Can the Buckeyes win comfortably against the pesky Hoosiers?

Through five weeks of the season, the Ohio State Buckeyes are the best team in the country.

Despite the mass talent exodus to the NFL on both sides of the ball, the Buckeyes have looked dominant, outscoring opponents 228-37. This despite returning the second least amount of production among fbs teams, and having an early road game against the Oklahoma Sooners.

The Buckeyes are by no means unbeatable, but thus far have looked every bit the part of the dominant team they were expected to be last season. This week, they face their first real challenge in conference play (sorry Rutgers).

Indiana comes to Columbus fresh off a 24-21 overtime victory over Michigan State, possibly the biggest win in the program’s modern history. The Hoosiers once again field a formidable offense capable of generating big plays at will. More importantly, however, has been the emergence of the defense.

For years, Head Coach Kevin Wilson’s offense has had the ability to put points up, but has always been hamstrung by his defense’s inability to keep opposing offenses from doing the same. Now that he has a solid defense, it looks like this might be the most well-rounded team of Wilson’s tenure in Bloomington. So, will Indiana be able to capitalize of their new found defensive prowess and finally beat Ohio State after more than a few close calls?

Probably not, but here are five things to watch for tomorrow anyway:

Nail biter


As of late, the Indiana game has become an exercise in frustration. The Hoosiers have played the Buckeyes extremely tough in three of Meyer’s four seasons in Columbus, including last year’s down-to-the-wire stop by the defense to seal the win. It’s easy to point out the culprit for those close games.

In 2012, 2014, and 2015, the Ohio State defense allowed an average of 34 points, and 426 total yards. Defensive breakdowns have been frequent, as the Hoosiers scored touchdowns of 75 yards or longer in each game. Indiana will likely need to generate similar big plays, as well as force a few key turnovers to be in the same position tomorrow.

This is a matchup that should play out similar to its 29.5 point spread. The Buckeyes are more talented across the board, and are poised to take advantage of Indiana’s weak spots. While the Hoosiers defense is much improved, the offense isn’t quite what it’s been in prior years and hopefully won’t — for the sake of your health, and mine — generate the production it has in previous contests.

On paper, this isn’t a contest. But as we’ve learned in recent games against Indiana, that’s not necessarily how it always plays out.

Big man


BIG BOB

If you haven’t already, take some time to watch Robert Landers. He leads the team in tackles for loss, recording at least one in three of Ohio State’s four games. Even when he isn’t lighting up the stat sheet, Landers consistently invades opponent’s backfields, blowing up running plays, and making life easier for the linebackers. Most importantly, his stellar play has come at a position of need.

The departures of Adolphus Washington, and Tommy Schutt — along with Tracy Sprinkle’s season ending injury in the opener — left a lot of questions along the interior of the line, and Landers’ play has been a revelation. Despite lacking a consistent pass rush, the Buckeyes still rank 29th in defensive line havoc rate, in large part to the play of the redshirt freshman from Dayton, Ohio.

With injuries along the Indiana line, don’t be surprised if Landers has another productive game.

Defensive revolution


Sticking with the theme of defensive surprises, how about Indiana’s?

As Matt Brown and I discussed on this week’s podcast, it feels like we have the same discussion about the Hoosiers each season. We know that under Wilson, the offense will likely be good, but ultimately, the defense must be better if they’re to make any strides in the Big Ten. For the first time in his tenure, it actually is.

After never ranking higher than 91st in Defensive S&P+ in Wilson’s first five seasons, they’ve played well (37th) to start the year, albeit against some shaky competition. I mean really, what defense would ever actually allow a team quarterbacked by Tyler O’Connor to come into their stadium and wi- wait a second. You know what? Nevermind.

Meyer even went as far to say this is the best defense the Buckeyes have faced so far this season. If that’s the case, Ohio State has an excellent opportunity to prove that the offense hasn’t just been producing against lackluster defenses.

While I don’t think Indiana’s defensive S&P+ will stay that high as the season progresses, it should be a good tune up for the Buckeye offense before facing Wisconsin’s legitimately nasty defense next week.

Last line of defense


As with a lot of Ohio State games, that offensive success will probably come on the ground. The Buckeyes’ offensive line holds a big advantage over Indiana’s defensive line, and if they’re able to get good push, another big day for Mike Weber and Curtis Samuel is in the cards.

Through four games, the Ohio State offense ranks first in adjusted line yards, first in opportunity rate, third power success rate, and first in stuff rate. This all coming despite three new starters, as well as a freshman running back. Indiana’s profile indicates that more success on the ground is likely on Saturday.

While Indiana ranks 22nd in overall Defensive rushing S&P+, they’re 67th in adjusted line yards, 15th in opportunity rate, 84th in power success rate, and 100th in stuff rate. The only thing they’ve really done well is limit consistent five yard gains, thanks in large part to linebackers Tegray Scales, and Marcus Oliver cleaning up messes for the line. Unfortunately for them, Ohio State has the most consistent running game in the nation.

Weber and Samuel should have enough space to at least consistently make it to the second level of the defense. With that in mind, I think the biggest matchup of the game is between Weber/Samuel and Scales/Oliver. If Ohio State’s dynamic duo is able to make them miss, the Buckeyes’ ground game will continue to roll.

Lift off


Which leads us to the most important thing to watch for Saturday; When Mike Weber scores, can he and Pat Elflein atone for their horrendous attempt at a pickup celebration during last week’s win over Rutgers?



Please, Pat, at least jump a little when you guys try again this week.

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Heard Around the ‘Shoe – 10/7/2016
Ben van Ooyen via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Welcome to your tri-weekly look at all things Ohio State recruiting. Let’s get started!

Big Time Unexpected Visitor This Weekend


With Hurricane Matthew barreling down the coast of Florida, the Florida v LSU game was postponed indefinitely. Donovan Peoples-Jones was supposed to head to Gainesville this weekend to officially visit Florida, but that visit has been postponed as well. Instead Peoples-Jones will travel down to Columbus to visit Ohio State when they take on Rutgers tomorrow afternoon.

Peoples-Jones is thought to be a strong Michigan lean, as he hails from Detroit and has visited Michigan quite a few times over the past year. He has a strong crystal ball projection to the Wolverines with 80% of 25 projections going there. The Buckeyes have commitments from Trevon Grimes and Tyjon Lindsey, but would take DPJ in an instant if he wanted to come aboard.

I see this visit as a free trip to Columbus to watch a couple of his old teammates play and nothing more. I fully expect Peoples-Jones to end up at Michigan when all is said and done, and they will be getting a good one if he does.



In-State Lineman to also visit OSU This Weekend


One of the top offensive lineman in Ohio for the class of 2018 is Blaine Scott a 3-star offensive guard from Sciotoville. Scott holds 26 offers to date, but does not have one from the Buckeyes. Scott is hoping to get an offer while on campus this weekend, but he spoke with 11W about his main purpose of the trip.

“An offer would be sweet, but I am also looking forward to seeing my boy Tyler Gerald suiting up in an Ohio State uniform,” Scott said. “Also just to see an visit all of the coaches.”



Scott has recently visited Penn State, Illinois, Tennessee and Kentucky, and even though he doesn’t have an offer he is crystal balled 100% to Ohio State currently. Once the Buckeyes turn their attention solely on 2018, expect Scott to get an offer, and I would expect him to be a Buckeye when all is said and done.


Buckeyes Offer 2019 Defensive Tackle:


The Buckeyes are still working on 2017, and have dipped into 2018, and they are now getting their feet even wetter with the 2019 class having handed out quite a few offers recently. The most recent went to Jowon Briggs, a defensive tackle out of Cincinnati, Ohio. Briggs is currently unranked for the class of 2019, but if his two offers from Ohio State and Michigan mean anything, he will be a high level recruit when the rankings are made.




Jaylen Harris Still Thinking Buckeyes?


One of the most talked about recruits for the Buckeyes has been Jaylen Harris, a 4-star wide receiver out of Cleveland. Harris released his top 5 back in August and it included the Buckeyes as well as Alabama, Michigan State, Tennessee and Penn State. The Buckeyes have always been the rumored destination for Harris, but with Trevon Grimes and Tyjon Lindsey on board, and tight scholarship numbers he was thought to be on the outside looking in.

Harris spoke with Ari Wasserman at Cleveland.com about Ohio State and his recruitment.

“I have been talking to Ohio State a lot more lately, and for real, it’s was a lot more when they picked up commitments from Trevon Grimes and Tyjon Lindsey,” Harris said.

“I don’t really care that they committed. I am going to compete wherever I go. So them committing, that doesn’t change anything. I know the coaches want me. Coach Meyer, I talk to him every other day. I talk to someone from Ohio State every single day. They have been showing me love. As long as they want me.”

He also spoke about the numbers crunch and what OSU has been telling him.

“The coaches told me they’d make it work,” Harris said. “They are showing me mad love right now.”

While I find it hard for the Buckeyes to make room for Harris when all is said and done, I don’t expect this recruitment to end any time soon, and as we all know weird things happen in the recruiting world. This is one to keep an eye on for sure.


Other Buckeye Visitors This Weekend:

• Tyreke Smith – 4-star defensive end/tight end – 2018

• Christopher Oats – 4-star outside linebacker – 2018

• Jerron Cage – 4-star defensive tackle (Buckeye Commit) – 2017

• Jacob Lacey – N/R Defensive Tackle – 2019

• MiQuan Grace – N/R Cornerback – 2019

The post Heard Around the ‘Shoe – 10/7/2016 appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Ohio State vs. Indiana | Coordinator Tom Allen elevates Hoosiers defense - Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State vs. Indiana | Coordinator Tom Allen elevates Hoosiers defense
Columbus Dispatch
There's something almost poetic about Indiana's new defensive coordinator, Tom Allen, returning to the Hoosier State. Allen, who grew up in New Castle, Indiana, and coached high school football in the state from 1997 to 2006, could turn out to be the ...
Buckeyes present big challenge for IU defenseScout
Ohio State to rout Indiana: Bill Livingston (video)cleveland.com
Scouting: Indiana Hoosiers; All-in for IUOSU - The Lantern

all 29 news articles »

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Ohio State hockey 2016-17 preview
Matt Torino via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Many think Ohio State should be much better this season.

You may have recently heard that Ohio State was picked by the Big Ten hockey coaches to finish second in the conference this season. You also may have heard that the Buckeyes received votes in the preseason USCHO Top 25 for the upcoming season. But didn’t Ohio State only finish 8-8-4-1 in conference last season and only 14-18-4 overall? Why are the Bucks being picked to jump up the Big Ten standings above traditional behemoths?

The answer lies in the same reasoning that led Ohio State's world beater football team to be underranked going into the current season: experience, or in the football team's case, a lack thereof. The Buckeyes return nearly all significant contributors from last season's squad aside from forwards Tyler Lundey and Anthony Greco as well as defenseman Craig Dalrymple and are bringing in new contributors, one of whom has done nothing but shine so much that Smash Mouth would call him an All Star.

But let’s start with who’s coming back and why they give Buckeye hockey fans out there the biggest reason to believe since the team nearly upset Wisconsin to win the Big Ten hockey tournament in 2014.

The Offense


Upfront, it starts and ends with Nick Schilkey. The man with the beautiful flowing locks that are on point in literally every picture or video I’ve seen of him led the team in scoring last season with 41 points and 19 goals while shooting a very repeatable 13.9%. He's the son of a hockey coach (yay for clichés) and has shown a proclivity for getting teammates involved and making them better. He's a captain for a reason.

David Gust is the Triple H to Schilkey's Steve Austin in Ohio State's Two Man Power Trip. He broke out last season after exploding in the 2015 Big Ten tournament to the tune of 11 goals and 25 assists with a, once again, repeatable 11.3% shooting percentage.

Greco will be missed, as he generated a significant amount of shots despite only putting home 12 last year (he shot only 7.6%). OSU will rely on Mason Jobst and Matt Weis to shoot more and hopefully score more while maintaining their slightly elevated shooting percentages. Jobst burst on the scene last year with 30 points in his freshman season while Weis broke out in his sophomore campaign with 32 points. Neither broke 12 goals, however.

The Buckeyes have to be hoping that goal scoring will come from the improving and ridiculously talented Dakota Joshua. He may be the most supremely talented player on the team. The Maple Leafs draft pick scored a hat trick on Sunday in the Bucks’ preseason exhibition against Wilfrid Laurier, whoever that is. He only scored five goals last year, but shot under 10%, so with more ice time and more chances, his scoring could bloom as Gust's did last season.

Tanner Laczynski is the other name to really look out for here. He was the only Buckeye drafted in the 2016 NHL Draft (by Philadelphia) and looks to be a possible add to the U20 United States World Junior Championship team this season. That’d take him away from the Buckeyes for at least a little while, but that valuable experience with the world’s best U20 players probably can’t be replicated in Columbus.

Look for breakouts from Miguel Fidler and Freddy Gerard as well. If Christian Lampasso can generate assists similarly to his freshman rate, he could play a middle six playmaking role as well. Hopefully two years in Columbus has made him stronger on the puck.

The Defense


The defense is probably more of a question mark than the offense. Ohio State scored 128 goals last season, good for third in the conference, but also conceded 125 themselves. That’s not great. It was the second most in the conference, only ahead of middling Wisconsin. They fired their coach after last season. Those two events are not unrelated.

And it certainly doesn’t help that Ohio State lost its big captain back there, Dalrymple. But with hockey becoming more of a possession game and Ohio State clearly not lacking talent upfront, maybe smaller, more mobile defensemen can help Ohio State become the 2010 Washington Capitals of the Big Ten.

Drew Brevig returns, having put up 19 points last season on defense, with only a 6.1% shooting percentage, so hopefully he can generate more goals this season. He’s gone from a late scratch a couple of seasons ago to probably the second most dependable defenseman this team has.

The first would be first team All-Big Ten selection Josh Healey. He led the defense with 21 points and had five goals himself. He also led the team in penalty minutes with 66 (Brevig only had 20) so hopefully he can keep that down since they don't have the big space eater Dalrymple on D anymore to clog up the powerplay lanes.

Tyler Nanne could have really helped if the Bucks were moving to a more offensive oriented defensive system, but his heart issue that caused Ohio State to hold him out for all of last season caused him to transfer home to Minnesota. So Sasha Larocque and Tommy Parran look to carry on that offensive place.

Parran, the 5’11 defenseman, registered 10 points last year while Larocque put up 10 himself. Larocque has never been a huge point getter, so a little improvement is probably more than we can ask from him, while Parran has never put up over 18 points at any level. So we’ll probably be lucky if he matches his 10.

Matt Miller, a freshman Ohio native, may be the best bet to replace Dalrymple, in some way. He has size at 6’1 and has put up similar offensive numbers to Parran and Larocque at other levels. Watch out for fellow Ohio native Gordi Myer back there to steal some minutes as OSU only has nine defensemen on the roster this year total.

The Goalie


This is about as cut and dry as any position’s going to be on this team. Christian Frey is the starting goalie. He should be the starting goalie. He has to be the starting goalie. Matt Tomkins, disappointing Chicago Blackhawks 7th round draft pick, is still around, but has shown time and time again that he just isn’t NCAA starting quality.

Frey had a relatively disappointing season last year, with just a .910 save percentage, but Tomkins only put up a beautiful .888 number himself. If Steve Rohlik wants to get fired, he should play Tomkins.

Frey’s goals against average was 2.91 to Tomkins’ 3.87. Frey has to play and play a lot.

Sean Romeo, a transfer goalie from the University of Maine, is the wild card here. He put up a .902 save percentage as a freshman in Hockey East, the toughest top to bottom hockey conference going away, and in two games before leaving the program last year, had a .933 mark. If he can steal time from Frey or Tomkins, great, because the team's goaltending has to be better than last year.

Frey is by far the surest thing on the roster now, but if Frey falters, watch out for Romeo.

The Advanced Stats


If you’ve made it this far down in this article, you’re probably interested, more than superficially, in this team. Here’s where the real predictors are that tell what they did last year and how likely they are to improve in the coming year. And boy do they not look good!

According to College Hockey News, in terms of even strength Corsi percentage (percentage of shot attempts for, including blocked attempts, OSU was only at 47.6%. That ranked fifth in the Big Ten last year. That's right: they were behind lowly Wisconsin. In terms of Coris when the score was "close", the Buckeyes checked in at 47.5%. That ranked fifth as well.

So if you put two and two together, you’ll notice a not-very-good pattern here for the Buckeyes. They give up more shot attempts than they taken, don’t have astronomically high shooting percentages from their forwards (there weren’t any super high outliers there) and don’t have fantastic goaltender save percentages. So it looks like they’ll perform how their statistics say they should, for the most part, and I think their record last year showed that.

The problem is that other teams have better goalies and can survive lower Corsis because of it. Shooting percentages tend to be more likely to come back to the norm, but good goalies save a higher percentage of overall shots than bad ones. Unless Ohio State gets really good goaltending this season or somehow has a bunch of shooting outlier seasons, it’s hard to see them greatly outperforming their statistical indicators this year.

The Prediction


I’m certainly not qualified to be a Big Ten hockey coach and probably not to even vote in the USCHO national poll, but I think both have it waaay off here. I don’t think the Buckeyes will be appreciably better than last year. They’ll be better in some capacity just because of how many good players they return, but there are question marks on defense past the top two and the team may be two years away from pulling one of those Hockey East years where they have older players and can take down the more talented teams with experience and filled out size.

So I think the Buckeyes will finish fourth in the conference once again, in front of only Wisconsin and Michigan State, in that order. In two years, even with Schilkey and others gone, I think the Bucks stand a much better chance of rising in the conference. The blue chip talent isn’t there, but as schools like Quinnipiac and Union have shown, if you get older, bigger and still talented players, you can take down the Minnesotas and North Dakotas of the world.

Ohio State just isn’t there yet. Their advanced stats are underwhelming. They're young and without that blue chip talent, it’s not a great combination. A fluke Big Ten title game appearance isn’t out of the question, but I don’t think this team’s going anywhere special. Yet.

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1. If you look at the numbers, then Ohio State enters this game as the best team in the country. The most obvious numbers are the 4-0 record and the #2 ranking in both major polls. But here are some more numbers to consider:

Category	OSU Statistic	-NCAA Rank-
Scoring Offense	57.0 ppg	3rd
Scoring Defense	9.3 ppg	1st
Point Differential	47.7 ppg	1st
Total Offense	576.3 ypg	4th
Total Defense	237.8 ypg	3rd
Yardage Differential	338.5 ypg	1st
Rushing Offense	332.0 ypg	3rd
Rushing Defense	97.5 ypg	12th
Passing Offense	244.3 ypg	58th
Passing Defense	140.3 ypg	6th
Pass Efficiency Offense	177.41	6th
Pass Efficiency Defense	73.97	1st
3rd Down Offense	.571	1st
3rd Down Defense	.271	12th
Red Zone Offense	.913	29th
Red Zone Defense	.500	1st
Sacks	2.50 / game	44th
Sacks Allowed	0.50 / game	3rd
Net Punting	47.18 yds	2nd
Turnover Margin	2.00 / game	2nd
Time of Possession	36:45	2nd

2. H-back Curtis Samuel is the Buckeyes' leading receiver (23 receptions, 345 yards, 3 touchdowns) and second-leading rusher (41 carries, 328 yards, 2 touchdowns). Samuel is averaging 168.25 all-purpose yards per game and 10.5 yards per touch, and he is on pace to break the 1,000-yard mark in both rushing and receiving. Samuel already has nine plays from scrimmage of 20+ yards (3 rushes, 6 receptions).

3. Running back Mike Weber is the team's leading rusher, with 68 carries for 495 yards (7.3 average) and 2 touchdowns. In his brief time as a Buckeye, Weber is averaging 123.8 yards per game, which is slightly better than Archie Griffin's career average (121.5 ypg). At his current pace, Weber will rush for over 1,600 yards this season and easily break Ohio State's freshman rushing record (1,237 yards by Maurice Clarett in 2002).

4. Wide receiver Noah Brown has only 10 catches for 149 yards on the season, but half of his receptions have gone for touchdowns.

5. Quarterback J.T. Barrett has 1,093 total yards (205 rushing, 888 passing), for an average of 273.2 yards per game. He also has 17 total touchdowns (3 rushing, 14 passing) on the season.

6. Last week, Barrett set the Ohio State career record for touchdown passes with 59. Barrett is currently 10th in career passing yards with 4,714. He needs 376 yards to pass Jim Karsatos (5,089 yards) for 9th place. Art Schlichter is Ohio State's career leader with 7,547 passing yards.

7. Barrett is in 5th place at Ohio State in career total yards with 6,539. He needs 350 yards to pass Troy Smith (6,888 yards) for 4th place. Art Schlichter is Ohio State's career leader with 8,850 total yards.

8. Barrett is in 3rd place at Ohio State in career total touchdowns with 84. He needs two touchdowns to pass Art Schlichter (85 TDs) and five touchdowns to pass Braxton Miller (88 TDs).

9. Barrett entered the 2016 season as Ohio State's career leader in completion percentage, at 64.2%. This season, Barrett has completed 70 of 102 passes (68.6%), which increases his career completion percentage to an even 65.0%.

10. H-back Dontre Wilson has 2,653 all-purpose yards for his career, which places him 29th at Ohio State. Wilson needs 29 yards to pass Maurice Hall for 28th place; 56 yards to pass Robert Smith for 27th place; 93 yards to pass Joey Galloway for 26th place; 94 yards to pass Cris Carter for 25th place; and 95 yards to pass Devin Smith for 24th place. Ohio State's career leader in all-purpose yards is Archie Griffin with 6,559.

11. Despite limited opportunities, punter Cameron Johnston is having an All American season. Johnston has 11 punts for 557 yards, for an average of 50.6 yards per punt. Eight of Johnston's punts have been inside the 20-yard line, only two punts have been returned for a total of just 18 yards, and one punt resulted in a touchback. When return yards and touchbacks are factored into the equation, Johnston has a net average of 47.2 yards per punt, which is second in FBS.

12. Here's the other good news about Ohio State's punting: the Buckeyes haven't had to do it very often this year. Last season, the Buckeyes averaged 4.6 punts per game, while they are averaging only 2.8 punts per game in 2016.

13. Through four games this season, 15 different Buckeyes have scored touchdowns. Last season, only 11 different players scored touchdowns.

14. Ohio State has not had a kick-off return for a touchdown since November 27, 2010 (Jordan Hall, 85 yards, vs Michigan); has not had a punt return for a touchdown since November 22, 2014 (Jalin Marshall, 54 yards, vs Indiana); and has not had a punt block for a touchdown since October 5, 2013 (Bradley Roby, 0 yards, vs Northwestern).

Women's hockey: No. 1 Badgers kick off home schedule against Buckeyes - The Badger Herald
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Women's hockey: No. 1 Badgers kick off home schedule against Buckeyes
The Badger Herald
The Buckeyes (2-0-0, 0-0-0 WCHA) are also off to a great start to their season, with sophomore starting goaltender Kassidy Sauve earning the Western Collegiate Hockey Association's Defensive Player of the Week. Sauve earned this honor after allowing ...


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Photos: Ohio State Basketball's 2016 'Buckeyes on the Blacktop' Event - Eleven Warriors
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Photos: Ohio State Basketball's 2016 'Buckeyes on the Blacktop' Event
Eleven Warriors
The Ohio State men's and women's basketball teams took over the courts outside of the RPAC on Thursday night, showing off their skills at the second-annual 'Buckeyes on the Blacktop' event. Among the highlights, junior guard Kam Williams defended his ...


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Ohio State vs. Indiana 2016: Game preview, prediction, and 5 things to know
Chuck McKeever via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Fresh off a win over Michigan State, the Hoosiers head to Columbus to face the Buckeyes.

It’s entirely possible that the Indiana Hoosiers don’t get nearly enough shine, at least when it comes to the discussion of the most entertaining teams in college football. Big Ten fans know that past versions of this team have certainly belonged in the conversation. For proof, look no further than the last two contests between the Hoosiers and the Buckeyes, featuring a 228-yard, three TD performance from Tevin Coleman in 2014 and Zander Diamont’s infamous 79-yard scamper for six in 2015. Both games featured a dynamic, albeit incomplete Indiana team butting up against a top-10 Ohio State squad; both games looked like serious upset bids until Urban Meyer managed to slam the door shut.

Kevin Wilson’s team looks like it has that potential again in 2016. The Hoosiers knocked off perennial powerhouse Michigan State last week on the back of a gadget play that saw a quarterback catch a touchdown pass, among other craziness. Hell, even when Indiana loses, they’re entertaining. Their loss to Wake Forest kept the bid for an undefeated Demon Deacons season alive for one more glorious week, and had various SB Nation pundits wondering if we were going to have to start talking to our kids about 12-0 playoff-bound Wake Forest. (Mercifully, or perhaps tragically, the Deacons dropped a game last week.)

There’s a lot to like about 2016 Indiana. Hoosier quarterback Richard Lagow is probably a more polished signal-caller than Diamont was, and what he lacks in soap opera pedigree he more than makes up for in athleticism. The advanced stats don’t love the Hoosiers, but they at least have a little crush, as far as the offense goes. They’ve got three different wide receivers who can hurt the other team. The list goes on.

If you’re reading this, you probably already know a good deal about the havoc that Ohio State has wreaked on college football this season, so instead of waxing poetic for a few more inches of column, let’s dive right into the matchup and see where each team has the edge.

Ohio State advantages


Exploiting the mismatch. As good as the Indiana passing attack has been, the running game has been pretty vanilla for the Hoosiers. That’s bad news for them, because their numbers almost certainly aren’t going to improve against a Buckeye team that ranks seventh nationally in run defense S&P+. The Buckeyes don’t allow many explosive plays on the ground, and the defense under Luke Fickell and Greg Schiano is fast enough and flexible enough to stay with backs trying to run outside the tackles.

Ohio State defensive tackles Robert Landers and Michael Hill have proven themselves stout enough to make any team think twice about going to ground too often. Raekwon McMillan has been, unsurprisingly, an efficient tackling machine; his fellow linebacker Chris Worley showed off his lateral speed and football IQ play after play in the Oklahoma game, resulting in speed demon Semaje Perine being stifled to a degree he’s rarely experienced as a football player. The Hoosiers aren’t going to find any breathing room on the ground against the Buckeyes. Which leads us to...

A Gandalf-inspired secondary. The young and inexperienced Buckeye defensive backs have come out with a pretty clear message to opposing offenses in 2016: You Shall Not Pass. Through four games, the secondary has recorded eight interceptions against just two passing TDs allowed.

There’s a combination of factors at play here. The most basic of these is sheer talent: Malik Hooker, Marshon Lattimore, Gareon Conley, and Damon Webb have all come into their own as Buckeyes, forming the core of a pass defense that’s looked ready to take on the world all season. Given that Conley and Hooker were 3-star recruits coming out of high school, this elite performance has been no mean feat on the part of Greg Schiano, Kerry Coombs, and the rest of the defensive staff.

The other thing that gives the Buckeyes such an edge whenever the opponent takes to the air is the press-quarters scheme that they run. Press-quarters gives them the flexibility to create a numbers mismatch regardless of the play call, and they’ve run it with devastating effectiveness. For proof, look no further than the following stat: Ohio State’s defense, through four games, has scored more points than it’s allowed. 18 of the 24 points racked up by the Buckeye defense have come courtesy of interception returns by the secondary. (The other six were on a pick by LB Jerome Baker.)

Indiana’s passing game has more of a pulse than any previous Ohio State opponent, including Oklahoma, but they’ll have little room for error against the Buckeyes.

Top-to-bottom execution. By S&P+, the metric that gauges how well a team performs in five major statistical categories against the average, the Buckeyes are the No. 1 team in the country. They rank in the top 10 nationally in offensive S&P+ (10th), defensive S&P+ (6th), and special teams S&P+ (3rd). Only one other team, Texas A&M, even cracks the top 25 in all three categories.

The offense is explosive, efficient, and multi-faceted. The defense is unrelenting, seemingly immune to big plays, and gets off the field quickly. The special teams unit has consistently created a massive field position discrepancy in favor of Ohio State.

Indiana ranks 48th, 37th, and 78th, respectively, in these same categories. The Hoosiers do plenty of things well, but they don’t do them as well or as consistently as the Buckeyes do.

Indiana advantages


Gunslinger. Indiana’s quarterback, Richard Lagow, isn’t afraid to take his shots downfield. The 6’6, 240-lb. JUCO transfer has an arm, and though the results have been mixed when the Hoosiers have aired it out this season, Lagow has made some really nice throws in important spots. His deep ball is an enviable one.

Lagow averages 319.5 passing yards per game. This high-volume approach has led to the occasional misfire—he was picked off five times against Wake Forest in the Hoosiers’ only loss of 2016—but it’s also gotten his team to a 3-1 record that includes a win over Michigan State. Malik Hooker and his teammates in the secondary will need to be in top form against a QB who’s not afraid to stand in the pocket and take a lick if it means hitting the right receiver.

Stopping the run. Indiana might be 37th in total defensive S&P+, but they come in at 22nd against the run. The Hoosiers’ ability to limit opposing rushers has been an overlooked component of the team’s success so far in 2016, and the Buckeyes might not find nearly as much running room as they’re used to against this solid defensive front.

Our own Chad Peltier dove more deeply into this issue here, but the major takeaway is this: this will be a much stiffer test than the likes of Rutgers, Tulsa, or Bowling Green offered the dynamic Buckeye rushing attack. Ohio State’s ground game has been lethal and efficient, lacking in long plays but with a high overall average per carry. Curtis Samuel, Mike Weber, Demario McCall, and J.T. Barrett all have the ability to take defenses apart, but the Hoosier defense seems well-designed to contain their efforts and force the Buckeyes to pass more than they’ve needed to.

Summary


F/+ Prediction: Ohio State 44.8, Indiana 19.2

Win Probability: Ohio State 93%

Despite all the things the Hoosiers have done well in 2016, the advanced stats like the Buckeyes to roll in this one by roughly 26 points. There’s too much talent top-to-bottom on Urban Meyer’s roster to think that Indiana will be able to keep pace with them on the scoreboard, especially given what the Buckeyes have accomplished on defense this season.

The last two years have seen Kevin Wilson’s team keep Ohio State fans biting their nails for a good chunk of the game. A few big-time throws from Richard Lagow could keep this one close for longer than we’d like to see, but this one should be well in hand by the start of the final quarter.

Expect to feel something like this when the scoreboard hits 0:00.

Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images

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Hoosiers Hoping To Repeat Harsh History Lesson In Ohio Stadium
Chip Minnich via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Embed from Getty Images​

October 10, 1987. The Ohio State Buckeyes, ranked 9th in the country with a 3-0-1 record (yes kids, games used to end in ties back in the day…), play host to the 3-1 Indiana Hoosiers. Most Ohio State fans, yours truly included, looked at this game as an automatic ‘W’, as Ohio State never loses to Indiana. After all, the last time Indiana defeated Ohio State? 1951, when Indiana beat Ohio State, 32-10.

Maybe someone at Indiana was feeling nostalgic in 1987, and tried to replicate the last Hoosier victory. The final score in 1987 – Indiana 31, Ohio State 10.

Ohio State’s head coach at the time in 1987? Earle Bruce. After the crushing loss, Earle Bruce stated, “I’ve known about Ohio State football since I was a freshman here in 1949. This is the darkest day in Ohio State football since I have been associated with it.”.

Remember who was a graduate assistant coach on the 1987 staff? Urban Meyer.

Saturday’s date for the game is October 8, 2016. Urban Meyer is now the head coach of Ohio State, and is reveling in the recent Dotting Of The ‘I’ celebration involving former Ohio State head coach Earle Bruce. Ohio State is undefeated, ranked second in the country, and guess who is coming into Ohio Stadium with a 3-1 record?

Yep. Indiana.

Fresh off an upset victory over Michigan State, Indiana comes into Ohio Stadium, fully intent on spoiling Ohio State’s dreams of an undefeated season and a shot at a College Football Playoff berth.

#Indiana just beat #MichiganState at football. No. I'm not kidding. #Buckeyes game is way more interesting next week...

— Matt Baxendell (@MattBaxendell) October 2, 2016​

I completely agree with Matt Baxendell’s thoughts regarding this game. Think of it this way ~ Indiana just defeated Michigan State, a team that has crushed Ohio State’s hopes and dreams in 2013 and 2015. If Ohio State was feeling cocky about their chances with Indiana, chances are that the upset win by the Hoosiers has the Buckeyes coming into this game with better focus.

Below are three critical areas I will be focusing upon as the Ohio State/Indiana game gets underway at 3:30pm EST on ESPN…

1. Can Ohio State Avoid A Sluggish Start Against Indiana?

Against Tulsa, Ohio State was tied 3-3 before the Buckeyes began capitalizing on turnovers near the end of the second quarter. Last week versus Rutgers, Ohio State only led the Scarlet Knights 6-0 after the first quarter. Yes, I know that the Buckeyes eventually overwhelmed their opponents. It would be very reassuring to see the Buckeyes come out with the same type of intensity and dominance in the first quarter as they have demonstrated in the latter portions of games.

1. How Well Will Ohio State’s Secondary Play Against Indiana?

Indiana is averaging about 320 yards a game through the air, while the revamped Ohio State secondary is only giving up about 140 yards a game. Which unit is going to come out ahead in this crucial matchup?

1. Will Ohio State Control The Clock With The Running Game?

Ohio State ran for 410 yards last weekend against Rutgers. Mike Weber, Demario McCall, Curtis Samuel, Dontre Wilson…Maybe even Antonio Williams, if the game breaks right. The best way to keep the Ohio State defense rested is by having them on the sideline, and that all starts with the Ohio State offensive line controlling the line of scrimmage against Indiana.

Prediction: Indiana has kept it interesting every year against Ohio State, with the exception of 2013. Urban Meyer is wary of the upset, and wants to see the Buckeyes take care of business at home before two grueling road night games at Wisconsin and at Penn State. Indiana will keep it close until the fourth quarter, but I like Ohio State to put it away with superior speed and depth. I am calling it Ohio State 42, Indiana 17.

The post Hoosiers Hoping To Repeat Harsh History Lesson In Ohio Stadium appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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5-star changes visit schedule, will visit Ohio State this weekend - Land-Grant Holy Land
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


5-star changes visit schedule, will visit Ohio State this weekend
Land-Grant Holy Land
Yesterday, another 247sports crystal ball prediction was in favor of the home-state Buckeyes for Jaylen. It remains unknown the final destination for Harris, but when things continue to trend towards Ohio State, Buckeye recruiting followers have to ...
Ohio State football | Q&A with former Buckeye Ty HowardColumbus Dispatch
62 percent of Ohio Voters Believe The Buckeyes Would Beat The BrownsTotal Pro Sports
Wilson says Buckeyes' selflessness has led to 2016 success247Sports
USA TODAY -CBSSports.com -Stevenspointjournal
all 79 news articles »

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5-star changes visit schedule, will visit Ohio State this weekend
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Due to the weather in Florida, Peoples-Jones will be visiting the Buckeyes.

For the second week in a row, the nation's No. 2 ranked team, Ohio State, will stay at home as they play host to the Indiana Hoosiers. Of the many positives that home games bring, recruiting certainly takes a front seat as Ohio State will continue to host many of their top targets each week they are in Columbus. With their quest to say perfect on the season this coming Saturday, there will be another huge visitor in attendance to watch the Buckeyes.

DPJ headed to OSU for official visit


This coming Saturday was supposed to be dedicated to the University of Florida for Donovan Peoples-Jones. The nation's best receiver and top prospect in the state of Michigan for 2017 was supposed to be on his way to Gainesville, Fla. to check out the Gators for his second official visit, but with the tropical storm taking place in the area, that trip has been derailed.


Instead, the Detroit, Mich. native and Cass Tech star will make a shorter trip south and head to Ohio State for his second official visit. Coming as a surprise to Urban Meyer and staff, the Buckeyes will gladly host Peoples-Jones as he is easily one of the best players in the 2017 class at any position.

Urban Meyer already has star receivers Trevon Grimes and Tyjon Lindsey committed in the 2017 class, but would without a doubt love to add Donovan. However, being a Detroit guy, the ties to Ann Arbor and Michigan cannot be denied. As it stands right now, the Wolverines are the clear favorite on the 247sports crystal ball predictions, but Ohio State has had great success in recent years at Cass Tech – so anything is possible.

Look for the red carpet to be rolled out this weekend for Peoples-Jones as the Buckeyes have yet another shot at impressing the 5-star talent.

Continued headlines for Harris


Even though his name was just mentioned, Jaylen Harris (Cleveland Heights, Cleveland, Ohio) continues to make the headlines. While it was noted that regardless of the receivers already committed in Ohio State's 2017 class, Harris would have a spot is he so chooses, the latest rumblings keep Jaylen connected to the Buckeyes.

Yesterday, another 247sports crystal ball prediction was in favor of the home-state Buckeyes for Jaylen. It remains unknown the final destination for Harris, but when things continue to trend towards Ohio State, Buckeye recruiting followers have to feel pretty good about their chances for keeping one of the state's best prospects home for another 4-5 years. The 6-foot-5, 210-pound deep threat is the nation's No. 27 best receiver and the No. 5. best prospect at any position in the state of Ohio for 2017.

Winton Woods duo heading to Columbus


Cincinnati has been good to the Buckeyes in recent years when it comes to recruiting. This year is no different. With Amir Riep and Jerron Cage already in the 2017 class for the Buckeyes, Cincinnati's top talent is staying in the state and heading north to Columbus.

This weekend, when the Indiana Hoosiers come to town, Cincinnati Winton Woods High School stars Jerron Cage and Christopher Oats will be in attendance on unofficial visits. Cage, already in the 2017 class, is the nation's No. 12 best defensive tackle and Ohio's eighth best prospect at any position for the 2017 class.

Oats on the other hand, a 2018 prospect, almost fits the mold perfectly for a Darron Lee type of linebacker. Standing at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, Oats has the size, strength, and speed to do some serious damage at the next level. With nearly 10 scholarship offers already, the Buckeyes know just what kind of talent Oats is. With Christopher in attendance again this weekend, it's just another opportunity for Ohio State to extend their stretch as the early recruitment leaders for Oats. With every 247sports crystal ball prediction in favor of the Buckeyes, Ohio State has to like where things currently stand with the four-star linebacker.

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Skull Session: The Stoic Slobs, Ohioans Think Buckeyes Could Beat Browns, and 2006 Similarities - Eleven Warriors
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Skull Session: The Stoic Slobs, Ohioans Think Buckeyes Could Beat Browns, and 2006 Similarities
Eleven Warriors
I've watched every minute of Buckeye 2016 football. I've watched every minute of Browns 2016 football, though that should get me indicted. I'm not one of those fools that think Kentucky could beat the 76ers, either. But this year's Buckeyes could ...


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Buckeyes down Rockets in four sets - Jackson County Times-Journal
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Buckeyes down Rockets in four sets
Jackson County Times-Journal
However, the Buckeyes were able to rally, outscoring Wellston 14 points to one, to take the fourth set at 25-18. The Lady Golden Rockets next travel to Oak Hill, on October 10, before hosting the Jackson Ironladies, on October 11, in their final ...

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Volleyball: Wellston Golden Rockets v. Nelsonville-York Buckeyes - October 6, 2016 - Jackson County Times-Journal
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Volleyball: Wellston Golden Rockets v. Nelsonville-York Buckeyes - October 6, 2016
Jackson County Times-Journal
The following photos were captured during the October 6 varsity volleyball match between the Wellston Golden Rockets and Nelsonville-York Buckeyes. The Buckeyes defeated the Golden Rockets in four sets. (Photos by Scott Jones). Close. 1 of 71.


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Kam Williams wins Ohio State basketball dunk contest at 'Buckeyes on the Blacktop' (video) - cleveland.com
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Kam Williams wins Ohio State basketball dunk contest at 'Buckeyes on the Blacktop' (video)
cleveland.com
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Kam Williams wasn't ready to give up the title of best dunker on the Ohio State basketball team. Derek Funderburk, one of four newcomers to the Buckeyes this year, was going to provide stiff competition. At 6-foot-9, Funderburk is ...
Videos: Sights and Sounds From Ohio State's Annual 'Buckeyes on the Blacktop' EventEleven Warriors

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