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LGHL Ohio State alumni take center stage on ‘Sunday Night Football’

Ohio State alumni take center stage on ‘Sunday Night Football’
Alexis Chassen
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


usa_today_10322801.0.jpg

It was a good week for Buckeyes in the NFL, with several making a trip overseas and others making big plays.

The Buckeyes got the win over Rutgers on Saturday, and on Sunday, several former Ohio State stars made waves in the NFL. It was Week 4 of the regular season and four alumni made the trip to London to play in Wembley Stadium, while other Buckeyes made their mark back at home.

It was a bit of a weird week for the league, which saw the Patriots lose to the Panthers, the Bengals not sucking, the Bills taking the lead in the AFC East, Houston putting up 57 points, and the Jets actually winning. It might be cliche to claim “any given Sunday” but this week reinforces the point. From one game to the next things can change, but for now at least, many of the Ohio State alumni are on the brighter-side of things.

‘Sunday Night Football’


The Indianapolis Colts and Seattle Seahawks faced off in primetime on Sunday, and there were a lot of Buckeyes claiming ‘THE Ohio State University’ during team introductions. The Colts boast one of the more alumni-loaded teams in the NFL, with Johnathan Hankins, Malik Hooker, Jack Mewhort and John Simon (with Joshua Perry on the practice squad) in the lineup.

The rookie Malik Hooker spent most of the offseason rehabbing, but has made every moment that he’s been back special. The Colts defense has seen a significant improvement over last season and the Buckeye will be a big reason the team succeeds. Hooker made the third interception of his early career in the third quarter of Sunday’s game, and returned it for 29 yards.


3 STRAIGHT GAMES WITH AN INTERCEPTION!@malikhooker24 is a BALL HAWK. pic.twitter.com/KzC3qaZNcS

— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) October 2, 2017

In a losing effort for the Colts, John Simon and Johnathan Hankins had four total tackles apiece, including a sack by Hankins. It wasn't the finest of outings for the Indianapolis D, but the Buckeye alumni acquitted themselves well.

Buckeyes take London


The NFL is still trying to make international football a thing, and this week several former Buckeyes made the trip across the pond to show off in front of their London fans. The New Orleans Saints (Vonn Bell, Ted Ginn Jr., Marshon Lattimore and Michael Thomas) shutout the Dolphins during their trip, finishing the day 20-0.

Saints’ QB Drew Brees has a duo of Buckeye receivers to count on, including Ted Ginn Jr., who left London with two receptions for 25 yards and nine yard rush. Second-year WR Michael Thomas continues to be the highlight though. Thomas finished the day with eight receptions for 89 yards and the team’s first touchdown of the day.


We have a TD in London! Drew Brees 3-yard TD to Michael Thomas!#Saints take a 10-0 lead! pic.twitter.com/nbla1aN7xQ

— NFL Update (@MySportsUpdate) October 1, 2017

On the defensive side of the ball, Vonn Bell recorded four solo tackles, and rookie Marshon Lattimore snagged five solo tackles and forced a fumble. Lattimore is back after missing last week’s contest due to a concussion he sustained in Week 2 — another reminder he was concussed after running into teammate and Buckeye Vonn Bell.


#developedhere, former #OhioState S Marshon Lattimore @PFF pic.twitter.com/Lr1syG6634

— Buckeye Fans Only (@buckeyefansonly) October 1, 2017
Steelers defense led by Buckeyes


He may have spent the latter-half of the 2016 on injured reserve, but Buckeye alum Cameron Heyward continues to prove he’s back and better than ever for the Steelers this season. The Buckeye finished Week 4 with 2.0 (!!) sacks and a forced fumble against the Ravens.

Teammate LB Ryan Shazier has been equally electric thus far in 2017. His 11 total tackles (10 solo), three pass break-ups, and an interception continue the case for the Buckeye to be called one of the NFL’s most prolific linebackers.


intercepted @RyanShazier !!!!!! #HereWeGo pic.twitter.com/6s8MOR7Pol

— Francisco Silva (@Kaory_Asami1) October 1, 2017

Shazier might not have gotten credit for two interceptions on the stats sheet, but he was the only reason they got a second one later in the game.


play of the game here, @RyanShazier serves up a plum to speedy @MikeHilton_38 #BusinessTrip #herewego 3-1 pic.twitter.com/LFUZlPuV6F

— erik selz (@erikselz) October 1, 2017
El Guapo is back in a big way


After being questionable in the week leading up to Sunday’s matchup, Niners running back Carlos Hyde didn’t let his hip injury keep him from 16 carries for 68 yards. The Buckeye also claimed five receptions for 27 additional yards and is well on his way to a career-high season so long as he can stay healthy. (I know, I know. Knock on wood, spit over my shoulder, rub a rabbit’s foot.)


At quarter mark, Carlos Hyde is on pace to carry the ball 260 times for 1,284 yards and 8 TDs + 68 catches. All would smash career bests.

— Nick Mensio (@NickMensio) October 2, 2017
Plays of the Week

Zeke scores and shades


After an offseason filled with distractions, and a continued legal battle over his ability to play now (and/or later), Ezekiel Elliott has taken a lot of heat over the last few weeks about his seemingly growing midsection. When the man’s hashtag is #FeedZeke a larger belly should be expected, but the running back used his TD celebration on Sunday to show he’s ready for seconds.


Ezekiel Elliott scored a TD and then celebrated by eating with a towel bib

( : @NFL)pic.twitter.com/a6oEMkBm6M

— SB Nation (@SBNation) October 1, 2017
Zeke’s mom is the real MVP


The woman who taught the Buckeye running back how to hurdle over defenders and the one always in his corner got a little lovin’ Sunday. Elliott ran over and gave his mom, Dawn Elliott, the ball after his second score of the day.


Zeke with a gift for mom after his TD. #LARvsDAL pic.twitter.com/Mix7rSZM2l

— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) October 1, 2017
Injury Report and Inactives

  • Panthers receiver Curtis Samuel was on the sideline yet again on Sunday after injuring his back during practice earlier in the week. Cardinals guard Alex Boone missed Sunday’s game and could miss more with a pectoral injury.
  • Gareon Conley was inactive Sunday due to a re-aggravated shin injury from training camp. The rookie has already shown his value to the Oakland Raiders’ secondary, and the team should be eager to get him back on the field.
  • Week 4 is the final game of the suspension for Jets’ WR Jalin Marshall, who should be back on the field next week for New York.
  • Braxton Miller was listed as inactive for the Houston and was a surprisingly healthy scratch for the Texans, who haven’t seen the production they had hoped after drafting him in 2016. Sitting at QB No. 3 for the Chargers, 12-gauge Cardale Jones was inactive in Week 4.
  • Another surprising move was the Buffalo Bills deciding to list second-year DE Adolphus Washington as inactive.

#Bills have made Adolphus Washington, not Cedric Thornton, inactive today. Wow.

— Joe Buscaglia (@JoeBuscaglia) October 1, 2017

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Google Ohio State football: AP Top 25 bump, Buckeyes' improved deep ball, Mike Weber's role -...

Ohio State football: AP Top 25 bump, Buckeyes' improved deep ball, Mike Weber's role - Landof10.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State football: AP Top 25 bump, Buckeyes' improved deep ball, Mike Weber's role
Landof10.com
Ohio State football is the No. 1 topic in Wake Up Sloopy every day — but we cover news, notes and analysis from across Buckeyes sports. Join us each morning to get caught up on everything you missed in the world of Ohio State football, recruiting, ...
Chengelis: Buckeyes' backfield scary with healthy WeberThe Detroit News
Ohio State Football: Buckeyes improving as bigger tests loomThe Columbus Dispatch
AP poll sees Ohio State climb back into the top 10: Buckeyes football newscleveland.com
Akron Beacon Journal -NCAA.com
all 396 news articles »


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LGHL Ohio State makes cut for 4-star small forward

Ohio State makes cut for 4-star small forward
Charles Doss
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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The Buckeyes are still in the mix for one of the top wings in the 2018 class.

After locking in verbal pledges from Jaedon LeDee, Duane Washington Jr., Luther Muhammad, and Justin Ahrens recently, the future of the Ohio State basketball program is looking brighter and brighter.

Given all the hype surrounding the new-look Buckeyes, many other standout prospects are paying attention to what’s going on in Columbus.

With at least one or two spots in the class open to fill, Chris Holtmann and crew are still in the mix for one of most sought-after wings in the class of 2018.

Cutting his top college list from 13 down to seven programs, four-star small forward Talen Horton-Tucker of Simeon High School in Chicago announced on Saturday that he is now considering suiting up for either Ohio State, Iowa State, Georgetown, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Saint Louis, or Xavier on the college level.


Final 7️⃣......... pic.twitter.com/O3N0fBkSIO

— Talen Horton-Tucker (@Thortontucker) September 30, 2017

Though the Buckeyes have played host to a long list of recruits over the last few weeks, Talen wasn’t one of them. Still yet to officially visit the Ohio State campus, Horton-Tucker did make the trek from the Windy City to mingle with Holtmann and the Buckeye coaching staff in June.

A leader on the court for Simeon, the 6'5 Horton-Tucker averaged 12 points, six rebounds and three assists per game last season to help the Wolverines to a near state championship title as a junior. He is currently considered the 28th small forward and 108th overall prospect in the class of 2018, per the 247Sports Composite Rankings.

Buckeyes looking at 2020 guard


While trying to finish the 2018 class off strong, the Buckeyes are definitely still finding time to show interest in many underclassmen.

According to Corey Evans of Rivals, Ohio State checked in on 2020 point guard Ethan Morton on Friday.


Ohio State was in today for Rivals50 2020 Butler High guard Ethan Morton@Kevin_Noon

— Corey Evans (@coreyevans_10) September 29, 2017

Even though Chris Holtmann and the Ohio State coaching staff haven’t offered the 6’1 lead guard a chance to suit up in the Scarlet and Gray, a number of other college programs have entered the race for the four-star prospect.

Morton, a native of Butler, PA, currently holds scholarship offers from the likes of Penn State, West Virginia, UAB, Miami (OH), and Cleveland State.

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Google Ohio State makes cut for 4-star small forward - Land-Grant Holy Land

Ohio State makes cut for 4-star small forward - Land-Grant Holy Land
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State makes cut for 4-star small forward
Land-Grant Holy Land
After locking in verbal pledges from Jaedon LeDee, Duane Washington Jr., Luther Muhammad, and Justin Ahrens recently, the future of the Ohio State basketball program is looking brighter and brighter. Given all the hype surrounding the new-look Buckeyes ...


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Google Ohio State Football: Buckeyes improving as bigger tests loom - The Columbus Dispatch

Ohio State Football: Buckeyes improving as bigger tests loom - The Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State Football: Buckeyes improving as bigger tests loom
The Columbus Dispatch
In two short sentences, Urban Meyer summed up the state of his Ohio State Buckeyes and the significance of their recent string of lopsided victories. “We're on a roll,” he said after his team's 56-0 victory at Rutgers. “We're also realistic.” In other ...
AP poll sees Ohio State climb back into the top 10: Buckeyes football newscleveland.com
With the Buckeyes nearby, Ohio State's NYC alumni took over at RutgersLandof10.com
Ohio State football: JT Barrett becomes all-time leading passer in Buckeyes historyNCAA.com
247Sports -Mansfield News Journal
all 387 news articles »


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Google Mike Weber scores 3 first-half TDs as Buckeyes cruising vs. Rutgers - NBCSports.com

Mike Weber scores 3 first-half TDs as Buckeyes cruising vs. Rutgers - NBCSports.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Mike Weber scores 3 first-half TDs as Buckeyes cruising vs. Rutgers
NBCSports.com
A year after losing on the road to Ohio State 58-0, the first half brought back plenty of bad memories for the Scarlet Knights. Rutgers played tough early on in a home game against No. 11 Ohio State, but the Buckeyes are rolling to another blowout win ...

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Google Ohio State football: Buckeyes chasing Penn State in Land of 10 Power Poll - Landof10.com

Ohio State football: Buckeyes chasing Penn State in Land of 10 Power Poll - Landof10.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State football: Buckeyes chasing Penn State in Land of 10 Power Poll
Landof10.com
The Buckeyes beat Rutgers 56-0, and the Wolverines had an open date. Wisconsin remained fourth after a narrow win against Northwestern. Iowa's loss to Michigan State and Maryland's win over Minnesota helped provide a big shakeup in the No. 5-11 spots ...
AP poll sees Ohio State climb back into the top 10: Buckeyes football newscleveland.com
Ohio State 56, Rutgers 0: JT Barrett becomes Buckeyes' career passing leader in blowout victoryAkron Beacon Journal
Looking good: But what does it really mean for the Buckeyes?Mansfield News Journal
NCAA.com -The Columbus Dispatch
all 381 news articles »


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Google AP Poll: Buckeyes win big but don't slip, and only 4 SEC teams ranked? - Scarlet and Game

AP Poll: Buckeyes win big but don't slip, and only 4 SEC teams ranked? - Scarlet and Game
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


AP Poll: Buckeyes win big but don't slip, and only 4 SEC teams ranked?
Scarlet and Game
It was an amazing week 5 in college football. And not only because there were interesting games with conference implications like Clemson-Va. Tech, USC-Washington State and Wisconsin-Northwestern. In addition to the on-field action, the AP Poll voters ...
Ohio State remains at No. 9 in the Coaches Poll247Sports

all 134 news articles »


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Google Chengelis: Buckeyes' backfield scary with healthy Weber - The Detroit News

Chengelis: Buckeyes' backfield scary with healthy Weber - The Detroit News
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Chengelis: Buckeyes' backfield scary with healthy Weber
The Detroit News
Ohio State running back Mike Weber had considered surgery in August for a partially torn hamstring. That would have meant missing this season. Weber, the standout from Detroit Cass Tech, did not spend much time on that prospect and instead opted to ...
With the Buckeyes nearby, Ohio State's NYC alumni took over at RutgersLandof10.com
AP poll sees Ohio State climb back into the top 10: Buckeyes football newscleveland.com
Looking good: But what does it really mean for the Buckeyes?Mansfield News Journal
NCAA.com -Lyndy's Sports Annuals
all 381 news articles »


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Google AP Top 25: Buckeyes move back into top 10 at No. 10 - Sandusky Register

AP Top 25: Buckeyes move back into top 10 at No. 10 - Sandusky Register
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


AP Top 25: Buckeyes move back into top 10 at No. 10
Sandusky Register
Alabama's big win over Mississippi didn't keep Clemson from cutting into its lead in The Associated Press college football poll. The defending national champion Tigers more than doubled their number of first-place votes after their 31-17 win over then-No.

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MotS&G The Buckeyes, Literally Control Their Own Destiny: AP Top 25, Remaining Schedule Breakdown

The Buckeyes, Literally Control Their Own Destiny: AP Top 25, Remaining Schedule Breakdown
Richard Tongohan
via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


AP Top 25

  1. ALA (5-0)
  2. CLEM (5-0)
  3. OKLA (4-0) ***Week 3 loss at OSU***
  4. PSU (5-0) ***Week 9 at OSU***
  5. UGA (5-0)
  6. WASH (5-0)
  7. MICH (4-0) ***Week 13 at UM***
  8. TCU(4-0)
  9. WIS (4-0) ***Potential Conference Championship Game Opponent***
  10. OSU (4-1)
  11. WSU (5-0)
  12. AUB (4-1)
  13. MIAMI (3-0)
  14. USC (4-1)
  15. OKST (4-1)
  16. VT (4-1)
  17. LOU (4-1)
  18. USF (5-0)
  19. SDSU (5-0)
  20. UTAH (4-0)
  21. FLA (3-1)
  22. ND (4-1)
  23. WVU (3-1)
  24. NCST(4-1)
  25. UCF (3-0)

Remaining Schedule:

  • Week 6: Home against Maryland
  • Week 7: At Nebraska
  • Week 8: Bye
  • Week 9: Home against #4 Penn State
  • Week 10: At Iowa
  • Week 11: Home against Michigan State
  • Week 12: Home against Illinois
  • Week 13: At Michigan

My Observations for Ohio State:.

  • After trouncing Rutgers 56-0, they moved up one spot and back into the Top 10. The Buckeyes could re-enter the Top 5 if they take care of business. They will face Penn State at home in week 9, they will travel to Ann Arbor for The Game and if they win the East Division, they could face Wisconsin in the BIG 10 Conference Championship Game.
  • The Buckeyes have a string of tough opponents left on the schedule. Maryland, Nebraska, Iowa and Michigan State are tricky opponents that could give or that have given the Buckeyes problems. Nebraska and Iowa are tough atmospheres to play in. Maryland is a team that gets better, but they are on their third-string quarterback after their top two players suffered season-ending injuries. Michigan State has beaten the Buckeyes during the worst times and this season could be the same if the Buckeyes aren’t ready.
  • Illinois is still trying to find their way, but in the Battle for Illibuck, anything could happen. We all saw what Juice Williams did, and we should be cautious not to write them off because it still is a rivalry game.
  • Hypothetically, if Ohio State beats Penn State in week 9, and in dominant fashion (very doubtful), they will most definitely be back in the 5-7 spot. Teams will eventually lose in between, but the final roadblock (literally on the road) will be TTUN. Ohio State will travel to Ann Arbor to end the regular season, and it is going to be a tough game if both teams are ranked high. If they beat Penn State, TTUN will be looking to spoil the Buckeyes CFB Playoff hopes.
  • The Buckeye offense and defense still has a few kinks to work out. They committed 10 penalties for 106 yards. They will need to limit the penalties if they want to be successful.

The overall feeling is that the Buckeyes control their own destiny. If they falter, it will cost them another CFB Playoff berth. If they win out and win huge, they will most likely be in this years big dance once again.

With the depth at the majority of their positions, and the talent at hand, they could run the table, but they need to be impressive throughout. They seem to have found some answers with Tuf Borland while Worley recuperates, and the Defensive Backs are getting better every week.






neBeuBoWrsg


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Google Future Buckeyes in action: Pope returns in big way; Cox stars - 247Sports

Future Buckeyes in action: Pope returns in big way; Cox stars - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Future Buckeyes in action: Pope returns in big way; Cox stars
247Sports
After every weekend during the football season I wrap up the weekend that was in high school football in Ohio and elsewhere, focusing on those who will continue their careers playing for the Buckeyes. Over the weekend most of the future Buckeyes were ...


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Google Mike Weber bounced back after nearly missing the 2017 season - 247Sports

Mike Weber bounced back after nearly missing the 2017 season - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Mike Weber bounced back after nearly missing the 2017 season
247Sports
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – There was a bit of mystery surrounding what limited Ohio State running back Mike Weber through the first four weeks of the season. The redshirt sophomore was again expected to be the lead tailback in the Buckeye offense in 2017, but ...

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LGHL Ohio State jumps back to No. 10 in the latest AP Poll

Ohio State jumps back to No. 10 in the latest AP Poll
Alexis Chassen
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


usa_today_10319511.0.jpg

The Buckeyes are back in the top 10 after a shutout against a conference opponent.

Ohio State is coming off of their second shutout win over Rutgers in as many years, and they finally made some headway in the rankings. With several top-ranked teams ending up with a loss in Week 5, the Buckeyes had some wiggle room to get back into the top-10 of the AP Poll, at No. 10.

Penn State kept the top spot for any Big Ten team at No. 4 with a win over Indiana — Saquon Barkley is like the Superman of college football. Michigan moved up to No. 7 following their early bye week, and Wisconsin also moved up one to No. 9 after a close first half against Northwestern.

Bill Connelly's S&P+ ratings are included this week because Ohio State sits at No. 2 on that list and that’s fun.

There were several other big shake-ups in this weeks Coaches and AP Polls, below.

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BTN Big Ten continues to own top 10 of latest AP & Coaches polls

Big Ten continues to own top 10 of latest AP & Coaches polls
BTN.com staff via Big Ten Network

The latest AP and Coaches polls were released Sunday, and the Big Ten continues to field four teams in the top 10. Penn State (No. 4/No. 4) paces the conference, while Michigan (No. 7/No. 7), Wisconsin (No. 9/No. 8) and Ohio State (No. 10/No. 9) round out the league's top 10 teams.
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Google Ohio State remains at No. 9 in the Coaches Poll - 247Sports

Ohio State remains at No. 9 in the Coaches Poll - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State remains at No. 9 in the Coaches Poll
247Sports
Win big out of conference? Win big in conference? It doesn't seem to matter for Ohio State when it comes to the Coaches Poll. The Buckeyes dropped to No. 9 following the Week 2 loss to Oklahoma and for the third consecutive release, remained at No.

and more »


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LGHL Ohio State’s passing game continued its explosive development

Ohio State’s passing game continued its explosive development
Chad Peltier
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


856082986.0.jpg

Rutgers’ defense probably wasn’t as good as their numbers suggested, but the playcalling still looked solid

Last year Ohio State beat Rutgers 58-0, so a 56-0 win this season over the Scarlet Knights isn’t necessarily surprising.

But this year’s Rutgers’ defense was supposed to be much improved. Heading into the game they were the highest-ranked S&P+ defense that Ohio State has faced so far, at 23rd overall — and that’s an opponent-adjusted ranking (with the caveats of limited data and still ~50% preseason projections factored in). Their run defense was especially strong, ranking 37th in opponent rushing success rate.

However, an injury to their top corner definitely did not help their already-shaky 78th-ranked pass defense (in passing success rate). And Ohio State really exploited that pass defense for countless explosive pass plays.


In the table above, scoring opportunity efficiency looks at the average points scored per scoring opportunity -- drives with a first down past the opponents' 40-yard line. Drive efficiency looks at the percentage of drives that were scoring opportunities. Rushing opportunity rate is the % of runs that gained five or more yards. Rushing stuff rate is the % of runs that were for no gain or a loss. Explosive plays are 12+ yard runs and 20+ yard passes here.

This table only includes non-garbage time numbers — here, garbage time kicked in after Ohio State’s fourth touchdown with a little over 4 minutes left in the first half. That equaled 29 total offensive plays (and 28 for the defense).

In the stats preview I thought the three most important stats would be:

  1. Rushing success rate: 63%
  2. Explosive passing plays: 3, or 25% of J.T.’s non-garbage time passes
  3. Defensive passing success rate: 23%
Offense: We’re not used to that much explosiveness


Key stats:

  • 63% rushing success rate
  • 25% passing explosive rate
  • 100% scoring opportunity efficiency

We’re working with very limited data for a second-straight week, so take these numbers with a grain or two of salt. But while the game was competitive, the offense was incredibly explosive. Overall, Ohio State’s 63% rushing success rate was much higher than could have been expected against a fairly stout run defense. Barrett and Dobbins had time to rip off 37- and 34-yard runs that spurred the first two touchdown drives.

Explosive plays were the key to this win. In each of the first five scoring drives before halftime, a 30+ yard play broke things open: Barrett’s 37-yard run off the zone-read, Dobbins’ 34-yarder, Johnnie Dixon’s 70-yard catch-and-run while his defender had his eyes on a rolling Barrett, another 39-yard touchdown to Dixon, and a 46-yard throw to Victor.

Explosive plays can sometimes be a little random and inconsistent — it’s not a good thing if an offense has to live by explosive plays. But here, the offense’s success rates were still high: 63% and 50% during competitive play. So the explosive plays were more of a function of an efficient offense with superior athletes against a overmatched defense.

But Barrett looked confident, going through progressions, extending plays with his feet while looking downfield to throw, and attempting legitimate intermediate and deep passes. If you look at Barrett’s entire game (i.e., including garbage time), he had a 55% passing success rate (12/22), with 6 of his 12 passes going for 20+ yards. In other words, 50% of his successful passes were explosive, and his overall explosive passing rate was 27%. Don’t expect to see that every week. And Ohio State attempted several other deep passes that receivers couldn’t come down with — one was a defensive pass interference on Parris Campbell, and another was a slight miss to K.J. Hill.

Surprisingly, Ohio State now ranks 17th in the country in pass plays of 10+ yards and also 20+ yards. Barrett is also ranked 13th in the country in passer rating, tied with Josh Rosen in yards/attempt (8.7), and has only thrown one interception through five games. The offense isn’t “fixed”, but you have to be encouraged by what you’re seeing.


However, there were some small concerns. Rutgers’ run defense did have a 13% stuff rate during non-garbage time, which is a little higher than their FBS-leading 9.5% entering the game. Third down was a little rough too, as you can see in the chart above. The Buckeyes had a 33% third down success rate in non-garbage time (one of those successful plays being Dixon’s 70-yard catch).

But the biggest concern was the three-and-out drives -- three out of seven total drives. The drives stalled for different reasons. The first was killed by a holding penalty on third down that made it third-and-20. The second drive began at their own 2-yard line, where Ohio State ran it on third-and-10. The third three-and-out was simply due to poor blocking on third-and-1, which resulted in a 1-yard loss. Overall Ohio State was still a little sloppy, with 10 penalties for 106 yards. That’s fine against Rutgers, but has to be cleaned up for tougher opponents.

Defense: First shutout of the season


Key stats:

  • 40% rushing success rate
  • 40% rushing stuffed rate
  • 23% passing success rate

It’s hard to find too many faults for the defense here. It was their first shutout of the season, Rutgers was held to 209 total yards and a 32% overall success rate, they averaged 3.4 yards per pass with two interceptions, and Rutgers’ lone scoring opportunity ended in an interception. While Rutgers had a 40% rushing success rate, they also had an equal percentage of runs stopped at or behind the line of scrimmage. And even with 40% of their runs being successful, only 1 in 5 were for 5 or more yards.

But that was to be expected to some degree. Rutgers ranked in the bottom 10 in opponent-adjusted S&P+ offense entering the game. If Rutgers had scored more than once or so, or had found any kind of success against the Buckeye secondary, then that would’ve been a problem.

So, more or less, we got what we could’ve hoped for in what turned out to be the Buckeyes’ second-straight mostly-garbage time game.

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Google OSU grade card: Buckeyes shore up a few things in Jersey - Lima Ohio

OSU grade card: Buckeyes shore up a few things in Jersey - Lima Ohio
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


OSU grade card: Buckeyes shore up a few things in Jersey
Lima Ohio
The Buckeyes punted on two of their first three possessions and had five penalties in the first 10 minutes. Barrett was 14 of 22 for 275 yards and three touchdowns, two of them to Dixon. The first was a 70-yarder where Dixon was all alone behind the ...

and more »


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Google Bowl projections: CBS Sports picks Ohio State, not Penn State, for College Football Playoff...

Bowl projections: CBS Sports picks Ohio State, not Penn State, for College Football Playoff - Landof10.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Bowl projections: CBS Sports picks Ohio State, not Penn State, for College Football Playoff
Landof10.com
Penn State beat Ohio State last season, won the Big Ten East and then won the Big Ten Championship Game — yet the Buckeyes were picked for the College Football Playoff. Ohio State lost to Clemson, 31-0, in the national semifinals. Penn State lost a ...

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Google Photo/Video gallery: 5-star Buckeye commit Jaelen Gill - 247Sports

Photo/Video gallery: 5-star Buckeye commit Jaelen Gill - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Photo/Video gallery: 5-star Buckeye commit Jaelen Gill
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! Gill is a 5-star prospect in the 247Sports Composite. He is the country's No. 25 overall prospect, the No. 1 all-purpose ...


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Google The Bucket makes sense of 'dominant' win - 247Sports

The Bucket makes sense of 'dominant' win - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


The Bucket makes sense of 'dominant' win
247Sports
Ohio State just won a Big Ten game by eight touchdowns and some people are still complaining. I get the frustration. I've expressed my opinion on the big picture direction of Ohio State this season numerous times in this space the last couple of weeks.


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BTN Best of Week 5: Grades, individual honors, stock watch & numbers

Best of Week 5: Grades, individual honors, stock watch & numbers
Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer via Big Ten Network

On a day when the Big Ten learned of the passing of Purdue icon Joe Tiller, the conference saw Penn State continue to dominate, Michigan State and Wisconsin make statements and Maryland show it has life even with a third-team QB.
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Google With the Buckeyes nearby, Ohio State's NYC alumni took over at Rutgers - Landof10.com

With the Buckeyes nearby, Ohio State's NYC alumni took over at Rutgers - Landof10.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


With the Buckeyes nearby, Ohio State's NYC alumni took over at Rutgers
Landof10.com
The NYC Buckeyes alumni group has more than 4,000 members, and it's estimated that there's around 10,000 Ohio State alums in New York City. Before Rutgers and Maryland showed up, seeing the Buckeyes in person often meant New Yorkers had to trek ...
Ohio State 56, Rutgers 0: JT Barrett becomes Buckeyes' career passing leader in blowout victoryAkron Beacon Journal
Ohio State's dominance of Rutgers tied to a theory about Oklahoma: Buckeye Talk Podcastcleveland.com
Looking good: But what does it really mean for the Buckeyes?Mansfield News Journal
NCAA.com -Lyndy's Sports Annuals
all 341 news articles »


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