Heard Around the ‘Shoe – 9/7/2016
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!

2018 In-State Offer for Defensive Tackle:


The Buckeyes haven’t offered many in-state players for the class of 2018, and it is not because the state is not loaded with talent. Yesterday the Buckeyes offered 3-star defensive tackle Aeneas Hawkins from Archbishop Moeller in Cincinnati. Hawkins is one of the top 20 players in the state of Ohio for the class of 2018.

Hawkins lists 14 offers to date, and those include Florida State, Notre Dame and Florida among others. Hawkins spoke to Eleven Warriors yesterday after he received the offer:

“It’s a big deal man,” Hawkins told Eleven Warriors. “It’s been a big goal of mine to try and earn an offer from them, and to be blessed with this opportunity means a lot. Ohio State is right up there with anyone right now.”

He also told 11W that he plans on making a trip up to Ohio State soon to see the Buckeyes in action and to speak with Coach Larry Johnson.



Bishop Gorman Buckeyes:


In case you have been under a rock for the past few months, Ohio State has gone west in the recruiting trail and struck gold in Las Vegas at Bishop Gorman High School. They first landed defensive tackle Haskell Garrett in a surprise commitment back in February. Then came Tate Martell who switched his verbal from Texas A&M to the Buckeyes back in June. Finally Tyjon Lindsey joined his fellow Gaels in committing to the Buckeyes just last month in a video with fellow commit Trevon Grimes.

The Buckeyes certainly have their sights set on Bishop Gorman as yesterday they offered yet another teammate of theirs in Bubba Bolden. Bolden is a 4-star safety ranked as the #94 player in the nation for the class of 2017. He currently lists 20 offers to date, and his crystal ball predictions have Arizona State at 67% and Southern Cal at 33%.



Tate Martell took to Twitter shortly after the offer was announced making sure everyone knew that getting Bubba to Ohio State was a top priority.



Speaking of Martell, he posted a poll on Twitter asking what game he should make his official visit and the winner ended up being Nebraska on November 5th. He was asked why he couldn’t make it for the big game against Michigan and he stated that he has his teams state semifinal game that weekend.

Baron Browning Update:


What you read on the internet is not always true. No really, it’s not, trust me. Let’s take for example the case of Baron Browning’s recruitment. Last week it was reported that Ohio State had slowed down the recruitment of the 5-star linebacker from Texas. As my good friend Lee Corso would say, not so fast my friend. Browning spoke to the SECCountry’s Chris Kirschner and cleared the air.

“That’s not even true. The dude who tweeted that out really needs to delete his account,” Browning told Kirschner following his game on Friday. “They just need to be banned from Twitter. I don’t even know why that came up. People just tweet whatever and everyone starts believing it. I talked to (Urban) Meyer the same day and he told me they want me to commit ASAP. It was a guy from Texas who tweeted that (Ohio State was dropping), so it wasn’t like it was one of the (Buckeyes) guys.”

Browning told Kirschner that his dad spoke to Coach Urban Meyer and that everything was good between the two parties. Browning was on hand Sunday as Texas defeated Notre Dame 50-47 in one of the weekends most exciting games. He will make a trip to Columbus for The Game on November 26th, which will be three days before his scheduled announcement date of November 29th.

I expect the Buckeyes to remain in this one until the end, and I still think he ends up in this class.


Another Texas Star Reaffirms Pledge:


The recruitment of JK Dobbins has been interesting of late. It was reported that if the Buckeyes were going to take another running back (Cam Akers), that Dobbins would start to look elsewhere as he said other programs told him he would be the only back they would take in this class. The Buckeyes lack of depth at the running back position after this season means the Buckeyes need to take two in this class, so nabbing Dobbins and Akers would be ideal.

Dobbins spoke to 247 Sports ($) Steve Wiltfong on Monday after his visit to Texas for the Notre Dame game, “I have a home, and it’s the Ohio State Buckeyes,” Dobbins said. “Texas looked really good though.”

A name to watch if Dobbins does go elsewhere is 3-star back from Pickerington Morgan Ellison, who I believe will be a star at the next level but is under recruited because of injuries the past couple of seasons.


Former Buckeye Lands at Toledo:


The recruiting class of 2016 lost two members before they started fall camp this year and one of them, 3-star defensive back Kareem Felder, has found a new home.



Felder was deemed ineligible to enroll at Ohio State due to academic reasons.


The post Heard Around the ‘Shoe – 9/7/2016 appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Rumblin’, Stumblin’, Bumblin’: Week 1; Buckeyes Offense, National Narrative, Oklahoma Unprepared
WVaBuckeye via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Where do we start this week and where do we go? It’s not like anyone on the team actually under-performed and we can’t really put everyone in the Good can we? I think my pals here at the BBC have done a pretty good job of covering a wide range of topics this week! Let’s get rolling with the very very good in week one.

Rumblin’


COLUMBUS, OH – SEPTEMBER 3: Members of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrate their 77-10 victory over the Bowling Green Falcons while singing “Carmen Ohio” on September 3, 2016 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State defeated Bowling Green 77-10. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)


You know those dreams you have from time to time where it seems like everything just falls into place? You know the ones I am talking about. You always get the girl, save the day, fly off a roof top and hit the winning shot! In my mind, that is what the Bowling Green game was like.

In a time where there seemed to be so much uncertainty about what this team is capable of and then whammo! The offense operates the way it should under veteran QB JT Barrett and we find several new stars. In my pre-season questions, I wondered how they would spread the wealth, but then again we are talking about Urban Meyer.

What was on display Saturday was an offensive explosion that only showed us glimpse of their potential. Yes, I said a just a glimpse! I think they got the ball into the play-makers hands and not just Curtis Samuel. Weber had a pretty good first game running the ball and will improve. The blocking was pretty good and the WR’s showed good hands. We won’t have a true gauge of what this offense is really capable of until Oklahoma but that’s okay, we can wait.

Let’s see what the staff has to say about the Rumblin’

Scott – Ohio State offense. Wow!

Joe – Urban Meyer has been saying for three-straight seasons that Curtis Samuel is a guy that needs to get 50 plays a game. To start 2016, the good ol’ ballcoach took his own advice and Ohio State fans witnessed what the Bronx Hybrid could do. By the way, that’s Curtis Samuel’s new nickname. The Bronx Hybrid.

JC – The offense production was amazing. I am almost tempted to say “…well, it was against Bowling Green.” But that’s a disrespect of an honorable performance that was not foreseen by any of us. Tulsa next week will be another opportunity to open up and show off the weapons that are gaining strength in Columbus. Come Oklahoma, regardless, of their little surprise against Houston, is a whole different operation. But, trust me, I have complete faith.

Brandon – The Ohio State offense. No one could have expected they would rack up 77 points and 776 yards all while keeping balance (417 passing/359 rushing). If you did, I would have told you that you were delusional. Weber, Samuel, and Wilson all proved to be dynamic play-makers and Brown showed his potential too. I don’t remember the last time the offense had this many playmakers.

MDotySr – I will just say look at Brandon’s mine would be pretty much the same give the new start “The Ball Offices of Samuel, Weber and McCall”!

Ben -I loved seeing so many true freshmen see the field against Bowling Green. We had four guys play all of last year, and to see 10 get into action in game one is huge. They not only got on the field, but they made an impact, McCall with his two touchdowns, Bosa with the sack, and Burns with the Pick-Six. The future is bright at Ohio State.

Mike Meals – Besides watching the Fightin’ Tom Hermans manhandle Big Game Bob today? Tip of the hat to UH. But this Buckeye team, coming out against a seriously over-matched opponent, and not playing down to them as we have in the past.

Stumblin’


College football and the NCAA in general. If the committee doesn’t start ranking teams for several weeks, then neither should the polls. I am okay with a pre-season “prediction” from them but to come out with a poll based on pure speculation makes them look pretty silly.

It’s not that they don’t get some of the teams right and normally putting OSU, Bama, USC, LSU and Texas can be a safe bet to do. However, early season failures and some non-conference match-ups can trip a team up and send them downward. I have always been a fan of the polls when the early and pre-season rankings really meant something. Now they are just eye candy and not a true statement of the rankings.

The CFB committee has the college football world at their mercy and if any team that lost in week one, two or three has any hopes of making the final four? The polls aren’t going to help them at all!

Let’s see what the staff has to say about the Stumblin’

Scott – SEC

Joe – How about Northwestern quarterback Clayton Thorson, who literally stumbled the game away for the Wildcats late in the fourth quarter against Western Michigan. After slipping near the ten yard line, Thorson got hit near the far-side pylon and coughed the ball up as he tried to lower his shoulder into the endzone. The fumble gave the ball back to Western Michigan and now I have to hear all those fanboys of P.J. Fleck chirp louder, longer, and at a higher than tolerable pitch.

JC – Oklahoma & LSU. I must admit I am not really surprised by either loss. I have always been a believer that the pollsters love the SEC to a fault. I am happy for the Badgers. Oklahoma, too, I really believe was given too much value following last year’s journey. But with all that said, let me shut my mouth until after the 17th.

Brandon – The national narrative about the Buckeyes. Look, I understand it was pretty easy to jump on the “only six starters returning” bandwagon but at some point just look who is filling those holes. Outside of O-line, it wasn’t exactly people with zero playing time. Guys like Samuel, Wilson, Webb, Booker, and many more have played a lot of football. People are backtracking pretty quick now and trying to pretend like they are surprised.

MDotySr – All these teams that were ranked preseason that are being exposed early on as pretenders. Sometimes the first week of CFB can be just as fun as the last week.

Ben – Clemson had a tough go against Auburn, LSU lost to Wisconsin, Oklahoma lost to Houston. Let’s do away with preseason polls already. They are meaningless except to promote games on national television. Wait five weeks into the football season to see who really is a good team before we rank them.

Mike Meals – The clear separation of the 5-10 best football programs year in and year out, and the rest of the country. alaBama, Ohio State, etc., these teams are light years ahead of the next 10 (The UGAs, USCs, etc.).

Bumblin’


I was talking to a friend at work about Oklahoma and Bob Stoops losing at-least one of those types of games every year since we won a national title. A lot of people jump all over Stoops about this yearly debacle. Bear in mind that he is coaching a team that just a short week ago almost everybody(including myself) thought he would hand it to the Buckeyes in Norman.

The Sooners are a fearsome bunch at home and most of the time when they lose it’s not there. From the official OU site . . ,


Stoops is 96-8 at home over-all and that in itself is pretty remarkable for his career there. It makes Norman a formidable and scary place to play which Buckeye fans will experience soon.

My point here is that the game was at a neutral site and for the most part, he had an entire off-season to prepare for Tom Herman and the Cougars. I cannot claim that I know anything about what teams do to prepare for those teams in the off-season. What I do know as an Ohio State fan is this, if they came out and looked unprepared for a team that they six months to watch film and game-plan for? I would be done with my head coach and staff.

There is no excuse for not being ready for a team that you are more talented than and clearly playing a tougher schedule over-all. Not that Houston didn’t belong in the game because they did. To dominate the number three team the way they did falls on the head coach of the losing team. I heard a lot of “experts” saying on Saturday that Oklahoma must beat OSU to have any hopes of being in the CFP. I disagree completely and think an unprepared loss should disqualify them.

Let’s see what the staff has to say about the Bumblin’

Scott – Les Miles for making a BS excuse.

Joe – Everyone wants to rip the SEC and that’s great, but I would like to take this platform to recognize why the Big 12 should look to themselves for a lack of playoff success and not expansion. Outside of Kansas State and Oklahoma, who lost to Stanford and Houston — here is your non-conference opponent list for week 1 in the gun-slingin’ Big 12: Northwestern State, South Dakota State, Southeastern Louisiana, Missouri, Rhode Island, Northern Iowa and Stephen F. Austin. I would say that the TCU defense is bumblin’ after giving up 41 points to South Dakota State, but giving points up like that is a TCU tradition.

JC – Regardless of TTUN’s “impressive” victory (but was it really? – Hawaii?) The whole charade of having Jeter and Michael Jordan present, as Honorary Captains, only solidify the desperateness lingering in Ann Arbor. Harbaugh and his circus act will not go over well too long with the traditionalists, or even the young-bloods. No one wants to be the “chuckling-clowns” in the room.

Brandon – The legend of Big Game Bob Stoops. I guess I was under the impression he was a good coach and bringing a good team to their “neutral” site game against Houston in Houston. In reality, he didn’t and I feel like an idiot for even believing he is a shell of his old self and still a good coach. In the past three seasons, he has been spanked by TAMU, Missouri, Texas, Clemson, and now Houston.

MDotySr – Les Miles Country Club membership down in the bayou. Fans and media alike were already placing Tom Herman as their next head coach by halftime of the WISKY game. Going to miss his sound bites but I’m sure we’ll hear them again at a much smaller school for years to come.

Ben – Michigan football. Enough already, we know you think you are back and will dominate the Big Ten for years to come, but let’s be realistic for a moment please. Brady Hoke went 11-2 in his first season in Ann Arbor and then the wheels came off to an 8-5 season then 7-6 then finally 5-7. Hoke was thought of as a solid recruiter who would bring back the glory days to Michigan football, and look how that ended up. I understand that Jim Harbaugh is a savior of some sort, but until they win anything meaningful (a bowl game against an overrated Florida team doesn’t count) then they are still mediocre in my mind. Win something then you can talk.

Mike Meals – Besides WVA for making me put my own name on all these dang forms? I’m going with LSU and The Mad Hatter too. Everyone thought it was cute when he made the joke about guys “walking home” if they leaped. But to see players taking cheap shots like that? And Les turning around and saying that it could have been a downfield block? I get defending your player…but that was the cheapest shot I have seen in awhile.

Weekly Funny



The post Rumblin’, Stumblin’, Bumblin’: Week 1; Buckeyes Offense, National Narrative, Oklahoma Unprepared appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Script Ohio: How Do the Ohio State Buckeyes Slow down the Golden Hurricane?
Joe Dexter via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Scoring points should be no problem for Ohio State on Saturday, but how do the Buckeyes plan to attack one of the nation’s better offensive teams? Joe Dexter and Clair Crawford play defensive coordinator to scheme up a way to keep points off the board.

The post Script Ohio: How Do the Ohio State Buckeyes Slow down the Golden Hurricane? appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Expect another explosive performance from Ohio State against Tulsa
Colton Denning via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


We recap the win over Bowling Green, preview Tulsa, and more.

On last week’s podcast, Matt Brown and I discussed how we thought Bowling Green could move the ball on Ohio State and at least make it somewhat of a game. Obviously, we were wrong.

We broke down some of the more impressive aspects of the Buckeyes’ 77-10 win, including:

• The explosive plays on offense, especially through the air
• The Ohio State pass defense
• Demario McCall’s standout performance
• Offensive balance and wanting to play freshmen not being hollow words from Urban Meyer

After that, we discussed this week’s opponent: the Tulsa Golden Hurricane, and more specifically, their very Baylor-esque offensive philosophy. Find out what we think is the key to slowing their offense, and also why we don’t think it’ll be a particularly close contest, anyway.

As a bonus, I shared how my extremely fun night at the Colorado-Colorado State game on Friday night came with consequences the next morning.

We’ve moved to a new iTunes page, so we would very much appreciate your subscriptions, and more importantly, reviews and comments about the podcast. The more we hear from you, the better we can make it. We’re also on Soundcloud, the SB Nation podcast page, and you can subscribe via RSS on your Android and Windows Phone devices here.

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Ohio State football | Jack Looks Back: Before becoming a Buckeye, coach John Cooper was a Golden Hurricane - Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State football | Jack Looks Back: Before becoming a Buckeye, coach John Cooper was a Golden Hurricane
Columbus Dispatch
Jack Park, a leading Ohio State football historian, checks in each week during the college football season with a retrospective about the Buckeyes. Ohio State will face Tulsa at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in Ohio Stadium. The meeting will be the first between ...

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Buckeyes Butterflies head south in the fall - The Newark Advocate
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes Butterflies head south in the fall
The Newark Advocate
Buckeyes (Junonia coenia) are natives of the southern U.S. and cannot tolerate freezing temperatures. So like many humans, Buckeyes as cooler weather approaches head south. Before they go they have laid their eggs and the caterpillars have become ...


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Beyond Buckeye Lines: Roll the Tide blindness
Mike Meals via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Beyond Buckeye Lines is a weekly look at Ohio State and college football. Each week, I spend time with someone who has their rooting interest in a program not name THE Ohio State University. We talk about the current state of college football, their perspective of Ohio State, some predictions, and any other news stories surrounding their program or ours.

This week, Beyond Buckeye Lines is pleased to welcome @Zooomingevy to the hot seat. For those of you who do not follow Evy, a native of Montreal. She is now an Alabama fan currently living in the heart of corn…I mean B1G country with her husband, Andrew, a Nebraska Fan. We’ll make sure we talk to him prior to the big showdown November 5th in The Shoe. For the record, she loves being in Lincoln, no matter what she says.

What’s happening at your school?

In alaBama news, Saban and company Rolled the Tide all up and down the field over the Men of Troy, killing USC last week 52-6. Next week, Alabama faces the daunting task of taking on the Hilltoppers of Western Kentucky. When asked for a prediction, “BIG win…something like 55-3”

Besides that impressive win over USC, there are 2 stories currently taking up most of the message board discussion with The Tide:

First, Alabama has famously been non-committal to a true starting quarterback so far this young season. Evy tells me it doesn’t matter who takes the first snap, there still isn’t a starter (As a Buckeye fan, we all know how terrible this can be if it drags on). Her feeling are that eventually Jalen Hurts will separate himself and be the horse Alabama rides through the SEC.


ARLINGTON, TX – SEPTEMBER 03: Jalen Hurts #2 of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrates with Ross Pierschbacher #71 of the Alabama Crimson Tide, O.J. Howard #88 of the Alabama Crimson Tide and ArDarius Stewart #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide after scoring a touchdown against the USC Trojans during the AdvoCare Classic at AT&T Stadium on September 3, 2016 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)


Second, there have been reports (only reports at the time we talked) of Steve Sarkisian joining the staff in Tuscaloosa. Evy says she is okay bringing in Sark, saying she thinks he will be a positive change, and set himself up to potentially be the next offensive coordinator if Lane Kiffin leaves to be a head coach somewhere. “Besides being a raging alcoholic, I’ve never had a problem with his coaching talents.”

Your perspective on Ohio State?

Moving onto Ohio State, I asked for Evy’s perspective on OSU and the B1G as a whole. “I think the Big Ten is overrated, I always have. I think whoever wins the conference will be in the College Playoff. Do they belong there? Probably not. But they will get in.” I think we will get that response from a lot of SEC fans this year. When asked for a B1G Champion prediction, she thinks it will be “either OSU or Michigan, probably OSU.” I did also ask for her thoughts on J.T. Barrett, to get an outsider’s view of him. She told me that she “hates the B1G the same way we hate the SEC, and avoids it as much as possible” and she really has no opinion of him.

I am always curious of outsider’s views on Urban Meyer. This was a tough question for my guest to answer. She knew that if she tells people what she really feels, her mentions on twitter are going to blow up. Personally, I love her honesty here (even if she is 100% wrong). She tells me that Urban is “good at his job. I just think he is a slimy, weird, lying person. I’m not sure of his personality, but he is good at his job. I like when he eats sad pizza in the golf cart. The only way you can overcome mediocrity in the B1G is to get a good coach (to her husband/Nebraska fan – “No, Mike Riley isn’t a good coach”). OSU did a good thing going out and getting a good a coach, so did Michigan. But I wouldn’t like him as person.” I am not surprised by this…Urban was the other contender for Alpha Male in the SEC for so long, I wouldn’t expect SEC fans to like him, much like how we all love Bert at arKansas.



This or That?

I like to ask our guests if they would rather have “This or That” in regards to their school and Ohio State.

• Would you rather have OSU or UM on your schedule this year? “I don’t care – OSU due to wanting to get revenge”
• Would you rather face OSU in the playoff or regular season? “Playoffs”
• Would you rather have a home and home with OSU (playing in Columbus in the cold) or avoid them until the post season? “Why do you think I assume OSU is a threat? I would rather play them in the playoffs, I don’t think Alabama would have a problem in the cold.”

Season Predictions

Prediction time:

• What should we expect from Alabama this year? “National championship…at very least, playing in the final”.
• Who wins the B1G? OSU
• Who wins your conference this year? ‘Bama
• Who are the 4 playoff teams? Alabama, Ohio State, TCU, Florida State
• Who wins the Heisman? “I really don’t know, it’s too early. It won’t be Leonard Fournette from LSU, not after the way they played against Wisconsin. I don’t think it will be Stanford RB Christian McCaffrey. I guess Nick Chubb looked very good yesterday for UGA, so maybe him, for no reason” She also stressed to make sure the “for no good reason” was in there too.
• Any special predictions/things you’re looking for this season? “UH and what happens with them. People will have to pay attention to them. They are causing chaos.”

The post Beyond Buckeye Lines: Roll the Tide blindness appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Opinion: Knock on wood, The Buckeye Offense is back
Scott via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


I hesitate writing this because I’m afraid of giving Ohio State the ESPN Mike Greenberg Kiss of Death.

But after watching the Buckeyes 77-10 thwacking of Bowling Green Saturday, I can’t help but think the offense we expected to see all of last year has finally arrived.

Bigger and better.

For all the issues OSU had last year until offensive coordinators Ed Warriner and Tim Beck moved into the press box together, the offense was still pretty impressive.
What I saw Saturday was something the offenses from the last two seasons could only dream about being.

Holy Buckeye!

Again, it was just Bowling Green from the MAC. But the way the Buckeye receivers blew and through by the Falcons secondary and the way the offensive line opened up gaping holes for the run game, it’s obvious this team is special.

A team doesn’t just put up 776 yards of total offense every week. A team doesn’t average 8.3 yards per play on a regular basis. And how many times does a team punt just once in a game?

The Buckeyes had 359 yards on the ground, which is a pretty good total yard effort most weeks. The 417 yards passing is Maddon-like.
And I bet QB JT Barrett is the only player in the country to throw a touchdown pass to two different teams.

But what really stands out is the depth. Six players carried the ball and backup Demario McCall looks first-team worthy. Nine different receivers caught a pass and five found the end zone.
Three players had more than 100 all-purpose yards and McCall as just 10 short. There’s that McCall guy. Remember that name. He’s not even on the two-deep lineup.

And then there is the defense. The defense that always seems to be much-maligned.
BG had 244 total yards and just 175 in the air. Ohio State’s secondary was allegedly a concern.
How would the run defense do without Joey Bosa and all the other studs playing on Sunday? Just 69 total yards.

Many think this is going to be a reloading year for OSU. Some so-called experts say the Buckeyes could even lose as many as four games.

No chance.

This team is loaded with difference makers. Even Coach Urban Meyer said this may be his most talented team.
I’ll say it one more time: It was only Bowling Green. But this team has to be brimming with confidence right now — the players and coaches.

It appears, at least after one week, that the only thing that can stop the Buckeyes offense is the Buckeyes offense. As long as they don’t pay attention to idiots like me who are writing about how good they are, and continue to work hard as if they were shutout last week, we should continue to see head-scratching numbers.

The post Opinion: Knock on wood, The Buckeye Offense is back appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Ohio State offers 4-star from recruiting powerhouse
Austin Kemp via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


A Bishop Gorman safety has the chance to be a Buckeye.

The Ohio State coaching staff is continuing their efforts to bring in the top class for 2017. With a ton of commitments in the fold, it's expected that the Buckeyes will have about five spots left. There are a few names that Ohio State leads for, but there are also a couple "open" spots that the Bucks will attempt to fill between now and February.

A new offer was sent out to 2017 defensive back Bubba Bolden (Las Vegas, NV / Bishop Gorman) on Tuesday. Bolden, a four-star prospect, has elite free-safety size at 6-foot-3, 190 pounds. Rated as the 11th best prospect at his position, the Buckeye offer took his total count to 20. The question is, how legitimate is the interest on both sides?


First, it looks like Ohio State only has a few spots left in this class and they've already loaded up on defensive backs. That doesn't include five-star Jeffrey Okudah (Grand Prairie, TX / South Grand Prairie), who the Bucks are the definitive favorite for. Right now, Arizona State and USC are thought to be the favorite for the Bishop Gorman star with Bolden possibly being a plan 'B' in case the Shaun Wade (Jacksonville, FL / Trinity Christian Academy) or Okudah situations go south.

However, there is always more attrition that is expected to happen at a program like Ohio State with injuries, transfers and early enrollees. If things break right and a visit happens, Bolden could become a more legitimate target moving forward. Surely, the Buckeyes would make room if a prospect like Bolden wanted in, but right now it looks to be "wait and see" mode between Bolden and Ohio State. Bolden is a top 100 player in the class of 2017 according to 247Sports.

Below is Bolden’s highlight tape. If the Buckeyes do end up with the No.4 player out of the state of Nevada, the addition would bolster already one of the greatest recruiting classes ever assembled.

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Buckeyes hand Rockets their 1st loss - Athens Messenger (registration)
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes hand Rockets their 1st loss
Athens Messenger (registration)
The Buckeyes won at Ben Wagner Gymnasium by scores of 25-14, 25-22, 25-16, handing the Golden Rockets their first loss of the season. Sam Taylor had an excellent all-around game for N-Y. She totaled 18 assists, eight aces and five kills. Alexis ...


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Ohio State notebook | KJ Hill serves notice with TD catch - Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State notebook | KJ Hill serves notice with TD catch
Columbus Dispatch
The Buckeyes were No. 6 in the preseason AP poll and No. 5 in the coaches poll. The Buckeyes moved up because of losses by No. 3 Oklahoma — Ohio State's opponent on Sept. 17 — and No. 5 LSU. The polls normally are released on Sundays but were ...
STAT WATCH: Buckeyes' 77 Vs BG Their Most Points Since 1950ABC News
Buckeyes move up in AP rankings247Sports
Ohio State a 27.5-point favorite over Tulsa: Buckeye Breakfastcleveland.com
ABC6OnYourSide.com -FOXSports.com -Scout
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Fort Meade (FL)
Ht: 6'4"
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BuckeyeXtra podcast | Buckeyes turn up heat in opener - Columbus Dispatch (blog)
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


BuckeyeXtra podcast | Buckeyes turn up heat in opener
Columbus Dispatch (blog)
BuckeyeXtra podcast | Buckeyes turn up heat in opener. Tim May and Bill Rabinowitz talk about Ohio State's record-setting season opener against Bowling Green. | More coverage. Got it! This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on ...

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Ohio State’s Malik Hooker and his mother made major waves Saturday
Ian Cuevas via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Both on and off the field, Malik Hooker was one of the most interesting stories of Saturday’s game.

“With Malik, I wanted him to reach heights I didn’t get a chance to. I knew he had a great opportunity and that’s why I was going to make sure he didn’t ruin it.”

- Angela Dennis via Tom Archdeacon, Dayton Daily News


Malik Hooker may have tried to quit the Ohio State football team on several different occasions as a freshman, but it all came together last Saturday for the safety. Coming away with two interceptions on the day, Hooker made his mark on the game and has set himself up nicely to have quite a breakout season. Much of that can be attributed to his mother, Angela Dennis, for keeping Hooker at Ohio State. Every time Hooker would try to leave, his mother would be right there to turn him around and get him back to campus to keep him on the team.

Now, Urban Meyer and his staff are surely pleased with Hooker’s progress. After redshirting his freshman year and then playing sparingly in 2015, Hooker seems to have taken the necessary steps to elevate his game. When he first joined the program there was plenty of depth ahead of him including Vonn Bell and Tyvis Powell, but now it’s Hooker’s show in the defensive backfield. And if the game against Bowling Green was any indication, there should be plenty more of his highlights to come this season.

“The conversation I had with myself, though, it’s just like, ‘Well, darn, J.’ But I didn't use darn. I try and keep it PG in here. But I was, like, man, J. If somebody could've told you that you were throwing a pick-six on the first drive of 2016, you'd be, like, ‘You're a liar.’”

- J.T. Barrett via Austin Ward, ESPN


If there was a concern that Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett would struggle at all with so many new faces around him, those were quickly put to rest on Saturday. Barrett threw for 349 yards, six touchdowns, and rushed for one more en route to a 77-10 win over Bowling Green. Barrett seemingly got every Buckeye involved during the game throwing to several different targets including his running backs and tight ends. After a season of question marks surrounding the quarterback competition with Cardale Jones, Barrett looked more like he did in 2014, when he broke several Ohio State records.

Now Barrett is receiving the hype once again, even being mentioned in ESPN’s Heisman Watch as the fifth overall vote leader after his performance against the Falcons. With Tulsa coming to Columbus this weekend, it should be another opportunity for Barrett to showcase his skills. After that, it’s a trip to Norman to face Oklahoma and all eyes will be on the quarterbacks with Baker Mayfield and Barrett going head-to-head.

“[Big Ten Bowl Projections] College Football Playoff: Ohio State”

- Brian Bennett, ESPN


Entering 2016 rated as the sixth-rated team in the country in the AP Poll, Ohio State lived up to expectations in its first game of the season as they stomped Bowling Green in a 77-10 shellacking. Led by quarterback J.T. Barrett and H-back Curtis Samuel, the Buckeyes steamrolled their way into week two, when they host Tulsa. But what does the win mean in terms of projecting season outcomes? Well, for ESPN’s Brian Bennett, the win elevates Ohio State into the College Football Playoff in his bowl projections of the Big Ten.

Michigan, ranked only two spots below the Buckeyes, is slotted in for the Rose Bowl. Iowa takes the Capital One Orange Bowl and Michigan State gets slotted into the Outback bowl. Nebraska makes the Holiday Bowl, Wisconsin enters the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl, and Northwestern finds itself in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl. Rounding out the Big Ten teams, Penn State gets in to the Foster Farms Bowl, Indiana in the Quick Lane Bowl, and Minnesota finishes with the Heart of Dallas Bowl.

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Scarlet and Gray Drive Time Re-Wind: Scorched Falcon, Sunday Java, Power Poll, B1G Results
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!


COLUMBUS, OH – SEPTEMBER 3: Members of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrate their 77-10 victory over the Bowling Green Falcons while singing “Carmen Ohio” on September 3, 2016 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State defeated Bowling Green 77-10. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)

Saturday


Ben van Ooyen links his guest article from Scout.com



Shannon Sommers recaps the Buckeyes romp through Bowling Green





Sunday


JC Collingsworth hits back to back walk-off writings on Sunday with his #SundayMorningCoffee



JC Collingsworth gives us the high-down(Spikes) in latest volleyball thriller . . ,



Ben van Ooyen has been busy lately with his “free” weekend time . . ,



Ken Galvin jumps in with both feet . . ,



Ben van Ooyen covers his three days a week recruiting hits #HeardAroundTheSHOE





Monday


Mike Meals got the scoop and tBBC was first to have it out! Even before the Ohio State Football twitter!



Shannon Sommers goes all Simpsons on us in this power poll . . ,



Brandon Zimmerman wraps up the week that was for the B1G(oy Vey) . . ,



Mike Meals comes out from under his rock briefly to let some people have it . . ,









The post Scarlet and Gray Drive Time Re-Wind: Scorched Falcon, Sunday Java, Power Poll, B1G Results appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Ohio State’s receiver rotation could come into focus against Tulsa
E.L. Speyer via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Does Meyer truly intend on rotating 10 players when the going gets tough?

“We have a lot of depth at the offensive skill” said a satisfied Urban Meyer, moments after his Buckeyes put the finishing touches on a 77-10 drubbing of Bowling Green on Saturday.

No kidding.

Ohio State opened its season as the most inexperienced team in college football. The narrative surrounding the program was that the Buckeyes were extremely talented, but it would take time for the young group of receivers to gel with veteran quarterback J.T. Barrett.

That notion was dispelled quickly as the Buckeyes piled up a school record 776 yards of offense en route. Nine Buckeyes caught a pass. Eight scored a touchdown. And as J.T. Barrett dissected the Falcon’s secondary with surgeon-like precision, fans in the stands flipped through their game program and asked questions like, Who the hell is K.J. Hill?

It’s a fair question. Including H-Backs Curtis Samuel and Dontre Wilson, there were 10 receivers listed on last week’s depth chart. Hill was not one of them. Nevertheless, it was the stocky redshirt freshman from Arkansas who hauled in Barrett’s first scoring strike of the game.


When Meyer came to Columbus in 2011 he called the group of pass catchers he inherited a clown show. On Saturday, a total of 10 receivers saw meaningful snaps with the first team offense. This deep rotation is a testament to just how well Meyer has recruited; when one 4-star receiver with 4.4 speed gets a little winded, there’s an almost identical athlete waiting to check in.

It’s this type of the depth that separates the Ohio State’s and Alabama’s of the world from the rest of the country, let alone a MAC team like Bowling Green.

“We want to wear people down,” Meyer told the media on Monday. “We want to play fast, play a lot of people.”

This type of strategy is commonly deployed by defensive line coaches, who look to send waves of fresh pass rushers at opposing quarterbacks. It’s less common to see a coaching staff rotate this many receivers, when fresh legs could come at the expense of continuity between Barrett and his top pass catchers.

On Monday, Meyer stressed that he doesn’t intend to cut into this rotation. But Ohio State’s head coach tends to speak in terms of the ideal, and not the pragmatic. For instance, it’s common to hear Meyer say we don’t redshirt at Ohio State. Last season, all but four freshman did.

In the case of the Buckeyes’ receivers, history tells us it’s likely that the coaching staff will settle on a group of six for Barrett to rely on. It’s distinctly possible that there is just too much talent in the position group to relegate four contributors to the bench, but this coaching staff has a tendency to tighten things up a bit for big games.

Saturday’s contest with Tulsa is Ohio State’s last tuneup before diving into what could be the program’s most challenging schedule in years. A road trip to Oklahoma on September 17 looms large.

The Buckeyes’ coach was hesitant on Monday to overpraise his young roster, even after a record-setting performance. In particular, he singled out the receiving group as a unit that “didn’t play very good.”

Meyer received a bachelor’s degree in psychology at Cincinnati, and the man is a master of coaching through mind games. It’s possible that he’d divulge this to the media as a public challenge to his receivers to step up and command a more significant role.

If so, Meyer’s words could indicate that a pecking order is being established. It was thought that Corey Smith and Parris Campbell would be two of Barrett’s favorite targets this year. Neither caught a pass on Saturday, and Smith in particular was mentioned as someone who didn’t play up to his potential.

Conversely, Terry McLaurin was the only receiver designated as a championship-level performer, despite playing less snaps with the first team than most of his counterparts.

Barrett threw 31 passes against Bowling Green and only ran the ball six times. It’s likely that the coaching staff will save their quarterback from the pounding associated with the read-option run game for contests like Oklahoma. So the receivers should have plenty of opportunity to shine once again against Tulsa.

Whether those opportunities are available a week later in Norman remains to be seen. Meyer will not rely upon players if he doesn’t trust that they can perform on the biggest stage. Consider Saturday as a final audition for a large group of talented performers fighting to prove themselves worthy of a lead role.

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Cass Tech stars impressed watching Buckeyes roll in The Shoe - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Cass Tech stars impressed watching Buckeyes roll in The Shoe
247Sports
On Saturday former Detroit (Mich.) Cass Tech star, running back Mike Weber, had a nice debut as the Buckeyes defeated Bowling Green 77-10. Two class of 2019 Cass Tech stars were on hand to watch Weber and the Buckeyes. Running back/linebacker ...


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Survey: Most impressive Big Ten season opener?
Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer via Big Ten Network

There were some interesting outcomes in Week 1. Ohio State throttled Bowling Green, 77-10; Wisconsin upset LSU, 16-14; Michigan hammered Hawaii, 63-3. But which team had the most impressive opening salvo?

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Bowl Projections: Jerry Palm has 11 Big Ten teams bowling
Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer via Big Ten Network

The first leaf hasn’t fallen off a tree. But it’s never too early to think about bowl matchups, right? See where CBSSports.com's Jerry Palm places the Big Ten following Week 1 inside.

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Depth Chart: Week 2
Brandon Zimmerman via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Coming off of the complete annihilation of Bowling Green, the Buckeyes released their latest depth chart for their game with Tulsa on Saturday. There were no major surprises here, the main shake-up was at defensive tackle where the Buckeyes had to replace Tracy Sprinkle.

OFFENSE

POS NAME HT WT CLASS
QB J.T. BARRETT 6’2” 225 JR (R)
JOE BURROW 6’3” 208 FR (R)
RB MIKE WEBER OR 5’10” 215 FR (R)
CURTIS SAMUEL 5’11” 200 JR
WR1 NOAH BROWN OR 6’2” 222 SO (R)
PARIS CAMPBELL 6’0” 205 SO (R)
WR2 COREY SMITH OR 6’1” 195 SR (R)
JOHNNIE DIXON 5’11” 198 SO
H-BACK CURTIS SAMUEL OR 5’11” 200 JR
DONTRE WILSON 5’10” 195 SR
TE MARCUS BAUGH 6’5” 255 JR
AJ ALEXANDER 6’2” 254 FR (R)
LT JAMARCO JONES 6’5” 310 JR (R)
EVAN LISLE 6’7” 308 JR (R)
LG MICHAEL JORDAN 6’7” 310 FR
MATT BURRELL 6’4” 305 FR (R)
C PAT ELFLEIN 6’3” 300 SR (R)
BRADY TAYLOR 6’5” 300 SO (R)
RG BILLY PRICE 6’4” 315 JR (R)
DEMETRIUS KNOX 6’4” 308 SO (R)
RT ISAIAH PRINCE 6’7” 310 SO
BRANDEN BOWEN 6’7” 315 FR (R)
WR-Z TERRY MCLAURIN OR 6’0” 204 SO (R)
JAMES CLARK 5’10” 186 JR (R)



There were no changes to the offensive depth chart, even though Campbell and Weber were named starters at their positions.

DEFENSE

POS NAME HT WT CLASS
DE TYQUAN LEWIS 6’4” 266 JR
RASHOD BERRY 6’4” 252 FR (R)
DT DRE’MONT JONES OR 6’3” 280 FR (R)
DAVON HAMILTON 6’4” 297 FR (R)
DT MICHAEL HILL 6’3” 295 JR (R)
ROBERT LANDERS 6’1” 285 FR (R)
DE SAM HUBBARD OR 6’5” 266 SO (R)
JALYN HOLMES 6’5” 274 JR
SLB CHRIS WORLEY 6’2” 228 JR (R)
JEROME BAKER 6’1” 225 SO
MLB RAEKWON MCMILLAN 6’2” 243 JR
CRAIG FADA 6’1” 225 SR
WLB DANTE BOOKER OR 6’3” 236 JR
JOE BURGER 6’2” 230 SR
CB GAREON CONLEY 6’0” 195 JR (R)
DAMON ARNETTE 6’0” 195 FR
CB MARSHON LATTIMORE OR 6’0” 195 SO (R)
DENZEL WARD 5’10” 185 SO
S MALIK HOOKER 6’2” 205 SO (R)
ERICK SMITH 6’0” 202 JR
S DAMON WEBB 5’11” 193 JR
JORDAN FULLER 6’2” 205 FR



Just as the case with the offense, there were not changes outside of the Sprinkle injury even though we now know guys like Lattimore and Hubbard are the starters.

SPECIAL TEAMS

POS NAME HT WT CLASS
P CAMERON JOHNSTON 5’11” 195 SR
K TYLER DURBIN 6’3” 210 SR
LS LIAM MCCULLOUGH 6’2” 210 FR (R)
PR DONTRE WILSON OR 5’10” 195 SR
COREY SMITH OR 6’1” 190 FR
CURTIS SAMUEL OR 5’11” 200 JR
KR DONTRE WILSON OR 5’10” 195 SR
JAMES CLARK OR 5’10” 186 JR (R)
JOHNNIE DIXON 5’11” 198 SO



No changes to special teams this week. After game one, we can safely assume Wilson is the starter at both punt and kick return.



The post Depth Chart: Week 2 appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Jones, Hamilton bracketed as starters for Buckeyes - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Jones, Hamilton bracketed as starters for Buckeyes
247Sports
Ohio State released its second official depth chart of the season on Tuesday, and the big news is that redshirt freshmen Dre'Mont Jones and Davon Hamilton are now bracketed together as starters at defensive tackle. They are taking the place of fourth ...


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Ohio State-Tulsa 2016 depth chart: Dre’Mont Jones and Davon Hamilton listed as co-starters
Ian Cuevas via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The second depth chart of the season features some slight changes due to injuries.



A blowout win over Bowling Green, Ohio State rolled to the tune of 77-10. With Tulsa up next for the Buckeyes, there weren’t many changes from week one to the depth chart. Still, injuries played a role in the new depth chart as Tracy Sprinkle suffered a season-ending injury to the right patellar tendon in his knee. In his place, Dre’Mont Jones and Davon Hamilton are listed as co-starters to step in at defensive tackle.

J.T. Barrett is the starting quarterback and will be for the entirety of the season, barring injury. Barrett had a big hand in Ohio State’s record-setting day, throwing for 349 yards, six touchdowns and adding a rushing touchdown as well. He looked like the old Barrett from 2014 and the weight of a quarterback competition was clearly gone. Expect another big week for him.

At running back, the two-headed monster of Mike Weber and Curtis Samuel proved its worth. Weber remains the starter with OR in between he and Samuel. Weber rushed for 136 yards on 19 carries while Samuel added 84 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. Weber looked impressive, running with both speed and power while Samuel looked nearly untouchable. Samuel also hauled in nine catches for 177 yards and two touchdowns.

The starters are the same as last week, though K.J. Hill is now listed on the depth chart after a mistake last week. Noah Brown OR Parris Campbell starts at X, Corey Smith OR Johnnie Dixon, and Terry McLaurin OR James Clark at Z. Austin Mack, Binjimen Victor, and K.J. Hill are the third-string options. Brown had three catches and a touchdown in his return to the field while the aforementioned Hill impressed with his speed on one of the game’s first touchdowns.

The H-back spot remains with Curtis Samuel OR Dontre Wilson. Samuel as we mentioned had a terrific performance but Wilson had a pretty good day himself. Wilson caught 3 passes for 37 yards and two touchdowns while also carrying the ball five times for 36 yards.

The tight end spot is firmly locked down by Marcus Baugh with A.J. Alexander listed as the backup. Baugh was involved in this game from the start with four catches for 30 yards. Alexander even got some playing time near the end and caught a pass of his own.

The offensive line starters are listed as Jamarco Jones, Michael Jordan, Pat Elflein, Billy Price, and Isaiah Prince (from left to right). An excellent debut for the young offensive line, as J.T. Barrett had plenty of time to throw all game long.

On the defensive side of the ball, Sam Hubbard OR Jayln Holmes and Tyquan Lewis remain listed as the defensive end starters. Hubbard and Lewis were mostly quiet overall, but Bowling Green seemed to plan to make quick throws as much as possible. The backups at defensive end are Nick Bosa OR Jonathon Cooper. Bosa got his first sack of his career towards the end of the game. In the middle, Michael Hill anchors the defensive line alongside Dre’Mont Jones who replaces Tracy Sprinkle and Davon Hamilton is listed as the co-starter with Jones.

The linebacking core remained solid all game against Bowling Green. Raekwon McMillan is still slotted in at middle linebacker, returning from last season as the team’s leading tackler and is the leader of the defense. Surrounding him are outside linebackers Chris Worley and Dante Booker OR Joe Burger. Booker seemed to suffer a slight MCL sprain early on in the game and Joe Burger stepped in very well in his place. Rashod Berry, Jerome Baker, and Craig Fada, and Joe Burger OR Justin Hilliard are your backups.

At cornerback, Gareon Conley is the starter on one end and Marshon Lattimore OR Denzel Ward on the other for the second corner spot. For safeties, Damon Webb slides over this season with Malik Hooker getting the other safety spot. Erick Smith is listed as the backup to Hooker, while Jordan Fuller is the backup to Webb. Both Lattimore and Ward played well and were pretty spot-on in their coverage. Hooker had the game of his life, intercepting two passes on the day, one in particular spectacular fashion.

For special teams, sophomore walk-on Tyler Durbin will be starting as the kicker for both kickoffs and field goals as Sean Nuernberger recovers from a groin injury that forced him to miss most of camp. Durbin hit all of 11 of his extra points against Bowling Green. Senior Cameron Johnston remains as the punter, and that’s no surprise considering he’s been a mainstay since his freshman season and has done a tremendous job. Against Bowling Green he wasn’t need much, only punting one time all game.

At punt return, Dontre Wilson OR Corey Smith OR Curtis Samuel are all in play. Handling kickoff returns will be Dontre Wilson OR James Clark OR Johnnie Dixon. The long-snapping duties are given to Liam McCollough, and holding for kicks is Cameron Johnston.

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Audio: Listen to your Big Ten coach’s Week 2 teleconference
BTN.com staff via Big Ten Network

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

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4 Big Ten teams in newest top 10, including No. 4 Ohio State - WHIO
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


4 Big Ten teams in newest top 10, including No. 4 Ohio State
WHIO
But the Buckeyes' sternest test doesn't look as tough now as Oklahoma was beaten decisively by Houston. If Ohio State is as reloaded as it looked against a Bowling Green team expected to be among the best in the MAC again, that might not matter much ...

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