Man, I've missed watching Ohio State football and even Big 10 Football. We kick off at Noon on Fox this Saturday. Should be a thrilling day for Ohio State fans.

I think we have a legit shot at winning the National Championship this year. We had an excellent team last year and this year's team might be even better. Losing the corners may hurt, but Shaun Wade is the real deal. Losing Dobbins will hurt, but Fields should be even better than last year at QB. I also think our OL is going to be dominant. Our DL always has a ton of talent.

Looking forward to it! Nobody in the B10, with the exception of MAYBE PSU should be close with this team.

Hoping for a run at a title.

I can’t wait!!

OMG, that was freaking awesome!!!

Ohio State always has the best game trailers!!!

Umm... Don't skip over this. ^ Hollywood has nothing on it.

Ryan Day is a leader. of. men. It's not an act, it's not a script - it comes natural to him. Not only that, but he is already two steps ahead of everyone else in this strange environment we're living in. Un-freaking-believable.

Need to go scrub the goosebumps off!

I think very highly of Ryan Day. What worries me is that he is so freaking good that the NFL will soon be calling. Dude is one of the best play designers and play callers I have ever seen. He rivals guys like Shanny, McVay, and McDaniels.

Hopefully, he will realize that Ohio State is a dream job if you win [he will win] and that it's a better job than anything in the fickle NFL.

Thanks for posting. That brought tears to my eyes, thinking of my late wife and father-in-law.

Hang in there, Dave. I'm still praying for you!

Couldn't paste the "link thing:.

Copied off of BuckNuts.....

Buckeyes will be without 12 players against Nebraska
ByDAVE BIDDLE 11 hours ago

Ohio State released its status report for its season-opener against visiting Nebraska on Saturday (12 p.m. ET; FOX) and the Buckeyes will be without 12 players. Most-notably running backs Marcus Crowley and Miyan Williams. Crowley is a sophomore who is recovering from a torn ACL last season. Williams is a true freshman and his reason for not playing against the Cornhuskers is unclear. Another player who is expected to help OSU down the line this season -- but will not play this Saturday -- is true freshman cornerback Lejond Cavazos (sprained knee).

Game-time decisions for the Buckeyes will be sixth-year senior linebacker Justin Hilliard and redshirt freshman defensive tackle Jaden McKenzie.

Notable omissions from the status report are defensive tackles Haskell Garrett and Taron Vincent. Unless this was a mistake by OSU, this would indicate both of them will play, which would be very surprising. Bucknuts will inform you about Garrett and Vincent as we learn more.

Ohio State does not specify why players are unavailable or are game-time decisions on the status report.

The Buckeyes are coming off a 13-1 season in which they won the Big Ten championship and advanced to the College Football Playoff. They are under the direction of second-year head coach Ryan Day and have 10 returning starters (6 offense, 4 defense). The Cornhuskers — led by third-year head coach Scott Frost — were 5-7 last season and return 15 starters (10 offense, 5 defense).

Ohio State won 48-7 in Lincoln last year, and the Buckeyes are 26.5-point favorites this season (according to William Hill sportsbook).

Here is the full status report for Ohio State against Nebraska:


UNAVAILABLE

* CB Lejond Cavazos

* DL Jacolbe Cowan

* RB Marcus Crowley

* OG Gavin Cupp

* LB Tommy Eichenberg


* WR Jaylen Harris

* WR Austin Kutscher

* LS Roen McCullough

* DB Alec Taylor

* QB Danny Vanatsky

* SAF Kourt Williams

* RB Miyan Williams

GAME-TIME DECISION

* LB Justin Hilliard

* DT Jaden McKenzie


Here is what our Steve Helwagen wrote about the Cornhuskers earlier this week:

Nebraska is in its third season under favorite son Scott Frost, a former Huskers hero as a quarterback. It has been a rough return for Frost, whose first two teams went 4-8 in 2018 and 5-7 in 2019. Nebraska is looking for its first bowl bid since going to the Music City Bowl after the 2016 season.

As game week begins, we have not heard definitively if two-year starter Adrian Martinez or redshirt freshman Luke McCaffrey will be at the quarterback spot. Martinez is a veteran of 21 starts over the last two years. He completed 59 percent of his passes for 1,956 yards with 10 touchdowns and nine interceptions last year. McCaffrey threw 12 passes in spot duty during his redshirt year.

Nebraska returns all of its offensive starters from last year, but redshirt freshman Bryce Benhart will be the likely starter at right tackle. He is a former U.S. Army All-American Game pick.

Frost brought in a new offensive coordinator in Matt Lubick, who had previous stints at Oregon in 2016 and Washington in 2017-18. The hope is that side of the ball can return to a level of physicality and can dictate more to the opposing defense.

The Nebraska wide receiver group will feature a ton of newcomers to go with holdover Wan'Dale Robinson. Robinson (40 catches last year) was a back and wide receiver last year, but will be at receiver primarily this season. Gone is top receiver J.D. Spielman (49 catches), who transferred to TCU this off-season.

Defensively, five starters return as Nebraska will be youthful along the line and in the linebacker corps. That may not be a bad thing since Nebraska was 10th in Big Ten games in total defense, 13th in red zone defense and 11th in touchdowns allowed.

Nebraska’s special teams were atrocious last year. They will have a new punter and kicker this season and are hopeful their return units can be better.

It is ironic that Ohio State and Nebraska – who were scheduled to play each other in Columbus this season any way – will open the season against each other. They were the two schools that pushed and prodded the Big Ten the hardest to reconsider its decision to play football this fall.

Ohio State was originally ranked as high as No. 2 in the preseason AP and coaches polls. Some voters have left them off their ballots in recent weeks, preferring to wait until the Buckeyes and other teams in the Big Ten and Pac-12 have actually played games. It all figures to come out in the wash if the Buckeyes can run the table and win the Big Ten for a fourth straight year.

All of that will be discussed on another day as Ohio State approaches this season opener against what should be a hungry Nebraska team. Nebraska has been its own worst enemy during Frost’s first two years. The record reads 9-15, but we can tell you that nine of the 15 losses have come by a touchdown or less.

Nebraska fans will look for their team to avoid costly turnovers, mental mistakes and unforced errors that have cost them games in recent years. The Huskers need to coach and play smarter. They may, in some instances, lack the belief that they belong among college football’s top teams.

Ohio State is 7-1 all-time against Nebraska. The lone loss was in the schools’ first-ever Big Ten meeting in 2011 in Lincoln as the Huskers rallied from a 21-point third quarter deficit to steal a 34-27 victory.

Since then, Ohio State has won the teams’ five meetings by a whopping average of 34.4 points. That includes a 62-3 win in 2016 and a 48-7 triumph last year in Lincoln. Of course, Nebraska – with Adrian Martinez leading the way – gave OSU quite a scare in its last visit to Columbus in 2018. The Buckeyes rallied from a halftime deficit to take a 36-31 victory.

We outlined many of Nebraska’s unanswered questions above. Ohio State has a few itself with a tandem at running backs, talented freshmen at wide receiver and new starters on the defensive line and in the secondary.

The good news is Ohio State still has Justin Fields at quarterback and he should again be one of the best overall players in college football this season.

Hey, we have waited long enough. Let the fun begin!

Spread is what? 26?

Seems a bit high for a first game, but we’ll see.

Then again, I thought Wisconsin spread was too high and they drilled Illinois

Well, that start was not ideal.

Somebody needs to tell the Bucks that the game started.

We’ll win this game by 30 but the D has struggled a bit. Granted, Martinez is experienced and athletic

So much targeting in this game.

The last one was lame.

Observations:

--Fields has really improved his delivery and accuracy. I don't want him having to run that much. We're done if he gets hurt. I think he raised his pro stock, but he holds the ball too long and that is a legit concern.

--I think the RBs were underwhelming. I did not care much for the the transfer from Oklahoma. He goes down to easy. #22 flashed just a bit.

--We have at least 3 All-World WRs. All of those guys will be factors in the NFL one day. That catch #11 had in the back of the end zone was like watching a ballet move.

--The OL looked both good and bad at times. I think we're pretty good there, but I need to see more.

--We need the young DEs to play better. Number 54 did not maintain containment. The dude who got shot in the face made some plays.

--The DBs and LBers looked a bit too slow. It seems like we are back to thinking rather than reading and reacting.

--Good running QBs could give us issues.

--We should have an advantage on Special Teams all year.

--Conclusion: Other than Fields and the WRs, we were not sharp, but we won big anyway. Going to have to get better. Lot's of teaching points the coaching staff can address. Going to have to grow up in a hurry.

I don't think it was as lame as the commentator made it out to be. I think Nebraska was head-hunting all game. I'm not complaining about it, but it was pretty obvious that was their strategy.

LOL.............I came back to post a YouTube video of that catch. It was a different video, but the very same catch. Incredible catch.

Ohio State Buckeyes coach Ryan Day apologizes for not taking knee late against Nebraska Cornhuskers

espn.com

Ohio State coach Ryan Day apologized to Nebraska for the Buckeyes offense not taking a knee in the final seconds of Saturday's 52-17 win at Ohio Stadium.

Leading 45-17 in the final minute, the Buckeyes reached the Nebraska 2-yard line. Rather than take a knee, freshman quarterback Jack Miller ran into the end zone.

"I feel bad about that," Day said. "I had a younger quarterback in the game, and I didn't feel like we had the personnel to take the knee, and I probably should have done that. So I just want to publicly apologize to them, to [Nebraska coach] Scott [Frost]."

Frost did not address Ohio State's final touchdown after the game. He did take a timeout with three seconds left to run a final play.

Day said he would contact Frost to apologize. The two coaches have a good relationship, and Frost on Monday praised Day and Ohio State for joining Nebraska in the fight to reinstate the Big Ten season. Asked about several Nebraska hits in the second half, including targeting fouls by corner Cam Taylor-Britt and safety Deontai Williams, Day said, "I would be shocked if there was any malintent there."

EDITOR'S PICKS

Indiana stuns Penn State, a missed field goal for the ages and more from Week 8
Day was pleased with Ohio State's opening performance, especially in the second half, when the Buckeyes outscored Nebraska 28-3. Quarterback Justin Fields, a 2019 Heisman Trophy finalist, completed 20 of 21 passes for 276 yards and two touchdowns, with his lone incompletion a near touchdown grab by wide receiver Chris Olave.

According to ESPN Stats & Information, Fields recorded the second-best single-game completion percentage (95.2) in league history, tying with Wisconsin's Graham Mertz, who also completed 20 of 21 passes Friday against Illinois.

"It was great to see Justin, going into his second year, looking so comfortable back there," Day said.

Day, Fields and others said an empty Ohio Stadium provided an odd setting for the opener. The Big Ten has prohibited all fans -- other than families of coaches and players -- from games.

"It was definitely weird," Fields said. "I was looking up to celebrate with some fans, but nobody was really out there. It was a little bit different. We just tried to bring our own energy to the game."

It was weird because some of the lines went to 28. I also wondered if Day didn't down it because of all the head-hunting that went on all day long by Nebraska's DBs.

As a coach, I always thought that the best way to counter that crap was not to resort in dirty play, but beat the living crap out of them legally.

I'm glad we scored the last TD. Dudes were definitely head-hunting all day long.

Toe tap and a beauty. He looked like a gd ballerina.

Time for PSU. They will be focused after losing for sure, thought I think OSU is much better

No Script Ohio, no skull session, no cheerleaders, No "Many, Mony" , dotting the I, no Brutus.
::sigh:: Guess we settle for a kick butt win!

Go, Bucks! O—H. . . !

Loved it.

Did they coach shoulder to the head for Nebraska? Not crown of the helmet, but dropping the head on these targeting reviews. Easy enough to be legal and still punish their target.

I don't want to see neck injuries for this gamer any other. Accidental is one thing, but these looked intentional.

It was bad technique all around. Ohio State was getting those kinds of flags for the last few years. They have slowly learned you can't play like that. I was really surprised to see Joel Klatt defending those plays.

It was something like, 4th and 1 from the 2 yard line.

YOu can't take a knee there, because of the game clock, the situation, IIRC this is from memory,
there was no way to run out the clock, there were more seconds in the game than taking a knee would run off, so not as many seconds on the play clock.

If they take a knee, then why not kick the field goal.
There really was no right answer,
Aww screw it, just run it in for the touchdown, best case scenario happened.

And Nobody can complain, because they ran it, and up the middle,
They didn't try a reverse, or a play fake, or a play action pass, or even an option play,

They just ran it up the middle. That's the easiest thing for the Nebraska team to defend.

It was not like, you take a knee and the games over,
It was, if you take a knee you get no points out of being on the 3 yard line,

and if you try a field goal, that looks even more like piling it on than just running up the middle like they did.

Never should have apologized, should have called out the Nebraska team as, "just make the tackle, it's a run up the middle."
(I say)

Really I don't care because the whole year is shot, because they started games so many weeks after the rest of college football. (Nevermind me, the Bucks will be in the BCS.)

Good post, but the BCS ended in 2013, if I am not mistaken. I think you are referring to us being one of the 4 NCAA Playoff teams.

Agree about the last TD situation. Kicking a field goal is more piling on than just going for it on 4th.

And this whole season doesn't seem right. You have a whole mess of teams that have been playing for almost 2 months. The Big Ten is just starting. You also have Wisconsin using a 4th string (did i hear that right) QB.

i don't want to put an asterisk on the year, but it just doesn't seem right at all. Ohio State is going to the playoff if they win out, and to me it seems a little crappy that there could be some teams that also win out, and have 3-5 more wins than Ohio State.

Hey Sperg..............what do you think about expanding the playoff teams to 6 this year to perhaps make things more equitable in this unusual season?

I have been against it since the creation of the CFP. I think 4 is perfect. I think there have been years where teams just outside of the top 4 were not really worthy.

I think this year would be acceptable, as there are just so many variables, like I said, with some teams having played a full normal schedule, and some teams doing a shortened conference only season.

I don't think there is time to organize all that, and do you bubble them? Would that even be possible considering they are student-athletes, and not paid professionals like the nba and nhl guys?

I think the NBA and NHL proved that the only way to really do this correctly is to bubble your whole league. The NFL can't do that, and they have done a decent job with everything, but what happens when it's Pat Mahomes, or Russell Wilson that gets COVID, and has to multiple games? It is such a delicate situation.

This really sucks, I look forward to college football every year, and this year just seems dumb. Obviously I will still watch but it's not the same. For some reason NFL is just fine, but all that other stuff like student sections and huge crowds just makes the college football product less than stellar.

How 'bout eight teams? Why not. The NCAA has a free ticket to do anything they want without long term commitment, may as well appease the fans who have been screaming for it and level the playing field for all the teams going through these strange circumstances this year.

J/c

Wisconsin/Nebraska are not playing this week. I wonder what domino effect that will have

I think they could justify extending the number of playoff teams this particular year. I think most people would understand the why of it. Even guys like Sperg who doesn't want more teams in each year, would find it acceptable this year. An added bonus might be to see how works and it makes the entire playoffs more exciting or if the quality of play suffers substantially.

I had no idea that the Big Ten presidents and chancellors were bureaucrats. They're the people who voted to postpone the season. You learn something new every day.

Big Ten presidents and chancellors listened to health officials and based their decision upon that and somehow that equals bureaucrats?

Bureaucrats isn't the right word, so I agree with you there. But painting them in a light that indicates they have safety in teh forefront of their minds similarly doesn't ring true when they 180'd shortly after the first decision and flung the doors open.

Pressure was applied heavily. But not from the direction Vers seemed to indicate. In the end money wins over safety.

I was referring to the university presidents. I apologize profusely for the incorrect word. Now maybe Pit can take his politics back to the Political forum where his crap belongs?

This is an Ohio State Football thread. And again, I apologize for using the incorrect word. Sheesh!!!

Back to Ohio State.

This week's game against Penn State is the featured night game on ABC. It kicks off at 7:30 and it should feature Fowler and Herbie as the announcing team. That's awesome because they are very good at what they do and it's cool we are in the national spotlight.

I almost wish Penn State would have won last week. Playing them after a loss in their place is going to be tough. On the other hand, they are a little beat up. I think they lost their starting running back and a couple of other guys.

Does anyone know if Wyatt Davis and Olave are going to play for us?

I'm a little worried about Penn States QB running on us.

For those of you who like to wager.

Spread is now 12

Wow!

Yep PSU is down to their 3rd RB

i think it is going to be a buckeye beat down... i get that PSU usually plays buckeyes tough... but I think the buckeyes win big... over 17+....

In related news, Quinn Ewers just decommitted from Texas. He was the number 1 overall high school qb recruiting prospect in the nation.

Ohio State is the favorite to land him, followed by Alabama. This would be quite a coup for the Buckeyes.

we benefit too from having no fans at PSU ... just like Michigan lucks out playing at OSU this year

I'm not the one who blamed it on bureaucrats. With you being a teacher it's obvious you knew exactly what you were doing. Save it for someone who believes your BS.

Thanks. Love these trailers. Hope we go w/the black uniforms.

Just because the comments are so entertaining.

Line down to -10.5 now.

Seems like free money (knock on wood).

What the heck was that call? QB takes the snap, takes 2 slow steps backwards before taking a knee, and the clock only runs off 1 second?

Take that Penn St.

OHIO STATE with a 49 yard touchdown pass.

OSU, they get their points the old fashioned way, they Earrrrn them.

Take that and put it in your halftime shenanigans peacepipe and shove it.

hell of a catch by PSU back to back...

Go Bucks!

And they cover.

Nobody else in the Big Ten will challenge OSU ... I give Penn State Credit for not quitting ...

Can you see, Buckkeyes win in PSU stadium Again!

Freaking, oil Fracking, Gremlins in the computer blocked my Bucks win the game post 2 separate times!

38-25, zero seconds on the clock

After the intercepton, the Buckeyes take it to the 9 yard line, run out the clock and miss a FG
Buckeye kicker needs to make that.

Buckeyes D, holds on, 13 point lead, for the final whole quarter or more of a lead,
2-0, Buckeyes.

seemed to me that we kinda coasted to a win ... PSU had very little chance IMO.

A bit concerning about Wade’s performance, but their WR made a few great plays.

As odd as this sounds: is Indiana the biggest game of the year?

Nice win for the Buckeyes. Some observations.

--Fields had another very good game. He made some Sunday throws. I was skeptical of his NFL stock last year, but he has really grown as a QB. He is seeing the field better. His mechanics are improved. He is doing a better job of going through his progressions. His leadership is more evident. He obviously worked hard this off-season. My knock on him is that he is too slow at going through his progressions. Remains to be seen if he can speed that up. I do think his draft stock is skyrocketing.

--The running game looked better. Teague is a load and Sermon was more decisive.

--The OL won their match-up against PSU's front decisively. They opened nice holes and gave Fields time to throw.

--Wilson and Olave are perhaps the best 1-2 punch at WR in the entire nation right now. Both will be playing on Sundays when they decide to move on.

--Oliver is starting to come on at DE. You know Larry Johnson will get the most out of him. I look to see Oliver continuing to improve and become a difference maker. He has a lot of potential.

--I thought #72, Togai...or something like that...had a very nice game.

--Haskell Garrett had another impactful game.

--The LBers had a much, much better game than they did against Nebraska. That helped a ton. I was worried about the Penn St qb running on us, but we negated that almost all night long.

--The secondary is a concern. Hooker looked better, but Banks is really raw.

Some other notes:

--We got screwed because the clock operator started the game clock late at the end of the half. That could have been a huge factor.

--Those two catches by Dotson from PSU were amazing and they came on back-to-back plays.

--Ryan Day is a really good coach. I hope we don't lose him to the NFL.

--I think these big-time performances on national TV and Day's ability to develop offensive players is going to continue to reap dividends for our recruiting.

The Buckeyes already have next years Number 1 class and still adding more 5 Stars

...Oliver?? Is that an Olave/Cooper mashup? I remember Cooper (wearing number zero at DE this year) having some nice pass rushes. Hopefully he can stay healthy as injuries seem to have been the biggest things holding him back. That and playing opposite attention-grabbing superstars.

Teague can be a load, I'd like to see him punish DBs in the open field more, though. He geared down to try to make them miss, but he'll probably be better off trying to maintain momentum while using a stiff arm in the future.

I was impressed with our trenches. We pretty much owned the line of scrimmage. We kept some pretty talented DEs quiet. A healthy Munford bodes well for us.

Cooper.

Same, although it would be really tough to leave what they have built up there. It is just reload every year. I understand that there is added pressure, but he seems to be able to handle it.

Good point about OSU being a really, really good job.

There are a handful of programs where if you end up there, you pretty much want that job for life.

Alabama, Ohio State, I think USC is that way even though they have struggled recently.

I think Michigan may not necessarily be that anymore. It will take a really good coach to turn that program around, and even then, I don't know if you can sustain it with the recruits that they probably are never going to get.

Notre Dame is still that job, although they are similiarly like Michigan, just a little better at it.

Texas is still probably that gig, what they have over Michigan with recruiting potential, you aren't leaving that program if you don't have to.

We looked good in the first half. Fields has really grown as a qb. He still holds it too long on occasion, but he doesn't play hero ball, buys time in the pocket, and is very accurate.

I give Schiano credit. He has Rutgers playing much harder than in recent years.

I agree. I think Rutgers is going to give Michigan all they can handle.

no doubt. They are not a pushover ... funny that teams like them and Indiana and Maryland have come on strong

that seems good

Well that sucks!

Dangit

Man, oh well I will watch the rest of the Big Ten ...

J/C

What will this type of thing do to the rankings?

I don't know, but the Big 10 is dumb. They started too late and they just cancel missed games instead of simply postponing them like anyone w/a brain would do.

Maryland has given Harbaugh the secret on how to not lose to Ohio State.

Just going to state for the record, I don't think MD was going to beat OSU but it might have been closer than a lot of people think.. and I'll go out on a limb right now and say that Taulia is every bit as good if not better than Tua... I say that after my entire 3 game sample where he absolutely sucked in one of them...

I think it would have been a great game... I'm with you that i don't think Maryland would have beaten OSU... but it would have been a great game... was really looking forward to watch this one...

hoping we're ready for Indiana...

The "new" angle getting echoed around started during Indiana game last week. Buckeyes ought to be really concerned about Hoosiers, fear this team, and with much anxiety.

Indy is improved, but I don't see them hanging with us if we take care of business. I also wanted to see us play last weekend.

I don't think Indy is gonna take OSU by surprise. I keep hearing that on tv, but I am pretty sure they are aware of what IU is doing. It has been impressive. I believe they are for real, and I think this will be a great game. I am crossing my fingers it does not somehow get canceled. Big Ten needs this game, and so do both of these teams.

OSU 42 IU 21

https://www.espn.com/college-football/st...mits-ohio-state

Quinn ewers just committed to OSU... top prospect for 2022... gives Buckeyes top prospect three years in a row... Go Bucks!

Buckeyes Vs. Indianna are kicking off.

Buckeye Haters, Are SALIVATING!

Because they wish, if ONLY, this one game, if Indiana wins that'll put Ohio State in 3rd place in the Big 10,

Oh Those haters have a GLEAM IN THEIR EYE,
Like the Broadcaster on the left, and the on field lady reporter.

OH What A feeling to Hate!
Haters going to Hate

How was that not a fumble? At least should have been reviewed.

I don't know what happened, I see a fair catch, Buckeyes ball on the 50, turn around to fix something, when I look back it's Indinas ball 2nd and 10 near the 50?
I'm not sure what happened.

Field's first interception of the year.

We’ve gotten jobbed by the refs twice now. Two turnovers that weren’t called properly.

Teague has poor balance. Mixed with only fair vision. He’s an average back at best.

"We've gotten jobbed by the refs twice now."

You are correct.

The media has really been terrible today.

OSU destroying now

Now score to start the 2nd half and let IU warm up the bus ...

I U

Indiana's logo looks so much like a Bucket of Chicken,

KFC ought to be charged an adevertising fee.

The sideline reporter lady, at the start of the 2nd half, had lost some of the smile on her face, (see it in the eyes) that they'd been hoping, I speculate, to see the Buckeyes lose this game.
Haters.

Man, our secondary is getting torched

Don’t love that 4th down call

Fields Heisman stock is plummeting while Penix should move way up.

Ohio State " DC " got schooled by Indiana today !

A very sloppy game by OSU. Too many blown assignments on the defensive side of the ball. The oline and backs missed assignments as well. Fields probably did knock himself out of contention for the Heisman. The only good was the way we ran and played the run.

GM B After that performace don't mention Fields and Heisman in the same sentence again this year.

Half a dozen times Buckeyes had 3rd and 13 and he didn't convert a single one.
Granted they just ran up the gut 4 or 5 of em, but altogether,

Fields looked Bad, (to be nice)
The OSU defense looked Bad (to be nice)
They looked like key stone cops on the touchdown to the crossing route where all the coverage got tangled covering the wrong man.

Buckeyes defense covering the wrong man wasn't a one time thing today!

I don't see every Buckeye game on TV here only being in FREAKING Columbus OHIO their home city,

But of the games I've seen, I don't remember a worse defensive performance except maybe the 41-14 loss to the Gators in the Natl championship 20 some years ago, but

That was at least a championship team, and,
and

In that florida loss, they at least ran better, (even on their 2.7 yd avg that day vs the 300 passing and ton rushing they put up today.

THEY LOOKED BAD, there was a time where Indiana got 3 Td's on three posessions on a couple snaps per drive.

And the Buckeyes got their Offense stopped about 13 times today, if they hadn't been up so much in the 2nd quarter, they wouldn' t have won this one.

They missed a field goal with a rookie kicker last named Seibert.

Earl Bruce was looking on, I think,

4-0 Win out and we are in the CFP and they will learn from this ....

I agree, we needed a game like this as a wake up call.

Fields actually looked human today, first time we've ever seen that.

I don't like Ohio States' (current) case for the BCS if it includes an "eyeball" test.

So much talent and uninspired results.

It just seems like the defense really goes through lapses. When they had to turn it on the last drive they easily squelched Indiana.

Today was also the first day I saw Fields forcing stuff

OSU definitely had some breakdowns today, but I don't want to take away from how well Indiana played. They are the real deal, and that coach did a stupendous job not letting his team throw in the towel when they were way down. I don't remember how many times we were in Penix's face and I thought he was just throwing the ball away to avoid a sack....and it was a bullseye to a receiver.

No eye test needed when your undefeated ...

Yeah, for sure. It kind of sucks Wisconsin is losing and it will be a blow to our SOS not facing them in the big 10 title game. But the bottom line is the committee is going to put us in the top 4 if we don't lose based on our talent alone.

Secondary better learn. They screwed up too often for points today. Our QB really looked lousy at times. He has been bulletproof, but not today.

Glad we won. Obviously. Hats off to Indy for giving us more game than we wanted or expected. Turned it on and shut us down.

What’s up with not challenging that indiana fumble in the first quarter? The replay on TV clearly showed a fumble.

1 Does tosu coaching staff not look at the tv feed, for camera angles, on previous plays?
2 was this play not able to be challenged by the tosu? Did it have to be initiated by the refs! If so, why not call a timeout to give the refs more time to look at the play.

Im not sure I’ve seen a more blatantly missed fumble/possible challenge, whoever is in charge of challenging replays for tosu, should lose their job. I have to assume this play was unable to be challenged,, or I mst be missing something.

OHIO STATE'S PASS DEFENSE IS OFFICIALLY A PROBLEM

By Dan Hope on November 21, 2020 at 8:04 pm

Statistically, Ohio State had one of its worst games ever defending the pass against Indiana.

Hoosiers quarterback Michael Penix Jr. threw for 491 yards against the Buckeyes on Saturday at Ohio Stadium, the most the Buckeyes have allowed in any game in the last 35 years and the fourth-most Ohio State has ever surrendered in a game.

For context: Ohio State’s much-lampooned 2018 defense never allowed more than 378 passing yards in a game, and the Buckeyes hadn’t allowed more than 400 passing yards in any game since their season opener against Indiana in 2017.

MOST PASSING YARDS ALLOWED BY OHIO STATE IN A SINGLE GAME
YEAR OPPONENT YARDS
1980 ILLINOIS 621
1981 PURDUE 526
1985 PURDUE 497
2020 INDIANA 491
2000 PURDUE 455

Despite those struggles defending the pass, Ohio State earned a 42-35 win against Indiana to improve to 4-0 on the season and win its biggest game of the year to date. But the Buckeyes’ inability to prevent big plays in the passing game was the biggest reason why a game they led 35-7 after their opening possession of the second half turned into a game that Indiana still had a chance to win in the final minute of play.

One reason why Indiana’s passing yardage was so high was because the Hoosiers attempted 51 passes, which they had to do because they were trailing and the Buckeyes’ run defense was dominant, holding them to a net loss of 1 yard on 16 rushing plays. But that’s still more than 9.6 yards per passing attempt, which is more than the Hoosiers had in any of their first four games. Most troublingly, the Hoosiers hit big play after big play through the air, including four passing plays of 50-plus yards and 10 passing plays of 15-plus yards.

“If we don’t give up those big plays, we probably run away with this game, but we didn’t,” Day said. “491 yards passing, that’s way too much.”

All five of Indiana’s touchdowns came on passing plays, and all five of the Hoosiers’ touchdown drives including at least one passing play of 25-plus yards. Outside receiver Ty Fryfogle did a lot of the damage, catching seven passes for 218 yards and three touchdowns, and he made several big plays in one-on-one matchups against Shaun Wade and Ohio State’s other cornerbacks. But there were also times where the Buckeyes simply left a player uncovered, like a 51-yard catch by David Ellis and a 16-yard touchdown catch-and-run by Ellis on a 4th-and-10 in the fourth quarter.

Just minutes after the game, Day couldn’t pinpoint exactly what went wrong for the passing defense, saying he’d need to watch the film on Sunday to evaluate that. But he said the Buckeyes need to evaluate everything – personnel, scheme and coaching – to figure out how to fix it.

“Any time you have a problem like that, it’s one of three things,” Day said. “You say to yourself, do you have the right personnel there? So you look at who’s doing it. Then the second thing is, what is the scheme? Does the scheme give our guys the right opportunity to be successful? And then if both of those boxes get checked, then it goes to coaching. Are we coaching it correctly? So I think that’s, when you’re trying to fix something, you have to identify one of these three things that needs to get addressed, or maybe a little bit of each.

“Usually, when you assess something like that, it’s not like, OK, it’s only this. It’s usually a little bit of this, a lot of this, maybe a little bit here or there. And if you tighten up all three of those areas, usually you see improvement.”

Asked about the possibility of making changes to the defensive lineup, Day indicated that he didn’t expect to replace any starters, but said that would also be evaluated during film study.

“At the end of the day, you have to put the best players on the field to make plays,” Day said. “We believe in our guys, we have confidence in our guys, so I’ll be very surprised if we have to make any changes. But maybe we will. We have to watch the film and see, because almost 500 yards of offense in terms of passing is too much, and that’s just not acceptable.”

The passing defense certainly wasn’t the only reason a four-score game became a one-score game, as Ohio State’s offense didn’t score on any of its final six possessions. The Buckeyes have been outscored in the second half in each of their last three games, and that’s on the offense for failing to finish games out strong, too.

“It’s not even just the secondary, it’s the whole defense and the whole offense,” Wade said. “I feel like in the second half, I don’t know what it is, but we have to figure it out. Especially in big games with competition just like we’re playing right now, we can’t be giving up points like that in the second half and not scoring in the second half.”

Giving up big plays through the air has been an issue in all three of those games, though, and the passing defense’s woes against Indiana started before halftime, as the Hoosiers hit two of their 50-plus-yard plays in the second quarter. The passing defense was already Ohio State’s biggest area of concern before Saturday’s game, but it became a glaring liability against the Hoosiers, and one that could ultimately derail the Buckeyes’ title hopes if they can’t get it fixed quickly.

As Wade said, that shouldn’t be pinned solely on the secondary. Ohio State’s pass-rush was also mediocre on Saturday, recording just two sacks, though it did step up on Indiana’s final two possessions to prevent a potential game-tying or game-winning score. Linebackers like Baron Browning, Teradja Mitchell and Pete Werner got beat in coverage, too. And Wade made a crucial play that the Buckeyes needed to win the game by intercepting a Penix pass and returning it for a 36-yard touchdown.

But if Ohio State’s going to achieve its goals for this season, it can’t continue to give up big plays in the passing game as repeatedly as it did on Saturday. If and how much the Buckeyes can improve in that area could ultimately make or break the Buckeyes’ chances of winning a championship this year.

https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-stat...ially-a-problem

The secondary was alarming yesterday (and has been) ... big plays are a huge concern

GC. History of the Ohio State vs Illinois matchups, I'm talking about years 1990-2002 ish, lead me to believe Ill. would have little respect for the Buckeyes, especially at home,

and without even looking at the ilini team, lead me to believe the Buckeyes could run into a Buzz Saw and a loss, (unless they play better than they have been);

when they play.

j/c...

lol dream on ... Go Bucks

Nothing about Ohio State this year looks like a top 4 CFP team to me;
Except for,
The Band
and Recruiting,
and a couple of the assistant coaches.

I don't think they can stay undefeated
if they continue with..
Less than perfect organization
Less than perfecet inspiration
Less than perfect coordination. That's being nice.

j/c...

sucks but not surprised... get your act together OSU

What were they doing wrong?

Honestly no idea.... but frankly there should be little reason the coach should get it... just hope they can contain the outbreak....

One more cancelled game means no Big 10 Championship game for OSU.

I think it is at the point OSU will have to drop in the national ranking with only 4 wins at this point while other teams have 7-8-9 wins in the bank after this week.

Actually playing and winning games has to count for something.

I really think Ohio State would have lost to Illinois, being a road big 10 game and the awful way the Buckeyes have played the last 2 games, specifically the 2nd halves.

If I remember right, they got outscored in the 2nd halves by their last 2 opponents.
Indiana, and ? I forget who they played the week before.

You say you know Football ??? Sorry you DON'T there is no way Illinois would beat Ohio State

Of Course you do getting rid of OSU is one less obstacle for the SEC and Clemson

It really isn't my desire. It's simply a matter of what is right.

How is that right? If OSU Plays it out and wins that would make them 7-0 and eligible for the playoffs but I know its all about the SEC and Clemson, and I will not be surprised to see 3 SEC teams and Clemson in the Playoffs once they figure out how to dispose of ND, its all media run and a joke ...

And your telling me Saban has tested positive yet none of his players have? Something stinks in the state of Denmark ...

I'm going to assume PastorMarc, you meant this post for me, (maybe balpeen, but Vers. hasn't been in this thread)

So I did 2 things, (I tried to look at the all time series between Ill and OSU and got the winnipedia but it was, not quite what I was looking for.

2nd I tried to look back where I said " I know football", and, I didn't but if I read some of my posts, ... I get it, how they read seems like I was being an obnoxious know it all, but!

The all time series showed me one thing, (I was wrong about when I said history, 1990-2002, .. I was probably remembering because,
Illinois, longest win streak vs OSU is at 5, 1988-2002,

And winnipedia said also, they played every year for 56 years, back around that time.

The Buckeyes don't play Illinois every year anymore.
The Buckeyes may not rememeber how Ill, is never going to let them win because they show up and wear scarlet and gray, (I mean they make them earn it!)

I don't know anything about ill's team this year, nothing!, and I know there were some past years where ill couldn't stop a div 2 school with a flu outbreak, but that's not what my focus is on.

If you want to say all I've said is bull, and I'm full of, then fine.

But there is a point you should agree with.

(That all those years I hated on Florida state, and Florida, and Miami(fl), and then Notre Dame, or Clemson, or USC, or Alabama, or others, for getting a top 5 ranking on name recognition and roster make up alone,

That Ohio State doesn't look much different than that this year, ...( and Man!! if you got 3 Wr's like that, Fields! you've got to find them!)

Don't listen to me! Time and future games has a way of proving these things out!


edit: I want to add this,
Your post should read, There is no way Ill would beat Ohio state... for the 28th time, all time.

sec fans moving the goal posts? YOU DONT SAY

You've just spent way too much time talking about a game that is never going to be played.

so.... if you're michigan do you get a bunch of 'covid positives' the week against OSU? Great way to play spoiler... OSU wouldn't be eligible for Big Ten championship game and probably playoffs if they don't play their final two games.

The announcers in all the games I've watched today seem so giddy that there's a chance OSU will not make the playoffs if they don't qualify for the B1G championship game. In this LSU game especially. It's like they're trying to sway public opinion by politicking for them not to make it.

First, I don't think 3 SEC teams would every be in the final 4.

This year, maybe 2, but only if Florida and Bama win out, then Florida beats Bama in the championship game.

If OSU wins out, sure they probably get in. My comment was directed at the here and now. I don't see how they maintain a hold on a top 4 spot with 4 wins while other teams have 7-8 wins. Strength of schedule isn't going to give OSU any bonus points.

I think TAMU has an outside shot too... if UF wins out but gets beat in the SEC championship game then TAMU has a good argument depending on who else wins out...

if OSU has to cancel another game their season is done... if they win out they'll be in...

I agree. A&M probably has the best D in the country. At least it seems that way. They are pretty stout.

I hope not, but it seems the league and possibly Mich. St. would have say no matter how desperate the Bucks might be.

j/c...

1. Alabama
2. Notre Dame
3. Clemson
4. Ohio State

I'm glad he planted the seed, I've been thinking the same thing.

Way to man up and accept responsibility, Kirk. But I think you really did mean it, lol.

I thought the same thing... once we cancelled this past weekend I figured our season was done...

The Big Ten has a rule that players who test positive have to wait 21 days before they can play.

How are they playing this week?

Lol. From 1973. "...the audacity, the unmitigated gall..."

I haven't paid much attention to college football this year. But I live in Columbus so, Ohio State football is kind of publicized. Way I figure it, The Big 10... went 60% of the way to not being a part of a 4 team playoff when they decided back in August? not to play ball, the same weeks all the other teams did.

There was a time, they weren't even going to have a season at all.

Another way I figure it. Ohio State, needs to be 7-0 (maybe 6-1), to have played 7 games, by the time the "extra / big 10 champ week" game is done before any bowl games are announced,
to really have a case, a strong case, that they deserve consideration for the final 4 CFP.

Another way I figure it, if there came a case where, Ohio State got in the 2 game Natl championship and Won it,

but somehow they won it like if, Clemson's Qb went out with a broken hip early in the game, and something else similar in the other game, so (2 games) with devastating circumstances to their opponent,

Then! you'd have a natl champion, who,
Didn't play outside of their conference, not 1 OOC game in the regular season,

and , Two devastating circumstances to both teams they beat in the College Football Playoff,

and, only played less 6 or less regular season and big10 champ week games SO ONLY 8 games ALL YEAR!

And then, there would be, mutitudes of Colleges and Universities, saying,
Aw come on , this ain't no (worst word) national champion??? (those teams played 8,9, 10, or 11, games.)

Can u imagine, just imagine you are the buckeyes, and you DID do that, you'd have an illigitmate Natl title, forever on your history.

I think it's dumb, either just admit, you either get 7 games in, or you go play in the flipin Rose Bowl like you did in all the years of the 1988-1995,

I mean the 1997 Buckeyes, who beat Jake Plummer in the Rose bowl have a better case for a National title, than a team this year would if they play 5 games... I'm done,
call me the bad guy, homer glasses, Common sense Man! The Big 10 (blanked) themselves!

I hadn't even mentioned, They played 3 teams so far not named Rutgers! and two of them, PSU + Nebr. started out almost winless.
edit: to clarify, 7 games in the threshold
7 games, I'd support the argument "for" all the way
6 games, I'd support the argument "against" all the way.

No National Title would be Illegitimate whether it was the Buckeyes now or BAMA Who won 1 without being conference Champion ...

Come on center. Pick it up. Fields been bailing you out so far this drive.

Holy crap he's awful.

Did Fields get hurt?

shout out to the people who thought msu was gonna pull off some kind of 2014-esque upset lol

Hard to believe that Haskell Garrett was shot in the face not that long ago.

What's up with Teague today, it looks like he's running in quicksand.

Mel Tucker

omg fields just dropped an absolute dime to Olave.

Trevor lawrence is definitely the #1 pick....but i don't know if the gap between him and fields is as wide as some sports analyst make it seem.

I agree, but that game last week ruined his chances. The Buckeyes didn't play enough games to have a stinker in there.

I dunno about that, I don't think one game makes or breaks your draft stock. Besides, the NFL is drafting guys on what they think that can do, and not so much what they did in college. They obviously have to use some of that, and there were some definite flaws in that game.

I think Lawrence goes 1 still, but Fields has a lot of qualities that teams are looking for in this new NFL.

They're both going to have to make a lot of strides when they get to the next level though.

GC. About 6 pm today I saw an Indiana wr #13 I think, get so wide open, and drop the ball.
He was easily 14-20 yards deeper and alone than any defender.

And it first looked like a catch, hit him right in the hands.

He just ran by the defense, they didn't even look up, almost like when someone jumps the snap count, but a WR.

edit: maybe it was Wisconsin, same color jerseys, Wisc. has a number 13, maybe it was the same guy who dropped the final td attempt for wisc.

Remember when Georgia chose Jake Fromm over Justin Fields?

praying we actually get to play UM.... heck of a game today particularly without an OL...

He’s a plodder. No suddenness. Average vision. Fair to poor balance. Maybe one of the least impressive backs I’ve seen the Bucks field in some time.
I was more impressed by the kid Williams that came in at the end of the game. I liked his balance and vision a ton more than Teague. Williams came in and ran for 2+ yards per run better than Teague.

Not long ago Joe Burrow ended up at LSU.

Worst RB core we have had in 10 years

And still a very good group, it's just that JK Dobbins left a gigantic pair of cleats to fill. Man he was a good one

Right. Burrow's story is unique. He played for LSU the previous and was average. He took a huge leap. Fromm was never great and everyone knew Fields was a stud.

Game canceled

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.10tv.co...29-9a72d2f9205c

GAME CANCELED

I just saw this moments ago. Man is this ever going to complicate the playoff implications.

The Big Ten needs to step up and cancel the stupid rule they imposed !!!

Which "stupid rule" would that be?

They will meet and change the rule. You are not going to penalize the 4th ranked team that will be representing your conference in the playoffs (should the win the title game) because of COVID. That is just idiotic.

Big 10 initially said you have to play 6 games to qualify for the Big 10 Title game.

NCAA will amend the rule for qualifying for the College Football Playoffs. Ohio State brings in way too much money to not have them in on a technicality.

Biggest Harbaugh victory since he has been at Michigan.

Which rule...and changing rules mid game is rinky dink.

Everybody knew the rules going in. You don't change rules to benefit one player.

If OSU gets in the title game, who is that kicking out?

Indiana

First, it isn't a technicity. It was the agreed upon rules.

Second, how does OSU bring in any more money?

I figured, but wasn't sure.

The rules will change.

Ad revenue. More eyeballs on the game, the higher the ad dollar charged per 30 second or 60 second commercial break.

Ohio State is a huge draw.

Not so much more than any other team to play in the game.

OSU doesn't have a cod lock on fans.

Also, even if the Big Ten rigs the deck in favor of OSU, the BCS committee is by no means a sure thing to vote them in the top 4.
I would think several of the voters would change their vote under those circumstances.

Where do Buckeyes go now after Michigan cancelled The Game?
https://lettermenrow.com/ohio-state-foot...-ten-next-step/
COLUMBUS — The true worst-case scenario at Ohio State arrived.

The Buckeyes have already faced plenty of adversity, they’ve dealt with numerous disappointments and they had previously lost two games. But the program builds its entire year around The Game, and now that has officially been ripped away from it as well.

Tuesday will be a dark day in the history of this storied rivalry, and clearly Ohio State was rattled when the decision was handed down from Michigan that it wouldn’t be able to play on Saturday. But what will make it ever harder to process in the short term is there’s no time to waste to put a contingency plan in place in order to salvage the rest of their goals in the Big Ten and College Football Playoff chases.

“I think the [minimum-games rule] was one of those things that was put into place early on, and decisions are made based on the information that you have at the time,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said on Tuesday just an hour before the cancellation. “Things change, as we know. They cancelled a non-conference season early on, it got changed to conference only, then it got changed to no season, then it got changed to a season — there’s been a lot of changes. I think we have to take a hard look periodically at all this stuff. I think this is one of those situations.

“If we don’t quite get the games that we need to get into the championship game, then I think that needs to be looked at hard, just like it would for anybody else in the conference. But there’s no easy solution in times like this. I know those guys are going to come together, take a hard look at it and make sure it was the right decision.”

That is obviously a far more pressing issue for the Big Ten and the Buckeyes now. And as everybody looks forward to the next step, Lettermen Row is breaking down the current options.

Big Ten can reschedule Ohio State-Maryland matchup

The conversations were already underway over the weekend when the possibility that Michigan might not be ready in time for The Game became apparent with its program shutdown in effect. Those were also scheduled to continue as Ohio State remained in communication with the Big Ten about what the next steps would be if it needed a new opponent. At this point, there has been no indication from the conference that it is willing to revisit the minimum-games requirement that has created this mess — but the conference is fully aware of the financial and competitive implications if it doesn’t then act on the schedule.

Maryland was at the top of the list of potential backup options, and making up the game that was cancelled between those two East Division opponents earlier in the season would provide a relatively simple fix. That move might not be as straight-forward as it could have been if Minnesota wasn’t in line to play this week, and certainly the league wouldn’t want to sit down a team like Rutgers without giving it a chance to suit up when it has done everything right so far this year. But in the greater interest of the conference, that might be what needs to happen in order to maintain the credibility of the Big Ten title and keep it in position to play in the College Football Playoff.

Big Ten can schedule Buckeyes-Indiana rematch

Without question, something has to give for the Big Ten. Among its many preferences in scheduling this season, one thing it was hoping to avoid as much as possible was a rematch between conference opponents. So, even though there’s another potentially ready-made solution with Purdue now dealing with COVID issues ahead of its own rivalry showdown with Indiana, a return bout between the two best teams in the Big Ten isn’t likely to be favored in the league offices.

There’s no question it would be marketable for the broadcast partners, and Ohio State winning again would obviously erase any doubts whatsoever about who deserved to be in Indianapolis playing for the conference crown — although that shouldn’t really be up for debate anyway based on the previous head-to-head result. But another reason the Big Ten might not be interested in scheduling Round Two? If Indiana were to somehow pull off the upset, that would muddy the situation even more with the two teams having split the series while also likely eliminating the conference from the College Football Playoff. It’s far more likely that Purdue’s cancellation opens up another path to Ohio State-Maryland, even if that means a rematch for Indiana and Rutgers.

Big Ten can change non-conference, minimum-games rules

Ohio State is absolutely willing to schedule a matchup outside the league on short notice, and it would even be willing to take on another College Football Playoff contender on Saturday if it was allowed to do so. But the dreams of a potential showdown with somebody like Texas A&M are extremely unlikely to turn into reality for a number of reasons — starting with the Big Ten rules barring games outside of the league this year. On top of that, the logistics for dealing with broadcast partners and contracts are daunting even if the Big Ten signed off on it, which the Buckeyes have no expectant of happening at this point anyway.

So, beyond that, the only other choice on the table for the conference if it doesn’t want to do the work to give the Buckeyes an opponent is changing the minimum-games rule. It’s virtually impossible to see how there would be an argument against putting the three-time defending conference champs, the highest-ranked team in the league and the program with a head-to-head win over Indiana in the championship as the East representative. Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez has already publicly acknowledged that’s an option that must be considered for the good of the league. There’s simply no question that the Big Ten can’t just sit on its hands at this point now that a time for decisive action has arrived.

Where do the Buckeyes go from here?

It’s up to the Big Ten now to figure it out as soon as possible.

Who are they going to put in? Florida just after Alabama stomps them in SEC Championship only to meet again? Texas A&M...yawn. Cincinnati...I don't think so.

The NCAA loves money.

Maybe I'm wrong. We'll see.

I'm not sure why anyone would feel the NCAA would consider a team who has only played five games when there are arguably other teams that could be considered for that #4 slot.

Texes A&M's game has been called off because Old Miss has Covid. The best case scenario is if OSU could get Texas A&M to play them this week-end. That would solidify OSU making the playoffs.

Fine!

Buckeyes should become an independent program, break away from the big 10!

and Re join the big 10 next april! Who cares about basketball anyhow.

This is all the Ohio Governor, and other Big 10 overeducated health, microscope lookers fault for what they did to suspend the season,

25 years ago, in late July 2020.

Ahh, this is an opportunity ! !

Power to the people? Stick it to the man?
Buckeyes! Should!

Break away from the B 1 G, <stupiedest( I know most stupid is the correct grammar, but it's not as fun to say.)
B 1 G < Stupidest logo this century.

Ohio State Football independent!

... Good idea for the next 5 years, after that, ehhhhh, would become less a good idea with each passing year.

I start to ask, what is the worst, what is the worst that would happen if Ohio State broke away from the Big Ten Conference?

^ That's all eaiser for me to argue for, than to argue the 5 wins team in the CFP argument; Cut the BS.

I told you my threshold, I could support 7 games, SEVEN, after the champ week, 7-0 and Big 10 conf. champion, < you have my vote I can support that,

6-0 and Big 10 conf. champion, < what the blank, No Way! I can't support a potential for the CFP champion only being 8-0 when all 300 teams are done playing and they never played a 9th game.
I can't support that in any way whatsoever.

Not in a year whan a lot of teams are going to play, how many games? How many games does a team that played all the weeks this year, how many do they have?

Much easier to support that Ohio State goes independent, or
joins the Sec,
or joins the acc,

I guess I'd miss... I guess I'd miss those games against penn state?

(Buckeyes' should go play Texas A and M , straight up! This Week!

and 2 days later play BYU, because BYU said, any team any stadium, any time.

That's how I feel at the moment, LEAVE THE BIG 10!

And beee onne geee! is the STUPIDEST LOGO EVER, and I don't have to Pretend that it's not anymore!

Bottom line, find a way to play a 7th game or else

Buckeye hate is kind of showing there, lol. The rule was hastily written this year so teams couldn't use COVID to avoid difficult games and cakewalk into the championship game. That's clearly not the case here. The team that would go in OSU's place would be Indiana...who OSU beat.

Someone wrote: If OSU gets in the title game, who is that kicking out?

Just team they Beat, IU had their chance and couldn't beat us therefore they shouldn't het in the Championship game through the backdoor ...

It really isn't Buckeye hate.

It's simply a matter of ethics.

Everybody in the conference ok'd the deal, written in haste or not.

Everybody knew the rules going in to this deal. Now all of a sudden they are looking at changing the rules for, IMO, the money. Plain and simple.

The Big Ten is already somewhat tarnished because it is in reality the Big 1 conference. Since the BCS started, OSU has won the championship 2 times, and are the only team out of the Big 10 to do so.

The SEC has won it 12 times, with 5 different teams doing so.

Be honest Peen it's all about getting another $EC team in, not only you but the Powers to be ... E$PN

The Big 10 all voted to cancel this season and they changed their mind on that. You have your best team who is ranked #4 in the country. Of coarse you will get together and vote to change another agreed upon rule.

The CFP is a TV show. TV shows need ratings. Putting OSU in helps ratings, especially if there's controversy in how they got in. Therefore, they'll get in.

...and they should, they're the better team, they beat the Hoosiers and they'd better represent the conference on that stage.

that's a bummer... that'd be a great game to see...

Punishing a team because their opponent can't (or chooses not to) play is rather dumb.

Looks like OSU will play NW in the final

Even of OSU played Michigan and lost, they would have still won the East.

tHeY cAnT cHaNgE tHe RuLeS!&$#%

It was the right thing to do. Even Michigan's AD thought so.

I still wish they could have figured out a game this weekend... feels a bit hallow...

that's the way it should be OSU is Unbeaten and they beat the 2nd place team ...

Tell me, do you root for one of those teams?

No doubt.

I heard on the radio this morning that the Big Ten's original plan was to have OSU play Maryland this weekend. That was one of the OSU games that was cancelled. Maryland is scheduled to play Rutgers this week, and the Big Ten was going to have Rutgers and Maryland then play the following week, on Big Ten championship weekend. This way OSU would have the 6 games.

But then they decided to just drop the 6th game rule. The only requirement was that OSU needed to play a game. Win or lose they were going to win the East.

Rules have been changing thruoghout this mess.

Now all we have to do is hope that the selection committee thinks that a team who only won five regular season games is worthy of the #4 ranking to qualify in the college playoffs. On a personal level I would have a hard time with that one.

It is suppose to be the best 4 teams in the Nation I believe OSU is one of those ...

And you may be right. The question becomes does the selection committee believe you can come to that conclusion based on five regular season games and a win against Northwestern who is ranked 14th.

As an OSU fan for as long as I can remember, I certainly hope so. I just find it to be a legitimate concern.

7-3 NW .. OSU is down players and the defense looks horrendous

Watching OSU playoff chances go down the toilet. Fields is playing like the second half vs Indiana.

I sure don't like our chances, the way we're playing. How many guys do we have out today?

Thankfully Sermon and the OL came to play ... Fields and the passing game were quite bad

I guess we want Notre Dame to win?

if they are out for the semifinal we have no chance... Clemson looks like a contender..

I know Fields has the thumb to deal with but....

I'm very concerned about him, it seems like all of a sudden he has confidence issues. It just seems very out of character for him to pat the ball and hold it forever before making a decision. He looks like he's scared to make a mistake to me. I hope he gets this figured out if the committee decides to put us in.

What was the score of the Ole Miss vs Texas A&M game??

It was cancelled?? OH! So, Texas A&M didn't finish their schedule of games EITHER!

Two weeks off in a row in Nov. and Another week "off" in dec.

So, Texas A&M really has no argument for playing more games, because CoVid Cancelled some of their games, at least the Ole Miss, game, also!

And you answer, no doubt.

I'll take it from your little picture symbol signature that it's the Gators you root for.

Well if you root for "1" team, stop making a case for 12 of them, or 10 or whatever the heck is in that conf.

A Conference, can't win a championship, it takes an individual team to win one. So stop trying to glaum on to success from any one of a group of 12 and pick one team to root for.

GC.
Just found out, Cincinnati's schedule was changed for covid issues also.

And another place I found the ACC changed their schedule effecting Notre Dame and Clemson.

So Basically a majority, (I didn't look at Alabama), but
a majority of the clubs involved in the conversation,

Texas A$M
Clemson and Notre Dame,
Cincinnati
Ohio State and all the Big 10 teams,

All had their scheules altered because of Covid 19, yet people want to make the argument that
Only Ohio State should have a "punishment" for not playing enough,

when , Convienently 2 facts are true.

Ohio State Won all the games they played. and
nobody played an unaltered schedule, (except I'm not sure about Alabama)

So for anybody arguing for TExas A&M

Ohio State 6-0, undefeated Big 10 Champions, who played in a conference title game and won it, can have 3 yes or no questions.

1. Did Texas A&M win more than 100% of their games in winning percentage, Yes or NO?

2. Did Texas A&M win only 100% of their games in winning percentage, Yes or NO!

3. Did Texas A&M win LESS THAN 100% of their games in winning percentage, YES or no?

and then again,
after all the other sides argument, question #4.

Did Texas A&M play all of their games? NO! the Ole Miss game was cancelled.

And why was the Ole Miss game cancelled? Covid
and Why did Ohio State play 6 instead of 8, 9, or 11? Covid

Both the same answer^.
So,
Undefeated, or One loss team?

Settled?

The College football Comittee, should have been given the option, starting last year, to decide on a college football playoff including either
2 teams,
4 teams, or
6 teams, depending on circumstances.

This is an example of a year where only a 2 team, one game playoff should be played.
Clemson, and Alabama of course.

Fields was easily my biggest disappointment yesterday. We seemed to have some silly play-calling in the first half. He made some marginal calls worse. His priority was to hit the shortest route late; the pass was a glorified softball lob (bad enough!) and he missed the receiver. The pick was crazy wrong.
I admit to being spoiled; he has been electric and exiting. Not yesterday. He is hurt, and thank the Pigskin Gods for our Sermon! Incredible. But the defense too over that game in the second half. Might be confidence issue, might be injury. Figure it out. Because now we are in the hard-edged part of the year that has no interest in snappy explanations, just wins, baby! Let's get a few more of those.

j/c

It's Official: Ohio State against Clemson (again) in CFB Playoff

Big Ten champion Ohio State will be back in the College Football Playoff for the second year in a row and the Buckeyes will be up against a familiar opponent.

One day after defeating Northwestern 22-10 in the Big Ten championship game to get to 6-0 on the pandemic-shortened season, Ohio State was installed as the No. 3 team in the final CFB Playoff rankings. OSU will face No. 2 seed and ACC champion Clemson (10-1) in the Sugar Bowl semifinal game on Friday, Jan. 1. That game will likely kick off at 8:30 p.m. Eastern time.

The other semifinal will pit No. 1 seed and SEC champion Alabama (11-0) against No. 4 seed Notre Dame (10-1) in the Rose Bowl.

The Rose Bowl has been moved this year from Pasadena, Calif., due to California’s Covid-19 protocols precluding the players’ families from attending the game. It has been moved to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, instead.

The CFB Playoff national championship game will be played Mon., Jan. 11, in Miami. All three of the playoff games will be carried by ESPN and its array of networks.

This is a familiar opponent for Ohio State. The teams have met in bowl games three times in the last eight years, including a pair of CFB Playoff semifinal games. Clemson defeated Ohio State 31-0 in the 2016 Fiesta Bowl and then pulled out a dramatic 29-23 win in last year’s Fiesta Bowl.

Many of the same characters will be involved in the rematch with Dabo Swinney the Clemson coach and Trevor Lawrence the Tigers’ quarterback. Ryan Day has led OSU to two playoff berths in as many seasons as the Buckeyes’ head coach, while Justin Fields is in his second season as the OSU quarterback.

The main debate going into today’s selection show was whether Texas A&M (8-1) or Big 12 champion Oklahoma (8-2) deserved consideration for the last playoff spot.

This will be Ohio State’s fourth appearance in the seven years of the CFB Playoff. The Buckeyes won the first-ever playoff national championship in 2014 with wins over Alabama (42-35) and Oregon (42-20) before the two semifinal losses to Clemson.

In the 120-year history of Ohio State football, Clemson boasts the best record against the Buckeyes of any opponent. Clemson is 4-0 against OSU with Florida State next at 3-0. Besides the two CFB Playoff wins, Clemson also defeated Ohio State 17-15 in the 1978 Gator Bowl and also took a 40-35 win over the Buckeyes in the 2014 Orange Bowl.

OSU’s loss to Clemson in the 2016 Fiesta Bowl turned into a blowout. The Buckeyes managed just 215 yards total offense and had three turnovers. Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson threw for 259 yards and one touchdown and also rushed for 57 yards and two scores.

The loss last year went down as one of OSU’s most bitter defeats. The Buckeyes were victimized by several bad breaks, including having an apparent defensive touchdown reversed after a replay review. Fields, who threw for 320 yards and a touchdown, had the Buckeyes in position for a game-winning touchdown in the final minute. But he and receiver Chris Olave were not on the same page. Olave cut outside and Fields’ pass went to the middle and was intercepted by Clemson’s Nolan Turner with 37 seconds left to end it.

Lawrence was the game MVP as he threw for 259 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed for 107 yards, including an uncharacteristic 67-yard touchdown.

https://247sports.com/college/ohio-state...game-157451312/

Neither Dabo nor Nick Saban had Ohio State in the top four in their final Coaches Poll ballots.

Swinney had the Buckeyes at No. 11

#11 is a reach but I can easily see why they wouldn't have ranked the Buckeyes in the top four.

Well, Dabo has certainly given us plenty of bulletin board material.

Below Coastal Carolina? That's just pure hate.

As a coach, I wouldn’t like doing those polls. I know they don’t mean much, but I think not much could good from them from my perspective

This year's Heisman Trophy finalists:

Alabama QB Mac Jones
Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence
Alabama WR DeVonta Smith
Florida QB Kyle Trask

Bulletin board fodder.....

From Bucknuts.....

Clemson's Dabo Swinney doubles down on ranking Ohio State 11th
ByGARRETT STEPIEN

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney made headlines when he assigned Ohio State a No. 11 ranking in his ballot for the USA Today Coaches Poll this past Monday. In a clip of an interview with ESPN's Tom Rinaldi that aired Saturday evening on College Football Scoreboard, Swinney explained the reasoning behind the ranking.

"You've been clear on this point throughout, Dabo, about the number of games as a metric has to matter — maybe as much as ever — given how difficult the grind has been this season," Rinaldi said. "So you ranked Ohio State 11th and it creates a huge reaction. All right, how would you characterize the reaction to that ranking? Why Ohio State 11th?"

"Yeah, overreaction," Swinney said. "First of all, my vote don't mean anything. But it means something to me, you know? It's my poll. I do it. It creates a stir because we just so happen to be playing Ohio State. It has nothing to do with Ohio State — absolutely zero. You can change the name to Michigan or Georgia or Florida or Tennessee or Nebraska. Anytime you have a top-10 (ranking), it should be that special. This year it's like really, really, really special and I wanted it to be that way. And so, I wanted to recognize the teams that played nine games or more. And so, if you didn't play nine games, I just didn't consider you from the top 10. That's why they were 11.

"Obviously, they're a great team. They're plenty good enough and talented enough to beat us and good enough to win the national championship. But in my opinion, I don't think that it's right that three teams have to play 13 games to win it all and one team has to play eight. What universe am I living in? And it has nothing to with them. It was about qualifying. And I didn't think they were qualified, based on the number of games, versus all these other teams that ... in my opinion — Texas A&M, Florida, Oklahoma, Cincinnati — they got punished for playing more games."

Clemson won 29-23 over Ohio State in the Dec. 28, 2019, CFB Playoff semifinal matchup. The Tigers previously beat the Buckeyes by a 31-0 shutout Dec. 31, 2016, a first CFB Playoff matchup between both sides. Swinney also owns a 40-35 victory against Ohio State from the Jan. 3, 2014, Orange Bowl.

No. 2 Clemson (10-1) and No. 3 Ohio State (6-0) have a chance to settle the dispute in next Friday's College Football Playoff semifinal game. The Sugar Bowl is set for an 8 p.m. ET kickoff on ESPN at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.

Dabo is one annoying [censored]. His "difficult grind" was a cakewalk thru 10 weeks of basically practice squad competition. Playing a couple more of those games than somebody else doesn't mean squat.

I agree with him. As it stands, losses are more important than wins.

Plus...you really want to talk about cupcake schedules?

That is exactly my point. The Buckeyes have zero losses.



Yes I do. I don't see how playing 3 more games against MAC level opponents makes you more qualified.

fLorIdA sHoUlD bE iN tHe PlAyOfF!

their team really spiraled downward ... Covid, opt outs, thrown shoes, etc.

They got absolutely clobbered last night lmao. I'm sure SEC fans will roll out the "they didn't want to be there anyway" excuse like they always do.

Nobody moves the goal posts like SEC fans

Their QB looked like he's been spelling his last name wrong...

Is it really moving the posts, or do we live in your head? LOL

No doubt, we didn't come to play last night. The Okie's spanked us good. It doesn't matter if there were some reasons for part of the problem. They weren't all of the problem.

The Todd Grantham act is getting old. I had to deal with him when he was with the Browns, and now the Gators. I hope he is gone by next week.

How bad does Trevor Lawrence have to eff up to lose the Heisman now?

I think he's got it.

I don't feel great about this game for OSU. Everyone is treating their shortened season like it helped them, but I really think they needed those extra games.

I have Clemson winning comfortably

They did need them. Especially after the last coupe of outings by Fields.

I think DeVonta Smith wins the Heisman.

j/c...

LOLOLOLOLOL

Was it wrong to laugh at that?

No.

OhioState confirms G Harry Miller, RB Master Teague, DL Zach Harrison all among those OUT for tonight's game against #Clemson.

https://twitter.com/ESPNRittenberg/status/1345149556812607489

Ugh

Ehhhh ... yeah, Clemson is FAST

I'm an OSU fan, even had a cousin play there, but I can't see us hanging with Clemson. Clemson and Alabama are clearly the top 2 teams this year.

7-7

#17 clearly pushed off our DB for that catch. 4th down but should’ve been a flag.

These games would be better with some fake crowd noise.

Offense is firing on all cylinders so far.

Yep. I love it. I've about had my fill of hearing about how great Brent Venables is.

Sermon just trucking people

Omg fields took every bit of that hit.

That better be targeting.

By the rules today yea....but I thought that was a really good legal hit. Targeting rules are a bit odd in college.

Fields is really hurting

if he's out we're in serious trouble

Sermon is a beast

Players on both teams dropping like flies now.

He has really turned it on of late.

this has been a really hard hitting game...

bama is just happy watching all these injuries on both sides...

35-14

Jeremy ruckert is destroying these dudes. What a beast TE.

We've been recruiting some highly rated TEs the last few year but we never seem to use them much in the passing game.

Lol. 'ol Dabo and Venables gave up 35pts in one half to an 11th place team.

Thankfully this post didn't hold up well

still a lot of football...

I'll gladly eat my words if they pull this out.

that INT killed our momentum... even a FG keeps the foot down...

wow what just happened

nevermind... down...

Great pass! That helps...

Fields...wow.

Clearly playing hurt, can’t be a dual threat on the field anymore. Has to turn into a pure pocket passer and is still torching the defense.

NFL scouts better take that aspect into account. A lot of guys can’t cut it when their threat of running isn’t there. Fields is out here reading defenses and going through his progressions like he’s been a pure pocket passer the entire time.

That was a fumble.

yep! Go BUCKS!

What a throw!!!!!

Not bad for an 11th ranked team

wow... might be time to let Fields rest... heck of a game...

I love it! Day is keeping his foot on their neck.

Wonder if ol' Dabo regrets ranking the Bucks that low?

Wow what an effort by osu tonight, this has been impressive

How many still think OSU doesn't Belong???

OSU has over 600 yards

Ugh gotta catch that easy pick

Go put up another TD. Keep stomping Clemson.

no kiddin!

Man the defensive line is getting hot at the right time

playing with a chip on their shoulder... hope they carry it into next week...

What a satisfying beat down OSU gave Clemson tonight.

Lol. Georgia picked Jake Fromm over Justin Fields.

One of the most satisfying beatings that I can recall.

If you are an tOSU fan, this game had everything you'd ever want.

Redemption
Revenge
Validation
Heroics (Fields)
Team effort/team win...

...and a 10-pc. sampler of condiments for Dabo Swinney to chose from, as he chokes down big chunks of raw crow.

This was fun to watch, even though I'm not a Buckeye Boy.


Nicely done.
Question: can they win against The Tide?

If Fields can get his ribs re-attached in the next week I think they have a good chance. I really like Ryan Day, he never takes his foot off the gas.

What a game. Great statement by both sides of the ball.

It’s crazy to think that Wade is like our weak link right now.

Hoping Fields can get healthy over the next 10 days

https://buckeyeswire.usatoday.com/2021/0...otball-playoff/

ya gotta love beating Dabo

So, since Dabo had us ranked at #11 and we soundly defeated him, I guess he must be saying they are ranked what, #15 or #20 after the loss?

Well good thing we had more of Clemson’s game film to study. Watching Clemson take on football titans like Citadel, Syracuse, and Pitt showed us how they scrapped and struggled to get to their winning record.

(/purple)

'ol Dabo is the last coach that should be making that argument, given his schedule. 3 more games against MAC level opponents is nothing more than additional practice. It's a benefit, not the wear and tear he's babbling about. Given last year's game, the #11 ranking, and the "genius" of Dabo/Venables being crammed down our throats.....this win was extremely satisfying.

Day was also able to keep the lauded Clemson signal stealing crew flustered the entire game.

https://www.si.com/college/2020/11/06/clemson-signal-stealing-dabo-swinney-daily-cover

Yeah, the quick snaps and sugar huddles really helped ... Clemson was confused as heck

If OSU didn't belong there, then Clemson *really* didn't belong there.

Awesome post!

haha I saw a meme of Dabo holding up his arms saying we’re number 12!

I cannot wait for the NC game. It is going to be an absolute display of future nfl talent.

Which wideout might be a good Browns addition? Lot of talent on our side of the ball evident tonight!

Fields wasn't just impressive; no, he is nothing short of inspirational. Go, Bucks! And a one-finger wave of the hand to all the snarky smirking experts lining up all day saying on TV as "experts" and crack analysts that we couldn't hang with them, carrying on about vulnerability on the outside and our struggles. Send out for more crow. They should all apologize and resign!

Great job, Buckeyes! Dabo, we will try to get another game in .. . .

Where do you rank us now, little man?

Haha unless he ranks himself 12th

Who is this Chris- able to not only retrieve the data, make the comparison... and compile the footage to make this slam-dunk argument?

Chris says:
"I rest my case, Your Honor."




color me impressed.
"we now return to our regularly-scheduled broadcast..."

That is exactly how the Steeler's DB hit DPJ today.

Skycam highlights for Ohio State from their 49-28 win over Clemson in the 2021 Sugar Bowl during the 2021 College Football Playoff.

You have to watch this!! All the Ohio State highlights from the sugar Bowl from the sky cam view with no announcers ruining it for you
https://twitter.com/THE_OSU/status/1346124919868968960

j/c...

Here we go again.....

i mean they had guys out for clemson right, so this shouldnt be a surprise

j/c...

Lol, someone should tell her it didn't end so well the last time they played our backup. I highly doubt that is the reason, I really don't think we are afraid to play them - we've had Covid issues for a while.

sure you wanna face another backup from OSU? You know what happen last time right...

https://twitter.com/CJ1two/status/1346591461752627200

Cardale Jones did!

Yowza!!! What a burn!

Ohio State vs Alabama

Line opened at Bama -7, now at -8.5

Many OSU players will be out tonight I believe

OSU has 13 Players out with COVID 2 Starting DL 1st and 2nd string Kickers are among them and BAMA has no one out with COVID hummmmmm

Cmon bucks ... another heart stopper on the way

On a side note, one of my high school teachers was a starter on the Buckeyes 1968's National Championship team.

The manymany stories he told about Woody Hayes were nuts.

Always think of him during OSU games.

Sermon went down. He couldn’t lift his arm. That sounds like a broken collarbone.
Damn.

Our defense looks scary and not in a good way.

Alabama looks faster than Clemson ... and Clemson is fast

Answer!

7-7

Unreal holding by their left tackle.. Play after play and never called .

The over under is something around 74.
Going to come close to hitting that in the 1st half

Teague’s vision... his middle runs are just too often up the backs of linemen. That last one had a hole open just to the left of where he tried to hit it. Not having Sermon might cost us this game.

Whelp ..... this ain't looking like our night.

It’s likely over.

JC. ‘Bama is too sharp and is clearly the best coached team in the country. I think I’ll cut my losses and turn in for the night. Lol. I look forward to next season when I can tailgate with my wife on High St. and enjoy the pageantry. Nothing better than being in Ohio Stadium in late November.

For the last 20 years watching the futility of the Browns, I would say to myself, "at least we have the Buckeyes". In this bizarro season of the COVID, "at least we have the Browns".

This is not meant to antagonize Ohio State fans (I am not an Ohio State fan), but why is Fields considered a better prospect than Mac Jones?

Jones looks the part way more to me.

I could look the part against the defense that showed up tonight. DC Coombs was awful all season, there has to be someone better than him. (this coming from an OSU alum).

Fields I think is the better prospect because he fits the new QB mold (mobile, super athletic, etc...) and has a super high ceiling. The comparison I've read is a bigger Russel Wilson.

Jones is more of a drop back QB. Jones supposedly doesn't have the arm that Fields does. He's a great anticipator and good decision maker. The question I have on Jones is if he was as good as he was because of the team around him. To be honest, the guy he reminds me of is AJ McCarron. McShay says Brady or Marino...others I've read are Rivers and Ryan.

I'm nowhere near a QB evaluator, so I'll defer to the QB gurus to talk about the technical aspect.

I only like 2 Qb's out of college this time.

Mac Jones, and Trask in Florida.

I didn't like the Buckeyes' whole team as much this year as some years.

Oh well I'm not all that bumed out about the loss. I guess it's because Bama is just the better team and well. I'm just lost in the euphoria of our Browns win yesterday.

Bama is just THAT much better than everyone ... it’s like a joke

Pretty much what I expected. Once I saw OSU trying to cover DeVonta Smith with a backer, I knew the OSU coaches were clueless or they really didn't have a plan that could defend Bama. I knew the game was over then and went to bed.

Watching that luckless backer chasing after Smith was rather comical. It's like the kid did something wrong to tick off the coach..."32, you are covering him tonight". LOL

The defense was in prevent from the first snap by Alabama. It may have worked if they kept them to field goals, but they didn't. Went to bed in the middle of the 2nd quarter. Couldn't watch it anymore. Go Browns.

We got blown off the LOS on both sides. 'Bama receivers were running wide open, and Fields had to try and thread a needle on every throw it seemed. Teague/Crowley < Sermon < Harris. 'Bama's OL is just huge....and nasty. OSU's tackling was very sloppy, which just can't happen against that talent. Every time Harris ran the ball it looked like Kareem Hunt's first TD run Sunday night. We failed in the few chances to we had to make a stop. Alabama was the better team and basically destroyed us in every facet of the game.

congrats to bama on a great season, ohio state just could not contain anything they were doing on offense

here's to hoping we can have packed stadiums come september

I love west coast living. Game came on at 5. I didn’t have to stay up late to watch it. I don’t miss those 11:30pm finishes.

I miss that.

It was a privilege to play the Buckeyes. Great coach and tradition!

We just had all cylinders sparking.

Roll Tide!

Go Bucks!

My Two Favorite Teams

1. CLEVELAND BROWNS
2. OHIO STATE BUCKEYES

WIN LOSE OR TIE UNTIL I DIE

No one was beating Bama this year... one of the best teams I've seen in college ball... Congrats...