Ohio State prepares for another ‘crazy’ crowd at Penn State

The junior quarterback (and the Buckeye offense as a whole) had a shaky start Saturday night at Wisconsin, but he ended up with 318 total yards and a game-winning touchdown pass to Noah Brown in overtime.

It wasn’t the literal slap in the face that was the figurative slap in the face Saturday night, Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said Monday.

After watching the Buckeyes struggle against a mediocre PSU team, few would have figured they would go on to win the national title in 2014.

MI moved up to No. 3 in The Associated Press college football poll, right behind No. 2 Ohio State, to give the Big Ten rivals their best combined ranking since the 2006 season, when they played the only 1-vs. Well, get rid of the damn rule. “Especially with where we’re ranked and where they’re ranked, it’s bound to happen”. They had some very good stuff. This team clearly knows how to have fun on and off the field. If the Badgers want their offense to perform like they did on Saturday, Peavy will be an integral part of the play-calling going forward.

Now that we are officially into the second half of the season, regardless if Penn State pulls an absolute shocker or not, Ohio State and MI are on a collision course to not only both be undefeated when The Game comes around, but potentially be the top two ranked teams in the nation should Alabama have a slip-up.

I was at that Ohio State-Wisconsin game, and it was really special.

“I don’t think they changed at all”, linebacker Jack Cichy said about the team’s goals.

Meyer thought that game was lost. I’m not going to say Mitch Leidner’s injury was a good thing, but with former walk-on Conor Rhoda behind center, Minnesota’s hand was forced. “It crossed my mind”, Meyer recalled. “And (Barrett) kind of just took it on his shoulders. I think he showed that tonight”.

“We’re really, really happy with Kevin and impressed with Kevin”, Franklin said.

Unbiversity of Michigan NCAA college football head coach Jim Harbaugh, left, holds the down marker on the sideline during the game between El Cerrito and St. Mary’s High at St. Mary’s High School in Albany, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2016. Call me a hater if you must. “He’s a phenomenal player”, Meyer said.

He had the best player on the field on his side. It was one of the things that you just have to fight through it mentally and luckily with God’s help, I was able to do that. Against Ohio State, Clement broke through with 164 yards (tied a career high), as he rushed for 6.6 yards per carry.

As far as the Buckeyes were concerned, it was fitting way to end the game. Mike Gesicki will continue his impressive season with 8 catches for 85 yards and a touchdown. Clement was able to break through several holes for first downs including a 68-yard run to push the ball all the way downfield.

Penn State has been working with a patchwork linebacking crew since the Pittsburgh game September 10.

“To think you’re just going to jump back in there after missing that amount of time is going to be a challenge”, Franklin said. He praised the play of quarterback J.T. Barrett and how important it will be to stop him. Barrett came through when Ohio State needed him most, leading a rally from a 16-6 halftime deficit to a 30-23 overtime win. Barrett added 92 yards rushing and two second-half touchdowns on 21 carries.

Under the direction of 20th-year head coach Lori Walker, Ohio State is now 9-5-3, including 3-3-3 in Big Ten play, and is sitting in ninth place in the conference standings. He has seized the opportunity given to him when starting LB Dante Booker was injured in the opener.