OSU Buckeyes

So long, Idaho State, South Dakota and Charleson Southern. See you next year, directional Michigans.

No offense to those schools, some of whom gave Big Ten teams all they could handle. But we've seen enough of that nonconference stuff. This week brings what we've all been waiting for: conference play. It's going to be a wild ride, and here's how it starts:

No. 14 Ohio State (4-0) at No. 20 Michigan State (3-1), 3:30 p.m., ABC: The "College GameDay" gang is coming to East Lansing, which says as much about the national slate of games as it does this one. Not that we're not excited about this matchup. Braxton Miller running the Urban Meyer offense against Michigan State's No. 6 defense? Yes, please. But it's also true that these teams have been scuffling the past couple of weeks and have some major issues -- the passing game for the Spartans, tackling and finding other options besides Miller for the Buckeyes. Still, it'll be a big game in the Big Ten race and an emotional one for Michigan State, which has a ton of Ohio kids on its roster.

Wisconsin (3-1) at No. 22 Nebraska (3-1), 8 p.m., ABC: Last year, the Huskers made their Big Ten debut in Madison and left with their tails between their legs after getting thumped. This time, it's Wisconsin who comes limping into Lincoln after a very shaky nonconference schedule. The Badgers put together their best overall offensive performance against UTEP but also lost running back Montee Ball in the process. Meanwhile, Nebraska has been a scoring machine, ranking eighth nationally at 48.5 points per game. Wisconsin might have a hard time keeping up with Taylor Martinez and his pals, who are eager for redemption.

Minnesota (4-0) at Iowa (2-2), Noon, ESPN2: Oink, oink. It's Floyd of Rosedale time, and Minnesota is looking to bring home the bacon for a third straight year. But whereas the last two Gophers wins would be upsets, this time it wouldn't shock anybody to see Iowa lose. The Hawkeyes are struggling right now and need to win this game to avoid what would be a long two weeks heading into next week's bye. Jerry Kill has his defense playing at a high level, especially against the pass, and James Vandenberg will have to pick his spots carefully.

Penn State (2-2) at Illinois (2-2), Noon, ESPN: Penn State will see some familiar faces on the sideline, as eight of the Illini assistants lurked around State College seeking some transfers this summer. The Nittany Lions were not happy about that and now get a chance to do something about it. Probation and all, Penn State is actually feeling better about its season right now than Illinois, which has lost its last two games against FBS opponents by a combined score of 97-38.

Indiana (2-1) at Northwestern (4-0), Noon, Big Ten Network: Northwestern looks to move to 5-0 and will be heavily favored against the Hoosiers, who had last week off. The Wildcats have held their past three opponents to 11 points per game, but an improved Indiana offense should offer some challenges. Cameron Coffman is expected back at quarterback for IU, and former Northwestern assistant Kevin Wilson returns to Evanston.

Marshall (2-2) at Purdue (2-1), 3:15 p.m., BTN: Sorry, Boilers. We know you're playing well and all, but we just can't muster any excitement for this nonconference game when there are five league contests the same day. But Marshall should test Purdue's defense, as the Thundering Herd lead the nation in passing yards (383.5 per game) and are averaging 41 points. Of course, they're also allowing 42.8 points, so there's that.

Bye: Michigan

So ... how about you, Nebraska?

We need to project somebody from the Big Ten to win the league and make the Rose Bowl. Michigan State's passing offense is too anemic. Michigan is too sloppy and still too reliant on Denard Robinson. Ohio State is ineligible. Wisconsin still has offensive issues. Northwestern and Minnesota are both 4-0 but probably not ready. Purdue would have to take a major step up.

So why not Nebraska, which we know at least has a seriously potent offense? We're not projecting Nebraska to the Rose Bowl because of anything that happened against Idaho State, mind you (well, except maybe for Rex Burkhead's return). There just isn't a better candidate right now.

The Huskers take the top spot for now. Northwestern, Purdue and Minnesota are all trending upward, while Iowa is hanging on by the thinnest of threads. Illinois is out after its 52-24 loss at home to Louisiana Tech.

Our latest attempt at picking the bowls (at least it's officially fall now):

Rose Bowl (Jan. 1): Nebraska
Capital One Bowl (Jan. 1): Michigan
Outback Bowl (Jan. 1): Purdue
Gator Bowl (Jan. 1): Michigan State
Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl (Dec. 29): Northwestern
Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas (Dec. 28): Wisconsin
TicketCity Bowl (Jan. 1): Minnesota
Little Caesars Pizza Bowl (Dec. 26): Iowa

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The record is still perfect.

If it stays that way for another week, Ohio State will validate the top position in the conference that poll voters have given them with nonconference play now complete.

The Buckeyes wrapped up their action outside of the Big Ten with a fourth consecutive win on Saturday, overcoming a slow start to knock off UAB 29-15 at Ohio Stadium. The latest victory bumped them up to No. 14 in the AP poll released on Sunday, and the next team in the rankings from the league is waiting for them on Saturday.

Ohio State's trip to No. 20 Michigan State will be the only matchup in the Big Ten this weekend featuring two ranked teams, and the winner will almost certainly be the highest rated program in the conference when the votes are counted again next week.

Here's how the Spartans and the rest of the opponents on Ohio State's schedule receiving votes fared on Saturday:

Michigan

• Rank: Received 44 voting points
• Date: Nov. 24
• Where: Ohio Stadium
• Last week: Ranked No. 18; lost 13-6 to Notre Dame

Wisconsin

• Rank: Received 13 voting points
• Date: Nov. 17
• Where: Camp Randall Stadium
• Last week: Received five voting points; beat UTEP 37-26

Michigan State

• Rank: No. 20
• Date: Saturday
• Where: Spartan Stadium
• Last week: Ranked No. 21; beat Eastern Michigan 23-7

Nebraska

• Rank: No. 22
• Date: Oct. 6
• Where: Ohio Stadium
• Last week: No. 25; won 73-7 against Idaho State

Despite the Big Ten's early season struggles, ESPN "College GameDay" hasn't forgotten the league. The big show will make its first appearance in Big Ten territory this week.

Chris, Lee, Kirk, Desmond and the crew are headed to East Lansing, Mich., for the Big Ten opener between Ohio State and Michigan State. It's their first trip to Michigan State since last October, when they were in town for the Wisconsin game. That one turned out to be slightly entertaining, if memory serves.

Michigan State is 2-3 all-time when "GameDay" comes to town. Lee Corso is 4-1 in picks. The Ohio State-Michigan State game kicks off Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC.

Past results from GameDay visits to East Lansing:

• Oct. 22, 2011: (16) Michigan State def. (6) Wisconsin, 37-31
• Nov. 9, 2005: (5) Penn State def. Michigan State, 22-21
• Sept. 18, 2004: Notre Dame def. Michigan State, 31-24
• Oct. 9, 1999: (11) Michigan State def. (3) Michigan, 34-31
• Oct. 25, 1997: (5) Michigan def. (14) Michigan State, 23-7

It's time for this week's edition of Across The Field, a regular feature on BuckeyeNation where we point you to noteworthy Buckeyes coverage here and elsewhere. Think something should be included? Send it to espnkendrick@gmail.com.

Ohio State 29, UAB 15

• No, it wasn't pretty. But it is 4-0, with plenty to work on, writes Austin Ward.
• Penalty totals weren't horrible against UAB, but they came at horrible times.
• The defense was a bit short-handed, and a bit too passive. But they did keep the Blazers out of the end zone.
• Ohio State would be 1-3 if not for Braxton Miller, writes Bill Livingston. (Plain Dealer)
• There isn't much evidence of progress, Bob Hunter writes. (Dispatch)
• UAB saw a lot of positives, of course. (Birmingham News)

BuckeyeNation Week in Review

• The Buckeyes reeled in their 17th commitment for the 2013 class with Tyquan Lewis of Tarboro, N.C. The three-star defensive end/linebacker looks to be a good fit.
• Who's next in the class? Brad Bournival has a top five.
• Wide receiver Shelton Gibson could be the next guy. He's planning three more trips to Columbus.
• The 2014 offers are trickling out. Cleveland Glenville OT Marcelys Jones got one, as did a New Jersey lineman and a receiver already committed to Florida State.
• Toledo Central Catholic QB DeShone Kizer is still angling for an offer, and Michigan is also lurking.
• It didn't happen this week, but can the Buckeyes get a deep game going?
• Former Buckeyes All-America lineman LeCharles Bentley is looking out for the next generation of linemen.
• Freshman Luke Roberts comes from a school with an OSU linebacker pedigree.
• It's looking like a rough year for the Big Ten, but they'll rise again, writes ESPN.com's Brad Edwards.

Football

• Friday is kick-back day for the Buckeyes, writes Doug Lesmerises. (Plain Dealer)
• Having football taken away for a while has given Storm Klein a new perspective. (Eleven Warriors)
• The defensive line was supposed to be deep. What happened? (The-Ozone.net)
• Don't expect a miracle season, writes Rob Oller. (Dispatch)
• While coaches these days don't elaborate about injuries, Urban Meyer sprinkles in a little news now and then. (Plain Dealer)
• Florida Atlantic played Alabama on Saturday, and former Buckeyes WR Duron Carter wasn't in uniform against one of his former teams. He'll have to sit out all season. (OwlAccess.com)

Basketball

• The Buckeyes got a commitment from a shooting guard ranked in the ESPN 100.
• Thad Matta has to be considered an elite coach now, writes Jeff Rapp. (The-Ozone.net)
• Ohio State will host a tip-off event on Oct. 22. (ohiostatebuckeyes.com)
• Matta and former OSU coach Randy Ayers were inducted into the Cradle of Coaches at Miami (Ohio). Ayers is a Miami grad, and Matta had two stints as an assistant there. (ohiostatebuckeyes.com)

The Gang's All Here

• Ohio State wrestling is a preseason top-five team. (Land Grant Holy Land)
• The volleyball team hosts No. 3 Nebraska on Sunday, and the men's soccer team hosts No. 15 Indiana on BTN. (ohiostatebuckeyes.com)
• Bob Knight was moved by the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame ceremony. (Dispatch)

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State wasn't the most penalized team on the field.

But what the Buckeyes may have lacked in total calls against them or yardage stepped off, they made up for with bad timing.

Urban Meyer's irritation with the flags his team has drawn this season won't vanish after the 29-15 win over UAB on Saturday, particularly because four of the infractions directly led to first downs that extended drives.

"I didn't see -- was the one for taunting?" Meyer said. "Which is more stressful [passive defense or penalties]? They're both awful, and we've got to get them fixed."

The lack of aggression on defense that Meyer was bemoaning might not have been as troubling without the penalties that kept the unit on the field, including one that came on special teams for running into the punter early in the game.

But it was a pair of personal fouls that were particularly bothersome, mostly Christian Bryant's taunting penalty on a late third down with the outcome still up for grabs. The Blazers ultimately missed a field goal after getting the second chance, though that won't make it any more palatable for Meyer moving forward.

"There's too many [concerns]," Meyer said. "We have to be better in all three phases."

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The leading tackler was on the ground in pain, and suddenly every level of the defense was facing the possibility of dipping into the reserves.

Ryan Shazier returned relatively quickly from his injury scare to restore the linebackers to full strength, but his brief absence offered a reminder of how stretched Ohio State already is after four games.

A starter was missing at defensive end again. Two more were absent in the secondary and didn't play at all, and both Shazier and defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins had moments of uncertainty with their health in a 29-15 victory over UAB on Saturday at Ohio Stadium -- and the Buckeyes need them all with so little experience behind the first unit.

"That’s an excuse for being passive," coach Urban Meyer said. "Obviously you want your starters in there, but there are some capable backups. We’re just seeing some guys thrust into action. When Shazier went down, you have [Bradley] Roby, you have C.J. Barnett, [Michael] Bennett, four starters out.

"The quality of personnel behind them, they just have to play better. It’s not lack of talent, it’s maybe lack of some experience, but we’ve got to play better."

A quick glance at the notable injuries heading into preparations for Michigan State:

• Bennett: The lineman could make his return from a groin injury next week against the Spartans after missing all four games so far.
• Roby: The playmaking cornerback was limited in practice this week with a shoulder injury. Doran Grant filled in and supplied an interception, a fumble recovery and a sack.
• Barnett: The safety had a sprained ankle that kept him out of practice this week and he didn't dress against the Blazers.
• Carlos Hyde: A knee strain has kept the junior running back on the sidelines for the last two games, but he is likely to return for the visit to Michigan State.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The missed tackles still bothered Ohio State.

The yardage total was higher than it would have liked to allow.

There were big third-down conversions given up that the coaching staff won't let the Buckeyes forget about.

But even with all those potential things to point out after a 29-15 win over UAB on Saturday at Ohio Stadium, there was one stat that clearly won't trouble Everett Withers.

"I think we gave up 15 points," a smiling Withers said. "That's all I give a s--- about."

The co-defensive coordinator's unit wasn't even responsible for all those points thanks to a blocked punt that produced UAB's only touchdown. And while the Buckeyes had some occasional issues getting off the field defensively and allowed 403 yards to the Blazers, the wall it put up in front of the end zone certainly helped make up for those other issues.

That doesn't mean a bend-don't-break philosophy will be embraced by Withers or the Buckeyes, but it was effective in keeping the team's record perfect after the nonconference finale.

"It’s not as good as we wanted," defensive end John Simon said. "We want to go out and have a shutout, three-and-out every time. If we give up more than zero yards, that’s not our expectation.

"Our expectations are high here at Ohio State, and that’s what we’re going to keep striving for."

The Buckeyes clearly have work to do to meet them, even if pitching a perfect game in terms of both yardage and points allowed is a bit of a stretch.

For starters, simply keeping the UAB offense out of the end zone was enough to get the only statistic that truly matters.

"When they spread you from sideline to sideline and dink and dunk, eventually you have to say that’s not going to beat you," Withers said. "And it didn’t."