Devine Redding makes first Ohio State visit 
September, 17, 2012
9/17/12
6:41
PM ET
By
Jared Shanker | ESPN.com
A broken bone in his hand has not been enough to derail junior running back Devine Redding’s season. In Friday’s game, Redding rushed for more than 150 yards and three touchdowns.
And Redding (Mineral Ridge, Ohio/Mineral Ridge) capped his weekend with his first visit to Ohio State.
“It was amazing man to see Braxton Miller and see all them guys play,” Redding said. “The (Devin Smith touchdown) was crazy, the crowd was going wild, everyone was yelling and you couldn’t hear yourself think. I never knew the stadium was that big and crazy.”
And Redding (Mineral Ridge, Ohio/Mineral Ridge) capped his weekend with his first visit to Ohio State.
“It was amazing man to see Braxton Miller and see all them guys play,” Redding said. “The (Devin Smith touchdown) was crazy, the crowd was going wild, everyone was yelling and you couldn’t hear yourself think. I never knew the stadium was that big and crazy.”
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Monday briefing: Awards talk for Miller
September, 17, 2012
9/17/12
4:43
PM ET
By
Austin Ward | ESPN.com
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The first weekly award of the season arrived for Braxton Miller.
His coach still isn't ready to discuss the Ohio State quarterback as a candidate for a yearly honor.
Miller's hot streak to open the season earned some recognition from the Big Ten on Monday. His five-touchdown performance in a win over California earned him offensive player of the week honors. It was a dynamic outing that only added to the possibility he could wind up in the conversation for more serious hardware this season. But Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer isn't ready to have that discussion just yet, though when the time is right, he suggested he'd acknowledge it.
"I don’t think he’s played well [enough]," Meyer said. "Let’s put it this way, at some point if he does, I’ve been asked and I’ve been lucky enough to have guys go to New York, it’s been kind of fun to be part of that and have Heisman candidates. Three or four have been mentioned and all that, and I think at the appropriate time, I won’t say he’s not.
"I don’t believe he is now -- he’s not playing well enough yet."
There could still be room for improvement, but few quarterbacks have enjoyed a better stretch to open the season than Miller.
The sophomore is 10th in the nation in rushing, 12th in total offense and improved to No. 2 in the country in points responsible for after throwing for four scores and adding another rushing touchdown in the 35-28 victory Saturday. But Miller might just be getting started as he and Meyer's spread offense keep growing together.
"We’re getting close," Meyer said. "I am pleased with his progress. He’s a much different player than he was a year ago, and that’s just coming from [running backs coach] Stan Drayton, who was on the staff a year ago since I didn’t know. I mean, Braxton Miller showed up in training camp and wasn’t in the conversation about playing, and ability-wise he should have been. That tells you he wasn’t a great practice player. Tthat’s why I think he’s improved the most because freak athletes have got away with it for so long from little league to high school because they’re just so much better than people.
"That’s probably where I’m most pleased. I think he’s on schedule."
Bumps and bruises: John Simon did his best to hide the pain in his shoulder last week, and Meyer almost wound up without the defensive end on game day.
The Buckeyes don't want any surprises against UAB on Saturday, so Meyer is looking for straight answers as his team hits the practice field again this week.
"He says he feels a lot better," Meyer said. "I asked him to be honest, and he said he feels a lot better than a week ago. I said, ‘You didn’t tell me that a week ago, John.’ He goes, 'My shoulder is a long way from my heart.'
"I get it, Braveheart, just tell us so we can get you treated and get you right."
There are two Buckeyes still getting treatment that appear unlikely to play against UAB on Saturday: defensive end Michael Bennett (groin) and running back Carlos Hyde (knee).
Team honors: Devin Smith showed up yet again in the Champions Club. This time, the Ohio State sophomore didn't even limit himself to just one award.
Smith was tabbed as the offensive player of the game after his two touchdown catches and 145 yards receiving, but he also picked up recognition from the coaching staff as the standout on special teams, according to the weekly grades and honors handed out by the Buckeyes.
Other honorees:
His coach still isn't ready to discuss the Ohio State quarterback as a candidate for a yearly honor.
[+] Enlarge
Greg Bartram/US PresswireBraxton Miller was named the Big Ten's offensive player of the week after a five-touchdown performance against California.
Greg Bartram/US PresswireBraxton Miller was named the Big Ten's offensive player of the week after a five-touchdown performance against California."I don’t think he’s played well [enough]," Meyer said. "Let’s put it this way, at some point if he does, I’ve been asked and I’ve been lucky enough to have guys go to New York, it’s been kind of fun to be part of that and have Heisman candidates. Three or four have been mentioned and all that, and I think at the appropriate time, I won’t say he’s not.
"I don’t believe he is now -- he’s not playing well enough yet."
There could still be room for improvement, but few quarterbacks have enjoyed a better stretch to open the season than Miller.
The sophomore is 10th in the nation in rushing, 12th in total offense and improved to No. 2 in the country in points responsible for after throwing for four scores and adding another rushing touchdown in the 35-28 victory Saturday. But Miller might just be getting started as he and Meyer's spread offense keep growing together.
"We’re getting close," Meyer said. "I am pleased with his progress. He’s a much different player than he was a year ago, and that’s just coming from [running backs coach] Stan Drayton, who was on the staff a year ago since I didn’t know. I mean, Braxton Miller showed up in training camp and wasn’t in the conversation about playing, and ability-wise he should have been. That tells you he wasn’t a great practice player. Tthat’s why I think he’s improved the most because freak athletes have got away with it for so long from little league to high school because they’re just so much better than people.
"That’s probably where I’m most pleased. I think he’s on schedule."
Bumps and bruises: John Simon did his best to hide the pain in his shoulder last week, and Meyer almost wound up without the defensive end on game day.
The Buckeyes don't want any surprises against UAB on Saturday, so Meyer is looking for straight answers as his team hits the practice field again this week.
"He says he feels a lot better," Meyer said. "I asked him to be honest, and he said he feels a lot better than a week ago. I said, ‘You didn’t tell me that a week ago, John.’ He goes, 'My shoulder is a long way from my heart.'
"I get it, Braveheart, just tell us so we can get you treated and get you right."
There are two Buckeyes still getting treatment that appear unlikely to play against UAB on Saturday: defensive end Michael Bennett (groin) and running back Carlos Hyde (knee).
Team honors: Devin Smith showed up yet again in the Champions Club. This time, the Ohio State sophomore didn't even limit himself to just one award.
Smith was tabbed as the offensive player of the game after his two touchdown catches and 145 yards receiving, but he also picked up recognition from the coaching staff as the standout on special teams, according to the weekly grades and honors handed out by the Buckeyes.
Other honorees:
- Defense: Tackle Johnathan Hankins (player of the game), cornerback Bradley Roby and linebacker Ryan Shazier
- Offense: Running back Jordan Hall, fullback Zach Boren, tight end Jeff Heuerman and Smith
- Special teams: Smith
How OSU commits fared this weekend
September, 17, 2012
9/17/12
3:15
PM ET
By
Brad Bournival | ESPN.com
Ezekiel Elliott (St. Louis/John Burroughs) was at it again in a 56-14 win over St. Louis Lutheran North.
The versatile Elliott scored on runs of 7, 29, 56 and 62 yards and returned a punt for a score as well. He finished a shortened evening with 224 yards on 11 carries.
J.T. Barrett: Quarterback erased three-point deficit in Rider’s 26-17 win over Amarillo. Barrett was 15-of-27 for 206 yards with touchdown and added 119 yards rushing on 22 carries with score in waning seconds of contest.
The versatile Elliott scored on runs of 7, 29, 56 and 62 yards and returned a punt for a score as well. He finished a shortened evening with 224 yards on 11 carries.
J.T. Barrett: Quarterback erased three-point deficit in Rider’s 26-17 win over Amarillo. Barrett was 15-of-27 for 206 yards with touchdown and added 119 yards rushing on 22 carries with score in waning seconds of contest.
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There are only 14 weeks in the college football regular season. This is one of them.
That's about the nicest thing I can say about this week's slate of Big Ten games, which makes me yawn every time I scroll through it. But that's not to say there aren't any interesting contests on tap. Here's a quick preview of what's coming on Saturday in order of most to least interest (all times ET):
No. 18 Michigan (2-1) at No. 11 Notre Dame (3-0), 7:30 p.m., NBC: No doubt this is the headliner of the week, a game that has taken on even more prestige given the strong start this season by the Irish. Can the Wolverines do what Purdue and Michigan State couldn't and topple the Golden Domers? They do have Denard Robinson, who has caused more nightmares in South Bend than the bogeyman. With the game under the lights at Notre Dame Stadium, this should be a whole heap of fun.
Syracuse (1-2) at Minnesota (3-0), 8 p.m., Big Ten Network: A game that didn't seem all that interesting in the preseason now looks like maybe the second-best option for Week 4. The Gophers look to get to 4-0 but will have to do so without the injured MarQueis Gray. The Orange are 1-2 but played Northwestern close and hung with USC, and they rank third in the nation in passing yards behind Ryan Nassib. This will be a real test for Minnesota.
Temple (1-1) at Penn State (1-2), 3:30 p.m., ABC: The Nittany Lions finally got a win last week against Navy and need that mojo this week to avoid losing to Temple for the first time since 1941. The Owls didn't inspire a lot of confidence in losing to Maryland last week, but they nearly pulled off the upset of Penn State last year in Philly.
Louisiana Tech (2-0) at Illinois (2-1), 8 p.m., BTN: It says something when this is the fourth best game of the week, but I actually think this could be a good one. The Bulldogs are better than you think, having won eight games last year and playing TCU close in their bowl. Their opener against Texas A&M got postponed by weather, but they've averaged 56 points and nearly 290 rushing yards in wins over Rice and Houston. If the Illini are still banged up and not at their best, they could lose here.
UTEP (1-2) at Wisconsin (2-1), Noon, ESPN2: Fun fact: UTEP is ranked 106th in scoring offense. Wisconsin is ranked 113th. OK, that's not much fun if you're a Badgers fan. But the point is, Wisconsin has played so poorly that no game is safe at this point. The Miners gave Oklahoma a minor scare in Week 1.
South Dakota (1-1) at Northwestern (3-0), 3:30 p.m., BTN: After playing three straight BCS AQ teams, the Wildcats get a bit of a break here and should improve to 4-0. South Dakota did win at Minnesota two years ago, but the Coyotes lost to Maine in their season opener.
Central Michigan (1-1) at Iowa (2-1), Noon, BTN: Yes, we've reached the real snoozer portion of the schedule. The Chippewas got drilled at home by Michigan State two weeks ago. Iowa found a little bit of an offensive rhythm against Northern Iowa and should not have much trouble if it can keep that up.
UAB (0-2) at No. 16 Ohio State (3-0), Noon, BTN: This is little more than a tune-up for the Buckeyes before their showdown at Michigan State on Sept. 29. The Blazers have been outscored 88-35 in their first two games, losses to Troy and South Carolina. Have fun, Braxton Miller.
Eastern Michigan (0-3) at No. 21 Michigan State (2-1), 3:30 p.m., BTN: The Spartans will also just be tuning up before that Ohio State game, not to mention relieving some frustration from the Notre Dame loss. Eastern Michigan was last seen losing 54-16 to Purdue and ranks nationally in rush defense. Good luck stopping Le'Veon Bell this week, fellas.
Idaho State at No. 25 Nebraska (2-1), 3:30 p.m., BTN: Just about the only storylines for this one are Bo Pelini's health and Rex Burkhead's availability. The FCS Vandals lost to Air Force in the opener but then rebounded to beat Black Hills State, which is apparently a real team. Conference season can't get here soon enough.
Byes: Indiana, Purdue
That's about the nicest thing I can say about this week's slate of Big Ten games, which makes me yawn every time I scroll through it. But that's not to say there aren't any interesting contests on tap. Here's a quick preview of what's coming on Saturday in order of most to least interest (all times ET):
No. 18 Michigan (2-1) at No. 11 Notre Dame (3-0), 7:30 p.m., NBC: No doubt this is the headliner of the week, a game that has taken on even more prestige given the strong start this season by the Irish. Can the Wolverines do what Purdue and Michigan State couldn't and topple the Golden Domers? They do have Denard Robinson, who has caused more nightmares in South Bend than the bogeyman. With the game under the lights at Notre Dame Stadium, this should be a whole heap of fun.
Syracuse (1-2) at Minnesota (3-0), 8 p.m., Big Ten Network: A game that didn't seem all that interesting in the preseason now looks like maybe the second-best option for Week 4. The Gophers look to get to 4-0 but will have to do so without the injured MarQueis Gray. The Orange are 1-2 but played Northwestern close and hung with USC, and they rank third in the nation in passing yards behind Ryan Nassib. This will be a real test for Minnesota.
Temple (1-1) at Penn State (1-2), 3:30 p.m., ABC: The Nittany Lions finally got a win last week against Navy and need that mojo this week to avoid losing to Temple for the first time since 1941. The Owls didn't inspire a lot of confidence in losing to Maryland last week, but they nearly pulled off the upset of Penn State last year in Philly.
Louisiana Tech (2-0) at Illinois (2-1), 8 p.m., BTN: It says something when this is the fourth best game of the week, but I actually think this could be a good one. The Bulldogs are better than you think, having won eight games last year and playing TCU close in their bowl. Their opener against Texas A&M got postponed by weather, but they've averaged 56 points and nearly 290 rushing yards in wins over Rice and Houston. If the Illini are still banged up and not at their best, they could lose here.
UTEP (1-2) at Wisconsin (2-1), Noon, ESPN2: Fun fact: UTEP is ranked 106th in scoring offense. Wisconsin is ranked 113th. OK, that's not much fun if you're a Badgers fan. But the point is, Wisconsin has played so poorly that no game is safe at this point. The Miners gave Oklahoma a minor scare in Week 1.
South Dakota (1-1) at Northwestern (3-0), 3:30 p.m., BTN: After playing three straight BCS AQ teams, the Wildcats get a bit of a break here and should improve to 4-0. South Dakota did win at Minnesota two years ago, but the Coyotes lost to Maine in their season opener.
Central Michigan (1-1) at Iowa (2-1), Noon, BTN: Yes, we've reached the real snoozer portion of the schedule. The Chippewas got drilled at home by Michigan State two weeks ago. Iowa found a little bit of an offensive rhythm against Northern Iowa and should not have much trouble if it can keep that up.
UAB (0-2) at No. 16 Ohio State (3-0), Noon, BTN: This is little more than a tune-up for the Buckeyes before their showdown at Michigan State on Sept. 29. The Blazers have been outscored 88-35 in their first two games, losses to Troy and South Carolina. Have fun, Braxton Miller.
Eastern Michigan (0-3) at No. 21 Michigan State (2-1), 3:30 p.m., BTN: The Spartans will also just be tuning up before that Ohio State game, not to mention relieving some frustration from the Notre Dame loss. Eastern Michigan was last seen losing 54-16 to Purdue and ranks nationally in rush defense. Good luck stopping Le'Veon Bell this week, fellas.
Idaho State at No. 25 Nebraska (2-1), 3:30 p.m., BTN: Just about the only storylines for this one are Bo Pelini's health and Rex Burkhead's availability. The FCS Vandals lost to Air Force in the opener but then rebounded to beat Black Hills State, which is apparently a real team. Conference season can't get here soon enough.
Byes: Indiana, Purdue
OLB Courtney Love still a Cornhusker
September, 17, 2012
9/17/12
12:11
PM ET
By
Brad Bournival | ESPN.com
When Courtney Love (Youngstown, Ohio/Cardinal Mooney) was spotted at Saturday’s Ohio State game against Cal, speculation went haywire regarding the outside linebacker possibly having interest in the Buckeyes again.
The 6-foot-1, 225-pound Nebraska commit made it clear that wasn’t the case when he said not to read anything into it.
He didn’t talk to Ohio State coaches and the school isn’t recruiting him anymore.
The 6-foot-1, 225-pound Nebraska commit made it clear that wasn’t the case when he said not to read anything into it.
He didn’t talk to Ohio State coaches and the school isn’t recruiting him anymore.
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Recruiting heating up for Joe Henderson
September, 17, 2012
9/17/12
12:00
PM ET
By
Brad Bournival | ESPN.com
Joe Henderson (Shaker Heights, Ohio/Shaker Heights) thought once he picked up that first offer from Cincinnati to start the season, things would heat up.
They have with fervor, as the 2014 defensive end is becoming quite the hot topic among college coaches as he's led the Red Raiders to a 3-1 start, with Akron jumping on board with an offer.
“It’s amazing,” Henderson said. “I try to come out here and play to the best of my ability and hope the college coaches see that and get in contact with me. It’s starting to happen.”
They have with fervor, as the 2014 defensive end is becoming quite the hot topic among college coaches as he's led the Red Raiders to a 3-1 start, with Akron jumping on board with an offer.
“It’s amazing,” Henderson said. “I try to come out here and play to the best of my ability and hope the college coaches see that and get in contact with me. It’s starting to happen.”
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Snodgrass, Rogers amped after OSU visit
September, 17, 2012
9/17/12
11:00
AM ET
By
Brad Bournival | ESPN.com
Thaddeus Snodgrass (Springfield, Ohio/Springfield) and Devon Rogers (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson) picked a great day to make some memories.
The duo out of the 2014 recruiting class were on hand for Ohio State’s game against Cal and watched the Buckeyes hang on for a thrilling 35-28 win at The Horseshoe.
“It was a lot of fun,” Rogers, a safety, said. “I talked to the coaches before and after. The experience was just great. Everybody should get to experience that. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing.”
The duo out of the 2014 recruiting class were on hand for Ohio State’s game against Cal and watched the Buckeyes hang on for a thrilling 35-28 win at The Horseshoe.
“It was a lot of fun,” Rogers, a safety, said. “I talked to the coaches before and after. The experience was just great. Everybody should get to experience that. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing.”
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Run it back ...
Team of the week: Penn State. No matter what you might think about the school and the football program after the Jerry Sandusky scandal, it was hard not to root for the current Nittany Lions players to finally get a win after so many obstacles. Penn State busted out with an easy, feel-good 34-7 win over Navy. The Midshipmen are hard to root against as well, but this one time was OK.
Game of the week: You might have missed it, because it ended late and was on at the same time as much bigger games. And, OK, it was Indiana. But the Hoosiers' game against Ball State was the most exciting Big Ten contest of the weekend. The teams traded touchdowns in the first half, with Ball State leading 25-24 at the break. Indiana looked done when it trailed 38-25 late in the fourth quarter and starting quarterback Cameron Coffman went out with a hip pointer. But freshman Nate Sudfeld threw a 70-yard touchdown pass and then led the team on another scoring drive with 49 seconds left. Ah, but the Hoosiers made the PlayStation mistake of scoring too fast. Ball State completed a controversial, hard-to-believe pass to the IU 25 with one second left, and Steven Schott booted the game-winner as time expired. It was a tough, tough loss for Kevin Wilson's team, but a fun game to watch.
Biggest play: If it's late in a close game, the last thing a defense wants to see is Braxton Miller scrambling. The Ohio State quarterback burned Wisconsin with a long touchdown throw after things broke down last year, and he did so against Cal on Saturday with a 72-yard strike to an unbelievably open Devin Smith for the game with 3:26 left. Safeties have to respect Miller's explosive running ability, but they get can burned when they leave their receivers. That's why the Miller scramble is becoming one of the most dangerous late-game plays to defend.
Best call: Wisconsin was supposed to be in punt safe mode in the third quarter against Utah State, and its returners would usually call for a fair catch in the situation Kenzel Doe found himself in. But Doe, who was only returning punts because Jared Abbrederis was injured, saw a small opening on the sideline and decided to go for it. He was in the end zone 82 yards later, finally giving the Badgers the spark they needed to eventually beat the Aggies 16-14. Doe? More like Woo-Hoo!
Big Men on Campus (Offense): How about some love for the backups this week? Minnesota's Max Shortell stepped in for the injured MarQueis Gray and threw for 188 yards and three touchdowns, helping the Gophers fend off Western Michigan for a 3-0 start. And as Iowa's running back curse reached new, ludicrous heights, walk-on Mark Weisman came out of nowhere to run for 113 yards and three touchdowns as part of the Hawkeyes' much-needed win over Northern Iowa.
Big Man on Campus (Defense): Minnesota cornerback Michael Carter had an 18-yard interception return to set up a touchdown early. He also broke up Western Michigan quarterback Alex Carder's pass late to help preserve the 28-23 victory.
Big Man on Campus (Special teams): It's hard to run 99 offensive plays before scoring your first touchdown, but that's what Northwestern did against Boston College. Luckily, they had kicker Jeff Budzien, who made all five of his field goal attempts to give the Wildcats all the points they'd need in a 22-13 victory.
Worst hangover: Michigan State, by a mile. The Spartans were carrying the banner for the Big Ten for one week before they tripped, broke the pole and set the flag on fire against Notre Dame. Although Michigan State bounced back from a bad loss to the Irish last year, Saturday's offensive showing was so inept that it makes you wonder if this team can overcome those limitations going forward. Just a bad, bad performance on a national stage.
Strangest moment: Playing UMass is good for your offense, and just about everyone got involved in Michigan's 63-13 win. That included left tackle Taylor Lewan, who got to live out an offensive lineman's dream by recovering a Denard Robinson fumble for a touchdown. Or did he? At least one teammate claimed that center Elliott Mealer actually recovered the ball. And Robinson said Lewan was mad about his score because the play broke down and he didn't get to complete his block. But the box score says it was a Lewan touchdown, and that's something we probably won't see again.
Team of the week: Penn State. No matter what you might think about the school and the football program after the Jerry Sandusky scandal, it was hard not to root for the current Nittany Lions players to finally get a win after so many obstacles. Penn State busted out with an easy, feel-good 34-7 win over Navy. The Midshipmen are hard to root against as well, but this one time was OK.
Game of the week: You might have missed it, because it ended late and was on at the same time as much bigger games. And, OK, it was Indiana. But the Hoosiers' game against Ball State was the most exciting Big Ten contest of the weekend. The teams traded touchdowns in the first half, with Ball State leading 25-24 at the break. Indiana looked done when it trailed 38-25 late in the fourth quarter and starting quarterback Cameron Coffman went out with a hip pointer. But freshman Nate Sudfeld threw a 70-yard touchdown pass and then led the team on another scoring drive with 49 seconds left. Ah, but the Hoosiers made the PlayStation mistake of scoring too fast. Ball State completed a controversial, hard-to-believe pass to the IU 25 with one second left, and Steven Schott booted the game-winner as time expired. It was a tough, tough loss for Kevin Wilson's team, but a fun game to watch.
[+] Enlarge
Greg Bartram/US PresswireBuckeyes quarterback Braxton Miller tries to evade California linebacker Nathan Broussard on Saturday.
Greg Bartram/US PresswireBuckeyes quarterback Braxton Miller tries to evade California linebacker Nathan Broussard on Saturday.Best call: Wisconsin was supposed to be in punt safe mode in the third quarter against Utah State, and its returners would usually call for a fair catch in the situation Kenzel Doe found himself in. But Doe, who was only returning punts because Jared Abbrederis was injured, saw a small opening on the sideline and decided to go for it. He was in the end zone 82 yards later, finally giving the Badgers the spark they needed to eventually beat the Aggies 16-14. Doe? More like Woo-Hoo!
Big Men on Campus (Offense): How about some love for the backups this week? Minnesota's Max Shortell stepped in for the injured MarQueis Gray and threw for 188 yards and three touchdowns, helping the Gophers fend off Western Michigan for a 3-0 start. And as Iowa's running back curse reached new, ludicrous heights, walk-on Mark Weisman came out of nowhere to run for 113 yards and three touchdowns as part of the Hawkeyes' much-needed win over Northern Iowa.
Big Man on Campus (Defense): Minnesota cornerback Michael Carter had an 18-yard interception return to set up a touchdown early. He also broke up Western Michigan quarterback Alex Carder's pass late to help preserve the 28-23 victory.
Big Man on Campus (Special teams): It's hard to run 99 offensive plays before scoring your first touchdown, but that's what Northwestern did against Boston College. Luckily, they had kicker Jeff Budzien, who made all five of his field goal attempts to give the Wildcats all the points they'd need in a 22-13 victory.
Worst hangover: Michigan State, by a mile. The Spartans were carrying the banner for the Big Ten for one week before they tripped, broke the pole and set the flag on fire against Notre Dame. Although Michigan State bounced back from a bad loss to the Irish last year, Saturday's offensive showing was so inept that it makes you wonder if this team can overcome those limitations going forward. Just a bad, bad performance on a national stage.
Strangest moment: Playing UMass is good for your offense, and just about everyone got involved in Michigan's 63-13 win. That included left tackle Taylor Lewan, who got to live out an offensive lineman's dream by recovering a Denard Robinson fumble for a touchdown. Or did he? At least one teammate claimed that center Elliott Mealer actually recovered the ball. And Robinson said Lewan was mad about his score because the play broke down and he didn't get to complete his block. But the box score says it was a Lewan touchdown, and that's something we probably won't see again.
Ohio State 10: Week 3 power rankings
September, 17, 2012
9/17/12
9:26
AM ET
By
Austin Ward | ESPN.com
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The rushing room was harder to come by for Braxton Miller.
The Ohio State quarterback adjusted by throwing for the majority of his touchdowns instead.
Miller continued his hot start by tossing for four scores in a 35-28 win over California on Saturday, a victory that also included one of his customary rushing touchdowns along the way. He again contributed more than 300 yards of total offense, broke a couple ankles with his supernatural agility -- and maintained his top spot in the BuckeyeNation power rankings as well.
No. 1: QB Braxton Miller
The Ohio State quarterback adjusted by throwing for the majority of his touchdowns instead.
Miller continued his hot start by tossing for four scores in a 35-28 win over California on Saturday, a victory that also included one of his customary rushing touchdowns along the way. He again contributed more than 300 yards of total offense, broke a couple ankles with his supernatural agility -- and maintained his top spot in the BuckeyeNation power rankings as well.
No. 1: QB Braxton Miller
- Last week: No. 1
- Against Cal: The various defensive looks the Golden Bears rolled out presented a challenge for the sophomore, but Miller cracked it often enough to compensate for a rough outing on the other side of the ball for the Buckeyes as they stayed unbeaten.
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Big Ten all over 2014 OL/DL Brian Allen
September, 16, 2012
9/16/12
8:39
PM ET
By
Jared Shanker | ESPN.com
It was an up-and-down weekend for Brian Allen (Hinsdale, Ill./Hinsdale Central), though much of it was down for the 2014 two-way lineman.
His high school team suffered its first loss of the season Friday after blowing a halftime lead. He was hoping his visit to Michigan State on Saturday would cheer him up, but it only made it worse.
“They didn’t play too hot, either,” said Allen, who has an offer from the Spartans.
His high school team suffered its first loss of the season Friday after blowing a halftime lead. He was hoping his visit to Michigan State on Saturday would cheer him up, but it only made it worse.
“They didn’t play too hot, either,” said Allen, who has an offer from the Spartans.
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Kyle Trout in line for Michigan State offer
September, 16, 2012
9/16/12
4:07
PM ET
By
Jared Shanker | ESPN.com
Kyle Trout had a little trouble finding where he was supposed to go on Saturday, but eventually the Lancaster (Ohio) junior offensive tackle made it to Michigan State and it was worth his trouble.
The game did not go as planned for Michigan State in a loss to Notre Dame, but Trout still enjoyed his visit and especially the scene at Spartans Stadium.
“It was extremely loud and energetic. I like how loud stadiums can get,” Trout said. “I liked how even when the fans weren’t cheering -- which wasn’t very often -- the players were keeping themselves up.”
The game did not go as planned for Michigan State in a loss to Notre Dame, but Trout still enjoyed his visit and especially the scene at Spartans Stadium.
“It was extremely loud and energetic. I like how loud stadiums can get,” Trout said. “I liked how even when the fans weren’t cheering -- which wasn’t very often -- the players were keeping themselves up.”
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MSU shows DeShone Kizer love on visit
September, 16, 2012
9/16/12
3:07
PM ET
By
Jared Shanker | ESPN.com
On his first visit to Michigan State, DeShone Kizer (Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic) fell in love with the campus. On his second visit, it was pretty much the same, except it was the atmosphere and fans that made the biggest impression.
The 2014 dual-threat quarterback already holds eight offers, and it might not be long before Michigan State becomes team No. 9 and makes Kizer only the second quarterback the Spartans have offered in the 2014 class.
“They said they’re going to meet up the next couple games and come see me play and that I’m high up on their list and want me to be a Spartan,” Kizer said. “I feel great vibes from the coaches and the relationships are there.”
The 2014 dual-threat quarterback already holds eight offers, and it might not be long before Michigan State becomes team No. 9 and makes Kizer only the second quarterback the Spartans have offered in the 2014 class.
“They said they’re going to meet up the next couple games and come see me play and that I’m high up on their list and want me to be a Spartan,” Kizer said. “I feel great vibes from the coaches and the relationships are there.”
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WR Gibson at OSU, plans three more trips
September, 16, 2012
9/16/12
2:30
PM ET
By
Brad Bournival | ESPN.com
Shelton Gibson (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Cleveland Heights) isn’t hiding his love for Ohio State.
After saying the Buckeyes were his top school at the beginning of the month, the ESPN 300 wide receiver showed he’s serious with his itinerary for the upcoming months.
Gibson didn’t catch Ohio State’s 35-28 win over Cal on Saturday, but was in Columbus shortly afterward and spent time with former teammate Kyle Dodson.
After saying the Buckeyes were his top school at the beginning of the month, the ESPN 300 wide receiver showed he’s serious with his itinerary for the upcoming months.
Gibson didn’t catch Ohio State’s 35-28 win over Cal on Saturday, but was in Columbus shortly afterward and spent time with former teammate Kyle Dodson.
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Dominique Booth gets red carpet treatment
September, 16, 2012
9/16/12
2:00
PM ET
By
Brad Bournival | ESPN.com
With one of the biggest wide receivers in the 2014 class on hand, it was only fitting that a wideout came up with the play of the game to lift Ohio State over Cal 35-28.
Dominique Booth (Indianapolis/Pike) was in Columbus on Saturday for an unofficial visit and saw Braxton Miller hook up with Devin Smith on a 72-yard touchdown pass with 3:26 left in front of 105,232 in Ohio Stadium.
“It was great,” Booth said. “The whole time I was watching how the wide receivers played. I saw the DB come up and I knew it was going to be a touchdown. Everybody in the whole stadium knew that was the game right there. It was loud.”
Dominique Booth (Indianapolis/Pike) was in Columbus on Saturday for an unofficial visit and saw Braxton Miller hook up with Devin Smith on a 72-yard touchdown pass with 3:26 left in front of 105,232 in Ohio Stadium.
“It was great,” Booth said. “The whole time I was watching how the wide receivers played. I saw the DB come up and I knew it was going to be a touchdown. Everybody in the whole stadium knew that was the game right there. It was loud.”
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Poll position: Buckeyes carry Big Ten flag
September, 16, 2012
9/16/12
12:24
PM ET
By
Austin Ward | ESPN.com
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A close call caused Ohio State to slip a bit nationally.
But the Buckeyes still won again, and that's enough to put them at the top of the conference heap after three weeks.
One by one the Big Ten squads ahead of the program in the rankings have tripped up and dropped in the polls, leaving Ohio State and its unbeaten record as the highest-rated team in the league with the non-conference schedule winding down.
The Buckeyes showed some weaknesses in the 35-28 win on Saturday over California, and that led to the voters dropping them down to No. 16 in the latest AP poll released on Sunday morning.
But Michigan State's loss to Notre Dame opened the door for Ohio State to claim the top spot for the Big Ten, while also taking a little bit of shine off the showdown against the Spartans that will open league play on Sept. 29.
Along with Michigan State, here's a quick glance at how the rest of the ranked teams on Ohio State's schedule fared:
Michigan
But the Buckeyes still won again, and that's enough to put them at the top of the conference heap after three weeks.
One by one the Big Ten squads ahead of the program in the rankings have tripped up and dropped in the polls, leaving Ohio State and its unbeaten record as the highest-rated team in the league with the non-conference schedule winding down.
The Buckeyes showed some weaknesses in the 35-28 win on Saturday over California, and that led to the voters dropping them down to No. 16 in the latest AP poll released on Sunday morning.
But Michigan State's loss to Notre Dame opened the door for Ohio State to claim the top spot for the Big Ten, while also taking a little bit of shine off the showdown against the Spartans that will open league play on Sept. 29.
Along with Michigan State, here's a quick glance at how the rest of the ranked teams on Ohio State's schedule fared:
Michigan
- Rank: No. 18
- Date: Nov. 24
- Where: Ohio Stadium
- Last week: Ranked No. 17; won 63-13 against Massachusetts
- Rank: Received five voting points
- Date: Nov. 17
- Where: Camp Randall Stadium
- Last week: Receiving votes; beat Utah State 16-14
- Rank: No. 21
- Date: Sept. 29
- Where: Spartan Stadium
- Last week: Ranked No. 10; lost 20-3 to Notre Dame
- Rank: No. 25
- Date: Oct. 6
- Where: Ohio Stadium
- Last week: Receiving votes; won 42-13 over Arkansas State
ABOUT BUCKEYE NATION
Austin Ward
Austin Ward joined ESPN.com in 2012 after five years as a college football writer at the Casper (Wyo.) Star-Tribune and the Knoxville (Tenn.) News Sentinel. The award-winning journalist lives with his wife in Columbus, Ohio. Email him at ajward.espn@gmail.com.
Brad Bournival
Brad Bournival, a lifetime Northeast Ohio resident, joined ESPN in 2012 and is the recruiting writer for BuckeyeNation. He has covered sports at the professional, college and high school level for 16 years. Recently, Bournival was a freelance writer for The Plain Dealer, The Medina Gazette and SportsInk.com. Email him at bradbournival.espn@gmail.com.