OSU Buckeyes

There are are two types of visits high school prospects can make to colleges recruiting them: the "official visit," which is paid for by the school and allowed during a prospect's senior year, and the "unofficial visit," which is paid for by the prospect and isn't restricted to the senior year. Official visits are pretty cut and dry. They are also -- given the modern recruiting trend of prospects committing to schools early in their careers -- passé.

The imbalance this rule causes -- wherein prospects from wealthy families can go anywhere and see any school, while prospects of limited means have to find other ways -- is obvious. That imbalance has also placed an undue amount of influence on the unofficial visit, providing a way in for infamously scurrilous prep hoops go-betweens, who can offer influence and access to schools in exchange for helping prospects find their way to campuses. It's not supposed to happen, but it does, and it no doubt happens more frequently than is ever reported.

How do you regulate this? Bylaw Blog's John Infante (along with the aforelinked Mike DeCourcy) has taken on the issue before, arguing that unofficial visits should be banned. The issue is not uncomplicated, as Infante's explanation shows; it would involve a ream of rule changes and restructuring to avoid negative unintentional consequences. The solutions aren't obvious.

Which is why a third way -- which Infante wrote about Thursday -- sounds so very promising. In a landscape in which prospects' increasing willingness to be aggressive in their own pursuit of a college scholarship (the "good old days" of prospects waiting around for coaches to come visit are over, and "probably never existed" in the first place, John writes), some are using Kickstarter-clone web fundraising tools. One such player is football prospect Marcus Rose, who began his own Indiegogo campaign to help pay his way to a camp. And it's legal:

Rose’s fundraising campaign used to be against NCAA rules, but is now allowed by Bylaw 12.1.2.1.4.5.1. As long as the funds do not come from an agent, NCAA member institution, or a booster of an NCAA school, athletes can find “sponsors” to help cover the cost of practice and competition in athletics events.

As of right now, fundraising for recruiting travel is not permitted. While you could put the same restrictions in, there is a much greater temptation to break those rules for boosters and agents when it means the chance to direct an athlete to a certain school rather than just to finance their athletic development. Allowing for fundraising campaigns without close regulation would be difficult.

First of all, that bylaw -- 12.1.2.1.4.5.1 -- is amazing. And people wonder why the NCAA rule book requires so much explanation.

Anyway, it would be very difficult to allow athletes to start raising money directly for recruiting, but not impossible, and that's where John's other idea comes in:

The NCAA could run a fundraising site where athletes could sign up to get recruiting expenses like trips to camps or unofficial visits covered. The best way to do it would be not to allow individual fundraising campaigns, but rather allow individuals to donate collectively to the athletes in the pool. That way money is not directed toward an individual athlete, even if say a recruit considering Kentucky encourages Kentucky fans to contribute.

Prospects would be given the funds for recruiting trips, then required to show the money was spent on recruiting expenses like travel, lodging, and meals. Failure to do so would require the prospect pay the money back and potentially face other penalties when he or she starts school.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Only one Big Ten team is left ahead of Ohio State after just two weeks.

The upsets and a win over perhaps the most difficult nonconference opponent on the schedule have the Buckeyes knocking on the door to the top 10 as well.

The 31-16 victory over Central Florida, which had been receiving votes in the AP poll heading into Saturday's game at Ohio Stadium, included plenty of flaws for new coach Urban Meyer to pick on when it was over. But it was still impressive enough to help the Buckeyes climb a couple more spots when the new rankings were released on Sunday, moving up to N0. 12 after their second win in as many tries.

As it stands right now, the Buckeyes won't have another crack at a team in the top 25 or receiving any voting points until their trip to Michigan State to open Big Ten action on Sept. 29. But that one is shaping up to be a big one with the N0. 10 Spartans currently rated as the best team in the league, according to the ballots.

A glimpse at how the ranked opponents on Ohio State's schedule fared over the weekend and where they are rated now:

Michigan

• Rank: No. 17
• Date: Nov. 24
• Where: Ohio Stadium
• Last week: Ranked No, 19; won 31-25 against Air Force

Wisconsin

• Rank: Received 44 voting points
• Date: Nov. 17
• Where: Camp Randall Stadium
• Last week: Ranked No. 13; lost 10-7 at Oregon State

Michigan State

• Rank: No. 10
• Date: Sept. 29
• Where: Spartan Stadium
• Last week: Ranked No. 11; beat Central Michigan 41-7

Nebraska

• Rank: Received 79 voting points
• Date: Oct. 6
• Where: Ohio Stadium
• Last week: Ranked No. 16; lost 36-30 at UCLA

Central Florida

• Rank: No longer receiving votes
• Last week: Received four voting points; lost 31-16 at Ohio State

Jim Basquil and the ESPN.com College Football team deliver the highlights, analysis, and interviews from an exciting Week 2 of College Football.

It got a little sloppy after the third quarter, but UCF is probably the best team the Buckeyes will play until that trip to East Lansing in three weeks. The Buckeyes dodged the upset bug that was seen all over the country Saturday, especially among Big Ten schools.

Here's a look at the UCF game and other noteworthy coverage in our weekly Across The Field posts. Think something should be included? Send it to espnkendrick@gmail.com.

Ohio State 31, Central Florida 16

• Braxton Miller can't run 27 times every game and everybody knows it, writes BuckeyeNation's Austin Ward.
• Urban Meyer saw something in Orhian Johnson in practice.
• The Buckeyes have more running backs in street clothes than shoulder pads right now.
• The punt is no longer the most important play at Ohio State, writes Bill Livingston. (Plain Dealer)
• UCF didn't quite play well enough to hang with Urban State, writes Mike Bianchi. (Orlando Sentinel)

BuckeyeNation Week in Review

• Miller can take the next step with his pocket footwork.
• Brad Bournival caught up with Andy Katzenmoyer, as dominant a linebacker as any in school history.
• Ohio State can win a trophy for its division this season after all. And after Saturday, they might be the favorite in the Leaders Division.
• Austin Ward took a look at the freshmen who have made an impact already.
• Travis Howard is showing he's a lot more than Ohio State's other corner.
• The last play of the first half against Miami lingered in Urban Meyer's mind.
• Armani Reeves is on the field as a returner, and has a bright future in the secondary.
• Freshman Frank Epitropoulos is the son and nephew of former Ohio State players.
• Ohio State might finally land a linebacker in this class on Sept. 20.
• Yet another Cleveland Glenville athlete has an Ohio State offer.
• Nathan Williams made a successful return after knee surgery.
• A Cleveland St. Ignatius prospect made future Michigan QB Shane Morris' visit to Ohio a forgettable one.
• A big-time senior DB from Georgia has Ohio State in his final three, along with Alabama and Tennessee.

More Football

• Jared Shanker took an inside look at recruiting in Ohio.
• Brian Bennett had a lengthy Q&A with Johnathan Hankins, who had a big game Saturday.
• Ryan Shazier can't play like a sophomore on Ohio State's defense, writes Doug Lesmerises. (Plain Dealer)
• The athletic department's iPads are changing the way players hone their craft. (Dayton Daily News)
• Center Corey Linsley has come a long way in a year. (Dispatch)
• As was proven on the field Saturday, this doesn't look like a banner year for the Big Ten, writes Bob Hunter. (Dispatch)
• A walk-on fullback has a great story, writes John Kampf. (News-Herald)
• Adam Griffin is Archie's son, but he's making his own name at Ohio State. (Plain Dealer)
• Urban Meyer's quarterbacks can't help but get some Heisman hype. (Eleven Warriors)
• A look at the 37 Buckeyes playing in the NFL this season, on 20 teams. (Lantern)

The Gang's All Here

• The baseball team has begun fall practice. (Land-Grant Holy Land)
• A look at the baseball schedule. (OSU)
• Several former Buckeyes have returned to work for the athletic department. (OSU)
• Senior Rachel Rohanna advanced in LPGA Tour qualifying. (OSU)

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Urban Meyer's specialty is offense. But when he picks up on something on the other side of the football, he's going to let his assistants know what he wants.

After watching Orhian Johnson in practice and on special teams, the Ohio State coach made his feelings known about the senior defensive back and his desire to get him on the field. The defensive staff complied, and the results were obvious with Johnson inserted into the nickel package and lending a hand in two turnovers as the Buckeyes knocked off Central Florida 31-16 on Saturday at Ohio Stadium.

"I was very involved in that decision," Meyer said. "I see, he’s just so talented, and he’s another guy that’s been around here for a while. Production hasn’t been what it needs to be, but he earned that right in practice, did some really good things on special teams.

"We felt like we needed more production out of that nickel spot."

The Buckeyes got plenty from Johnson, who tipped a second-quarter pass that deflected into the hands of cornerback Travis Howard and later snagged his own interception to snuff a late drive into the red zone that could have tightened up the game.

Linebacker Etienne Sabino added another pick for the Ohio State defense, which now has five overall after two games and has provided a big lift to the offense by supplying great field position. And while Johnson's own pick didn't do that, his big play might have been the most critical of the bunch so far as he preserved the two-score lead with his grab at the 9-yard line.

"It definitely felt good to get out there and help my teammates win," Johnson said. "Any chance possible, I just want to go out there and help them.

"With our defense, we kind of thrive in those [pressure] situations. ... And it definitely felt good to get my hands on the ball."

Doing it twice obviously felt even better. And it offered a bit of validation for Johnson's coach in the process.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The standard was perhaps set a bit too high.

Ohio State was close to perfect in two crucial areas in its first game in the spread offense, with just one penalty that seemed to bother Urban Meyer and no turnovers at all to worry about.

The amount of concern for the new Buckeyes coach was considerably higher after a 31-16 win over Central Florida, and he clearly expects his team to get back to that level of play it established a week ago.

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