OSU Buckeyes

The latest national rankings are out, and the Michigan Wolverines are back in.

Michigan returned to both the AP and coaches' polls Sunday following its dramatic overtime win Saturday against Northwestern. The Wolverines, who had been out of the rankings following their Oct. 27 loss to Nebraska, come in at No. 23 in both polls. Brady Hoke's crew is one of two new entries to the AP poll (Kent State the other).

Nebraska moved up two spots in each poll, rising from No. 18 to No. 16 in the AP and from No. 16 to No. 14 in the coaches'. Ohio State, idle in Week 11, dropped a spot to No. 6 in the AP Top 25 after being tied with Georgia at No. 5 in the previous poll. The coaches' poll doesn't rank Ohio State because of the team's NCAA sanctions.

Despite a 10-0 record, Urban Meyer's team sits behind two SEC teams (Alabama and Georgia) with one loss. It'll be interesting to see if the Buckeyes can crack the top 3 or 4 even if they finish undefeated.

Wisconsin is second among teams also receiving votes in the coaches' poll and fourth in the AP poll. Northwestern also is receiving a few votes in both polls.

Here are the latest rankings:

AP

No. 6 Ohio State (last week: 5)
No. 16 Nebraska (last week: 18)
No. 23 Michigan (last week: not ranked)

Wisconsin and Northwestern receiving votes

Coaches'

No. 14 Nebraska (last week: 16)
No. 16 Michigan (last week: not ranked)

Wisconsin and Northwestern receiving votes

Lessons learned from Week 11 in the Big Ten:

1. A Wisconsin-Nebraska title game looks very likely: Wisconsin and Nebraska opened the Big Ten season under the lights in Lincoln on Sept. 29. The Badgers and Huskers probably will close out the conference season Dec. 1 in Indianapolis. Wisconsin punched its ticket for the Big Ten title game Saturday by crushing Indiana 62-14. Montee Ball and the Badgers rushed for a team-record 564 yards -- the highest total in Big Ten play since 1975 -- and completed a rough road back to Indy with a very easy final leg. Nebraska and Michigan remain tied atop the Legends division, but the Huskers hold the head-to-head tiebreaker and took a big step toward Lucas Oil Stadium with another come-from-behind victory Saturday against Penn State. Nebraska once again overcame mistakes and turned in a big second half to remain perfect at home this season. If the Huskers take care of Minnesota at home and Iowa on the road, they'll head to Indianapolis, regardless of what Michigan does in its final two games. These two teams provided plenty of excitement in their first meeting, and it looks as though they'll be reuniting in three weeks.

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It was a week off, and the Buckeyes clinched a championship. After Penn State's loss at Nebraska, the Buckeyes are two games up in the Leaders Division with two to play, which means the worst that can happen is a tie for the division title with Wisconsin and/or Penn State, and the Badgers are already assured of playing in the league title game. Anyhow, with a week off, the Buckeyes rested and the coaches went on the road to recruit. Welcome to 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.

 

BuckeyeNation Week in Review

• Brad Bournival might have been the hardest working man in BuckeyeNation this week with a the recruiting news buzzing in a busy week.
• ESPN 150 OT Dorian Johnson will have at least two more visits to Columbus before a decision, which is a good sign.
• The 10-0 start does a lot for the coaches' pitches to recruits this week.
• Joey Bosa is poised to come to Ohio State out of one of the country's best high school programs.
• The Buckeyes have a good shot to finish strong, writes Jeremy Crabtree in Fact or Fiction.
• A 2013 ESPN 150 receiver from Florida is quietly in the mix as well.
• Ohio State extended offers in the 2014 class to LB Nyles Morgan, RB Nick Chubb and LB Dillon Bates and another to 2015 RB Damien Harris.
• 2014 QB Drew Barker doesn't have an offer yet, but he received a visit.
• Urban Meyer went to Northeast Ohio early in the week, and to Georgia late in the week, to Atlanta and its suburbs.
• Still no word from WR Thaddeus Snodgrass, who should announce soon.
• The new ESPN 150/300 is out, and the Buckeyes have 11 in the top 300.
• Raekwon McMillan went to Florida for a visit, and he said the Buckeyes still lead.
• Bournival's Offered series continued with Johnson, DT Donovan Munger and OT Jimmy Byrne.
• Byrne is watching the Buckeyes closely, even though he can't watch them in person.
• And in the 2016 class (yes, that's high school freshmen), Ohio State already sees massive potential in the brother of a 2013 pledge.
• On the current team, Etienne Sabino is on track for a return at Wisconsin, and he might not recognize some new parts of the defense.
• Where would the Buckeyes be in the BCS if they were eligible? Probably not in great shape among the remaining unbeatens, writes Brian Fremeau.
• Braxton Miller and Carlos Hyde are bringing back memories of Archie Griffin and Pete Johnson.
• Noah Spence had a tough middle of the season, but is coming along.
• The easy win over Illinois gave freshmen some good playing time.
• Austin Ward looked at the five most impressive statistical performances this season:

1. Braxton Miller's show against UCF
2. Ryan Shazier's breakout against Cal
3. John Simon's dominance against Nebraska
4. Carlos Hyde's touchdown party
5. Bradley Roby's tip drill

More Football

• Could Jim Tressel end up at Kentucky? (Dispatch, $)
• And Tressel will attend the Michigan game. (WBNS, Land Grant Holy Land)
• Ten reasons why this year's team should be enjoyed. (Eleven Warriors)
• Going undefeated next year will be a lot tougher, writes Rob Oller. (Dispatch, $)
• Braxton Miller doesn't like talking about himself. (Lantern)

Basketball

• The court wasn't ship shape in Charleston, so the opener is now at home against Albany on Sunday.
• Toledo Whitmer's Nigel Hayes is down to the Buckeyes and Wisconsin.
• The Buckeyes didn't get to play, but the trip still meant something, writes Bob Hunter. (Dispatch, $)
• Ohio State might have trouble finding ways to score, writes Doug Lesmerises. (Plain Dealer)
• Thad Matta thinks he'll be doing a lot more mixing and matching with the lineup this season. (Lantern)
• Jared Sullinger is finding a role in the NBA already.
• The OSU women made a solid comeback against Notre Dame before losing on the Yorktown. (Lantern)

The Gang's All Here

• At the Carrier Classic, the two basketball-playing Crafts honored their brother, who is serving in Afghanistan. (Lantern)

The Carrier Classic men's basketball game between Marquette and Ohio State was called off Friday because of condensation on the court on board the USS Yorktown in Mount Pleasant, S.C. The game was delayed for almost an hour as attempts to dry the court were made, but the condensation kept returning on a chilly night.

There were no announced plans to make up the game. Ohio State, ranked No. 4 by the Associated Press, is set to open its home schedule at 2 p.m. ET Sunday against Albany at Value City Arena.

The Ohio State women were able to play earlier Friday, and No. 7 Notre Dame beat the No. 19 Buckeyes 57-51. Tayler Hill scored 18 to lead the Buckeyes.