Grading the IL football team following its loss to Ohio State

This time, IL was the object in between Ohio State and its lofty goals, falling 28-3 to a Buckeyes squad that was just too good and too talented.

The Buckeyes, who most recently hosted a top-10 opponent in 2009 when No. 3 Southern California rallied to an 18-15 win, must beat MI State to head to No. 13 MI (8-2, 5-1) the following week in control of their Big Ten fate.

Why are we punishing a team for losing to Ohio State? In fact, the play calling was very plain, in my opinion.

Ohio State, on the other hand, keeps on winning. However, when Ohio State wanted to pass the blocking wasn’t that great. Leg strength and putting the ball exactly where he wants isn’t a problem for punter Cameron Johnston. Hmm.

Fejedelem himself limped to the sideline in the second half with a twisted ankle and did not return although he said he expects to play in the next game at Minnesota.

“That was our best game offensively, by far”, Meyer said. It will continue the following week with a November 28 date with MI, which could ultimately serve as a play-in game for this season’s Big Ten title game. This is the biggest game we’ve played this season.

The 2nd half belong to Elliott. He gained 129 yards on the ground in the second half. They’ll look to carry that momentum over to next week when they host the annual Ohio State Invite.

Barrett was originally pulled out of the checkpoint line because an officer said he could smell alcohol on his breath – even though the 20-year-old insisted that he had had nothing to drink.

However, Ohio State also left a few points on the field.

Special teams had a bad day for Ohio State. In addition to Sean Nuernberger missing the 24 FG attempt, punter Cam Johnston seemed to miss an big chance to run for a 1st down while punting. Johnston had a 54-yard punt into the wind and placed four more punts inside the 20, although he could have run forever on a fourth-and-1 instead of kicking after picking up a low snap.

“Northern IL changed their whole defense and we weren’t able to adjust and adapt”, Meyer said.

Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State’s starting quarterback, passed for 327 yards and a touchdown, while wide receiver Marcell Ateman totaled eight receptions for 132 yards and a score.

Urban Meyer was relaxing at a friend’s house Saturday night when his channel-flipping buddy stumbled onto a local Ohio State football wrap-up show. Iowa is 10-0. IOWA IS 10-0.

IL did help out though.

Connor Cook will beat the home-state Buckeyes in his first appearance at Ohio Stadium and make a case for an invitation to the Heisman Trophy ceremony in NY … or brace for five more months of analysts asking why he wasn’t voted captain. If Chris Laviano and the offense were going to turn things around after playing three elite defenses, it was against Nebraska.

All in all it was a solid blue collar type victory for Ohio State. His 56.14 was just enough to win over two more sub-57 finishers with EMU’s Christoper Hodges touching at 56.42 and Kyle Aerne at 56.81. “Baylor’s national title hopes may have imploded Saturday, and a running of the table by Oklahoma State will get the Cowboys into the playoff”, Avello said.

Meyer pointed out the Buckeyes’ seniors have won a school class record 48 games.

OSU turned in the top time for both the 200 medley relay and 400 free relay, with 1:30.79 and 3:00.79 respectively.

Watch for my preview later this week!