Ezekiel Elliott issues apology over comments after Ohio State loss

So I asked Harbaugh, “Is it possible for the man who coaches the Buckeyes to look the man who coaches the Wolverines in the eye, with respect?” It can go either way. Ohio State has eight double-digit win seasons in that nine-year span. A win over Michigan and a Penn State win over Michigan State would do it.

The loss to Michigan State snapped OSU’s 23-game winning streak and 30-game Big Ten streak. But now, it would take a lot of help and several upsets to get the Buckeyes back to the College Football Playoff.

The VegasInsider.com website originally listed Michigan State as a 1 1/2-point favorite on Monday, but as the Las Vegas sports books listed their odds on the game, the website showed the sports books’ consensus to be MSU by 11 points on Tuesday. The Buckeyes might not be officially buried, but they are in critical condition.

Ohio State’s chances of a Big Ten title and a College Football Playoff berth were all but dashed with the loss.

Due to a shoulder injury, Starting quarterback Connor Cook, a future first-round draft pick, did not play Saturday. The week after that loss, OSU fourght back fiercely and rolled up 627 yards of offense in a 45-14 redemption win over Iowa at Kinnick Stadium. Smith would not say if Elliott will be punished by coach Urban Meyer. They had only one running play that gained as many as 10 yards and a 16-yard Barrett to Jalin Marshall throw in the first quarter was the only pass completion of more than five yards. Linebacker Raekwon McMillan said Elliott has the support of his teammates.

“There’s more to accomplish this season”, Ohio State junior defensive end Joey Bosa said.

The third scout we spoke with, also from the NFC, said he felt the biggest issues with Elliott could come with his contributions to the passing game.

No. 8 Ohio State tries to bounce back from his first loss in more than a year at No. 12 MI on Saturday. “Crazier things have happened”, he said.

But I was more disappointed in Elliott’s comments like when he said he’s not coming back and that was his last game at Ohio State.

“He spoke his mind after the game”, he said. “One of the most selfless players I’ve ever coached and been around”.

“You still hold on to the feeling but I think you use that as motivation”. We can’t dwell on that, because if we dwell on that we’ll go up there and lay an egg.

“For us it is a regular week, in the media world it isn’t because we don’t lose around here often”, Decker said.

The signs around the Ohio State University campus announced the arrival of rivalry week with all the ‘M’s crossed out with red tape. Losing last Saturday was tough for us and disappointing. So, Buckeye fans, run out and buy yourself a Nittany Lions sweatshirt because this weekend we are Penn State fans.

The Buckeyes didn’t get Elliott the football enough against Michigan State, and Meyer had already pointed the finger at himself in the postgame fallout, even before his star tailback stepped in front of microphones.