Jon Spencer’s Ohio State report card

The second-ranked Buckeyes (9-0, 5-0 Big Ten) cast aside a slow start to cruise into their brutal stretch run, which begins with next weekend’s visit from MI State.

There really isn’t too much to preview when it comes to running backs for the Buckeyes.

With 27 carries for 181 yards and two touchdowns, Ezekiel Elliott has passed Buckeye-great Tim Spencer to become Ohio State’s 3rd all-time rusher with 3,555 yards. Cardale Jones completed 12 of 22 passes for 187 yards and one touchdown, and added 65 yards and one touchdown on the ground.

College GameDay is headed to Big Ten country to see the Ohio State Buckeyes take on the MI State Spartans in Week 12.

Illinois’ (5-5, 2-4 B1G) defense in the first half was outstanding as the Illini held Ohio State to only two touchdowns in the first half of play.

Does the offense return to form with Barrett? The defense kept IL at bay, but gave up a few big plays that allowed the Fighting Illini to drive.

“Boy, Zeke is something else, ain’t he?” said Barrett, suspended for last week’s game after being cited for driving while impaired.

“Attacking the line of scrimmage, we’ve been working on that the last couple weeks, getting off the ball” he said.

Ohio State started slowly when it did not score on its first possession for the eighth time in 10 games.

The timing of Barrett’s emergence couldn’t be more flawless with the season and all its delicious potential payoffs hanging within reach. Against Purdue the senior carried 12 times for 133 yards and IL rushed for 382 yards.

“I just challenged the offensive line, ‘ Meyer said”. Taylor Zalewski’s 50-yard field goal attempt banged off the right upright, and the Buckeyes maintained their 7-3 lead. Nothing special. Nothing close to the standard of averaging 50 points per game, which seemed very reasonable at the beginning of the season. Now, the squads from the state of MI are coming into focus.

IL is in a state of turmoil and being led by an interim head coach in Bill Cubit, who is making his vie for the job.

Oklahoma State players and coaches were reminded all week about the 2011 team’s loss at Iowa State, wrecking the program’s shot at a spot in that season’s national championship game.

J.T. Barrett assumed the reins again and still Ohio State hobbled at times like a three-legged horse.

Safety Tyvis Powell was impressed by Bell’s interception, writing on his Twitter account, “I need to go back to the Vonn Bell Catching Academy (VBA).They giving out lessons on how to get Pick 6s”. Green ran for 1114 of his yards after the break and Sawyer threw his first career touchdown pass, finding wide receiver Shaun Nixon on a run-and-catch with 11:51 left in the game to put the Frogs up 20-10.

OSU-Thomas 24 pass from Barrett (Nuernberger kick), 3:43.