Ohio State remains unbeaten

It’s a similar story this season. “We have to stay aggressive and hopefully come out with a Big Ten championship”. U-M garnered an early 3-0 lead before committing a service error, and another 3-1 run put MI ahead, 6-2, forcing an Ohio State timeout.

The Buckeyes could certainly be catching a break as well after Spartans quarterback Connor Cook hurt his shoulder in last Saturday’s 24-7 home win over Maryland.

“We were playing at a very high level, the offensive line was, everybody was, and we’ve got to get back to that level this week”, right guard Pat Elflein said.

Fortunately the defense has done a really fine job stifling opposing offenses until the offense finally clicks into gear-usually in the second half.

Ezekiel Elliott, who is being highlighted as one of the Heisman Trophy candidates, didn’t hurt his chances after running for 181 yards and two touchdowns for Ohio State, while moving into third place on the Buckeyes’ career rushing list with 3,565 yards behind Archie Griffin (5,589) and Eddie George (3,678).

_Speaking of Harbaugh, he has downplayed the rivalry thing, actually saying the words “Ohio State” and taking down the countdown clock.

“He’s one of the best quarterbacks we’ll face this year”, Ohio State cornerback Eli Apple said.

Meyer’s crew gashed IL for 283 rushing yards – more than twice what the Illini normally surrender. “We’ll have to throw a few passes and drop back”.

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

This week we get the Spartans of MI State.

Through it all, they still had Cook, who threw for 300 yards in four straight games before last Saturday. Michigan’s offense tied the set at 10-10, however, and the game went almost point for point from there. The following week, Ohio State is at No. 15 MI.

Keep in mind that Ohio State’s last loss to a Big Ten team came against MI State in the 2013 conference championship game in Indianapolis. “No one really gives us the kind of respect that we deserve, that we think we need”. “Nothing new…. Every big game that we’re in we’re always expected to lose, and feel like we surprise a lot of people and make a lot of people look foolish”. That streak stands at 30 games.

If Ohio State has underachieved while remaining undefeated, MI State’s chug to this point has been even more of a slog.

The senior quarterback was hit by Maryland defensive end Jesse Aniebonam in the first half of the Spartans’ win over the Terps last Saturday and did not enter the game after halftime, with television cameras showing images of Cook wincing in pain on the sideline following the hit.

Ohio State’s Jai’Sean Tate, left, drives the lane against Grambling State’s Ervin Mitchell during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, November 17, 2015, in Columbus, Ohio. He also ran for two touchdowns and 86 yards.

The Spartans have scored 13 goals over its last three games, and that included four goals against Boston College and Thatcher Demko, one of the best netminders in the country.

Then Calhoun smiled and said: “I blew that question up, just in case you’re wondering”.

“I know everybody thinks that we should just show up, go out there and kill everybody by 50 points, but that’s la-la land, ” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said.

“We haven’t played our best, but we win”.

IL coach Bill Cubit said, “They’re a good football team. That’s a game we’ve been thinking about but couldn’t talk about until now”.