With Michigan looming, Buckeyes focus on Michigan State

Amusing how things can change in one day.

Franklin sought to keep the feet of Nittany Lions players and fans planted firmly on the ground after the Hawkeyes’ win put Penn State closer to a berth in the Big Ten Championship Game.

Alas Saturday came, and the bevy of upsets that came with it. Or might Michigan State catch the Buckeyes looking ahead?

And if MI wins out, I’d still give the Badgers a hell of a chance.

Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer met with the media via the Big Ten Teleconference on Tuesday to preview the Buckeyes’ road match-up at Michigan State this Saturday. That seemingly would eliminate MI from the playoff picture while solidifying a berth for the Buckeyes.

It was the only time the then-unbeaten college football rivals were ranked Nos. “It means a lot”.

No. 2 Ohio State (9-1) at Michigan State (3-7), noon on ESPN: A playoff team last season, Michigan State had lost seven consecutive games before routing Rutgers last week.

Meyer isn’t concerned about the various scenarios at this point. The sting of losing in Ohio Stadium a year ago on a game-winning field goal has still not subsided for most on the roster, and Saturday could be a chance for redemption with the Spartans in a relatively down season. They’ve been blowing teams out of late and their one loss was at Penn State where a blocked kick was returned for the game-winning touchdown. Mississippi Valley State is struggling to begin the season and has yet to pick up a win on the year. I am now going to turn the question over to you. Thats just never going to happen.

“A major impact on game planning, just have to execute in it”.

“This is a tough year”, first-year coach Chris Ash said.

“You know, no, not really; we don’t really ever want to root for those guys”, center Pat Elflein said. “You have to stay focused or you’ll slip up very quickly”.

Many were doubting Ohio State after that brutal loss to Penn State.

Assuming that the Big Ten (winner of a potential game between Penn State and Wisconsin), ACC (likely Clemson) and SEC (presumably Alabama) champions get in, a one-loss Ohio State team would have the best resume of the remaining teams in the top 10.

If Penn State finishes in a two-way tie with Ohio State, the Lions would go to Indianapolis due to their head-to-head win over the Buckeyes.

The committee had let it be known that they don’t have a lot of faith in the Pac-12, as we all remember that an undefeated Washington was passed over by one-loss Texas A&M in the first poll. All told, OSU is averaging 46.5 points per game, second in the FBS. Mike Weber needs 65 yards rushing to become the third Ohio State freshman to reach 1,000. Robert Smith (1990) and Maurice Clarett (2002) were the others.

Impact: The Ohio Stadium crowd stormed the field after the game, and Cooper received a brief ride on his players’ shoulders before sliding off his perch and into the masses. And I think that as we look at who we’re playing – two very good football teams, two Top 10 football teams – we’ve got our work cut out for us as we always do.