Category: Buckeyes Wire

Ohio State releases depth chart and availability information for Rutgers game

Ohio State released the depth chart and player availability, injuries for the game against Rutgers Saturday. Get a look at it here.

Every Friday Ohio State releases information on the depth chart and player availability for the upcoming game. Next up is a trip to Rutgers that should be nothing more than another tune up prior to a bigger one against Penn State the following week.

The Buckeyes will still be without arguably its best player because of the Chase Young’s suspension, but that didn’t seem to matter against Maryland last week. So the team will just keep moving forward, taking one game as it comes — and probably looking dominant in this one.

We’ve got the release of the depth chart from the fine folks at Ohio State, so were passing it on. We’ll start with player availability and injury, then provide the complete depth chart for the game against the Scarlet Knights.

Game-time decision

None

Unavailable

OL Josh Alabi

WR Kamryn Babb

LB Baron Browning

DE Jonathon Cooper

RB Marcus Crowley

DL Noah Donald

WR Ellijah Gardiner

SAF Ronnie Hickman

OL Matthew Jones

WR Austin Mack

OL Brett Novick

WR C.J. Saunders

DT Taron Vincent

DE Chase Young

Next … Ohio State Depth Chart – offense, defense, and specialists

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Ohio State vs. Rutgers: How and where to watch and listen to the game Saturday

Ohio State is looking to lay waste to another Big Ten opponent, Rutgers. Here’s how you can watch, stream, or listen to the game Saturday.

Okay, It’s off to the next challenge that probably won’t be much of one. After administering a public flogging against Maryland last week at home, Ohio State travels to the garden state to take on a Rutgers team that is having a worse year than a Donald Trump phone conversation.

The Buckeyes are favored by a gazillion or something like that, and this one doesn’t figure to be close for very long. But, they must play the game as they say, so we know you’ll be watching. As will we.

On that note, in case you need to know where to watch, stream, listen, or catch the smoke signals from the game against the Scarlet Knights, we got all the information you need on the next page.

Let’s keep it going.

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Next … television, radio, streaming, game time, and venue

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Ohio State may never re-gain the No. 1 CFP ranking without an LSU loss

The Ohio State Buckeyes have been dominant in recent weeks, but even undefeated, they won’t have the resume of an undefeated LSU Tigers.

The Ohio State Buckeyes have dominated their opponent in every game this season, but even undefeated, they won’t have the resume of an undefeated LSU Tigers.

Right before they traveled to Columbus, both Penn State and Wisconsin lost. While we don’t know the end result of PSU-OSU, we do know that Ohio State absolutely annihilated the No. 13-ranked Badgers team about three weeks ago to a tune of 38-7.

Now, with Penn State losing this past week, Ohio State will not play a top-five team until potentially the B1G Ten Championship Game. It’s a long shot for an undefeated Minnesota to jump into the top five.

Had Wisconsin and Penn State been undefeated when entering Columbus, they both would’ve been ranked within the top seven. Two top-seven blowout victories would give Ohio State a claim to the top seed, especially had they outscored both by 31 points each.

However, LSU has those victories.

The Tigers took down a then-undefeated Texas and Alabama, one-loss Florida and two-loss Auburn. When they took on LSU, whether in Death Valley or not, those teams were among the top ten in the nation. They were ranked 9th, 3rd, 7th, and 9th in respective order.

Assuming they end the season undefeated, they’ll have another victory over Georgia, currently a top-four team.

Bad losses are more important than quality victories, but quality victories over top teams are more important than dominant ones over average opponents.

These victories all add up to a quality resume. And, while they don’t have the dominance of Ohio State, who has a +42.4 victory of margin, they’ve played more top-tier competition, something the committee has shown value in.

Ohio State has undisputed the best defense in the nation, and behind two Heisman candidates in J.K. Dobbins and Justin Fields on offense, this team is looking as potent as ever before.

This could be one of the best Buckeyes roster of all time. Sadly, they just don’t have, and likely won’t have, the resume of the LSU Tigers unless there’s a blemish from here until the last CFP Rankings. That’s ok though. The No. 2 seed may be the best historic seed to have entering the CFP playoffs.

Just keep winning …

Ohio State vs. Rutgers Enemy Territory preview. Get to know the Scarlet Knights

Ohio State travels to New Jersey to take on the state school better known as the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. Uh-oh, things could get messy.

Before every game, we provide a preview of Ohio State football’s opponent for the upcoming week. It’s a twelve game slate to the regular season, so there’s plenty to talk about, and plenty of opponents to get up to speed on.

Of course, some you’ll know better than others.

So, if you want to impress your friends while watching the game, we’ve got your cheat code right here. We do the research, you drop nuggets. You win on Saturdays. It’s as simple as that.

Ohio State’s tenth game of the year is against a Rutgers team that is sorely outmatched and outmanned. There’s almost no way the Scarlet Knights stay competitive in this one short of an act of God, a virus strain breaking out in the Ohio State locker room, or an unscheduled, long and blustery blizzard.

But none of that will be in the cards, so this one could be one of the most lopsided Power Five conference games of the year. Anyway, you still need to know the opponent, so here’s all you need.

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Next … Rutgers all-time vitals

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WATCH: Ohio State football trailer, hype video for game against Rutgers

Ohio State is on its way to face off with the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in Piscataway, New Jersey. Watch the trailer and hype video here.

So, here we go again. Ohio State is on an absolute roll, and it figures to keep right on rolling downhill against a Rutgers team that’ll be lucky to stay competitive in this one. The Buckeyes are favored to get deep into their bench early and most likely will, but you still have to play the games.

I know this. If the football team watches the weekly trailer and hype video the Ohio State creative team puts out weekly, there will be no problem with motivation. I feel like I myself could strap on the pads and mix it up after watching the latest one.

It’s Thursday, so you know we have it for you. Simply click on the below Twitter video shared by Ohio State Football, clear out the room, and move the breakable items.

Ohio State will take on Rutgers at 3:30 PM Saturday. Look out, it’s going to get ugly.

Big Ten and big game NCAA Football 2019 Expert Picks And Predictions For Week 12

Another week, another round of our staff picking against the odds and straight up for all the Big Ten football and big national games.

The college football calendar is turning ever so quickly, and conference games are now going to determine everything in the Big Ten and around the country. We now have true contenders, those positioning for bowl games, and those teams looking to play spoiler.

As normal, we’re predicting every Big Ten game for the week straight-up and against the spread, but since the slate is lighter with conference play being in full swing towards the end of the season, we’ll do the same for the six games deemed to be the biggest nationally each week. We’re the judge and jury on that one.

A a reminder, if there’s an *next to the pick, that means the team will win, but not cover. Also, we get our odds from BetMGM.

INSTRUCTIONS: Make your pick against the spread. For example …
– If you think Ohio State will win -3.5 over Michigan: OSU
– If you think Ohio State will win outright: OSU
– If you think Ohio State will win, but NOT cover: OSU*
– If there’s a tie, George Washington settles it via the ‘ole quarter coin-flip.

Here we go for week twelve, but first, the standings that will be updated each week after all the games. Onward we go. Just keep picking, just keep picking …

RESULTS SO FAR

@PhilHarrisonBW: 101-31 SU, 57-75 ATS
@yesh222: 99-33 SU, 73-59 ATS
@MarkRussell1975: 104-28 SU, 81-51 ATS
@BrentReeves: 99-33 SU, 73-59 ATS
@SirBrockNetter: 101-31 SU, 64-68 ATS
@JaxFryburger: 101-31 SU, 70-62 ATS
CONSENSUS PICK: 102-30 SU, 75-57 ATS

First up … Big Ten early games

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Ohio State leapfrogs Nova, Kentucky in CBS Updated Top 25

The Ohio State Buckeyes, behind the play of a couple new freshman, and returning guys like Kaleb Wesson, are looking like a top ten team.

The Ohio State Buckeyes, behind the play of three four-star recruits and Kaleb Wesson, have entered into the nation’s college basketball top ten. They do so on the back of a dominant effort against Villanova.

The Buckeyes, who had one of their best-recruiting classes of the decade coming into this season, opened up the preseason at No. 18. Now at No. 16, the Buckeyes are looking at a promising jump in the AP Poll.

For now, we’ll take a look at the Thursday edition of the CBS Sports’ updated top 25.

They have Ohio State at No. 10, jumping both Villanova and the former top-ranked Kentucky Wildcats. However, in just a few short weeks, it’ll get its shot against the latter half of those programs.

CBS Sports’ columnist Gary Parrish had this to say on the Buckeyes impressive victory and terrific all-around start.

“OSU shot 60.0% from the field in Wednesday’s win over Villanova. Duane Washington was one of five Buckeyes to reach double-figures in points.”

Now 3-0, the Buckeyes are far past that concerning start against Cincinnati.

Also tallying a win over UMass Lowell, the Buckeyes entered their matchup with Nova confident with D.J. Carton starting to get acclimated to the speed of college basketball and Kaleb Wesson looking as dominant (and trimmed down) as ever.

Carton, Wesson and Washington Jr. led the Buckeyes against Nova, and it was an absolute show.

Now the Buckeyes will be preparing for Stetson this coming Monday. By then, we should officially be calling Ohio State a top-ten team one would think.

Paul Finebaum thinks Ohio State would “probably” beat LSU

Even though Paul Finebaum has LSU over Ohio State in his weekly rankings, he believes the Buckeyes would win if the two matched up.

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Not that you take your identity in what others outside the program think, but it’s always interesting to check in on what SEC flag-bearer and SEC Network radio/television host Paul Finebaum things of a team not in the sun and moonshine belt.

To that end, Finebaum appeared on First Take and was asked if he thought Ohio State or LSU would win if the two met at the end of the regular season. It is notable because the SEC talking head had been ranking Ohio State No. 1 in his opinion based rankings each week.

Until this past week that is.

After the Tigers beat Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Finebaum — like most media and even CFP Committee members have — felt LSU had done enough to take over the top spot.

However, when pressed on the issue, Finebaum’s answer didn’t match his opinion of which team was No. 1 in the country. He said that the Buckeyes would “probably” beat LSU. He cited LSU’s close games in comparison to how Ohio State had been totally dominant in blowing everyone out.

You can listen to the exchange yourself by clicking on the below video shared to the official Twitter feed of First Take.

This is further proof that many believe Ohio State is the best and most complete team in the country, but that LSU has better wins, and is “more deserving.” Now, as a public service announcement, we must remind you that many pro-SEC folks have been banging the drum for years that it’s about the “best” teams, not the most deserving.

Funny how that same notion doesn’t apply when discussing an SEC team though.

Ohio State football rooting interests for week 12

Looking forward to Week 12 of the college football season, what should Ohio State fans root for in all of the games.

We’re back for another week of Rooting Interests. Remember, the goal of this exercise is to look at what will give the Buckeyes the best possible resume in case they lose a game. 13-0 Ohio State is a Playoff lock, so there isn’t much to root for there. But if the Buckeyes drop a game to Penn State, Michigan, or in the Big Ten Championship Game, what will best help the Buckeyes get in to the College Football Playoff.

The first game Buckeye fans should pay attention to is Friday night’s Conference-USA showdown between Marshall and Louisiana Tech. Two of Ohio State’s nonconference opponents (Miami of Ohio and Cincinnati) have already essentially wrapped up division titles. FAU has a decent chance of making it three-for-three, but Marshall needs to lose a game for that to happen. This game is Marshall’s most likely loss in the final three weeks.

On Saturday, there are a ton of important games. As always, Alabama losing wouldn’t hurt, though is obviously unlikely. And while usually upsets always help, Florida has the weakest resume of any SEC contender right now. So as long as Georgia can lose the SEC East, Florida winning is better. Then again, if Miami (Fl) wins its final two games, Florida’s resume could be on par with Georgia’s. And, of course, a Florida loss isn’t a bad outcome, especially if Georgia beats either Auburn or Texas A&M.

In the afternoon, root for Navy over Notre Dame. Not only does an Irish loss hurt Georgia’s resume, but Navy could be 10-1 and meet Cincinnati in the AAC Championship Game. That would be a battle of Top 15 teams, and Cincinnati winning that would only make Ohio State look better. Speaking of Cincinnati, the Bearcats travel to face South Florida at 7 PM. Staying in the AAC in the afternoon, root for Memphis to beat Houston and keep its high ranking.

Moving over to ACC games, it’s always good to root for Clemson to lose. The Tigers, with a loss, should be ranked behind even a one-loss Ohio State team, so them losing to Wake Forest would be good. If they beat Wake Forest, though, pull for a blowout. The worst-case scenario would be Wake Forest being viewed as a more valuable win solely on the back of keeping it close against Clemson. Also, pull for Virginia Tech to fall to Georgia Tech. The Hokies could still be a decent opponent in the ACC Championship Game at 9-3, but a loss to Georgia Tech would erase that completely.

In the evening, don’t waste too much time on LSU at Ole Miss. The Tigers almost certainly won’t lose two games, and even if they do, they still have an incredible resume. LSU winning would help Ohio State by not making any of Alabama’s wins look more valuable.

There are pros and cons for both Baylor and Oklahoma winning. Baylor going undefeated is a bigger issue for Ohio State than 12-1 Oklahoma is, though, so you may as well root for the Sooners here. Either way, though, this game should be a close one, and preferably not a pretty one. Mistakes and turnovers winning the day makes both teams look bad, which is the goal here.

Two other 7:30 games matter, but in contradictory ways. Root for Georgia State to beat Appalachian State so that South Carolina looks worse. At the same time, though, root for South Carolina to beat Texas A&M–because Texas A&M not being a valuable win is more important than South Carolina being an even worse opponent. (Remember, Alabama beat South Carolina but Georgia lost to the Gamecocks.)

Later in the evening, Utah and Oregon losing don’t hurt. It’s better for Oregon to lose, though, for two reasons. First of all, Utah has a weaker overall resume than the Ducks. Secondly, especially if Oklahoma beats Baylor, remember that Oklahoma beat UCLA earlier in the season. Right now, the Sooners only have two decent wins (Texas and Iowa State). UCLA winning out–or at least upsetting Utah–would make Oklahoma look better. And speaking of Iowa State, root for the Cyclones to upset Texas. Not only would that help Iowa stay ranked (more on that in the next section), but it would take the luster off Oklahoma’s best win so far.

Next… Who to root for in Big Ten games

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Week 12 CFP Bubble Watch: What rankings don’t make sense?

Let’s start to look at the resumes of the 15 teams still alive in the Playoff discussion. Who deserves to be ranked higher or lower?

Welcome to the Bubble Watch. If you’ve been reading through my Eliminator articles, you’d know that I still count 15 teams with a shot at reaching the College Football Playoff. (And if you haven’t been reading them, please feel free to go back to them.)

Now that teams have played enough games, we can get a real look at every team’s resume. So, for the 15 teams still alive, I am going to present all of the resumes to you. We’re going to look at every resume so that we can compare what positives and negatives each team has. It’s the easiest and best way to understand what each team is bringing to the table in the College Football Playoff discussion.

How this works

Let’s go over what I’m looking at and why.

Quality of wins

For the purposes of determining quality wins, things like Top 10 and Top 25 are arbitrary numbers that do more harm than good. There is no reason the gap between No. 25 and No. 26 is considered significantly larger than the gap between No. 24 and No. 25. Therefore, to counteract this, I am being very lenient as to who is considered Top 10 or Top 25. Any team in the Top 25 of one of the major polls (CFP, AP, or Amway Coaches), or in a significant number of the accepted computer rankings, will be considered in the Top 25 for resume purposes. This leads to the awkwardness of having more than 25 “Top 25″ teams, but it presents a more accurate picture of the overall resume. Moreover, it just makes sense. The committee is aware of who is a good team and what counts as a win of decent quality, even if that team didn’t quite make it into the rankings.

I also split up every game each team has played into different groups. The groupings are important. First of all, I focus on Top 10 and Top 25 wins. These are, obviously, the quality wins. Next, I’m looking for teams in the Top 40. These are solid wins and deserve respect. The next group is teams somewhere between 41st and 80th in FBS. These are mediocre teams–they are games that any Playoff contender should win, but could in theory lose on an off day. Everyone outside the Top 80 is a complete cupcake game, and should be valued as a negative. To determine where each team is and who is outside the Top 80, I use a collection of computer rankings that focus on different things (e.g. Sagarin and Anderson) to get broad perspectives on who is a cupcake and who isn’t.

The selection committee has consistently mentioned “wins over teams with winning records” as an important metric over the past few years, so I’m going to show that to you. It is a less detailed way to view a win than looking at where each win is ranked, but the committee seems to care about it so we have to. I will not count a win over an FCS team as a +.500 win, regardless of record. Again, even though the metric is a stupid one–there are cupcakes with +.500 records (for example, Buffalo or Western Kentucky)–the committee cares about it, so we have to as well.

Offensive and defensive performance

I include the rankings in yards per play of each team. On one hand, the resume focuses on which teams you have beaten, so I stick to only identifying the quality of wins and losses and show you each contender’s remaining games. On the other hand, the committee “watches teams play,” which is really not a quantifiable statistic, but something that we can at least try to get a bearing on. Still, it’s hard to find an offensive or defensive metric that accurately represents all teams and styles of play.
Some metrics will over-value “air raid” type offenses while some will prefer more consistent, but less explosive, gameplans. The rank in offensive and defensive yards per play gives a basic metric of how efficient and/or consistent a team is on both sides of the ball.

SOS range

The SOS range is taken from numerous computer rankings. Ranges can be quite large, especially as different rankings favor different things. They do, however, give a decent picture of the possibilities of how strong the schedule actually is. Keep in mind, it’s still a little early in the season, so the different SOS methodologies could bring up radically different results. Ranges could still be wide in some cases, but in general they should narrow over the next few weeks.

Next… Teams that control their own destinies

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