The whole rant from ESPN & other media about SEC superiority is tiresome but it's not entirely untrue.  OSU got crushed in national title games by LSU & Florida and the Big Ten has underperformed as a whole.  We can take that discussion a long way for other reasons but bottom line, OSU turned that argument upside down last night.  Big win for OSU, for the Big Ten & for Urban Meyer, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest college football coaches, ever.

ESPN is a network of front-runners. Has been for years. The most obvious example is how they show only the highlights of the team that won a game, when that often doesn't tell the story of that game.

 

So anytime something doesn't go according to their pre-game narrative, I'm happy. And yesterday's good showing by non-SEC teams was awesome. A good day for the B1G conference!

 

Now, can someone explain to me OSU's play-calling? They were gashing Alabama on the ground but resorted to a deep pass on the first play of OSU's intended clock-killing drive with under two minutes left. Alabama had only two timeouts left but gave them a free one by throwing a pass that had a low chance of success. OSU only killed 26 seconds with that last drive and left Alabama with a near-eternity on the clock.

 

BTW, I want the Browns to draft Alabama's punter in a middle round. He's that good.

My biggest beef withe SEC the last couple of years is with a ranking system, if a conference starts 6 or 7 team in the top 15, at some point it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy because every conference win or loss comes against a ranked opponent. Either justifying a loss or lauding a win.

 

Of course UM and Penn States implosion haven't helped the B1G at all.

^^ all I can figure out on that pass is Urban wanted to metaphorically step on Sabans throat. Not a good football call.

That pass call was certainly questionable.  Brilliant if it works, but goes against conventional wisdom.  Bama had the box stacked and were selling out to stop the 'inevitable' run play.  OSU go 1-on-1 on the outside and, I have to admit, Cardale might throw the best fade route out of himself, Miller, and Barrett.  Evan Spencer made a good effort for that ball.  Bama ended up getting the ball with about 1:30 to play as opposed to 1:00..... we couldn't have run out the clock regardless.  Still not a smart play IMO.

 

Speaking of Spencer, he showed the nation last night why he is Urban's favorite player.  Great throw for the TD.  Great blocking.  Great overall play.

 

Getting to the QBs...... good problem to have for next year?  What do we do?

^^ all I can figure out on that pass is Urban wanted to metaphorically step on Sabans throat. Not a good football call.

 

Agreed...and thankfully it worked out for the Buckeyes.  I was livid that he wasn't running the ball up the gut for a first down!

LOL Tide LOL.

 

The deep pass on first down made a certain amount of sense the way the defense was set up.  Remember that Alabama's interior run defense is among the highlights of their defense; almost all of Elliot's best runs were on the perimeter and Bama had brought people up to defend the bounce-out as well.  I understand wanting to force them to use a timeout, but there's value in staying unpredictable and taking what the defense gives you as well.  The crazier late game moment for me was Alabama's deep completion when we should have been in prevent defense ... the one that set up their late TD that brought them within 7.

 

The Bama punter is the best I can remember seeing at the college level, and I include A.J. Trapasso and some of the other Buckeye boomers that have done great things in Columbus.  When we did let it go past us hoping for a touchback, it often went dead or out of bounds inside the 5.  This had to have been our worst field position game by far of the entire year; we made up for it with excellent third down offense and, and the flip side, excellent third down defense (except, ironically and unfortunately, in the red zone).

 

Next up ... the Big Ten champion and the Pac-12 champion, ironically not in the Rose Bowl!

Now, can someone explain to me OSU's play-calling? They were gashing Alabama on the ground but resorted to a deep pass on the first play of OSU's intended clock-killing drive with under two minutes left. Alabama had only two timeouts left but gave them a free one by throwing a pass that had a low chance of success. OSU only killed 26 seconds with that last drive and left Alabama with a near-eternity on the clock.

 

 

That was so bizarre.  Alabama should have been left with no time after that series, and OSU was having good success running the ball at that point.  Meyer took responsibility for the long pass play call in the post game.  Said he knew they had 1 on 1 coverage and thought they could get it.  They are lucky they still won or that's all that would be talked about today...

 

Final thought was that it was really fun watching Cardale plow up the middle running the ball.  He was really delivering the blow to the Bama defenders.  For a big guy he's really nimble & has fast feet, but I was also cringing each time he took a hit.  I mean, he's our 3rd string QB - he CANNOT get hurt!

Meyer's post game reaction to Oregon winning.  Surprised he was unaware of the Oregon score, nobody even mentioned it at halftime or on the sideline or just before the game, commented that FSU was getting blown out?

 

... I was also cringing each time he took a hit.  I mean, he's our 3rd string QB - he CANNOT get hurt!

 

This.  Seriously this.  I know he's a big guy, but still.  This.

That game went really late. It had to be almost 4 hours long.

ESPN is a network of front-runners. Has been for years. The most obvious example is how they show only the highlights of the team that won a game, when that often doesn't tell the story of that game.

 

 

Or how they jock-rode the Yankees so hard in the 2000s. One of my roommates pointed out that they'd always play the Yankees highlights first or last during a highlights segment and that in the ticker they would always be first or last to keep people watching. Never in the middle. Those are the kind of tricks you learn after being in broadcasting a long time.

Another highlight that deserves a second mention: Thomas' catch on the trick play near the end of the first half, with the perfect twist of his foot to keep it all just inside the chalk.  That kid has some serious body control!

^That was amazing foot placement..... but I think it would have still been a TD even if his heel came down out of bounds since his toes were first to make contact with the ground

Meyer's post game reaction to Oregon winning.  Surprised he was unaware of the Oregon score, nobody even mentioned it at halftime or on the sideline or just before the game, commented that FSU was getting blown out?

 

 

Meyer's said to have a genius level IQ.  That would suggest a tendency to focus very strongly on the matter at hand, to the point of not noticing the rest of the world when something is important.

The whole rant from ESPN & other media about SEC superiority is tiresome but it's not entirely untrue.  OSU got crushed in national title games by LSU & Florida and the Big Ten has underperformed as a whole.  We can take that discussion a long way for other reasons but bottom line, OSU turned that argument upside down last night.  Big win for OSU, for the Big Ten & for Urban Meyer, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest college football coaches, ever.

 

The SEC does better in bowl games because they play in warm weather all the time.  They don't have to recruit the kinds of guys that can slug it out in November snow with a conference championship on the line.

 

I'd like to see the title game in the north every few years.  The NFL did it....

The SEC does better in bowl games because they play in warm weather all the time.  They don't have to recruit the kinds of guys that can slug it out in November snow with a conference championship on the line.

 

I'd like to see the title game in the north every few years.  The NFL did it....

 

So on the money. If the SEC is so elite they should have no reservations about playing some cold weather games up north.

^Agreed on a built-in advantage for the SEC in bowl games.  I actually think that is one thing that Meyer has focused on here at OSU.... building a team that can play in the cold weather but an even greater emphasis on building a team which will win the bowl games in the warm weather.  Skinny guys like Darren Lee at LB as opposed to the "star" position Tressel would've put him at and moving Adolphus Washington to the interior of the D-Line (he was recruited as a DE) are examples of this IMO.

The south also has a better recruiting pool.

Should Braxton transfer down to Houston with Herman?

Should Braxton transfer down to Houston with Herman?

 

Since Braxton's already got his OSU degree, he can transfer anywhere to enroll as a grad student (ala Russell Wilson going from NC State to Wisconsin).  We've heard everything from Braxton staying at OSU to Braxton going to Oregon rumors (wouldn't that be an interesting side story to the upcoming OSU vs. Oregon Championship Game!).  But the Braxton joining Herman in Houston rumor seems to make alot of sense, if Braxton does choose to go.

 

If Braxton Miller would choose to stay at Ohio State, he'd be joining an already crowded talent-laden QB pool for 2015:  J.T. Barrett, Cardale Jones, redshirt freshman Stephen Collier (from GA), new recruit Torrance Gibson (4-star from FLA) and Joe Burrow (2014 Ohio Mr. Football from Athens).

The Land-Grant Holy Land blog has a recap of newspaper covers/headlines from Columbus, Cleveland, New Orleans and Alabama at http://www.landgrantholyland.com/2015/1/2/7480969/newspaper-covers-alabama-ohio-state-columbus-dispatch-cleveland-plain-dealer

 

My favorite is from the Plain Dealer's sports section (as shown on ESPN today):

 

Wow...

 

Fun Fact: 28.27mil viewers watched Ohio State win the Sugar Bowl making it the most watched event in cable TV history http://t.co/Emr9COZmNw

No kidding.  OSU has a huge fan base.  Ratings wouldn't have been nearly as good for a Baylor/FSU matchup

Take that, 1999 WWF Monday Night Raw.

Wow...

 

Fun Fact: 28.27mil viewers watched Ohio State win the Sugar Bowl making it the most watched event in cable TV history http://t.co/Emr9COZmNw

 

That is a monster audience. Not including bowl games here are the top ten from this season,

 

#1 Auburn at Alabama (13.5 million views; 11/30/14) ESPN

 

#2 Notre Dame at Florida State (13.25 million viewers; 10/18/14) ABC

 

#3 Alabama vs. Missouri (12.8 million viewers; 12/6/14; SEC Championship) CBS

 

#4 Mississippi State at Alabama (10.3 million viewers; 11/15/14) CBS

 

#5 FSU vs. Georgia Tech 10.1 million views; 12/6/14; ACC title game) ABC

 

#6 Alabama at LSU (9.2 million viewers; 11/8/14) CBS

 

#7 FSU at Miami (8.74 million viewers 11/15/14) ABC

 

#8 Clemson at FSU (8.1 million viewers 9/20/14) ABC

 

#9 Florida at Alabama (8.0 million viewers; 9/20/14) CBS

 

#10 Texas A&M at Auburn (7.2 million viewers; 11/8/14) CBS

 

http://www.foxsports.com/college-football/outkick-the-coverage/the-10-most-watched-college-football-games-of-2014-121114

it really puts into perspective how many ppl could care less about sports and college football in general. 28 million is well below 10% of the U.S. population. this was a day when a minority had to work, there is really nothing to do other than eat, drink and watch this game. Pretty fascinating.

500 channels dilutes everything. Back in the rabbit ears days 50% of the population would be watching. 'Cause the two other channels would be showing Maude and some black and white movie from the '50s with overly emotional female characters.

I wonder how accurate viewership figures are for big group viewing events like sports.  I'd bet most people don't just sit home alone to watch the big game. How do they count the people who are having viewing parties at their house, or watching at sports bars?

I wonder how accurate viewership figures are for big group viewing events like sports.  I'd bet most people don't just sit home alone to watch the big game. How do they count the people who are having viewing parties at their house, or watching at sports bars?

 

Great point.  I watched the game at a bar and it was packed

I wonder how accurate viewership figures are for big group viewing events like sports.  I'd bet most people don't just sit home alone to watch the big game. How do they count the people who are having viewing parties at their house, or watching at sports bars?

 

I remember when the Saints were in the Super Bowl, the NFL leaned on the city and the Saints not to have large watch parties, simply for the ratings reason.  The hotel I worked at was going to have a large viewing party...and quietly cancelled those plans.

 

 

Another tid bit, is that the price for NFL / Direct TV package to bars is dependant on the fire occupancy of the bar.  So if your bar had an occupancy of 101 you would pay roughly double than if you had an occupancy of 99.  I bet the NFL uses that as part of the ratings calculation

Technically it shouldn't matter if there are large watch parties.  Today Nielsen uses PPM or portable people meters that individuals wear at all times and automatically detect the signal of a particular TV program.  They then use this sample group to extrapolate out the larger overall ratings and share figures.  Individuals are chosen in a manner that provides as close to a representative sample of the population being metered, both Nationally and locally, to provide an accurate overview of who is watching.

back to actual football, I think OSU has a real good shot at beating Oregon.  The Ducks can't stop the run.  They couldn't stop FSU and they sure as hell won't be able to stop OSU.  Our defense is probably one of the best they've face.  Not sure what the game plan will be on defense but our secondary can cover.  I think we could be susceptible to some screen passes and sweeps and options but containing Mariota will be a tough job, to keep him minimized.  I hope it doesn't turn into a track meet.  I don't want the game to fall on Cardale's shoulders to make a bunch of big plays

I wonder how accurate viewership figures are for big group viewing events like sports.  I'd bet most people don't just sit home alone to watch the big game. How do they count the people who are having viewing parties at their house, or watching at sports bars?

 

I remember when the Saints were in the Super Bowl, the NFL leaned on the city and the Saints not to have large watch parties, simply for the ratings reason.  The hotel I worked at was going to have a large viewing party...and quietly cancelled those plans.

 

 

Another tid bit, is that the price for NFL / Direct TV package to bars is dependant on the fire occupancy of the bar.  So if your bar had an occupancy of 101 you would pay roughly double than if you had an occupancy of 99.  I bet the NFL uses that as part of the ratings calculation

Don't be surprised if the chains start negotiating big discounts, like they are rumored to already do for pay per view fights.

http://www.nola.com/lsu/index.ssf/2015/01/ohio_state_qb_braxton_miller_c.html

 

Ohio State QB Braxton Miller considering transfer to LSU, TV station reports

^La. television station reports....  Last week, it was Oregon.  I'm not ruling out the possibility of him transferring, but I would be a little surprised.  Maybe Meyer has had a sit-down with Braxton and told him what he needs to hear and Braxton didn't like it..... that he will never be an NFL QB and should come back one more year to try a different position.  H-Back in OSU's offense seems to be a fit for him IMO.  I see him as a WR in the pros.... a Percy Harvin type of slot WR who has speed to play on the outside too.

^La. television station reports....  Last week, it was Oregon.  I'm not ruling out the possibility of him transferring, but I would be a little surprised.  Maybe Meyer has had a sit-down with Braxton and told him what he needs to hear and Braxton didn't like it..... that he will never be an NFL QB and should come back one more year to try a different position.  H-Back in OSU's offense seems to be a fit for him IMO.  I see him as a WR in the pros.... a Percy Harvin type of slot WR who has speed to play on the outside too.

 

Another poster on a sports board same the same thing. Move to the slot.

I was forseeing a nasty QB controversy next year even if it was covered up by the team and Columbus media.

back to actual football, I think OSU has a real good shot at beating Oregon.  The Ducks can't stop the run.  They couldn't stop FSU and they sure as hell won't be able to stop OSU.  Our defense is probably one of the best they've face.  Not sure what the game plan will be on defense but our secondary can cover.  I think we could be susceptible to some screen passes and sweeps and options but containing Mariota will be a tough job, to keep him minimized.  I hope it doesn't turn into a track meet.  I don't want the game to fall on Cardale's shoulders to make a bunch of big plays

 

Actual football???  Nooooo.  Let's keep talking about everything but the upcoming championship game!!!  I'll do my part.  The special Nike uniforms for the game have been unveiled:

 

 

VIDEO: (w/ fashion critique)  http://espn.go.com/college-football/bowls14/story/_/id/12122963/nike-oregon-uniforms-national-title-game-include-no-green

SLIDESHOW:  http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/blog/2015/01/first-look-ohio-state-and-oregon-uniforms-for-the.html

 

The biggest surprise is that Oregon is not going with a home uniform look.  No green, no yellow - just a subdued white, silver and gray road scheme.  Fortunately, this allows Ohio State to go with a traditional home scarlet and gray uniform.  Sharp!

^La. television station reports....  Last week, it was Oregon.  I'm not ruling out the possibility of him transferring, but I would be a little surprised.  Maybe Meyer has had a sit-down with Braxton and told him what he needs to hear and Braxton didn't like it..... that he will never be an NFL QB and should come back one more year to try a different position.  H-Back in OSU's offense seems to be a fit for him IMO.  I see him as a WR in the pros.... a Percy Harvin type of slot WR who has speed to play on the outside too.

 

Miller will be announcing his departure shortly after the national title game.  No way does he stick around OSU with a crowded QB competition.  Where he ends up is totally a guess.  I agree he'll probably never be an NFL QB, but I think he's more talented than RG3, Terrell Pryor, Jamarcus Russell, Tim Tebow, Troy Smith and a dozen other dudes who made at least some money in the NFL

^La. television station reports....  Last week, it was Oregon.  I'm not ruling out the possibility of him transferring, but I would be a little surprised.  Maybe Meyer has had a sit-down with Braxton and told him what he needs to hear and Braxton didn't like it..... that he will never be an NFL QB and should come back one more year to try a different position.  H-Back in OSU's offense seems to be a fit for him IMO.  I see him as a WR in the pros.... a Percy Harvin type of slot WR who has speed to play on the outside too.

 

Miller will be announcing his departure shortly after the national title game.  No way does he stick around OSU with a crowded QB competition.  Where he ends up is totally a guess.  I agree he'll probably never be an NFL QB, but I think he's more talented than RG3, Terrell Pryor, Jamarcus Russell, Tim Tebow, Troy Smith and a dozen other dudes who made at least some money in the NFL

 

If he is he will get drafted. Of the guys you mentioned the only ones who looked like an NFL QB was Russell. The Scouts in the NFL are pretty savvy, case in point the Ravens drafted Flacco in Round 1 out of Delaware State. Braxton does not look an NFL QB to me, talented player though. But then you get undrafted free agents making pro bowls all the time, like Jason Kelce with the Eagles. The Bengals took Eifert at TE over Travis Kelce (round 3) although Eifert is a route running TE and Kelce is the total package. The difference one had a ND jersey the other a Bearcat jersey.

It makes me feel so old to know that the Kelce brothers were in 4th and 2nd grade, respectively, when I graduated from Heights High...  Hell, Barry Cofield (a 9 year NFL vet) was still in middle school.

 

Braxton is a lot closer to Pryor than he is to Troy Smith.  He just doesn't have the mechanics of an NFL QB and would be well served in the long term by showcasing the skills he has which will translate to the NFL.  It is such a shame how these elite athletes (Eric Crouch, Tim Tebow, Terrell Pryor) never make it to stardom in the NFL due to a stubborn insistence on playing QB

 

 

Braxton Miller has elite agility and lateral quickness.  He could make for an NFL running back for sure.

 

I wasn't always very impressed with his passing but it has improved markedly over his career at Ohio State. 

 

A bit of a comparison could be Denard Robinson who was the quarterback at Michigan.  Though he had injuries throughout this year, he looks like a rising star RB for the Jaguars.  Robinson is more of a straight line, insane acceleration guy, while Miller has nice acceleration, it is his lateral quickness that few have.

 

Another comparison would be Antwan Randle El out of Indiana, who was a quarterback in college.  He had a great career as a wide receiver in the NFL.

 

I am just not sure if Braxton Miller is an NFL wide receiver, running back, or if he really could play QB.

I'm not sure he is crazy enough to play RB in the NFL. 

Braxton Miller has elite agility and lateral quickness.  He could make for an NFL running back for sure.

 

I wasn't always very impressed with his passing but it has improved markedly over his career at Ohio State. 

 

A bit of a comparison could be Denard Robinson who was the quarterback at Michigan.  Though he had injuries throughout this year, he looks like a rising star RB for the Jaguars.  Robinson is more of a straight line, insane acceleration guy, while Miller has nice acceleration, it is his lateral quickness that few have.

 

Another comparison would be Antwan Randle El out of Indiana, who was a quarterback in college.  He had a great career as a wide receiver in the NFL.

 

I am just not sure if Braxton Miller is an NFL wide receiver, running back, or if he really could play QB.

The Scouts in the NFL are pretty savvy, case in point the Ravens drafted Flacco in Round 1 out of Delaware State. Braxton does not look an NFL QB to me, talented player though. But then you get undrafted free agents making pro bowls all the time, like Jason Kelce with the Eagles. The Bengals took Eifert at TE over Travis Kelce (round 3) although Eifert is a route running TE and Kelce is the total package. The difference one had a ND jersey the other a Bearcat jersey.

 

Denard Robinson only played about 9 games this year and got 130 carries.  That's not much.  And he got injured.  He couldn't stay healthy a full season at Michigan and NFL RB's take a pounding like no other.

 

Braxton is a great athlete with tremendous vision and speed but he's no NFL running back.  I wonder how much his shoulder will be an issue in the future - a torn labrum might be something he'll always deal with.  What was Chad Pennington's injury that kept coming back...?

Time to revive this thread.  Let's get some predictions.

 

I'm taking the Buckeyes, 41 - 27.  I think our running game overwhelms Oregon and our defense forces some turnovers.

 

Doesn't hurt at all that their starting RB & WR were suspended for failed drug tests

Quick question: when did the main broadcast networks stop showing so many bowl games?

I do not understand why they have been on ESPN only

Since ESPN paid more.

Quick question: when did the main broadcast networks stop showing so many bowl games?

I do not understand why they have been on ESPN only

No cable TV for us, so I won't be watching.  I'll follow the scores online.  I actually predict an OSU loss.  Maybe 42 to 24.  I think it will be a one posession game through the half at which Oregon will take over from there. 

Quick question: when did the main broadcast networks stop showing so many bowl games?

I do not understand why they have been on ESPN only

 

Long time ago. ESPN has been in control for years, and they also "own" some of the bowl games. They created many bowl games.