I presume that direct wins are the tiebreakers (not familiar with B1G rules specifically but that's the way it usually works), in which case PSU would go to the title game.

 

Special teams meltdown was inexcusable, but so was the play of the offensive line.  Seriously, I know we're young, but we never really looked like rookies until we ran up against Penn State.  Crazy that we could play so solidly against such a powerful Wisconsin line and then look like chumps against Penn State rushing only four.

^I don't think that's right.  If there is a 3 way tie between PSU, OSU, and UM assuming all win out except UM losing to OSU, OSU would go to the Big Ten Championship game.  In a 3 team tiebreak the first tiebreaker is overall record (PSU out with 2 losses).  Then it's head to head matchup. 

 

http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-footbl/archive/081011aaa.html

Excellent (for us, anyway)!

OSU play calling needs to get a LOT better.  So many plays for negative yardage.  Running the option around the outside several times the other night -it NEVER worked.  JT was pitching the ball backward to a RB who was immediately tackled for a loss, usually a yard or two behind where JT was.  Passing game was just as bad.  Receivers were open.  Several times the WR had the inside line on the coverage, JT was not getting the ball to them.  O Line didn't play well but plenty of times you could see him working down through his progressions...  years past he was able to throw his receivers open.  Not so much this year.  Defenses are stacking the line against us.  Penn State was blitzing a fair amount and Barrett couldn't hit a receiver on a quick slant???

Urban builds his teams to win bowl games in Florida, Texas, Cali, etc., not to win a cold and rainy night game in Happy Valley.  Tressell took the opposite approach.

The Buckeyes get back in the win column over NW. But it was a strug-ug-ug-ugle:

 

http://www.espn.com/college-football/playbyplay?gameId=400869646

Alternate Uni Alert:  Ohio State is set to wear 1916 Chic Harley era uniforms for tonight's game against Nebraska

 

http://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-state-football/2016/08/73174/ohio-state-to-wear-chic-harley-era-uniforms-nov-5-against-nebraska

 

 

The uniform will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 1916 season, in which Chic Harley led Ohio State to its first conference championship and its first undefeated season.  It was the first of Chic Harley's three All-American seasons.  These Chic Harley led teams generated so much attendance demand at the 14,000 capacity Ohio Field (OSU's football stadium at the time) that plans were made to build a bigger stadium.  Ohio Stadium opened in 1922, with an initial seating capacity of 63,000 and was initially known as "The House that Harley built".

 

Here's a closer look at the 1916 homage uniforms:

 

 

And here's the original 1916 uni - as worn by Chic Harley himself.  Alas, the leather helmets will not be part of tonight's alternate kit:

 

The Buckeyes looked chic in their 1916 Chic Harley era unis (complete with leather-look helmets) and broke out of their mid-season malaise with a 62-3 demolition of #10 Nebraska:

 

http://www.espn.com/college-football/playbyplay?gameId=400869647

 

The Buckeyes looked chic in their 1916 Chic Harley era unis (complete with leather-look helmets) and broke out of their mid-season malaise with a 62-3 demolition of #10 Nebraska:

 

http://www.espn.com/college-football/playbyplay?gameId=400869647

 

The Bucs looked "chic"?  Oh lawd.  No they didn't.

 

The best thing about that uniform was the helmet.

The Buckeyes looked chic in their 1916 Chic Harley era unis (complete with leather-look helmets) and broke out of their mid-season malaise with a 62-3 demolition of #10 Nebraska:

 

http://www.espn.com/college-football/playbyplay?gameId=400869647

 

The Bucs looked "chic"?  Oh lawd.  No they didn't.

 

The best thing about that uniform was the helmet.

 

Yeah, those were nearly as bad as the Stoolers' "Prison Bee" unifoms.

The Bucs looked "chic"?  Oh lawd.  No they didn't.

 

Who are these "Bucs" you are referring to?  I didn't post anything about Tampa Bay or the Pirates.

Flat black helmets make me think the equipment manager is 15 years old.

I loved the matte black helmets. The Bucks played lights out, but do you think Nebraska was a little over ranked? They always seem to get ranked higher than they should be because of their 90s success. Anyways, the Big 10 is going to have 4 teams in the top then this week. Penn State's rise in the ranks has been dramatic, but given the routes they delivered the past two weeks, it seems deserved. Was really hoping LSU could beat Bama, but Texas A&M losing was nice. 

OSU should be #5 in the CFP rankings tomorrow which makes things easy.  Beat Michigan and jump up to #4 (assuming the road games @ Maryland and Sparty (LOL) are typical 38-10 snoozers).  Then, just gotta beat the Badgers again and you're into the playoffs.  Sounds simple, but lots can happen of course.

OSU should be #5 in the CFP rankings tomorrow which makes things easy.  Beat Michigan and jump up to #4 (assuming the road games @ Maryland and Sparty (LOL) are typical 38-10 snoozers).  Then, just gotta beat the Badgers again and you're into the playoffs.  Sounds simple, but lots can happen of course.

 

If they run the table, the voters better put them at #2 or #3, even if that means that they're above an undefeated Washington team. The number of high quality wins this team has had this year has been almost unmatched (and of course to go undefeated the rest of the way out would add two more high profile wins to the list).

The Bucs looked "chic"?  Oh lawd.  No they didn't.

 

Who are these "Bucs" you are referring to?  I didn't post anything about Tampa Bay or the Pirates.

 

You know exactly what I meant!  Damn whippersnappers!

RIP one of the absolute greatest Buckeyes ever.

 

 

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/giants/giants-offensive-lineman-john-hicks-dead-65-article-1.2851488?cid=bitly

If I understand this correctly, Michigan's loss may actually screw us. If PSU wins out and Michigan's only loss was to us, then there would be a three way tie in which PSU had lost to Michigan, Michigan had lost to us and we had lost to PSU. Overall record would be the tie breaker to play for the B10 championship. But in a two way tie, head to head is the tie breaker.

If I understand this correctly, Michigan's loss may actually screw us.  If PSU wins out and Michigan's only loss was to us, then there would be a three way tie in which PSU had lost to Michigan, Michigan had lost to us and we had lost to PSU.  Overall record would be the tie breaker to play for the B10 championship.  But in a two way tie, head to head is the tie breaker.

 

It may.  Or it may not.

 

B10 & CFP scenarios:  http://www.landgrantholyland.com/2016/11/13/13612434/ohio-state-2016-college-football-playoff-penn-state-michigan-big-ten-tiebreaker-scenarios

that would be 2 years in a row now that Michigan's loss to another big ten opponent ended up keeping us out of the Big Ten title game (aside from our own loss)

 

Seems like we need to root for Wisconsin to demolish Penn State in the Big Ten championship.  I could see OSU leap frogging a 2 loss Wisconsin esp since we beat them

I think if Ohio State wins out they would get into the playoffs either way.  They got too many quality wins and the Penn State loss was to a good team.

^After thinking about it, I agree.  The committee has never let a 2 loss team into the playoffs. 

I think if Ohio State wins out they would get into the playoffs either way.  They got too many quality wins and the Penn State loss was to a good team.

 

We'll know more after Tuesday's new CFP rankings are revealed.  But its likely to be Alabama/OSU in the top two spots.  And when you look at where the latest AP poll puts Penn State, its hard to see Penn State rising above the Buckeyes.  Ironically, two-loss Wisconsin would have a better argument to pass OSU - but they lost at home to the Buckeyes:

This week's CFB Playoff Rankings:

 

Hard to imagine the Buckeyes missing the playoffs if they win out, regardless of what happens with Penn State the rest of the way.  They could potentially have 3 top ten wins, a fluke loss to a top 6-7 team and another win over a top 25 team.

 

I see it as Alabama (unless they somehow lose to Auburn), Ohio State/Michigan winner, Big Ten winner if it's Wisconsin v.s. Penn State, and Clemson if they win the ACC.

If Washington wins out and is the Pac12 champ, I can't see the Buckeyes AND the winner of PSU/Wisconsin (assuming that is the B10 championship matchup) both getting in.  In that scenario it would likely be Alabama, OSU or Big10 champ, Washington, and ACC champ (assuming that would be a one loss Louisville or Clemson) 

How did Michigan not drop after losing to Iowa?

Mustangs represent.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/osu/index.ssf/2016/11/ohio_state_freshman_te_kierre.html

Watching ESPN's College GameDay this morning, which is at Western Michigan University.  They're getting high winds and heavy snow flurries ... and WMU is only 90 miles SW of East Lansing - which is getting similar weather.

 

Looks like today's nooner at Michigan State will have some "white-out conditions".  Last time the Buckeyes faced a "White-Out" was the loss at Penn State.  Gotta break that pattern!

OSU defense getting pushed around by MSU running game.  They know it's coming and are still struggling to stop it.  Offense hasn't found a rhythm either

OSU defense comes through in the end (with an assist from Dantonio) to preserve a 17-16 win:

 

http://www.espn.com/college-football/playbyplay?gameId=400869649

The decision to go for 2 by Dantonio didn't make much sense.  Force OT at home.

 

I'm not feeling nearly as confident for OSU vs Michigan next week. 

The decision to go for 2 by Dantonio didn't make much sense.  Force OT at home.

 

I'm not feeling nearly as confident for OSU vs Michigan next week. 

 

It was a strange call.

 

As for next week, the only thing that makes me like the Bucks' chances is the fact that scUM has so much uncertainty at QB. Hopefully the D-Line gets after him a bit and forces some bad decisions. I'd also like to see some decent weather for Braxton to hopefully get the passing game going again.

The bartender where I saw the game said that Mich State "pulled a Cleveland Browns" to lose the game.

 

Mind you I'm in California.

I think OSU wins if we get both teams best games.  If OSU sputters on offense, it could go to Michigan.  OSU couldn't pass at all, in large part due to the weather, but JT's accuracy and reads were definitely off.  They never got the TE for some reason and never throw quick slants or basic 7 yard out pattern.  Those are easy completions that can let players make the defender miss for a big gain. 

The decision to go for 2 by Dantonio didn't make much sense.  Force OT at home.

 

I'm not feeling nearly as confident for OSU vs Michigan next week. 

 

It was a strange call.

 

It actually made sense to me.  MSU was 3-7 going into that game and was a 22-point underdog.  Sometimes you've got to just take your shot.  Home field advantage in overtime only goes so far.  They were already shorthanded on defense.  Just like when Boise State went for 2 against Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl (and got it), they could have gone for the tie but further back-and-forth didn't favor them.  They might never have gotten as close to our goal line again as they were going to be on that 2-point try.

 

As for next week, the only thing that makes me like the Bucks' chances is the fact that scUM has so much uncertainty at QB. Hopefully the D-Line gets after him a bit and forces some bad decisions. I'd also like to see some decent weather for Braxton Barrett to hopefully get the passing game going again.

 

FTFY. :-)

Not much chatter in here before the big game.  Let's hear some predictions and analysis

I think the key to the game will be whichever team can get something going in the passing game.  I expect both teams to try and establish the run but I also think both defenses will do a pretty good job shutting it down.  Unless OSU can get some completions over the top to the WR's for some big plays, I think the RB's will have a hard time finding room.  Ditto for JT.

ESPN Mike & Mike just did a breakdown of the game.  OSU needs to get the ball to Curtis Samuel and let him make some plays downfield.  Michigan still has questions on who will start at QB.  Expect some trick plays from Michigan.  Both teams will show a number of looks on Saturday that they have not shown all year.

Urban's teams have a way of showing up for these big time match ups which are supposed to be close and finding a way to blow the doors off their opponent. I could see that happening.

Urban's teams have a way of showing up for these big time match ups which are supposed to be close and finding a way to blow the doors off their opponent. I could see that happening.

 

Last year was a classic example of this. Sleepwalked through the season until they got to Michigan. I think part of the problem is being in the division with Rutgers and Maryland. It's like having three bye weeks in the Big 10 schedule.

^It's essentially like extending the "easy part" of the early season non-conference schedule.

Urban's teams have a way of showing up for these big time match ups which are supposed to be close and finding a way to blow the doors off their opponent.

 

Jim Tressel and Troy Smith circa January 8, 2007 can verify this. :wink:

 

Urban's teams have a way of showing up for these big time match ups which are supposed to be close and finding a way to blow the doors off their opponent. I could see that happening.

 

Third string QB in a Big Ten cha*pionship ga*e?  You could say that....

Urban's teams have a way of showing up for these big time match ups which are supposed to be close and finding a way to blow the doors off their opponent. I could see that happening.

 

Third string QB in a Big Ten cha*pionship ga*e?  You could say that....

 

That team was so loaded with talent...

 

It probably goes without saying but the offense is really missing Zeke Elliot.  The way he punished defenses in the 4th quarter and turned 4-5yd gains into 20 yard gains. 

 

Need to find a way to get the ball to the wideouts

Samuel is our best weapon. We need him to have a big game.

That's what most of the coverage I'm seeing says.  Maybe see a lot of him covered by Peppers though so he may not have much success catching passes as receiver. 

 

Interesting side note, Michigan has a big senior class of starters.  They will be rebuilding next year.  This is OSU's rebuilding year

Nonstop coverage on ESPN this morning.  Pretty cool that Harbaugh and Meyer have direct connections to Earl Bruce and Bo Schembechler

#whew!!!

 

OSU wins 30-27 double OT thriller over Michigan!!!

 

 

http://www.espn.com/college-football/playbyplay?gameId=400869650

#whew!!!

 

OSU wins 30-27 double OT thriller over Michigan!!!

 

 

http://www.espn.com/college-football/playbyplay?gameId=400869650

 

I think I hyperventilated.....twice