Elite programs often have trouble finding opponents willing to play them and will pay up to $1 million to lure a lower-tier team for the chance to host another lucrative home game.
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The No. 6 Ohio State Buckeyes have likely lost defensive tackle Tracy Sprinkle for the season after the junior was carted to the locker room with a patella tendon injury Saturday, coach Urban Meyer said. Rather than dwell on the negative, by the time Barrett was done, a school record had been shattered with seven touchdowns (six throwing, one running), another Heisman Trophy campaign had been launched and any lingering doubts after his rollercoaster sophomore season were wiped away. He directed the Buckeyes to a school-record 776 yards of offense with 417 passing yards and 359 rushing. Bowling Green head coach Mike Jinks admitted as much in his post-game press conference when he said, “It’s hard to take positives out of a butt-whooping like that”. But the identity is we’re going to line up and hammer the football and run the ball.
For Burger, a fifth-year player who earned a scholarship earlier this year and is on track to be a four-year letterwinner despite showing up as a walk-on, it was his most extended time playing with the defense in his college career.
Tulsa’s defense vs. Ohio State QB J.T. Barrett.
The teams have played 96 times, but as coach James Franklin points out, “There’s a lot of history in this rivalry, but none of our players have ever played against Pitt and none of our players have ever seen a Penn State-Pitt game in their lifetime”. The total in this game is the third highest on the board this week as bookmakers predict plenty of fireworks on offense. That goes to show how explosive the offense can be. However, Tulsa may present a bigger challenge for Ohio State because they spread the ball around so well.
“When you get two of them in one game, it is very disappointing, gut wrenching, ” Rutgers coach Rob Ash said.
“The Weber kid played extremely well”, Montgomery said, “and he did some things that, you know, younger backs don’t always do, as far as in the protection side of it and being able to pick up and do some things”. Samuel also caught nine passes for 177 yards and two touchdowns. Wilson made an impact on the game at the position as well, as he has five carries for 36 yards. Tulsa’s biggest accomplishment might’ve been its defensive effort after scoring on an interception and a fumble while holding San Jose State to 53 rushing yards.
With Weber taking snaps at running back, it allows Samuel and Wilson to run receiving routes along with freshman K.J. Hill, redshirt sophomore Noah Brown and redshirt senior Corey Smith, among others.
Barrett was instrumental in the national championship run for OSU before breaking his ankle against MI in the final regular season game of 2014. With Barrett’s ability to make and extend plays, it’ll open up plenty of opportunities for the bevy of receivers to haul in passes and contribute to this risky offense. Urban was hopeful that the defensive line could get after the Tulsa quarterback more than they did against the Falcons. It wasn’t great. It was good. This team will no doubt be lead by their offense this season.
In an nearly identical scenario, the Buckeyes will turn to their own formerly injured receiver – redshirt sophomore Noah Brown – who broke his leg during practice before the start of last season.
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Quick, dominant starts to the season vaulted Ohio State and MI into top-five positions in this week’s Associated Press college football poll.
