We know we have a really good opponent coming into our house.
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“We haven’t played our best, but we win”.
“I think we have the talent to play with the top 10 teams in the country”, he said.
“Oh, yeah: ‘Is this going to be good enough?'” Meyer said.
“We’ve got things at least in place in terms to control our own destiny a little bit”, MI State coach Mark Dantonio said.
He didn’t rule out Barrett seeing action.
“Coach Schembechler’s a daily source of inspiration and remains that for me and all the people he coached or was associated with”, Harbaugh said. “He’s a product of those around him”. Over their last four games, the Buckeyes have seemingly rounded into form with a 3-1 ATS record after going 0-5 ATS in their previous five games. In the spring, Barrett was still recovering, so Jones was the starter and then out of the fall camp, Jones hadn’t been beaten out.
“I don’t think there is that kind of pressure that needs to be put on Connor Cook”, Dantonio said. “That might not be everyone’s philosophy. They’re not playing great”. The only leftover is Michael Thomas, while Jalin Marshall has had an increased receiving role, but Meyer is still trying to find a deep-threat receiver.
#5 Iowa: The Hawkeyes need to wrap up the regular season with two more wins. “It’s a very unique situation”.
One area where Price is not disappointed, however, is in run blocking, evidenced by how the offensive line routinely clears gaping holes for Elliott to run through. As Meyer pointed out following the win at IL, his defense has been “lights out” of late. “It provides more motivation for us”.
Elliott piled up 181 yards and two touchdowns, Barrett chipped in with 150 yards passing and 74 running and No. 2 Ohio State powered past IL 28-3 on Saturday.
Meanwhile, No. 15 MI had to battle hard for their 48-41 double-overtime victory over Indiana. Ohio State buried the Spartans’ postseason hopes a year ago and has the power to do it again.
Last season, the Buckeyes went to East Lansing and beat the Spartans 49-37 in an offensive performance Meyer called the best of the season. Chesson caught 10 passes for 207 yards and four touchdowns, becoming the first Big Ten receiver to register 200 yards receiving and four touchdowns in a single game since 2003 and matching the school record for touchdown receptions in a game.
It also makes no sense to argue about whether MI State is getting the respect it rightfully has earned the past five seasons.
The Broncos’ running game is led by Jarvion Franklin. However, they uncharacteristically struggled defending the run, giving up 307 yards on the ground, including 238 and two touchdowns from star IN back Jordan Howard.
The Buckeyes’ defense was impressive last week.
With the third quarter nearing an end, OSU was in the midst of an eight-play, 51 yard drive well into Illini territory. Darron Lee is a consistent contributor. If the Irish can run the table and finish 11-1 with victories against Stanford and USC and a two-point loss at Clemson, they have to like their chances against an 11-1 Big 12 champion.
The secondary is led by Vonn Bell, Eli Apple and Tyvus Powell.
Advance scouting: Asked whether MSU players have been sneaking in some Ohio State film study over the past few months amid their weekly work, senior defensive end Shilique Calhoun confirmed it. Sort of.
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So, with all that on the line, plus the already tremendous task of going up an Ohio State defense that ranks among the nation’s best, it’s obviously a huge game.
