briefing
BUCKEYE BRIEFING
A WEEKLY GUIDE TO OHIO STATE FOOTBALL
GAME 8: PENN STATE
NITTANY LIONS
Powerhouse Penn State has complete attention of Bucks By BILL RABINOWITZ The Columbus Dispatch
Trace McSorley QB
Saquon Barkley RB
DaeSean Hamilton WR
Jason Cabinda DB
Finally, the week that has been circled on Ohio State’s football calendar has arrived. After five weeks of dominating overmatched opponents, the No. 6-ranked Buckeyes will find out against Penn State on Saturday how much they truly have improved since their humbling loss to Oklahoma. Last October, Penn State stunned Ohio State 24-21 on a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown. That was the first big win of James Franklin’s tenure in State College and it propelled the Nittany Lions to the Big Ten championship. Now Penn State is ranked No. 2, a status solidified by its 42-13 rout of Michigan on State College on Saturday. Ohio State was off last weekend. Asked if revenge would be used as motivation, Meyer hedged about whether he would make it a priority. But he figured his play- Franklin ers would. “You figure you’re dealing with youngsters,” Meyer said in his weekly press conference Monday. “Is revenge a motivator? Sure it is.” Penn State’s offense is led by running back Saquon Barkley, the Heisman Trophy front-runner. “He’s the best all-purpose guy we’ve faced maybe in my career.” Meyer said. Meyer also heaped praise on the Nittany Lions’ defense, which controlled Ohio State last year. “Their defensive line is not read-and-react,” Meyer said. “They come after you.” Meyer said the three Buckeyes injured against Nebraska on Oct. 14 — left tackle Jamarco Jones, defensive end Jalyn Holmes and receiver Parris Campbell — will play Saturday.
File photo
Penn State’s Manny Bowen celebrates after sacking Michigan quarterback John O’Korn during the second half of their game last Saturday in State College, Pa. The secondranked Nittany Lions rolled to a 42-13 win. *** J.T. Barrett has been on coach Franklin’s radar throughout the latter’s tenure at Penn State. It only seems like forever. “J.T. Barrett has been playing at Ohio State for I think this is his 16th year, maybe going on 17,” Franklin deadpanned while talking to reporters Tuesday. ”(He’s) one of the most successful quarterbacks in school history, if not the most, (and) one of the most successful quarterbacks in Big Ten history and nationally.” On Saturday, Barrett will come in playing the best football of his college career. In 2017, Barrett has posted career highs in completion percentage (66.5), touchdownto-interception ratio (21-to-1) and adjusted yards per attempt (10.7). Since a lackluster performance in a loss to Oklahoma in week 2, in which Barrett was limited to 158 yards passing and was intercepted for the only time this season, he has completed 72.1 percent of his passes. Franklin, at Penn State since 2014, has been impressed with how the Buckeyes have operated with Barrett at the forefront. “Early in the season they were still trying to kind of find their offensive identity. They’ve found
J.T. BARRETT • SENIOR QB 6-2, 220 • WICHITA FALLS, TX.
Shareef Miller DE
No. 2 Penn State (7-0, 4-0) at No. 6 Ohio State (6-1, 4-0)
Sat., 3:30 p.m. TV: FOX
OHIO STATE SCHEDULE Aug. 31 OSU 49, INDIANA 21 Sept. 9 OKLAHOMA 31, OSU 16 Sept. 16 OSU 38, ARMY 7 Sept. 23 OSU 54, UNLV 21 Sept. 30 OSU 56, RUTGERS 0 Oct. 7 OSU 62, MARYLAND 14 Oct. 14 OSU 56, NEBRASKA 14
Saturday PENN STATE
BUCKEYE OF THE WEEK
Senior quarterback had another great day in rout of Nebraska, hitting on 27 of 33 passes for 325 yards and five touchdowns, giving him 21 TD passes for season.
GAME 8 Sat., Oct. 28
it now,” Franklin said. “I see J.T. playing with a lot of confidence. He’s obviously surrounded by a lot of talent and he’s doing a great job of distributing the ball to that talent. Again, you’ve got an experienced, play-making quarterback in a scheme that really accents his abilities and his supporting cast.” That supporting cast should be at full strength Saturday, as, in addition to Campbell and Jones, running back Mike Weber is sound after dealing with a hamstring much of the season.The Nittany Lions also will get their first look at freshman running back J.K. Dobbins, who leads the Big Ten with 7.8 yards per carry. Penn State might not be acquainted with Dobbins, but they know all about Barrett, who has had mixed results against Penn State. In 2014, he led the Buckeyes to a double-overtime victory at Penn State despite passing for only 74 yards. But he rushed for 75 and both of Ohio State’s touchdowns in overtime. A year later at Ohio Stadium, Barrett came off the bench in the second quarter and accounted for four touchdowns in a 38-10 win. In last year’s game, Barrett was 28-of43 passing with 245 yards and a touchdown while being limited to 26 yards rushing on 17 carries.
TEAM LEADERS
Nov. 4 at Iowa Nov. 11 Michigan State Nov. 18 Illinois Nov. 25 at Michigan
UP NEXT
IOWA
NOV. 4 3:30 p.m. Kinnick Stadium
STANDINGS EAST Penn State OSU Michigan St. Michigan Rutgers Maryland Indiana
W-L Overall 4-0 7-0 4-0 6-1 4-0 6-1 2-2 5-2 2-2 3-4 1-3 3-4 0-4 3-4
WEST Wisconsin Northwestern Nebraska Minnesota Iowa Purdue Illinois
W-L Overall 4-0 7-0 2-2 4-3 2-2 3-4 1-3 4-3 1-3 4-3 1-3 3-4 0-4 2-5
SCHEDULE Sat., Oct. 28
PASSING: Trace McSorley, 147 of 220, 1,879 yards, 14 TDs RUSHING: Saquon Barkley, 117 att., 757 yards, 8 TDs. RECEIVING: Saquon Barkley, 32 rec., 448 yards, 3 TDs. TACKLES: Jason Cabinda, 53
Rutgers at Michigan Wisconsin at Illinois Michigan State at Northwestern Indiana at Maryland Penn State at Ohio State Minnesota at Iowa Nebraska at Purdue
PASSING: J.T. Barrett, 138 of 207, 1,838 yds., 21 TDs, 1 INT. RUSHING: JK Dobbins, 100 att., 775 yds., 5 TDs RECEIVING: Parris Campbell, 28 rec., 405 yds., 2 TDs TACKLES: Damon Webb 34
Wisconsin at Indiana Penn State at Michigan State Illinois at Purdue Ohio State at Iowa Maryland at Rutgers Northwestern at Nebraska Minnesota at Michigan
Sat., Nov. 4
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A WEEKLY GUIDE TO OHIO STATE FOOTBALL
GAME 8: PENN STATE
NITTANY LIONS
Powerhouse Penn State has complete attention of Bucks By BILL RABINOWITZ The Columbus Dispatch
Trace McSorley QB
Saquon Barkley RB
DaeSean Hamilton WR
Jason Cabinda DB
Finally, the week that has been circled on Ohio State’s football calendar has arrived. After five weeks of dominating overmatched opponents, the No. 6-ranked Buckeyes will find out against Penn State on Saturday how much they truly have improved since their humbling loss to Oklahoma. Last October, Penn State stunned Ohio State 24-21 on a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown. That was the first big win of James Franklin’s tenure in State College and it propelled the Nittany Lions to the Big Ten championship. Now Penn State is ranked No. 2, a status solidified by its 42-13 rout of Michigan on State College on Saturday. Ohio State was off last weekend. Asked if revenge would be used as motivation, Meyer hedged about whether he would make it a priority. But he figured his play- Franklin ers would. “You figure you’re dealing with youngsters,” Meyer said in his weekly press conference Monday. “Is revenge a motivator? Sure it is.” Penn State’s offense is led by running back Saquon Barkley, the Heisman Trophy front-runner. “He’s the best all-purpose guy we’ve faced maybe in my career.” Meyer said. Meyer also heaped praise on the Nittany Lions’ defense, which controlled Ohio State last year. “Their defensive line is not read-and-react,” Meyer said. “They come after you.” Meyer said the three Buckeyes injured against Nebraska on Oct. 14 — left tackle Jamarco Jones, defensive end Jalyn Holmes and receiver Parris Campbell — will play Saturday.
File photo
Penn State’s Manny Bowen celebrates after sacking Michigan quarterback John O’Korn during the second half of their game last Saturday in State College, Pa. The secondranked Nittany Lions rolled to a 42-13 win. *** J.T. Barrett has been on coach Franklin’s radar throughout the latter’s tenure at Penn State. It only seems like forever. “J.T. Barrett has been playing at Ohio State for I think this is his 16th year, maybe going on 17,” Franklin deadpanned while talking to reporters Tuesday. ”(He’s) one of the most successful quarterbacks in school history, if not the most, (and) one of the most successful quarterbacks in Big Ten history and nationally.” On Saturday, Barrett will come in playing the best football of his college career. In 2017, Barrett has posted career highs in completion percentage (66.5), touchdownto-interception ratio (21-to-1) and adjusted yards per attempt (10.7). Since a lackluster performance in a loss to Oklahoma in week 2, in which Barrett was limited to 158 yards passing and was intercepted for the only time this season, he has completed 72.1 percent of his passes. Franklin, at Penn State since 2014, has been impressed with how the Buckeyes have operated with Barrett at the forefront. “Early in the season they were still trying to kind of find their offensive identity. They’ve found
J.T. BARRETT • SENIOR QB 6-2, 220 • WICHITA FALLS, TX.
Shareef Miller DE
No. 2 Penn State (7-0, 4-0) at No. 6 Ohio State (6-1, 4-0)
Sat., 3:30 p.m. TV: FOX
OHIO STATE SCHEDULE Aug. 31 OSU 49, INDIANA 21 Sept. 9 OKLAHOMA 31, OSU 16 Sept. 16 OSU 38, ARMY 7 Sept. 23 OSU 54, UNLV 21 Sept. 30 OSU 56, RUTGERS 0 Oct. 7 OSU 62, MARYLAND 14 Oct. 14 OSU 56, NEBRASKA 14
Saturday PENN STATE
BUCKEYE OF THE WEEK
Senior quarterback had another great day in rout of Nebraska, hitting on 27 of 33 passes for 325 yards and five touchdowns, giving him 21 TD passes for season.
GAME 8 Sat., Oct. 28
it now,” Franklin said. “I see J.T. playing with a lot of confidence. He’s obviously surrounded by a lot of talent and he’s doing a great job of distributing the ball to that talent. Again, you’ve got an experienced, play-making quarterback in a scheme that really accents his abilities and his supporting cast.” That supporting cast should be at full strength Saturday, as, in addition to Campbell and Jones, running back Mike Weber is sound after dealing with a hamstring much of the season.The Nittany Lions also will get their first look at freshman running back J.K. Dobbins, who leads the Big Ten with 7.8 yards per carry. Penn State might not be acquainted with Dobbins, but they know all about Barrett, who has had mixed results against Penn State. In 2014, he led the Buckeyes to a double-overtime victory at Penn State despite passing for only 74 yards. But he rushed for 75 and both of Ohio State’s touchdowns in overtime. A year later at Ohio Stadium, Barrett came off the bench in the second quarter and accounted for four touchdowns in a 38-10 win. In last year’s game, Barrett was 28-of43 passing with 245 yards and a touchdown while being limited to 26 yards rushing on 17 carries.
TEAM LEADERS
Nov. 4 at Iowa Nov. 11 Michigan State Nov. 18 Illinois Nov. 25 at Michigan
UP NEXT
IOWA
NOV. 4 3:30 p.m. Kinnick Stadium
STANDINGS EAST Penn State OSU Michigan St. Michigan Rutgers Maryland Indiana
W-L Overall 4-0 7-0 4-0 6-1 4-0 6-1 2-2 5-2 2-2 3-4 1-3 3-4 0-4 3-4
WEST Wisconsin Northwestern Nebraska Minnesota Iowa Purdue Illinois
W-L Overall 4-0 7-0 2-2 4-3 2-2 3-4 1-3 4-3 1-3 4-3 1-3 3-4 0-4 2-5
SCHEDULE Sat., Oct. 28
PASSING: Trace McSorley, 147 of 220, 1,879 yards, 14 TDs RUSHING: Saquon Barkley, 117 att., 757 yards, 8 TDs. RECEIVING: Saquon Barkley, 32 rec., 448 yards, 3 TDs. TACKLES: Jason Cabinda, 53
Rutgers at Michigan Wisconsin at Illinois Michigan State at Northwestern Indiana at Maryland Penn State at Ohio State Minnesota at Iowa Nebraska at Purdue
PASSING: J.T. Barrett, 138 of 207, 1,838 yds., 21 TDs, 1 INT. RUSHING: JK Dobbins, 100 att., 775 yds., 5 TDs RECEIVING: Parris Campbell, 28 rec., 405 yds., 2 TDs TACKLES: Damon Webb 34
Wisconsin at Indiana Penn State at Michigan State Illinois at Purdue Ohio State at Iowa Maryland at Rutgers Northwestern at Nebraska Minnesota at Michigan
Sat., Nov. 4
We Carry All Major Brands Of Tires • Wooster’s Best Value Priced Tire Dealer!
WO-10578731
GO BUCKS!
210 S. BUCKEYE STREET • WOOSTER, OH 330-262-6800 • Kevin Covert, Owner
Your Satisfaction is Our Mission
www.300Tire.com BATTERIES • BELTS • HOSES • BRAKES • ALIGNMENT • TIRES • SHOCKS • STRUTS • WIPER BLADES • COOLING • ELECTRIC • EXHAUST • TUNE UP • OIL CHANGES • SUSPENSION • WHEEL BEARINGS SERVICE
