The Drought is Over
Caleb Downs scores Ohio State’s first punt return touchdown since 2014.
Good morning, sirs and madams. After another game replete with undisciplined play, I have to think Urban Meyer will be out for more blood than Vampire Dog1 at today's practice.
The only change to this week's depth chart is the addition of Jordan Hall, who is officially the starting running back, with Bri'onte Dunn listed as his #2. Shocking, I know, considering Hall received all the RB carries against Cal.
Tuesdays are when Johnny and I usually record the Dubcast, and in response to a terrific question on last week's episode that was sent to us at elevendubcast@gmail.com, we decided to play cupid at Eat Too, Brutus, which is only a couple of weeks away, so sign on up.
If you're a regular reader of 11W, you're a probably a pretty diehard Ohio State fan, and I just want to help Buckeyes find love with other Buckeyes. You deserve to be with someone who will appreciate your desire to do nothing on Saturdays but sit on the couch and watch football while you both pretend you're attending a great-aunt's funeral to get out of going to the wedding of someone rude enough to schedule it during football season.
I have no experience as a matchmaker, though I'm a boss at recommending TV shows, movies, music, and books to others based on what I know about them. So if you're single and looking for your Scarlet and Gray soul mate, I only need to know the following information:
- What's your favorite Ohio State tradition?
- Who's the best character on TV right now?
- Are you a serial killer?
A good cause, delicious food and beverages, Ohio State football, and true love are all waiting for you.
TROPHY LIFE. Even though Urban isn't ready to entertain the idea of Braxton Miller winning the Heisman this season, the sophomore is definitely in the conversation.
Chris Huston, the Heisman Pundit himself, currently has Braxton listed at #4 on his Heisman Watch, after West Virginia's Geno Smith, Georgia's Aaron Murray, and Oregon's De'Anthony Thomas.
Comparing him to Andre Ware, who won the Heisman when his school was banned from postseason play, Huston doesn't believe that voters will hold OSU's sanctions against him. Still, he claims the Buckeye quarterback needs to have an extra stellar season, which isn't out of the question:
Miller is off to a great start and is on pace for 2,400 passing yards, 1,500 rushing yards and 48 total touchdowns in 12 games. Those numbers would pass the smell test for Heisman voters, even if he doesn't get to play in the Big Ten title game. Next challenge for Miller comes at Michigan State on Sept. 29. If he plays well in a win against the Spartans, look out.
The Associated Press' Luke Meredith pointed out that of the nation's top 10 rushers, Braxton is the only one who's a QB. He's also one of three signal callers—Denard Robinson and Nevada's Cody Fajardo being the other two—who has thrown for more than 600 yards and ran for over 300 yards so far.
Of course, the season is young and so is Braxton. Most likely, his best shot at the Heisman will come after this season, but it's still fun for an Ohio State player to be in consideration for the award again.
COWABUNGA, DUDE. After the game on Saturday, Braxton showed up to interviews wearing a Wile E. Coyote T-shirt that read "Super Genius", and when Doug Lesmerises mentioned to him that he seems more like the Road Runner, he replied, "Oh, that's Devin. Devin is the Road Runner."
After all, Devin Smith certainly got the better of the Cal defense.
And apparently, Braxton has an affinity for cartoon-related apparel:
I need details! Were all the Ninja Turtles represented or just one in particular? If the latter, which one? I'd say that Braxton strikes me as either a Leonardo or a Donatello, but maybe he thinks nunchaku is a super cool weapon and therefore could have sported a Michelangelo tee. Or his love of the color red could mean it was Raphael.
I can't wait to find out what shirt he wears next. I'm going to guess a Duck Tales Woo Hoo! one.
He's a road runner, baby, got to keep movin' onBACK TO THE FUTURE. Like Ohio State, several of college football's blue bloods have rebounded from disappointment by starting the season 3-0. Mark Schlabach examined why these teams may or may not be on the comeback trail.
His analysis of Ohio State is what you'd expect: Braxton has been amazing while the rest of the running game and the tackling need to improve.
Elsewhere, Florida has been playing gritty ball, but may not be able to overcome injuries and a difficult schedule. Florida State's defense is ranked first in most of the major categories, yet their opponents haven't exactly been world beaters.
Georgia's offense, led by QB Aaron Murray, has been a force, though their defense has not. Strike that, reverse it for Notre Dame.
And Texas is finally getting the level of quarterback play that they're used to, even if we don't know what to expect from David Ash once the competition gets tougher.
It's harder to tell who's "back" in September, but the next few weeks should give us a better idea.
NOTHING TO DO NOWHERE TO GO. People patronizing Ohio State fans and the passion they have for their team is nothing new, and it happened again when the San Francisco Chronicle checked in with Cal fans who traveled to the Horseshoe on Saturday.
One Golden Bear supporter commented on the attendance, a much larger number than Cal brings in. As he condescended, "It's just different in California. They have nothing else to do in Ohio."2
Yeah, nothing to do but hang out in cornfield and tip over some cows because Ohioans and their mundane lives, amirite? As if half of Buckeye fans would completely forget about their loyalty to the team if there were a beach nearby.
Also, contrary to recent reports, the visitors remarked that the crowd was deafening and unlike a certain negative stereotype, Scarlet and Gray faithful managed to not treat their guests rudely.
LEAST OF ALL. After the news of Notre Dame's alliance with the ACC, SI's Luke Winn evaluated how conference realignment has affected the power rankings in college basketball. According to him, the ACC remains at the top, but the Big Ten moved up from fourth to second place. Closely behind are the SEC and Big 12.
The Big East, however, took a tumble due to the upcoming exits of the Irish, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, and West Virginia. They dropped below the Pac-12 to the sixth spot, the lowest of any of the major conferences. I guess that means they soon won't be able to boast the most NCAA Tournament bids.
GEE, AIN'T I A LINKER? LSUFreek on Big Hank... Bielema is probably hitting up a casino for a new starting QB right now... S-E-C!... Kentucky's latest recruit?... Marvin Gaye's elevation scale... Foreshadowing in Ghostbusters that I never knew about... The 25 Magical Words of American Television... Other than football, this is why I love fall.
