After the weekend was filled with bad news for Ohio State, the No. 1-ranked Buckeyes got a bit of good news Tuesday when head coach Urban Meyer announced on the weekly Big Ten coaches teleconference sophomore cornerback Damon Webb, who had been suspended since the Northern Illinois game, had been reinstated.
"[Monday] was his first practice," Meyer said. “Damon was a guy that was playing well for us, a guy that we have a lot of trust in and that’s a big plus as well as having him available for special teams as well.”
All signs point to Webb getting back on the field Saturday when Ohio State hosts Minnesota.
The Buckeyes are also likely to find themselves in the top four of Tuesday night's initial College Football Playoff rankings. Meyer admitted Tuesday he actually forgot the first set of rankings were scheduled to be released, but did say he will address them briefly with his team.
“I probably will say something, but I haven’t even thought about it," he said. "It’s always good to have that quick conversation because they’re going to be having it with someone. I don’t know if I’ll do it today, but at some point we will here in the next day or two.”
Ohio State debuted at No. 16 in the initial rankings a year ago before claiming one of the top-four spots by season's end. Meyer knows Tuesday's rankings mean very little in the long run.
"You just look at these schedules coming up, ours and others, whatever comes out tonight is going to change drastically within the next few weeks," Meyer said.
Additional Meyer notes:
- On Ohio State's quarterback situation going forward, Meyer said, “We’ll worry about that after this game. Obviously, all focus is somehow find a way to win this game.”
- On the differences in the game plans between J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones, Meyer said, “They’re a little bit different styles. J.T., he’s more of the spread quarterback where he reads ends and Cardale, although he can do it, he’s a little bit more of the drop back pass game. Not much different.”
- Meyer said it's going to take time for Barrett to earn trust back with his teammates and coaches after his recent OVI. "I’m watching it and we’ve had conversations about it. He’ll get it back because he’s that kind of person and player, but he obviously can’t have any more speed bumps.”
- Meyer on Ohio State's matchup with Minnesota this weekend: “We see a very good team we have a lot of respect for. We had a dogfight with them last year there. We saw a team that really could have won their last game, a very inspired team."
Iowa, Michigan State and Ohio State are all 8-0. The last time the Big Ten had three 8-0 teams was 1903. This weekend's Big Ten slate is highlighted by a matchup between Penn State and Northwestern.
In addition to Meyer, the conference's other 13 coaches spoke Tuesday on the league's weekly teleconference. Highlights from each are below.
Pat Fitzgerald (Northwestern):
- Fitzgerald on College Football Playoff rankings: "In the past, as a coach, I felt like it was a lot out of your control. I think this is a system that we all like."
- Fitzgerald on Penn State's defense: "It's starts up front where they're outstanding."
- On the current landscape of the Big Ten, Fitzgerald said, "I think anybody can win on any given Saturday. It's a very competitive league from top to bottom."
Jim Harbaugh (Michigan):
- Harbaugh on Minnesota's decision to go for the win in last weekend's game: "I think it was a good decision to go for it; I probably would have done the same thing."
- Harbaugh on Jabrill Peppers: "The unique and rare thing about Jabrill Peppers is athletic ability and instincts at a very, very high level."
- Harbaugh said players playing both ways, like Peppers, is not unusual for him. Owen Marecic did it for him at Stanford and played between 105 and 110 snaps for him at Stanford.
- Harbaugh on the Big Ten: "Been impressed with everybody we've faced so far."
Paul Chryst (Wisconsin):
- Chryst on this weekend's matchup with Maryland: "What we've seen is a team that's got a lot of really talented, good football players."
- Chryst on the status of running back Corey Clement: "Today we'll get a good gauge of exactly where he's at."
Mike Riley (Nebraska):
- Riley: "We've had a lot of interesting, tight ball games through the year and hopefully we've learned from it. Our biggest obstacle is making sure we still have a belief."
Mark Dantonio (Michigan State):
- On the development of Michigan State's defense over the years, Dantonio said, "When you're bringing in a new defense, there's time that has to take place for players to learn reactionary habits."
- Dantonio on the first College Football Playoff rankings: "I think they'll sort it out [tonight] and then things will kind of sort themselves out by the end of the year."
Kirk Ferentz (Iowa):
- On Indiana, which has lost four-straight games, Ferentz said, "They're playing really good football."
- Ferentz on the College Football Playoff rankings: "I'm not going to be peaking at them. I didn't even know they were coming out until somebody mentioned to me on Saturday."
- Ferentz was asked if this year was one of his better coaching jobs. "I don't know if it's been better or worse, but I'm having a lot of fun."
Tracy Claeys (Minnesota):
- "It will be a tremendous challenge playing the No. 1 team in the country. After breaking down the film and watching it, they're very deserving of that."
- "The talent level and the speed, you just have no margin for error anywhere on their offense."
- Claeys said Minnesota prepared for both Cardale Jones and J.T. Barrett prior to Barrett's suspension.
- Claeys on Braxton Miller: "You're just talking about one of the best athletes in the Big Ten."
- Claeys on Ohio State's defense: "Their front seven is dominating."
Kyle Flood (Rutgers):
- Flood said Michigan has "one of the best defenses in the country."
- More Flood on Michigan: "Very tough, very physical on offense. They're dedicated to running the football."
- Flood on the Big Ten East "I said at Media Days that it was the toughest division in college football and I stand by that."
Bill Cubit (Illinois):
- Cubit said Illinois "didn't play very well Saturday against Penn State, and it showed."
Mike Locksley (Maryland):
- Locksley on Wisconsin, this weekend's opponent: "A balanced attack. A pressure defense. I can't say enough about how well-coached they are."
Darrell Hazell (Purdue):
- Hazell on Purdue's win over Nebraska: "We had 17 guys grade out with winning performances, the most we've had since we've been here."
James Franklin (Penn State):
- On Northwestern, Franklin said, "They're very well-coached, very sound in what they do. A very sound, smart football team."
- Franklin joked quarterback Christian Hackenberg is a "tri-threat quarterback" after his touchdown catch last week. Said Hackenberg can run a 4.7 40-yard dash.
Kevin Wilson (Indiana):
- Wilson on importance of becoming bowl eligible: "For our seniors and guys that have been with us for a while .... it'd be a great reward for those seniors."
