Perhaps the most difficult part of Ohio State's loss to Michigan State last weekend is that the Buckeyes do not have any time to dwell on what happened. Ohio State has a game just as big coming up Saturday when it travels to play archrival Michigan.
"Today is going to be a big day," Meyer said Tuesday on the Big Ten coaches weekly teleconference. "Sunday was a big day to get it out of our system. You have to show them that one is done."
Meyer said his biggest concern with his team is the fear it doesn't have much left to play for in the big picture. He wants them to know a berth in the Big Ten championship game is still a possibility with a win over the Wolverines and a Penn State victory over Michigan State.
“Any time you lose a game, maybe they think they’re not playing for what they were playing for before and that’s not true; there’s a lot of football left to be played," Meyer said. "My concern is just getting ready to play this team and focus on that.
"Just got to go forward and got to go forward fast.”
The 10-1 Buckeyes face the 9-2 Wolverines noon Saturday in Ann Arbor.
“This game stands out because it’s the rivalry game," Meyer said. "This is The Game and we have great respect for the rivalry and understand what’s at stake.”
Additional Meyer notes:
- Meyer on his memories of the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry during the days of the 10-year war. “I remember almost all the games," he said. "I just remember just the intensity and the whole state shut down."
- Meyer said he doesn't believe the Big Ten will ever get back to having just two dominant teams in the conference like it did back during that time. “I think there’s too many other good teams," he said. "But the Big 2, LIttle 8, I never see that happening again, not with all these good teams going.”
- On the loss to Michigan State, Meyer said, “We beat ourselves up, I beat myself up big time."
- On Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett, Meyer said, “He has experience, he has experience in this game, he has experience as a winner, as a leader. He’s respected by our players and the job of a quarterback, it’s a very unique position to not only perform well but you have to get those around you to perform well. He’s got a gift to do that.”
If Michigan State defeats Penn State on Saturday, the Spartans will face Iowa in next weekend's Big Ten championship game. Should the Nittany Lions pull the upset, however, the winner of Saturday's Ohio State-Michigan game will play the Hawkeyes for the league title.
In addition to Meyer, the Big Ten's other 13 coaches gathered Tuesday on the weekly coaches teleconference. Below are some of the highlights from each.
Pat Fitzgerald (Northwestern):
- On playing Illinois at Soldier Field on Saturday: "We're going to prepare like we always do for road games, but then adjust accordingly. Our fans that I've talked to are excited about it, and selfishly I'm a Bears fan so I think it's a great opportunity for our guys."
Jim Harbaugh (Michigan):
- Harbaugh on how he intends to use Jabrill Peppers: "We keep all options open, all opportunities available. Each week you'd like your opponent to think all those options and opportunities are available."
- Harbaugh on Ohio State and his thoughts of being coach in The Game: "Such a good team. My thoughts are right now on preparation, and game planning."
- On whether or not Jabrill Peppers can be exclusively an offensive player: "Yes. It's realistic to think that. ... Can somebody be the Willie Mays of football, the five-tool player? Maybe that will end up being Jabrill Peppers."
- Harbaugh on what he loves most about the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry: "Just how those two uniforms looked on the field together."
- Harbaugh on the 1973 Ohio State-Michigan game, the first he remembers: "One of the greatest football games I still have ever seen."
- Harbaugh said the Ohio State-Michigan game was "even better than Christmas" when he was growing up as a kid.
Paul Chryst (Wisconsin):
- On the matchup with Minnesota for Paul Bunyan's axe: "There’s a ton of memories," Chryst said. "Rivalries and traditions make college football memorable."
Mike Riley (Nebraska):
- A win vs. Iowa makes Nebraska bowl eligible. Riley: "That's the situation we've put ourselves in. You have to realize in college football that every game is like a playoff game. We've put ourselves in a position to be bowl eligible and we have to win this game."
Mark Dantonio (Michigan State):
- Dantonio asked how likely it is Connor Cook plays this weekend against Penn State: "We don't talk about injuries."
- Dantonio on Michigan State's ability to win close games: "I think we've had resilience with this football team. I think the mindset is very good. I think we've got good senior leadership on this team."
- On Penn State's defense, Dantonio said, "Very physical on the defensive line, lead the Big Ten in sacks, tough to run on and they tackle well."
Kirk Ferentz (Iowa):
- On Iowa's Desmond King, Ferentz said, "I think this year what's really kicked in is experience and then also taking that experience and making it work for him."
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Ferentz: "What is unique to college football is there’s always room for opportunity and stories to emerge."
Tracy Claeys (Minnesota):
- Claeys on matchup with Wisconsin: "Excited to play for the axe this weekend, another border war that's important to the state."
- More Claeys on Wisconsin: "We've been here five years and we haven't won it yet. It's the one trophy game at the University of Minnesota we haven't been able to get."
- Claeys said former coach Jerry Kill will be in attendance at Saturday's game.
Kyle Flood (Rutgers):
- Flood on the win over Army: "It was an honor to play in a game at West Point & to look into the eyes of young men who will be protecting our country."
Bill Cubit (Illinois):
- Cubit on the opportunity to play at Soldier Field: "Our kids are excited about going up there and playing in an NFL stadium, but also facing our rival in Northwestern."
Mike Locksley (Maryland):
- On this weekend's matchup with Rutgers: "We have an opportunity to send our seniors out the right way and end our 2015 season the right way."
Darrell Hazell (Purdue):
- Hazell on Big Ten trophy games and rivalry games: 'It's really about this one day that determines the next 365 days of the year."
James Franklin (Penn State):
- Franklin on Michigan State: "Obviously coach Dantonio has done a great job. They have depth, they have talent, they have length. Really good system on offense, defense, special teams."
- On the unknowns of Michigan State's quarterback situation: "I think that's some of the challenge this week is how we're going to do that. That's a definite challenge."
Kevin Wilson (Indiana):
- Wilson: "It’s going to be a great challenge, big game, big rival, want to go out and play as hard as we can for our seniors."
