Coming Off A Loss, Urban Meyer Hopes Ohio State Plays Angry Saturday Against Northwestern; Wide Receiver Corey Smith Expected to Return to Practice

Northwestern.

The Wildcats come to Ohio Stadium this weekend with three-straight victories in their back pocket. Now, after the Buckeyes lost their first game of the season with Saturday's 24-21 loss to Penn State, Northwestern is likely to get a more-than-ready Ohio State team on its home field.

Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer was asked Tuesday on the Big Ten coaches weekly teleconference if that's a theory he buys into.

"I hope so," Meyer said. "I think there is something to that, but that's up to each team and we're going to try to make sure we teach them that."

Meyer has made it clear this week he's interested to see how his team responds to its first loss. He added to those thoughts Tuesday.

"I always make the comment that at the times when you're winning, don't get bored with winning. Don't get bored with the process with winning and the preparation it takes," Meyer said. "There were certainly things [against Penn State] where I'm not sure if it was focus or whatever, but we just didn't execute." 

"There's going to be a high attention to detail [this week]."

Additional Meyer notes:

• Meyer was again asked if there would be any personnel changes this week: "Not right now. There's still conversation, but not right now."
• Meyer did add wide receiver Corey Smith is expected to practice Tuesday. A wrist injury kept Smith sidelined the last couple of weeks.
• Meyer was also asked about if he was curious how the young players would respond to a loss. "I think that's up to us as coaches and the leaders on the team to help them through it," he said.
• Meyer was asked if there's any discussion of one-loss teams still being contenders for the College Football Playoff. "I'm actually trying to not go there. Our focus is on a very good team coming in here," he said. "... I think that's out there, but I'm trying to avoid that."
• Meyer on offensive lineman Billy Price's leadership: "He's exceptional. He's a very good player and an even better person. He's been around here for awhile, he knows what we expect and he's exceptional."
• Meyer was reminded how each of his national championship teams had one loss and how he can help use that for this season, "Every team is different and we'll find out," he said. "We're in this together. Tough coaches and tough players fight through things."
• Meyer wouldn't get into specifics about Ohio State's playcalling for obvious game plan reason, but said, "Defenses take away certain looks and that's about all I can explain."

A rivalry game between Michigan State and Michigan in addition to a matchup between No. 7 Nebraska and No. 11 Wisconsin highlight this weekend's matchups in the Big Ten. 

The league's other 13 head coaches met Tuesday on the Big Ten's weekly teleconference. Some highlights of what each had to say are listed below.

Pat Fitzgerald (Northwestern):

• On quarterback Clayton Thorson's improvement: "I think he's really getting confidence through his experience. ... He's 20 games into his career and you see him making growth every week and it's exciting to see."
• Fitzgerald on Ohio State's offensive line: "I see a bunch of five-star, four-star recruits that are unbelievable. ... In my opinion, this is by far the best offensive line we've played based on video."
• Fitzgerald on Columbus native Godwin Igwebuike: "He and Jake Butt were high school teammates and we recruited them both and thank goodness we were able to get Godwin. ... I believe he's going to be an NFL player for a long, long time."
• Fitzgerald on Northwestern's early-season turnaround: "We weren't performing consistently and we were playing a lot of first-time starters that quite frankly we didn't do a good enough job with them taking the steps we needed them to take."
• Fitzgerald: "Nobody has a stiffer challenge than us this week having to take on the Buckeyes."
• Fitzgerald ended his portion of the teleconference by saying, "Go Cubs! Go Cats!"

Jim Harbaugh (Michigan):

• Harbaugh on the Michigan–Michigan State rivalry: "I participated in it, played for Bo, knew his thoughts on the rivalry and the game. It's a healthy, fair, honest competition."
• Harbaugh on being ranked No. 2 in the country: "We believe that if we prepare like we're supposed to prepare, give ourselves confidence and a chance to take care of business each and every Saturday then those rankings will take care of themselves."
• More Harbaugh on MSU: "It's a great rivalry for our state and for our communities."

Paul Chryst (Wisconsin):

• Chryst: "We're playing another top-10 team in Nebraska."
• Chryst asked if Wisconsin–Nebraska is new-age rivalry: "I think there's definitely a really healthy respect for Nebraska and the program. This year is no different. I've only been involved in a couple, but they've been really good teams playing and good games."
• Chryst on the return of linebacker Vince Biegel: "It's just great to have him back."
• Chryst on the challenge of replacing leading tackler, linebacker Jack Cichy, who is out for the year: "Good coaching is how do you put your players in the best position to have success."

Mike Riley (Nebraska):

• Riley on Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst: "You've seen the maturation of a football team right in front of your eyes."
• Riley on key to building strong offensive lines: "I think we're talking about continued development of guys in the program and then also recruitment of players who can play at that level."
• More Riley on his relationship with Chryst: "Paul is just a tremendous person. He's a great friend and we've had a lot of fun with football throughout the years."

Mark Dantonio (Michigan State):

• Dantonio on Michigan–Michigan State rivalry: "I think it certainly brings a sense of intensity to the state and always has. I think in this state you grow up either green or blue, proudly, and a lot of families are split."
• Dantonio: "Michigan is playing at a very high level. ... We've got to be able to win our share of the individual battles out there."
• Dantonio on Harbaugh: "All you have to do is look at his background, the guy is a ball coach. He's got his handprint on so many aspects of that football program."

Kirk Ferentz (Iowa):

• Ferentz on loss to Wisconsin: "That was a really hard-fought game on both sides, very physical."
• Ferentz asked if the open week is time to reassess what's gone wrong: "We try to do that every week, but one nice thing about a bye week is it affords you a lot more time."
• Ferentz: "We're not playing well enough to win."

Tracy Claeys (Minnesota):

• Claeys on challenges of facing an Illinois team with uncertainty at quarterback: "The challenge is in finding enough practice time to work on what each of them do well. We don't really know what we're going to get."

Chris Ash (Rutgers):

• Ash: "We've gone through a tough stretch here at the start of Big Ten play, but our kids have continued to show up, worked hard and believed in the process to get our program where we want it to be."
• Ash on how open week helps recruiting: "Recruiting is a big part of the bye week. We need to get out and use our evaluation days as best we can."

Lovie Smith (Illinois):

• Smith: "It's an exciting time in Champaign."

DJ Durkin (Maryland):

• Durkin on victory against Michigan State: "It was a very exciting win for our team, our program."

Gerad Parker (Purdue):

• Parker: "We're in Week 2 of a whirlwind of an operation over here."
• Parker on Penn State's defense: "You see a team that's gotten healthy. They've got some guys back and you see a group that's playing with more confidence and their personnel is really good."
• Parker: "We're fighting and trying to change culture here. We're trying to do some things for our program like Penn State did against Ohio State last Saturday."

Terry Smith (Penn State):

• Penn State coach James Franklin was unavailable.
• Smith on being ranked for first time this season: "We're going to approach it as business as usual."
• Smith: "We haven't won on the road, so this is going to be a test for us to try and get our first road victory."
• Smith on the return of linebackers Brandon Bell and Jason Cabinda, who combined for 31 tackles against Ohio State: "They give us a tremendous boost. You talk about two veteran players who played a lot of football for Penn State. ... We missed that. We missed their direction and their leadership."
• Smith on recruiting edge gained by win over Ohio State: "The greatest thing is we defended our home turf."
• Smith asked how many times he's watched Penn State's blocked field goal return for a touchdown: "I watched it probably two times through film study."

Kevin Wilson (Indiana):

• "It's going to be another tough, Big Ten East challenge for us this week."