Ohio State's current position in the College Football Playoff rankings will be revealed tonight, as the Buckeyes still have an opportunity to be one of the top-four teams at season's end.
When Ohio State lost to Virginia Tech in Week 2, however, that was the furthest thing from most people's minds. It seemed like it would be impossible given the team's situation — replacing a star quarterback, an NFL running back and four new starters on the offensive line.
But the Buckeyes still have a shot thanks to their rapid improvement since that loss to the Hokies.
“I think how much they’ve improved," head coach Urban Meyer said Tuesday on the Big Ten coaches teleconference when asked what he's learned about his team over the last two weeks. "I made the comment you don’t know how much you’ve improved until you face a top-10 team and top-25 team on the road but there’s no question this is the most improved team from Game 1 to Game 10 that I’ve ever been around.”
Part of that improvement has been Ohio State's ability to stay relatively healthy since the season started. It's what Meyer said is the most important part of winning in November.
“Without question it’s the health of your team and managing practice," he said. "We practice really hard practices in the first three, four games and then we cut back. I monitor along with the position coaches how many snaps kids play and we’re very smart about getting them to the games on Saturdays.”
If Ohio State beats Indiana on Saturday it will clinch a spot in the Big Ten championship game. It might be easy to overlook the 3-7 Hoosiers with a rivalry game against Michigan the following week, but Meyer is hopeful his team knows the task at hand.
"I think they're a smart team," he said. "... I'm hoping they understand they clinch a spot in the championship game with a win."
Part of earning that win will be in the Buckeyes' ability to slow down Indiana's wide receiver/return man Shane Wynn and its talented running back Tevin Coleman.
“I think (Wynn) is outstanding and the tailback is ridiculous. … He’s definitely an NFL running back.”
Meyer also compared quarterback J.T. Barrett's season to that of Alex Smith when he stepped in after an injury to the starter at Utah and led the Utes to a conference title, punter Cameron Johnston had his "worst day" against Minnesota and said offensive tackle Taylor Decker is "a model citizen for our team and program."
Notes:
With a win over the Hoosiers on Saturday or a loss by Michigan State against Rutgers, Ohio State will clinch a spot in the Big Ten championship game.
With its win over Nebraska last weekend, Wisconsin stands alone atop the Big Ten West. The Badgers could clinch their trip to Indianapolis with a win Saturday over Iowa combined with a Cornhuskers victory over Minnesota.
Penn State and Rutgers each reached the six-win plateau last weekend, giving the Big Ten nine teams who are currently bowl eligible. Michigan could become the 10th with a victory against Maryland.
In addition to Meyer, the Big Ten's other 13 coaches spoke on Tuesday's weekly teleconference. Here are some highlights of what each had to say:
Pat Fitzgerald (Northwestern):
- On not having a letdown against Purdue after Northwestern's upset of Notre Dame: It's about us, it's never about who you play. ... This is their Senior Day and their seniors have been through a lot so it's gonna be one heck of a football game."
Brady Hoke (Michigan):
- "Last week's bye was good for us in a lot of ways. We got rested up, healed up a little bit."
- Hoke on Michigan's final home game: "We have a few things planned for our fans to show them our support and we're looking forward to playing in the best stadium and in front of the best crowd in the country."
- On the difficulties of replacing a dismissed player: "It's always something that pulls your team together and there's guys that have to step up now."
- Hoke on becoming bowl eligible with a win: "It doesn't mean anything to me personally, but it means something to those kids."
- Hoke said running back Derrick Green is "unlikely" to play Saturday.
Gary Andersen (Wisconsin):
- Andersen on Melvin Gordon's record-breaking performance against Nebraska: "Melvin was outstanding. He was very well talked about and he's very well-deserving of that talk." Andersen also went on to praise the play of Wisconsin's offensive line.
- On the play of Wisconsin's defense this season: "They've played at a high level and I've always had high expectations for them but they've met those expectations."
- Andersen on the race in the Big Ten West: "I think it's a fantastic spot to be in. As a league you couldn't ask for a better spot for everybody to be in."
- On the Big Ten's running backs: "There are tremendous running backs in the Big Ten and they're very well-deserving of all the recognition that they get."
Bo Pelini (Nebraska):
- Pellini on Minnesota: "I think they have an identity — they know what they wanna do. They keep committed to running the football and they don't get discouraged out of running the football."
- On wide receiver Kenny Bell's importance to the Nebraska program: "I think Kenny has really grown up a lot. He's developed his leadership skills and he's about the right things. He's a tremendous young man and goes about things the right way."
Mark Dantonio (Michigan State):
- On the Michigan State senior class: "They had to put their trust in us as people first and believe in the process. ... They've been critical to our success."
- Dantonio on defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi: "He's cutting edge in terms of what we're trying to do defensively."
- On the importance of having a conference championship game: "I think the way our schedule is set is there are very meaningful games in the last three or four weeks in November, which to me is when championships should be won. To me, we don't take the easy way and I think that's what the general public wants to see."
Kirk Ferentz (Iowa):
- Ferentz on the Big Ten West's race: "I don't know if that was by design or just how it worked out but it's just one of those deals and I think everybody playing this weekend feels like they're involved in big games and we certainly feel that way."
- On trying to slow down Melvin Gordon and Wisconsin's rushing attack: "You just about have to play perfect football."
Jerry Kill (Minnesota):
- "Our team's coming off a tough loss to Ohio State who's a great football team."
- Kill on Minnesota still controlling its own destiny in the Big Ten West: "That's something that even after a tough loss we certainly addressed right after the game. It's better to be in control of your own destiny than have to see somebody else lose."
- Kill compared Melvin Gordon's shredding of Nebraska to what J.T. Barrett did to his defense last weekend. "If you make one mistake, you're done."
Kyle Flood (Rutgers):
- "It's good to be bowl eligible and now we look forward to the challenge of going on the road and playing one of the better teams in the country in Michigan State."
- Flood said Rutgers was able to have some success running the ball against Indiana last week and then quarterback Gary Nova was able to find some late success. "We were very balanced against Indiana."
Tim Beckman (Illinois):
- "We've won four football games earlier than we did last year and our goals are to move step by step and keep getting better each week."
- Beckman on getting quarterback Wes Lunt back: "It's great to get your starting quarterback back. ... Wes Lunt is a player that can change a game for you."
Randy Edsall (Maryland):
- Edsall on what stands out about Michigan on film: "When you watch them, they have outstanding personnel and I think they're well-coached."
- On Rutgers and Maryland being bowl eligible in their first seasons in the Big Ten: "The statement stuff, that's for everybody else. We're just trying to get better each week and win games."
- Edsall on his first season playing in the Big Ten: "It takes a physical toll on you week in and week out."
Darrell Hazell (Purdue):
- There were no questions for Hazell apart from the moderator, but Hazell said, "The bye week came for us at a good time last week, but we're looking forward to the challenge against Northwestern, who did an excellent job Saturday."
James Franklin (Penn State):
- Franklin said Ryan Keiser will be back on the sidelines for Penn State this weekend. Keiser had been hospitalized with a rib injury that led to a small bowel injury.
- Franklin on quarterback Christian Hackenberg: "It's just the things we've been talking about all season long. ... He's got to be more consistent."
Kevin Wilson (Indiana):
- Wilson on Shane Wynn: "He's improved as our year's gone on. His energy, attitude, effort are tremendous." Said this game means a lot to Wynn because he's an Ohio native.
- On Ohio State's defense: "They've really just settled in with their coaching changes and the scheme. ... I think because the front is very, very complete across the board they're able to create pressure and harass the quarterback."
- Wilson on Indiana's status as a program:"I think we have been making some strides. ... The development of the team over the last few weeks, we've gotten back on that."
- On J.T. Barrett's progress: "He's well-coached, great system and complimentary players but his maturity is most impressive. He's got a great demeanor about him. ... That's a special player right there."
- Wilson on Ohio State's offense: "I think their running back is extremely undervalued."
