DALLAS — With the National Championship Game set for Monday night, Ohio State and Oregon are starting their final preparations for college football's biggest spectacle.
The teams on Saturday met with a frenzy of reporters for Media Day before departing the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in downtown Dallas for practice. The Buckeyes practiced at AT&T Stadium while the Ducks were at Euless Trinity High School.
Notes:
- Senior wide receiver Devin Smith practiced, but did not come to Media Day at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in downtown Dallas after waking up ill. He is expected to play Monday.
- Sophomore H-back Dontre Wilson, who hasn't played in two months, practiced without a boot. He told reporters at Media Day he is "95 percent" healthy. Wilson broke his foot against Michigan State Nov. 7 and needed surgery shortly after to repair the damage.
- The Buckeyes, similar to their Sugar Bowl matchup against Alabama, appeared considerably loose at Media Day. Offensive linemen, as per usual, poked fun by flapping each other's arm fat. Safety Tyvis Powell, whose entertaining antics have seemed to collect him a contingent cameras lately, bantered with starting quarterback and roommate Cardale Jones. You can watch that in all its glory here.
- Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich confirmed star wide receiver Darren Carrington, who was suspended for a failed NCAA drug test, according to multiple reports, would not play Monday against Ohio State. Helfrich, however, chose not to delve into details and said he hasn't addressed the matter with his team.
