As Ohio State readies for its second consecutive game at Ohio Stadium on Monday, it meets at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center on the final day of October.
A brisk morning welcomed the media into the team room to hear head coach Urban Meyer's thoughts on the Buckeyes' 24-20 victory against Northwestern and get his early take on No. 9 Nebraska.
Kickoff between No. 6 Ohio State and the Cornhuskers is set for 8 p.m. on Saturday.
NOTES:
- Ohio State named 15 champions from its victory against the Wildcats. Six came on the defensive side of the ball: Gareon Conley, Marshon Lattimore, Malik Hooker, Jalyn Holmes, Tyquan Lewis and Michael Hill. Conley was player of the game.
- On offense: Noah Brown, Billy Price, Curtis Samuel, Parris Campbell, K.J. Hill, Pat Elflein, Isaiah Prince, Mike Weber and Jamarco Jones. Price and Brown earned co-player of the game honors.
- Eric Glover-Williams received the special teams player of the week nod.
- Meyer called the Northwestern game a "tough, hard-fought Big Ten win."
- Ohio State's edge blocking by the wide receivers was the best so far this season.
- JUCO offensive line transfer Malcolm Pridgeon is not likely to be back at practice until the bowl game.
- On Nebraska: "I'm impressed with the quality of players and that team this season. These guys are good."
- Parris Campbell is questionable this week: "It's much better than we thought." Campbell sprained his ankle on Saturday.
- Meyer "sees a lot of positives" with his team right now and with how the youth is developing: "I like the fact that we were in a street fight and these guys won it."
- "Do I wish we were scoring 56 points and all that? Sure. But we're a work in progress."
- Growing pains "are part of what it is" regardless the team: "It's very fragile. Just gotta keep swinging and going."
- Meyer would be disappointed if talk of getting to the Big Ten Championship Game popped up within the walls of the Woody this week: "We have to be focused on this team."
- "We're not as explosive as we need to be ... but enjoy the damn win, have our victory meal. And go about our business."
- Meyer stressed multiple times that the only conversation is about beating Nebraska: "You don't see Pat Elflein coming in and saying 'Tell me about the College Football Playoff.' The conversation and all focus in this facility is on the next game"
- Meyer called Noah Brown a "tough, hard-nosed player" and very consistent: "Just love the way he's playing."
- With a huge recruiting weekend on deck, Meyer credited Mark Pantoni with finding leaders in the incoming class to be the top recruiter with the other potential targets.
- Binjimen Victor is "so close" to getting into the lineup. Also mentioned more stress being on Terry McLaurin, James Clark and the other wide receivers if Parris Campbell can't go against Nebraska.
- Asked about Curtis Samuel and the constant questions about getting him the ball me, Meyer joked "I've been places where there weren't people to get the ball to that you wanted."
- Meyer said 15 or more touches is the sweet spot for Samuel throughout the course of the game.
- Meyer joked with a reporter that asked him on Saturday if the media was being fair to Ohio State so far this season: "You want to switch spots? We could see how that goes."
- Nebraska was "very close" to having a great year last year with a bunch of close losses.
- Asked about Branden Bowen switching his number to 44, Meyer said he anticipates that to continue because of "some injuries to the tight end position." Also noted that Bowen has earned playing time.
- He also joked about Bowen's ability as a receiver: “We’re looking at him on some post routes, some corner routes." Added Bowen can catch.
- Meyer sees the deep passing game coming: "We have talented guys and in practice we see them improving."
- On the College Football Playoff: "It's important but I'm not going to look at it. I'm sure others will. Like the person I've spent 27 years of marriage with. But all the focus for us is getting better and preparing to play a very good team."
