Although rivalry week is just beginning at Ohio State, Urban Meyer says his team's preparation for Saturday's game against Michigan began well before this week.
"We're not just starting our film study," Meyer said. "It's been going on for a long time."
That's because The Game, Meyer said, is something that carries much more significance than just one week.
"This rivalry is not a one-week deal," Meyer said. "It's in your blood. It's in your DNA."
That doesn't mean, of course, that the Buckeyes aren't knee-deep in preparation this week. But Meyer still took a few minutes out of his preparation on Monday to meet with the media for his weekly press conference at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.
Here's what you need to know from Meyer's latest Q&A:
- Jamarco Jones and Michael Jordan were co-offensive players of the game against Illinois. J.T. Barrett, K.J. Hill, Johnnie Dixon, Parris Campbell, Austin Mack, Terry McLaurin, J.K. Dobbins, Mike Weber, Antonio Williams, Billy Price, Isaiah Prince, Demetrius Knox and Marcus Baugh were also champions on offense.
- Chris Worley was defensive player of the game. Nick Bosa, Jalyn Holmes, Jonathon Cooper, Jerome Baker, Denzel Ward, Kendall Sheffield, Damon Webb and Erick Smith were also champions on defense.
- Jeffrey Okudah was special teams player of the game.
- Jordan Fuller sat out Saturday's game against Illinois due to a leg injury. He is probable to play this week.
- Do you save anything for this game? "You can't ... We're in the East side of the toughest conference."
- Do you expect Michigan to be at its best in this game? "Absolutely."
- Meyer has "a lot of respect" for Michigan freshman receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones, who the Buckeyes recruited out of high school.
- Among the things Urban Meyer looks for in a guard, in reference to Michael Jordan and Demetrius Knox: "The big, wide ass ... I probably shouldn't say that."
- Meyer said the Buckeyes were interested in Mitch Trubisky and Malik Zaire out of high school when they ended up with J.T. Barrett. Meyer gave Tom Herman credit for successfully recruiting Barrett out of Texas to Ohio State.
- On Michigan's defensive line: "This D-line is the real deal."
- "Darn near every day, you get reminded of The Game."
- "I didn't have to get educated," Meyer said, referencing his background growing up in Ohio, in learning about the rivalry.
- On Earle Bruce, who Meyer was a graduate assistant for at Ohio State in 1986 and 1987: "He is very important in my understanding of The Game ... No one respected the rivalry more than he did."
Check back with Eleven Warriors this afternoon for further coverage from Meyer's press conference.
