One day after a 30-minute appearance on the Big Ten Championship Game coaches' teleconference, Ohio State coach Urban Meyer held his first in-person media session of the week during his weekly Monday press conference at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.
Most notably, Meyer confirmed that Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett, who is dealing with loose cartilage in his knee, has "moved into probable" to play in Saturday's game against Wisconsin.
Meyer also said, however, that Barrett did not practice on Sunday and that his reps over the course of the week of practice are "to be determined." Meyer said the quarterback reps will be split between Barrett and Dwayne Haskins this week.
While the Buckeyes are just five days away from playing for a conference title, Meyer also fielded numerous questions about defensive coordinator Greg Schiano and Tennessee's decision to back out of its deal with to make him its head coach.
Here's what you need to know from Monday's press conference:
- Ohio State's players of the game against Michigan were Marcus Baugh and Isaiah Prince on offense, Sam Hubbard and Denzel Ward on defense and Erick Smith on special teams. J.T. Barrett, Dwayne Haskins, K.J. Hill, Parris Campbell, Johnnie Dixon, Jamarco Jones, Michael Jordan and Billy Price were also champions on offense. Nick Bosa, Dre'Mont Jones, Jeffrey Okudah, Justin Hilliard and Zach Turnure also earned special recognition on special teams.
- Meyer said the coaching staff has an "incredible amount of respect" for the way Baugh has turned his career around to become a major contributor for the Buckeyes.
- Hubbard and Ward both graded out at 95 percent for Saturday's game.
- Smith is "doing a lot of things for us that maybe not everybody sees."
- Meyer described defensive coordinator Greg Schiano as an "elite person, elite father, elite husband, elite friend, elite football coach." He also said, "I stand by my coach."
- Wisconsin, which is ranked No. 1 in the nation in yards allowed per game, has an "elite defense."
- Meyer said the team has more confidence in Haskins now because of the way he performed against Michigan. He said it is an option for the Buckeyes to pull Barrett and put Haskins in the game if Barrett struggles early on Saturday.
- On Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst and athletic director Barry Alvarez: "I got a lot of respect for their coach, and I got a lot of respect for their athletic director."
- On Ohio State's current mentality after 12 games: "Energized because of where we're at."
- "There's two kinds of coaches: coaches that people want, and coaches that people don't want. We're very fortunate that we have a bunch of wants."
- Meyer said he has not yet talked to his friend Chip Kelly since he got the job at UCLA.
- On Schiano's deal with Tennessee's falling apart: "The one thing about coaching is it's got to be a perfect fit, and maybe it wasn't."
- "There will be no human beings near our players on the sideline," Meyer said on what changes he will ensure are made as a result of Barrett's injury on Saturday.
- On Michigan defensive tackle Maurice Hurst: "No. 73's the real deal. It's time for him to go to the NFL."
- On Sam Hubbard going through Senior Tackle: "He's a three-year starter, he's a graduate and that was his decision." Meyer said he did not want to speak for Hubbard on whether he plans to go to the NFL, but the door is open for return.
Check back with Eleven Warriors for further coverage this afternoon from Meyer's press conference, as well as the Big Ten Championship Game players' teleconference, on which Ohio State center Billy Price, wide receiver Terry McLaurin and linebacker Chris Worley are scheduled to speak with the media.
