Back with another weekly summary of Big Ten football....and you thought last  week’s games dragged down the league's rep....

Big Ten teams went 6-6 in non-conference action last weekend, but when the two teams thought to be the worst in their respective divisions, Indiana and Minnesota, register two of the league’s six victories, the reality is even worse than the appearance. Of the day’s conference losers, only Purdue (No. 20 Notre Dame) and Nebraska (No 22 UCLA) were playing ranked opponents, and there are very few remaining non-conference contests against good teams in which to regain some respectability. So be it. To the games....

Read more...

- Saturday, September 8, 2012

- Ohio Stadium - Columbus, OH

- University of Central Florida at Ohio State

- 12:00 p.m. (ET)

- TV: ESPN2 -


Urban Meyer’s new-look Buckeyes got over their first hurdle last week against Miami, but the OSU coach calls Central Florida “a whole different animal” as he prepares his team to face the Knights this Saturday at Ohio Stadium. The 14th-ranked Buckeyes will be trying to avoid the kind of slow start they suffered against Miami, and UCF (1-0) will be hoping they can reprise their strong overall effort in a 56-14 wipeout of the Akron Zips a week ago. It will be the first ever meeting between the two schools.

Ohio State’s 46-point margin of victory over Miami was not reflected in Meyer’s postgame comments, as the sluggishness on offense and some early defensive breakdowns gave the coaching staff plenty of things to correct going forward. UCF will present a different offensive style and a considerably more talented and faster group of defenders than the Buckeyes faced in the opener.

Read more...

Braxton Miller rushed for three touchdowns and threw for a fourth as the Buckeyes survived an inspired challenge from Central Florida with a 31-16 win Saturday at the Horseshoe. The OSU defense stiffened when it had to, coming up with three interceptions and holding the UCF running game in check. Ohio State moves to 2-0, but there may not be a coach anywhere less satisfied with his undefeated team than Urban Meyer.

With the game tied 10-10 in the second quarter, Miller proceeded to run and pass the Buckeyes to touchdowns on three consecutive possessions sandwiched around halftime, as they raced to a 31-10 lead. The Knights (1-1) charged back with a late 3rd quarter touchdown, but turned the ball over in the red zone on their next possession and never again got closer than two scores.

Although the Buckeyes’ pass rush, their coverage, and their running back play all came in for criticism by the head coach after the game, Meyer didn’t want to dwell on the negative.  “I don't want to be a downer around here. We won a frickin' game. Won by two touchdowns against a quality opponent. Time to move on, get ready to go play.”

Read more...

“Telling Quotes” is a weekly recap of the Big Ten’s top stories using quotes from around the conference (with a moderate Ohio State lean).

College football’s opening week is in the books and the Big Ten went 10-2 in non-conference games this weekend. Michigan State got things started on Friday night by outlasting Boise State for an impressive victory, and Michigan closed things out by becoming the first murder victim to meet their fate on national television.

Ohio State kicked off the Urban Meyer era with an impressive 56-10 victory over Miami (OH). After getting shut out in the first quarter, the Buckeyes put together eight touchdown drives to close the game.

Meanwhile, in Happy Valley, the Penn State Nittany Lions couldn’t hold onto a 14-3 lead over Ohio University and eventually lost to the Bobcats 24-14 in Bill O’Brien’s debut.

Check out the weekend’s top quotes after the jump.

Read more...