No. 10 Ohio State (8-2, 5-1) vs. Illinois (5-5, 3-3)

Date: Saturday, November 15
Time: 12:00 PM ET
Place: Memorial Stadium – capacity 62,870
TV: ESPN will televise the game. Dave Pasch will call the play-by-play and will be joined in the booth by Andre Ware.
Radio: WBNS-AM 1460 The Fan in Columbus is the flagship station for the 73-station Ohio State Radio Network. The Jim Tressel Pregame Show airs 30 minutes prior to kickoff. “Big Daddy” Paul Keels will call the play-by-play and will be assisted by former Buckeye Jim Lachey in the booth and Marty Bannister on the sidelines.
Weather from AccuWeather.com: Cloudy, windy conditions with a good chance of a rain/snow mix and a game time temperature of 39 degrees.
Latest Line from The Sports Network: Ohio State is an 9.5-point favorite. The Over & Under is 46.
Series History: This is the 95th meeting between the two schools. Ohio State owns a 60-30-4 record against Illinois, and the Buckeyes are 32-12 in games played at Memorial Stadium.
Last Season: Illinois won 28-21 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus.
Analysis and Prediction: Which offense shows up for the Buckeyes this week?

Will it be the one that scored 34 points against Minnesota, 31 versus Michigan State, and posted 45 on Northwestern, or will be the offensive that failed to score a touchdown against Purdue and Penn State?

Last week against Western Michigan, Illinois was able to stuff the run only giving up 64 yards on the ground, but surrendered a whooping 301 yards through the air as the Broncos came away with a 23-17 win.

The weather looks like it may play a huge factor in this game and it could really effect the passing of both teams, but if Terrelle Pryor can make plays with his arm as well as his legs, the Buckeyes should win rather handily.

Ohio State 27, Illinois 10

Tags: Football by Matt Barker, Publisher & Editor of BuckeyeBanter.com
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Right: Ohio State freshman William Buford drives to the dish over Walsh’s Eric Love in the first half. (AP Photo)

Sophomore Evan Turner and freshman William Buford both scored 17 points as Ohio State defeated Walsh in the Buckeyes’ only exhibition game of the season, 90-63, at Value City Arena, Thursday night.

Three others scored in double figures for Ohio State as junior David Lighty and freshman B.J. Mullens both chipped in 12, while junior Kyle Madsen came off the bench to tally 11 points for the Buckeyes.

Ohio State shot a blistering 28-of-42 (66.7%) in two-point field goals, but was just 6-of-19 (31.6%) from three-point land, which is now 20-feet, 9-inches away from the basket, one foot farther that it was a year ago. Overall, the Buckeyes shot 55.7 percent (34-of-61) from the field.

Defensively, Ohio State held Walsh to 41.2 percent (21-of-51) shooting from the floor and forced 19 turnovers, which led to 28 points for the Buckeyes while committing 10.

Turner led the Ohio State with nine rebounds and the Buckeyes had a 37-25 advantage off the glass.

In the battle for the starting point guard position, freshman Anthony Crater turned in a better performance, playing 17 minutes and scoring eight points while knocking down 2-of-3 three-pointers with three rebounds, six assists and no turnovers. Junior college transfer Jeremie Simmons played 21 minutes and had seven points to go along with two rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a turnover.

Madsen, a transfer from Vanderbilt who played sparingly last year, also turned in an impressive performance. Along with his 11 points, he also had eight rebounds and two blocked shots in 21 minutes of action.

Mullens, a seven-foot center who was two inches taller and 30 pounds heavier the Walsh’s biggest post player, was just 3-of-9 from the field and had only four rebounds. Half of his 12 points came from the charity stripe.

Dallas Lauderdale, a 6-foot-8 sophomore forward, did not play because of a left shoulder sprain he suffered during a scrimmage against Miami, but should be ready for Ohio State’s regular season opener next week. Nicola Kecman, a junior college transfer who has to sit out 12 games per NCAA rules due to playing on a club team in his native Serbia two years ago that included players the NCAA considers professionals, was able to play since it was an exhibition game, but did not dress.

Up next, Ohio State hosts Delaware State, next Thursday. Tip-off at St. John Arena is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET.

Tags: Men's Basketball by Matt Barker, Publisher & Editor of BuckeyeBanter.com
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On Wednesday, senior linebacker James Laurinaitis was named as a one of four finalists for the Lombardi Award and the one of eight semifinalists for the Lott Trophy.

The Rotary Lombardi Award is awarded annually to the best college football lineman or linebacker in the nation, and is named after former head coach Vince Lombardi of the Green Bay Packers and Washington Redskins which was established shortly after his death in 1970.

Since then, five Ohio State players have garnered six awards, the most of any other school.

Former Buckeyes who were recipients of the Lombardi Award include: Jim Stillwagon (1970), John Hicks (1973), Chris Spielman (1987), Orlando Pace (1995 & 1996), and A.J. Hawk (2005).

The three other finalists for this year’s Lombardi Award are: USC linebacker Rey Maualuga, Texas defensive end Brian Orakpo, and Alabama offensive lineman Andre Smith.

The Lott Trophy is presented annually to the college football Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year using IMPACT as an acronym for: Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community, and Tenacity.

The other seven semifinalists are: Tennessee safety Eric Berry, Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry, Pittsburgh linebacker Scott McKillop, Illinois linebacker Brit Miller, Texas defensive end Brian Orakpo, Oregon defensive end Nick Reed, and Florida State safety Myron Rolle.

The Lott Trophy is named after former USC and San Francisco 49ers safety Ronnie Lott, and it was established in 2004. No Buckeyes have won the award, yet. Laurinaitis was a finalist last year.

On Tuesday, head coach Jim Tressel met with the media for his weekly press conference.

Part of Coach Tressel’s opening statements:

Every week you go on the road it’s a battle, so we’re excited to get a win at Northwestern and we know it gets tougher as we go and we’re looking forward to playing the Illini. Right now they are at 5-5. A year ago when we played them they were at 7-3 and the difference is a ball bouncing here and there and a play that doesn’t get made and I think as I watch them on film they look every bit as good or better today than they did a year ago.”

During the question and answer session, Coach Tressel was asked if Iowa’s win over Penn State stoked his players:

When we entered November, we talked about the same things that we always do no matter what the standings were that anything can happen in November and, yes, we were a game behind. That was a fact. But that we’ve got to take care of business in November and typically if you go through history, the team that takes care of business in November usually ends up feeling good about the result. So do I see a peak in any more interest? We were riding the bus home from the airport when the Iowa kicker kicked it through and you could see that peaked interest because all of a sudden you’re ostensibly back with a shot, if you do your work.”

One subject that I talked about after the Northwestern game was about some of the claims that Ohio State ran up the score. Coach Tressel stated in his postgame press conference that it wasn’t his intent, and was asked if he talked to Coach Fitzgerald since:

No, just immediately after the game. I feel bad that the ball went in and never dreamed it would. We were getting three yards a carry and getting some young guys a chance to play and that stuff happens, but, no, I haven’t talked with him. He’s got a game with Michigan and we’ve got a game with Illinois, we’ve got plenty to do.”

Tags: Football by Matt Barker, Publisher & Editor of BuckeyeBanter.com
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The Best Damn Player of the Game!

QB Terrelle Pryor

For the third time this season, freshman quarterback Terrelle Pryor has been named BuckeyeBanter.com’s “The Best Damn Player of the Game” after throwing for 197 yards and three touchdowns in Ohio State’s 45-10 win over Northwestern.

Pryor was 9-of-14 passing and rushed for 33 yards on six carries against the Wildcats. For the season, Pryor is 84-of-129-passing (65.1%) for 1,076 yards with nine touchdowns and three interceptions, while gaining 450 yards on the ground and five more scores.

Helmet Stickers!
RB Beanie Wells	DT Nader Abdallah

Junior running back Beanie Wells rushed for 140 yards on 28 carries and two touchdowns vs. the Wildcats. For the year, Wells had played in seven games and is averaging 116.3 yards per contest with six TDs.

Senior defensive tackle Nader Abdallah had eight total tackles, two pass breakups, and a quarterback hurry against Northwestern.

Tags: Football by Matt Barker, Publisher & Editor of BuckeyeBanter.com
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Right: Illinois quarterback Juice Williams has 3,346 yards of total offense while throwing for 20 touchdowns and running another five into the end zone this year.
AP Photo

After going 9-4 in 2007 and earning a trip to the Rose Bowl, Illinois has had a much more difficult time this season. Currently, the Fighting Illini have an overall record of 5-5, and are tied for fourth in the Big Ten with Minnesota and Northwestern with a record of 3-3.

Illinois began the season ranked 20th and took on then-No. 6 Missouri in both team’s season-opener at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, in a game that saw the Illini and the Tigers combining for 92 points and 1,081 yards of total offense. Unfortunately, Illinois lost 52-42.

The Illini rattled off two straight wins after the loss, defeating Eastern Illinois 47-21 and Louisiana-Lafayette 20-17. It’s been an up-and-down year for Ron Zook’s Illinois squad, because the Illlini have yet to put together back-to-back wins since.

Illinois lost at then-No. 12 Penn State 38-24 before traveling to Ann Arbor to defeat Michigan 45-20.

The Illini’s next two games were at home, dropping a 27-20 decision to Minnesota, then handed Indiana a 55-13 lopsided loss.

Three weeks ago, Illinois lost to Wisconsin 27-17 in Madison, but returned to Memorial Stadium to down Iowa 27-24.

Illinois’ most embarrasing loss came last Saturday in front of just 12,865 fans at Ford Field in Detroit as Mid-American Conference member, Western Michigan, came away with a 23-17 win.

One player from last season that’s sorely missed is running back Rashard Mendenhall, who was one of the top ball carriers in the nation last year, rushing for 1,681 yards and 17 touchdowns before he was selected in first round (23rd overall pick) by the Pittsburgh Steelers in April’s NFL Draft.

Taking over for Mendenhall is junior running back Daniel Dufrene, though he’s averaging just 63.9 yards in 11.4 attempts per ball game. Overall, he has rushed for 575 yards on 103 carries (5.6 ypa) but has yet to reach paydirt.

Ohio State fans will remember Dufrene from last year as he was the one who ran 80 yards down the far sideline in the first quarter against the Buckeyes and fumbled before going out-of-bounds, but the play was never reviewed.

Junior quarterback Juice Williams is the team’s top rusher with 577 yards while toting the rock 141 times in 10 games. He is averaging 57.7 yards per game and 4.1 yards per attempt.

After completing 57.3 percent of his throws and passing for 1,743 yards with 13 touchdowns to go along with 12 interceptions during his sophomore campaign, Williams has bettered most of those numbers from a year ago. So far this season his completion rate is slightly lower (57.1%), but he has thrown for 2,769 yards with 20 TDs and 14 INTs. Williams, though, has also thrown seven of his interceptions in the last three games.

2007′s Big Ten Freshman of the Year Arrelious Benn is Illinois’ top receiver and clearly Williams’ favorite target by hauling in 61 passes for 947 yards and three TDs. He also averages 10.1 yards per punt return.

Senior wide receiver Will Judson and junior tight end Michael Hoomanawanui both have 21 receptions and two touchdown catches.

Defensively, senior inside linebacker Brit Miller leads the team in total tackles (110) and tackles of loss (16.5), while sharing the team lead in sacks with senior defensive end Derek Walker (6.0).

Tags: Football by Matt Barker, Publisher & Editor of BuckeyeBanter.com
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Right: Ohio State’s Terrelle Pryor escapes the pressure and throws a 6-yard TD pass to Rory Nicol in the third quarter during the Buckeyes’ 45-10 win over Northwestern.
AP Photo

Run up the score? Jim Tressel? Ohio State?

That’s what Northwestern’s student newspaper, The Daily Northwestern, hinted in their recap of Ohio State’s 45-10 win over the Wildcats at Ohio Stadium West. Comments from irate NU fans in the Northwestern football blog, Lake The Posts, also shared that sentiment.

Leading 31-10 early in the third quarter, A.J. Trapasso gained nine yards and a first down running the ball on a fake punt when the Buckeyes were facing a fourth-and-2 at their own 42 yard line. Two plays later, Terrelle Pryor hit Brian Robiskie on a 34-yard touchdown pass.

Later in the fourth quarter, Northwestern’s Mike Kafka was sacked by Cameron Heyward and coughed up the football, which was recovered by Doug Worthington at the NU 42 yard line with 3:10 left to go in the game.

Six straight rushing plays by backups, the last one being a 16-yard touchdown run by Boom Herron, put Ohio State’s 44th point on the scoreboard with just seven seconds remaining.

Faking a punt when leading by 21 points seemed like the smart play, considering the weather and wind conditions. I also see nothing wrong with letting Pryor throw deep.

As for the touchdown run with seven seconds left, maybe taking a knee would of been the best option, but then again, Coach Tressel didn’t know at the time that Northwestern’s defense was going to be so porous at the end of the game.

Chicago Tribune columnist Rick Morrissey seems to concur with me.

After the game, Fitzgerald and his players refused to accuse Ohio State of running up the score, and they were right to do so. If you’re the Buckeyes, a fake punt in the fourth quarter is a smart move, not an insult. A three-touchdown lead is not insurmountable. End of story for a team hoping for a BCS bowl bid.”

The problem was, Northwestern had trouble stopping Ohio State not only at the end of the game, but for most of the contest, especially on third down.

Stat of the game: Ohio State was 8-of-13 in third down conversions, and six of those went for eight or more yards.

During the Buckeyes’ first possession of the game, Ohio State face two instances of needing eight or more yards on third down. On third-and-eight at the NU 49, Pryor threw a nine-yard completion to Robiskie. Three plays later on a third-and-16 play at the NU 46, Pryor connected with Brian Hartline on a 44-yard pitch and catch. One snap later, Beanie Wells scored on a 2-yard run.

On Ohio State’s second scoring drive, Pryor hit tight end Rory Nicol for a gain of 22 yards on third-and-10 at the NU 28. On the next play, Beanie looked like he was going to be stuffed for no gain, but sprung loose for a 55-yard TD run putting the Buckeyes up 14-7.

With Ohio State leading 17-7 in the second quarter, a third-and-8 play at the OSU 12 yard line resulted in a 14-yard completion to Dane Sanzenbacher. Three snaps later on a third-and 13 at the OSU 23, Pryor scampered up the middle of a gain of 15. Three plays after that, Pryor ran around the left end and down the near-sideline for a gain of 22 yards on a 3-and-17 at the OSU 31. That drive resulted in a 15-yard TD pass from Pryor to Robiskie.

Up 24-10 in the third quarter, Pryor threw a 46-yard bomb to Brian Hartline on a third-and-8 play from the OSU 32. Three downs later, Pryor found Rory Nicol in the end zone on a 6-yard TD pass.

In Ohio State’s lone fourth down attempt, Trapasso gained nine on a faked punt. That led to another TD for the Buckeyes.

Pryor threw just 14 passes, but completed nine of them of 197 yards and three touchdowns. Beanie Wells had 140 yards on 28 carries and two scores. Robiskie had three receptions for 58 yards and two TDs.

Ohio State had 441 yards of total offense, with 244 yards rushing and 197 yards passing.

Defensively, the Buckeyes held the Wildcats to 294 yards of total offense (117 rushing, 177 passing).

With the win, Ohio State moved up to 10th in both polls, but stayed at No. 11 in the BCS standings.

Up next, the Buckeyes travel to Chambana to take on the Fighting Illini of Illinois, Saturday afternoon. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 p.m., and the game will be televised on either ESPN or ESPN 2.

Tags: Football by Matt Barker, Publisher & Editor of BuckeyeBanter.com
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