Hopefully you met your wife and your child was conceived that night. Otherwise we have some issues with priorities.
Pregame: Illinois vs Ohio State, Saturday, October 11th, 11:00am CT, FOX
- Status
Hank Beatty now 5th in the nation in rec. yards, 2nd in the P4 (Makai Lemon).
If this continues, it's Chase Brown 2022 level dominance.
If this continues, it's Chase Brown 2022 level dominance.
The thing is we could play our best all around game making it difficult for Ohio State and hang around and steal a victory. On the other hand if we don't show up ready to play like the Indiana game they will steam roll us into next year.
very good points.
I'm a woman, but my then-boyfriend/now-husband was indeed there that day, and our kid has been a season ticket holder since her birth and has heard the 21st birthday story many times.
No game can top that one but I sure hope Saturday gives it a run for it's money!
Agree with what you said, but needed a little correction here.
We used to play for a life sized Native American - check and mate Buckeyes.
This is possible but it is best case scenario. First, we are giving up over 40 points per game vs big ten opponents and OSU is the #1 team in the country. Holding them to 27 or fewer would be a significant improvement defensively. Second, they have allowed 25 points TOTAL in 5 games and no one has reached 10 points. If we score 21+ then that’s impressive.
That was the worst 3rd down hype in the league. I'm glad it's gone. It practically encouraged fans to be quiet.
Exactly 4 BT teams are getting in. Assuming a OSU, Oregon and Indiana all have 2 losses or less then there is one spot.
If Michigan beats USC, they will likely have two losses. They would get in over a two losses Illinois team.
If USC wins, they would still likely end up with 3+ losses. Even if they end up with 2 loses, I think we get in over them. Both team 10-2 Illinois won heads up.
In order to get in we (1) need to go 10-2 and (2) Michigan have 3 losses.
Name does not check out.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
I can only speak for myself, but I am still relatively optimistic about the season! I genuinely think 10-2 is achievable. However, I must admit I am totally shocked just how shaky the defense has been, and we will need the D to play its strongest game of the year here ... maybe they will!What’s with the doom and gloom in here. We are on the verge of having another winning season and it feels like it’s opposite with some of your reactions.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
We haven't made it for a home game since 2023, and sometimes it is difficult to hear on TV ... can someone remind me what we currently play on big third downs? I think a lot would be surprised just how effective a proper "big moment" hype song is at engaging fans who tend to be more reserved in nature. The "crowd effect" is so real at a college sports game ... a proper atmosphere transforms the dynamic to a point where the fans who are NOT being loud all of a sudden feel like the weird ones.
Unless I've been oblivious to something else, I think it's just a short video of Butkus (or Nick Offerman or...Anchorman???) telling us to stand up and make some noise. The videos (and celebrities) seem a bit dated to me. The Offerman clip even has him saying "This is Nick Offerman from Parks and Recreation..." though it hasn't been on the air in nearly 10 years. It's not terrible, but could be improved.
In an individual matchup, game flow is a much bigger factor than all of this. That's why the same Texas that held OSU to 14 points went on to give up twice that to a Florida team that averaged 11 points against FBS opponents going into that game, and why the same Washington that held OSU to 24 points also gave up 24 points to Washington St. (very much not OSU) the week prior.
As for the "40 points per game" stat - I think the significance of that is overstated. We've given up over 40 in exactly one game. In 2/3 of Big Ten matchups and 4/5 of all matchups we've given up 32 points or less. Another way to look at this is that OSU is averaging 29.25 pts a game vs FBS teams and 26.67 pts a game vs. P4 teams. Those stats give us more reason for optimism on keeping their points down (of course not much optimism to be found when it comes to our ability to score on them, but that's another story).
"This is Nick Offerman from Civil War..." is probably not going to be an improvement (though I did like that movie).
You don’t think holding OSU to 27 or less is possible but optimistic? It’s below 20% what the sports books have them expected to score. How many do you think OSU is going to score?
Battle89
- Cary-Grove, the better Trojan team
Narrator: it is, in fact, terrible.
You said "best case scenario." I don't think that's accurate. That's what they average against P4 opposition. Clearly I'd expect a best case scenario to be be better than that.
As to how many they score, again, that's all about game flow. I think the most likely (but not best case) result is OSU by multiple scores, but that could mean 24-3, or it could mean 42-27.
skyIdub
"I can't tell you. Secret."
cuillini
- San Bernardino, Ca.
You may be right.....but no one thought UCLA had a chance last Saturday either.
AH lamenting the fact that he can't do certain things without XS, a three year starter, in the game. Perhaps the staff should have considered such a possibility when they had him on the field up 31 against Western Michigan. Still boggles the mind that he and other starters were out there, and makes me wonder who made that decision.
I’ve been seeing a lot of dialogue about how much OSU will score. I just wanna add if you’re kinda thinking about some of the past teams from a tempo/attack standpoint this really isn’t the same team.
The talent is as good as it’s ever been but the approach is a lot different. My guess is Coach Day feels more settled in and less pressure after winning that Natty. But he’s said it multiple times and I think the film shows it he really only cares about winning right now.
In the past there might be games where he was going for style points or really letting it loose early in the game. That’s not the case. I haven’t checked for an update but going into the Minnesota game we were 134th in the FBS in pace of play. (By Design)
He stated after the Texas game that he “felt like Julian could have handled a more aggressively called game” but once they got the 14 point lead didn’t see the reason to open it up in his first start. He made a very similar statement after his first road win at Washington.
In the past the goal may have been to come in here and hang up 40 points in a dominant win but I don’t think that will be the case Saturday. He most likely will run the ball limit mistakes and trust the defense. Especially if you guys are in a lot of two high deep zones (which is what we’ve faced almost all year)
If you guys are in a lot of man coverage then expect some bombs and the score could get out of hand. But if the gameplan is to keep it in front and make us matriculate I don’t see us scoring in the 40s and I don’t think our coaching staff really wants it to be that kinda game.
I guess I say that to say if we come out conservative and ink out an ugly win take that as a sign of respect because we’ve taken that safer approach in both games the coaching staff felt they had a chance of losing
The talent is as good as it’s ever been but the approach is a lot different. My guess is Coach Day feels more settled in and less pressure after winning that Natty. But he’s said it multiple times and I think the film shows it he really only cares about winning right now.
In the past there might be games where he was going for style points or really letting it loose early in the game. That’s not the case. I haven’t checked for an update but going into the Minnesota game we were 134th in the FBS in pace of play. (By Design)
He stated after the Texas game that he “felt like Julian could have handled a more aggressively called game” but once they got the 14 point lead didn’t see the reason to open it up in his first start. He made a very similar statement after his first road win at Washington.
In the past the goal may have been to come in here and hang up 40 points in a dominant win but I don’t think that will be the case Saturday. He most likely will run the ball limit mistakes and trust the defense. Especially if you guys are in a lot of two high deep zones (which is what we’ve faced almost all year)
If you guys are in a lot of man coverage then expect some bombs and the score could get out of hand. But if the gameplan is to keep it in front and make us matriculate I don’t see us scoring in the 40s and I don’t think our coaching staff really wants it to be that kinda game.
I guess I say that to say if we come out conservative and ink out an ugly win take that as a sign of respect because we’ve taken that safer approach in both games the coaching staff felt they had a chance of losing
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
FWIW, OSU has played 3 major conference teams, and this is what the score has been at the end of each quarter:
W 14-7 vs. Texas
Q1: 0-0 tie
Q2: 7-0 Ohio State
Q3: 7-0 Ohio State
Q4: 14-7 Ohio State
W 24-6 at Washington
Q1: 0-0 tie
Q2: 7-3 Ohio State
Q3: 14-6 Ohio State
Q4: 24-6 Ohio State
W 42-3 vs. Minnesota
Q1: 7-3 Ohio State
Q2: 21-3 Ohio State
Q3: 28-3 Ohio State
Q4: 42-3 Ohio State
I feel like they are a methodical team that will beat you down over the course of an entire game, so we H-A-V-E to avoid letting them get off to a hot start on our field. If we can make it into the third quarter with the game relatively close, or especially into the fourth quarter in a one-score game like Washington did, then you can start hoping that a few huge plays and/or the home field advantage put us in a real position to pull off the upset. There is almost zero chance that we (A) punch them in the mouth and just simply try to hang on to a big lead or (B) are able to mount a multi-score comeback if we get down early. We will need to do everything necessary to hang around as long as possible, hope the D can step up with some clutch stops/turnovers and let Luke or Olano try to win it for us late.
W 14-7 vs. Texas
Q1: 0-0 tie
Q2: 7-0 Ohio State
Q3: 7-0 Ohio State
Q4: 14-7 Ohio State
W 24-6 at Washington
Q1: 0-0 tie
Q2: 7-3 Ohio State
Q3: 14-6 Ohio State
Q4: 24-6 Ohio State
W 42-3 vs. Minnesota
Q1: 7-3 Ohio State
Q2: 21-3 Ohio State
Q3: 28-3 Ohio State
Q4: 42-3 Ohio State
I feel like they are a methodical team that will beat you down over the course of an entire game, so we H-A-V-E to avoid letting them get off to a hot start on our field. If we can make it into the third quarter with the game relatively close, or especially into the fourth quarter in a one-score game like Washington did, then you can start hoping that a few huge plays and/or the home field advantage put us in a real position to pull off the upset. There is almost zero chance that we (A) punch them in the mouth and just simply try to hang on to a big lead or (B) are able to mount a multi-score comeback if we get down early. We will need to do everything necessary to hang around as long as possible, hope the D can step up with some clutch stops/turnovers and let Luke or Olano try to win it for us late.
- Status