News

Thankful for the memories

The last hurrah
James Laurinaitis is a tough guy. The Ohio State linebacker stands 6 feet 3, weighs 240 pounds and last year won a national award named for Dick Butkus, the ultimate name in football toughness. He also is the son of a former professional wrestler.

Rob Oller commentary: Rodriguez on path like Cooper's
The coach who got into hot water for getting into hot water understands the heat Rich Rodriguez has gotten into at Michigan.

Daily line
DAILY LINE Latest composite odds from Las Vegas:

College football results, schedule
College football Yesterday's results Top 25 Georgia Tech 41, Miami (23) 23

College football: State Spotlight
Games of the week Franklin (9-1) at Otterbein (9-1), noon Receiver Ryan Rowley isn't the face of Otterbein football by a long shot, but his success story does run parallel to how far the team has come since he set foot on campus three years ago.

College football notebook: Tech wrecks Miami's return to Top 25
Jonathan Dwyer ran for 128 yards -- all in the first half -- and Georgia Tech shredded Miami's defense for 472 yards on the ground, ruining the No. 23 Hurricanes' return to the rankings with a 41-23 rout last night in Atlanta.

Events of 1913 laid foundation for bitter rivalry
The seeds of discontent were sown well before the Snow Bowl, Bo Schembechler, David Boston and Jim Harbaugh -- to name just a few -- turned The Game into a border war.

Up north: QB struggles mirror team's
What could have been for Rich Rodriguez will stare him in the face Saturday.

OSU notebook: Addition of tailback empowers Michigan
Bashing Michigan's spread option offense might be the rage these days because of the team's unprecedented eight losses. But Ohio State cornerback Malcolm Jenkins said the Wolverines aren't without punch headed into Saturday's game.

The Game stokes Laurinaitis
In what has been a "crazy fast" four seasons, Ohio State linebacker James Laurinaitis said he still remembers his first call to major duty.

Overheard: Mark Dantonio, Michigan State coach
"I'm not rooting for Michigan. I have too many good friends and too many people that would not let me back into their house if I did that, so, uh, you know go Bucks."

Rob Oller commentary: Maize and Blue's blues only temporary
On a far less serious scale, Michigan is the man who survived a full-blown house fire.

College football results and schedule
College football Yesterday's result Top 25 Ball State (14) 31, Cent. Mich. 24 Ball State73714--31Central Michigan01077--24 FIRST QUARTER: BSU--Johnson 20 pass from N.Davis (McGarvey kick), 1:56.

'D' dooms Wolverines
It was supposed to be the unit that kept Michigan's season from collapsing.

Bravado suits Pryor, but not his coach
Where quarterback Terrelle Pryor goes, bold statements and bravado seem to follow.

This is the week

Tube Talk | Molly Willow commentary: ESPN deal for BCS a victory for viewers
I have a three-word reaction to the announcement that ESPN has gained the rights to carry BCS college games: It's about time.

Concert | Band booted to make way for Rejects
Just days before their annual "Beat Michigan" performance in Columbus, the Dead Schembechlers say they're being stabbed in the back by "corporate weenies." The group is being booted from the Lifestyle Communities Pavilion on Friday, said Bo Biafra, frontman for the band, which mocks University of Michigan football.

College football notebook: BCS games moving to ESPN in 2011
Bowl Championship Series games will move to ESPN starting in January 2011.

OSU notebook: Rivalry opened kicker's eyes
Before coming to the United States, Ohio State senior kicker Ryan Pretorius thought he had a pretty good idea what a major sports rivalry was.

Rodriguez's mark slow to appear
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan's football season will come to a merciful end Saturday. No bowl game awaits the Wolverines after this losingest of years.

OSU football: 2008 game has same feel as 1978
A much-hyped freshman quarterback shows up at Ohio State, takes over from an established veteran, and performs well enough to lead the Buckeyes into the Michigan game with a Big Ten title and Rose Bowl bid at stake.

College football result, schedule
College football Yesterday's result MAC N. Illinois 42, Kent State 14

Daily line

Buckeyes ready to forget the past
Coach Jim Tressel declared yesterday that No. 10 Ohio State is taking nothing for granted Saturday against Michigan, even if the Wolverines are 3-8 and in the throes of their losingest season. Tressel's boss, OSU president E. Gordon Gee, rubber-stamped the declaration.

Bob Hunter commentary: Success vs. Michigan starts with Tressel
As hard as it is to imagine Jim Tressel on Rt. 23, getting his gray sweater vest dirty while he's pushing his car over the state line and into a gas station in Toledo, there's still something about him that says this Michigan-Ohio State rivalry is end-of-the-world important.

College football schedule
College football Today's game MAC Northern Illinois at Kent State, 7 p.m.

Daily line

OSU notebook: Gee would love to talk to Obama about a playoff
From one president to another, E. Gordon Gee said he's looking forward to talking with Barack Obama about the possibility of a college football playoff system.

Injuries dog Wolverines
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The bad news keeps coming for Michigan.

Ohio College Football Insider
Otterbein weathers storm It was the worst-case scenario when Otterbein blew a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter against John Carroll in its season finale.

Ray Stein's Mailbox (special edition): Readers challenge questioning of penalty
This special edition of the Mailbox is brought to you because dozens of you, at least, believe I am an idiot who doesn't know the rules of college football. And I think I should be able to defend my right to be an idiot.

OSU, city don't expect 'major trouble' for Michigan game
What a difference two years make.

Stop the presses: Tressel wary of Wolverines

Results for OSU-Illinois 'Predict the Points' contest
Congratulations to Paul Ford of Springboro, the winner of our Ohio State-Illinois Predict the Points contest. Paul was among 10 entrants out of nearly 900 who correctly predicted that 50 total points would be scored by the Buckeyes and Fighting Illini. He was randomly selected as the winner of a spot for him and a guest on a private tour of Ohio Stadium later this year. More

Inside the Beat: Defense will be the difference in The Game
Dispatch OSU football writers Tim May and Ken Gordon take readers "inside the beat" of Buckeyes football: It was just another day in paradise Saturday in Champaign: cold and windy, pretty much the reason so many Ohio State alums e-mail us from Florida this time of year. Speaking of e-mails, there weren't nearly as many angry missives flooding our inboxes after the Buckeyes' 30-20 victory over Illinois. Maybe it was the old-school style of winning (305 yards rushing), or maybe it's because after that stumble against Penn State, OSU is back on track, shooting for a share of the Big Ten title and a possible Rose Bowl berth heading into Michigan week. We take a closer look.

BCS standings

Rookie success
Rookie success Despite Michigan's 3-8 record, first-year coach Rich Rodriguez should take heart: Dating back 79 years, each of the past six Michigan coaches has won his first Ohio State game.

Even at 3-8, it's still Michigan
It takes some serious squinting to look at Michigan's 3-8 record and see the potential for a Wolverines upset Saturday in Columbus.

College football schedule
Tuesday's game MAC Northern Illinois at Kent State, 7 p.m.

OSU Insider
25 words or fewer: To cultivate the Rose, Ohio State fans must root for Michigan State and root against Michigan. At least the latter is an act of nature.

Daily line
DAILY LINE Latest composite odds from Las Vegas:

College football polls
AP Top 25 TEAMRECORDPTSPVS1.Alabama (42)11-01,60112.Texas Tech (21)10-01,57423.Florida (2)9-11,47634.Texas10-11,43745.Oklahoma9-11,36956.Southern Cal9-11,31067.Penn State10-11,17878.Utah11-01,15889.Boise State10-01,098910.Ohio State9-21,0171011.Oklahoma State9-29871112.Missouri9-29131213.Georgia9-28641314.Ball State10-07141415.Texas Christian9-26591516.Brigham Young10-16561617.Michigan State9-26121818.Louisiana State7-35261919.Cincinnati8-24132220.Pittsburgh7-24062121.Oregon State7-33892322.Maryland7-3161--23.Miami7-3139--24.Oregon8-3126--25.North Carolina7-311517 Others receiving votes: Boston College 79, Northwestern 44, Georgia Tech 34, Central Michigan 13, Western Michigan 12, Florida State 11, Iowa 8, West Virginia 6, South Carolina 5, Mississippi 4, Air Force and Nebraska 3, California and Connecticut 2, Virginia Tech 1.

College football notebook: Alabama, Texas Tech still atop rankings
All the national title contenders took care of business and the BCS standings were unchanged at the top yesterday, with Alabama and Texas Tech holding the first two spots and Florida, Texas and Oklahoma poised to move up.

NFL: How former Buckeyes, other central Ohioans fared
Central Ohio watch FORMER BUCKEYES Will Allen FS, Tampa Bay: Had two tackles, one assist and one forced fumble in a win over Minnesota.

Big Ten: Notable
• Wisconsin receiver hospitalized: The initial medical tests results on Badgers receiver Kyle Jefferson were "very encouraging," coach Bret Bielema said.

Big Ten: Safeties lift Badgers in comeback
MADISON, Wis. -- For once, Wisconsin got to watch somebody else throw away a victory.

Big Ten: Quotable
"I wish we could just talk about my football team and not my leg."

Big Ten: Other games
No. 7 Penn State 34, Indiana 7 Nittany Lions come alive in second half A sluggish start on a dreary day clouded Penn State's dreams of the Rose Bowl for a half. Nothing that Daryll Clark or a stifling defense couldn't shake off, though.

Illinois stats
ILLINOIS Rushing PLAYERATTYDSAVGTDLGDufrene8799.9024Williams9485.3024Ford8435.4012Cumberland12323.0023McGee9212.3013 Passing PLAYERCMPATTYDSTDINTWilliams172619221McGee374900 Receiving PLAYERRECYDSAVGTDLGDufrene5428.4015Benn36521.7030Cumberland3227.318Jenkins23216.0024McGee22211.0014Ford22110.5013Hoomanawanui2136.507Duvalt12424.0124 Punting PLAYERATTYDSAVGLGSantella311739.043Eller13636.036 Kickoff returns PLAYERNOYDSLGTDBenn117170Jenkins335170 Punt returns PLAYERATTYDSLGTDBenn2020 Tackle leaders PLAYERSOLOASTTOTTFLMiller77140-0Pittman7290-0Carson2680-0Hardeman6170-0Davis4151.0-1Sanni3140-0Liuget2242.0-6Wilson1340-0Hicks1340-0Walker1230-0Lindquist0330-0 Missed field goals: None

Six Points
THE PLAY Malcolm Jenkins' block, right, of an Illinois punt late in the first quarter. It gave Ohio State the lead for good and led to an OSU touchdown after a short free kick.

Bob Hunter commentary: Wells gives OSU a big edge in bad weather
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Chris "Beanie" Wells can definitely leap tall safeties in a single bound. But then, we already knew that.

Cold, hard revenge
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- One man stood between Terrelle Pryor and daylight, so he stiff-armed him out of the way and scampered to freedom.

Ohio State's Joe Daniels: Sticking to his game plan
Doctors had just told Joe Daniels that he probably wouldn't live past Christmas. The cancer from the tumor on his kidney already had spread to his liver and lungs. His wife hugged him and prayed, his friends offered encouragement, and doctors shuffled in and out.

The Mailbox: Tressel's reaction to touchdown leaves some fans scowling
Pair up. Sound off. Take your medicine. Disperse. Have a nice day.

Michigan at Ohio State
MICHIGAN AT OHIO STATE

Big Ten: By the numbers
25 First downs for Purdue in its loss to Iowa

Big Ten: Standings
CONFERENCE OVERALLTEAMWLPCT WLPCTPenn State61.857 101.909Michigan State61.857 92.818Ohio State61.857 92.818Northwestern43.571 83.727Iowa43.571 74.636Minnesota34.429 74.636Illinois34.429 56.455Wisconsin35.375 65.545Michigan25.286 38.273Indiana16.143 38.273Purdue16.143 38.273 Yesterday's results Ohio State (10) 30, Illinois 20

Scoring drives
OSU -- First quarter: 5 plays, 19 yards, 2:33 (Pryor TD, 7-0)

Drive charts

Team stats

Quarter-by-quarter summary
First quarter Scoring summary OHIO STATE: Pryor 1 run (Pretorius kick), 8:48. Key play: Abdallah recovery of Williams fumble to give OSU ball on Illinois 19.

Overheard: Brandon Harrison, Michigan safety
"If we can come out and beat O-State, that would clear everything up."

This time, call goes Sanzenbacher's way
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- One second Dane Sanzenbacher was going after a tipped pass off the hands of Ohio State teammate Daniel Herron. The next second he was laid out by the helmet-first hit of Illinois' Donsay Hardeman.

Quick notes
Trophy time Ohio State and Illinois play for the Illibuck Trophy, a wooden replica of a turtle. The tradition began in 1925 with a live turtle going to the winner.

Pryor at ease with pressure of his job
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Yesterday, after winning for the seventh time in eight starts, Terrelle Pryor was asked whether he was feeling comfortable now.

'Hybrid' ignites defense
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The book on Ohio State nickel back Tyler Moeller -- also known as "the hybrid" -- is that he doesn't need a pregame speech. If anything, he probably could use a moment or two of meditation.

Opposite sideline
Facts of the matter

Scarlet & Gray Matter

The Bottom Line

On the edge

OSU hopeful with Big Ten still in play
For Ohio State this season, it appears that what goes down must come up.

5 key factors
1 Build a "Juice" box Nobody needs to remind Ohio State what Illinois QB Juice Williams did to the Buckeyes last year (four TD passes, 70 yards rushing). OSU's defense needs to stay disciplined up front. Keep Williams in the pocket and don't give him lanes for a draw or allow him to roll to the perimeter. Make him stand and deliver: He can wing it, but 14 times this season he has thrown it to the other team.

Daily line
DAILY LINE Latest composite odds from Las Vegas:

Other top national games
No. 4 Texas at Kansas 12:30 p.m., Lawrence, Kan. TV Fox Sports Net

Other TV games
OTHER TV Games Versus Princeton (0-0) at Yale (0-0), noon

Today's top national game
No. 24 South Carolina at No. 3 Florida 3:30 p.m., Gainesville, Fla. TV CBS (Ch. 10)

Top Big Ten game: Northwestern at Michigan
Northwestern at Michigan Noon, Ann Arbor, Mich. TV ESPN2

Tops on TV
Minnesota at Wisconsin 3:30 p.m., Madison, Wis. TV ABC (Ch. 6)

Meet a Buckeye: Jon Thoma
There's nothing sneaky about Jon Thoma. He just likes the fact that he has done his job so well this season that few Ohio State fans know his name, much less know how to pronounce it (it's toe-mah, like "Toga! Toga!"). As the holder for place-kicker Ryan Pretorius, Thoma performs a vital but often unappreciated role which isn't noticed unless something goes wrong. Thoma, a junior, played five sports at Aquinas High School in Louisville, Ohio, outside Canton, before walking on as a punter/kicker at OSU. That brought up some questions:

Recruiting watch: Melvin Fellows
Ohio State recruit Melvin Fellows believes revenge can be powerful inspiration for a college football team, which is why he thinks the 10th-ranked Buckeyes have the edge today in their game at Illinois.

Illini nine
Illinois has nine players from Ohio on its current roster:

Big Ten leaders

Overheard: Joe Paterno, Kirk Ferentz
"I told him, 'A lot of us didn't do a good job, including your head coach. You did fine. Pick up your head.' "

Game predictions
KEN GORDON OSU BEAT WRITER THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH OSU 27 ILL 17 Juice gets loose for a score or two, but Beanie Wells is heating up in the cold weather and OSU plays its usual solid, low-turnover road game.

Minnesota: Promising season now looks shaky
Through October, Minnesota was the surprise of the Big Ten.

Marcus Thigpen, Indiana: Versatile back is a bright spot
Indiana is suffering through a typically dismal season, but one player should escape the blame.

Big Ten standings
BIG TEN STANDINGS LEAGUE OVERALL

Big Ten schedule

Illinois roster
Two-deep Coach Ron Zook

Competition at heart of what drives Hartline
The competitive fire that burns inside Ohio State receiver Brian Hartline means that duels can flare up anytime.

Ohio State roster
Two-deep Coach Jim Tressel

Play of the week
Ohio State defensive coaches aren't in the habit of divulging game plans, but one has to figure that "blitz early and often" is written somewhere on the list entering today's game at Illinois.

In the spotlight: Kurt Coleman, Arrelious Benn
KURT COLEMAN, ANDERSON RUSSELL SS, FS OHIO STATE Play-action is the "gotcha" of football, and

Ohio State, Illinois stats
Ohio State team stats SCORING1 2 3 4Ohio State78663389Opponent17443732 OSU total 266 Avg. 26.6

Today's game
Kickoff Noon Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Ill. (62,870)

Bob Hunter commentary: November is when all teams are threats
One thing that makes college football so intriguing is the thin margin for error. Every game has consequences. Every game is a step.

OSU history: Tie with Illini was highlight of 1951
E. Gordon Gee had the right idea, just the wrong year. The Ohio State president remarked after the 13-13 tie against Michigan in 1992 that "a tie is one of our greatest wins ever."

Transcript of today's OSU football online chat
Each Friday at noon during Ohio State's football season, Dispatch.com and BuckeyeXtra.com readers can chat online with either Tim May or Ken Gordon, The Dispatch's OSU football beat writers. Here's a transcript of today's chat with Ken.

College football results, schedule
College football Yesterday's results MAC Buffalo 43, Akron 40, 4OT Buffalo107077363--43Akron73777360--40 FIRST QUARTER: BUF--Roosevelt 24 pass from Willy (Principe kick), 9:36. BUFF--FG Principe 28, 5:08; AKR--Kennedy 57 pass from Jacquemain (Iveljic kick), 4:53.

College football notebook: Akron falls in 4 OT in Rubber Bowl finale
A.J. Principe kicked a 40-yard field goal to give Buffalo a 43-40 victory over Akron last night in a Mid-American Conference game that went into a fourth overtime and lasted more than four hours.

Ohio State, Illinois boast a couple of sharp corners
Fate pushed Malcolm Jenkins and Vontae Davis onto the same team in May.

Daily line

OSU notebook: Flippin' good at calling coin toss
James Laurinaitis is an All-America linebacker and coin-flip caller?

College football: State Spotlight
Game of the week Otterbein (8-1) at John Carroll (5-4), 1:30 p.m. With Otterbein on the cusp of making history, running back Colton Coy was asked how the team got this far after years of being everyone's get-well card in the Ohio Athletic Conference.

Ohio State sees need for pressurized Juice
The formula for containing Illinois quarterback Juice Williams is simple, Ohio State defenders say: Pressure. Tackle. Cover.

College football results, schedule
College football Yesterday's results MAC Kent State 41, Temple 38 Temple314147--38Kent St.714146--41 FIRST QUARTER: KS--Edelman 1 run (Reed kick), 11:03; TEM--FG Brownell 43, 8:56.

NFL notebook: Hawk moves to middle
The Green Bay Packers are working through a few different options to replace injured middle linebacker Nick Barnett, but it appears they've settled on the idea of moving A.J. Hawk inside.

OSU notebook: Pryor's passing earns more trust of coaches
Headed into his eighth start, Ohio State freshman quarterback Terrelle Pryor continues to receive improving scores from his coaches.

Williams, Illinois fall from grace
Juice Williams was on his way to becoming a top Big Ten quarterback before Illinois played Ohio State last November.

If U. Go: Illinois
IN A NUTSHELLSome Big Ten observers consider Champaign a bit bland. They simply don't have the well-connected sources of If U. Go. We've got it all: reindeer ranches, the coach's favorite hangout and a controversial return of Chief Illiniwek, plus Paul Keels' five-star recommendation for the Buckeyes' final road game of the regular season.

Always a Buckeye: What it means to be an OSU student-athlete

Last season's loss to Illinois still stings
Of course they remember, and of course they care. It was Senior Day in Ohio Stadium on Nov. 10 last year, a day for celebrating the contributions of departing seniors, and another day in what looked like a march to the national championship game for top-ranked Ohio State.

Ohio State At Illinois
Ohio State At Illinois Noon Saturday

Lesson learned: no turnovers on road
Coach Jim Tressel heard the news on the radio at the front of the Ohio State charter bus Saturday night, and he quickly spread the word: Iowa had just beaten Penn State with a field goal. The Buckeyes were back in the Big Ten championship hunt.

Illinois fails to build on success from '07
It is a mystery, and yet it is not.

Chic Harley put OSU on college football map

OSU football: Tressel warns that Illinois may be better than last year
The past couple of years in fact, the past couple of weeks have taught the Ohio State football team nothing is a given any more in major college football. Jim Tressel warned today that Illinois looks "every bit as good or better today than they did a year ago" when they upset the Buckeyes.

College football schedule
College football Today's game Top 25 Ball State (14) at Miami, 7 p.m.

Daily line

Bob Hunter commentary: Rankings temporary in colleges' wild season
Penn State's loss to Iowa showed again that Ohio State fans aren't the only ones unhappy with the way the season has turned out.

Winning out can result in BCS bid
This is shaping up to be one of the great down-to-the-wire finishes in Big Ten football history. In essence, there are three teams tied for the lead with two weeks left.

College football: Central Ohio Watch
A.J. Principe Buffalo An exercise used in team-building classes deals with the ultimate in trust. A person closes his or her eyes, falls backward and hopes co-workers will make the catch.

Ohio College Football Insider
Otterbein in playoff of sorts With daylight becoming scarcer, it's standard procedure for Otterbein football practices to be shifted from the practice field to Memorial Stadium to use the lights.

College football notebook: Texas players don't dispute dismissal
A Texas Longhorns team leader said yesterday that he approved of the way the coaching staff handled the dismissal of a player who posted a racial slur on his Facebook page about President-elect Barack Obama.

Former OSU football player arrested on drug, gun charges
A former Ohio State football player is expected in court today after his arrest on drug-trafficking charges and a weapons violation in Grandview Heights.

Overheard: Rich Rodriguez
"Us? Look past anything?"

Inside the Beat: 10 games in the books and offense remains a bit of a mystery
Dispatch OSU football writers Tim May and Ken Gordon take readers "inside the beat" of Buckeyes football: That's two straight road trips for Ohio State in which it has scored 45 points by strange means. But this has been an odd year for a team that was forecast to do great things. Was the 45-10 victory at Northwestern a sign of progress, or was it a magic act that could disappear at Illinois on Saturday?

Results for OSU-Northwestern 'Predict the Points' contest
Congratulations to Laura Sites of Cincinnati, the winner of our Ohio State-Northwestern Predict the Points contest. Laura was among 34 entrants out of nearrly 900 who correctly predicted that 55 total points would be scored by the Buckeyes and Wildcats. She was randomly selected as the winner of a spot for her and a guest on a private tour of Ohio Stadium later this year. More

Overheard: Joe Paterno
"We can't start moaning about this one. Monday we have to go out and be ready to work."

College football schedule
College football Tuesday's game Top 25 Ball State (14) at Miami, 7 p.m.

Daily line

OSU Insider
25 words or fewer: Just when all prizes seemed lost, a Big Ten ring is suddenly back on the table, thanks to the Ohio State defense, Pryor's derring-do, and Iowa.

College football polls
AP Top 25 TEAMRECORDPTSPVS1.Alabama (44)10-01,60412.Texas Tech (21)10-01,57423.Florida8-11,46744.Texas9-11,43755.Oklahoma9-11,37566.Southern California8-11,31177.Penn State9-11,16138.Utah10-01,157109.Boise State9-01,110910.Ohio State8-21,0091211.Oklahoma State8-2963812.Missouri8-29131313.Georgia8-28801414.Ball State9-06771615.Texas Christian9-26231116.Brigham Young9-16021717.North Carolina7-25971918.Michigan State9-25841819.Louisiana State6-35521520.Florida State7-23802421.Pittsburgh7-23182522.Cincinnati7-2269--23.Oregon State6-3124--24.South Carolina7-3117--25.Tulsa8-184-- Others receiving votes: California 73, Virginia Tech 44, Air Force 40, Georgia Tech 29, Arizona 7, Oregon and Western Michigan 6, Central Michigan, Iowa, Miami and West Virginia 5, Boston College, Maryland and Northwestern 3, Kansas, South Florida and Wake Forest 1.

College football notebook: Alabama, Texas Tech solidly atop the BCS
Alabama and Texas Tech and their perfect records were on top of the BCS standings yesterday. Texas, Florida and Oklahoma, all with one loss, are lurking and ready to take advantage if the front-runners fall.

BCS standings

NFL: How former Buckeyes, other central Ohioans fared
Central Ohio watch FORMER BUCKEYES Chris Gamble, CB, Carolina: In 17-6 victory at Oakland, had a key interception, five tackles (one for loss) and two passes defended.

Michigan-OSU kickoff at noon
The Michigan at Ohio State game will kick off at noon on Nov. 22, the Big Ten Conference announced yesterday. The game will be televised by ABC to a national audience.

Bob Hunter commentary: Pryor gets booster shot of confidence in rout
EVANSTON, Ill. -- The score is one way to tell things are looking up for the Ohio State football team. It's just not the best one.

'Cats a tonic
EVANSTON, Ill. -- The wake-up calls jangled in the Ohio State hotel rooms at 6:15 a.m. yesterday, and when the players pulled aside the curtains, it revealed a dreary, overcast landscape. The Buckeyes' challenge would be large: Rebound from a gut-shot loss to Penn State two weeks ago and find the internal fortitude needed to quell feisty Northwestern.

Big Ten: Quotable
"It's just one win. But at the same time, it's been a long time and I'm happy to see it."

Big Ten: Other games
Wisconsin 55, Indiana 20 Badgers roll over Hoosiers in rout P.J. Hill, John Clay and receiver David Gilreath combined for six touchdown runs and each topped 100 yards rushing before leaving in the fourth quarter, helping keep Wisconsin's bowl hopes alive with its victory over Indiana.

Big Ten: By the numbers
5 FGs by K.C. Lopata, tying a Michigan record

Big Ten: Notable
• Home away from home: Michigan will be one of the few opponents that will be sad to see Minnesota move out of the Metrodome next year.

Big Ten: Standings
CONFERENCE OVERALLTEAMWLPCT WLPCTMichigan State61.857 92.818Penn State51.833 91.900Ohio State51.833 82.800Minnesota33.500 73.700Northwestern33.500 73.700Iowa33.500 64.600Illinois33.500 55.500Michigan24.333 37.300Wisconsin25.286 55.400Indiana15.167 37.300Purdue15.167 37.300 Yesterday's results Ohio State (12) 45, Northwestern 10

Penn State no longer undefeated
IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Daryll Clark held his hands together, bowed his head and closed his eyes as if he was in prayer.

Six points
THE PLAY Chris "Beanie" Wells' 55-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. The tailback should have been stopped for a 4-yard loss but powered through to ignite the runaway win.

Game overview
At Ryan Field, Evanston, Ill. Attendance: 47,130 Weather: 38 degrees; cloudy, windy

Ohio State stats
OHIO STATE Rushing PLAYERATTYDSAVGTDLGC.Wells281405.0255Herron6386.3116Pryor6335.5021M.Wells4246.008Trapasso199.009 Passing PLAYERCMPATTYDSTDINTPryor91419730Boeckman02000 Receiving PLAYERRECYDSAVGTDLGRobiskie35819.3234Hartline29045.0046Nicol22814.0122Sanzenbacher11414.0014Smith177.007 Punting PLAYERATTYDSAVGLGTrapasso310735.738 Kickoff returns PLAYERNOYDSLGTDThomas241250 Punt returns PLAYERATTYDSLGTDHartline1000Robiskie1440 Interceptions PLAYERATTYDSAVGLGLaurinaitis100.00 Tackle leaders PLAYERSOLOASTTOTTFLLaurinaitis29110-0Russell5490-0Abdallah3580.5-1Homan2681-4Coleman5271-4Williams3472.5-28Jenkins3470-0Hines5160-0Rolle3250-0Freeman2351-3Worthington1340-0Lane1340-0Heyward2131-8Chekwa2020-0Spitler1120-0Gant1010-0 Missed field goals: None

Quarter-by-quarter analysis
First quarter Scoring summary OHIO STATE: C.Wells 2 run (Pretorius kick), 10:48. Key plays: Robiskie 9 pass from Pryor on third-and-8 from the Northwestern 49; Hartline 44 pass from Pryor on third-and-16 from the NW 46.

Scoring drives
OSU -- First quarter: 8 plays, 66 yards, 4:12 (Wells TD, 7-0)

Northwestern stats
Northwestern Rushing PLAYERATTYDSAVGTDLGKafka29832.9126Simmons14342.406 Passing PLAYERCMPATTYDSTDINTKafka182717701 Receiving PLAYERRECYDSAVGTDLGPeterman67813.0024Lane4328.0011Brewer3217.009Ward23015.0024Ebert24203Rooks11212.0012 Punting PLAYERATTYDSAVGLGDemos412932.242 Kickoff returns PLAYERNOYDSLGTDEbert234230Rooks211110Woodsum1330Simmons357240 Punt returns PLAYERATTYDSLGTDName0000 Interceptions PLAYERATTYDSAVGLGName000.00 Tackle leaders PLAYERSOLOASTTOTTFLWilliams57121.5-4Phillips55100.5-5Kwateng2790.5-1Davie3471-4Smith2460-0Peters4150-0Gill1450-0Mims1341-7Mabin0440-0Wootton1241.5-10Dinard0220-0 Missed field goals: None

Front four holds its ground
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Quarterback Mike Kafka took Northwestern straight down the field to a tying touchdown the first time out yesterday, and he made it look easy. Defensive tackle Nader Abdallah gathered Ohio State's scattered front four and delivered a message.

Mounting personal foul calls mystify many
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Ohio State safety Anderson Russell had just forced Northwestern quarterback Mike Kafka out of bounds when a yellow flag flew.

Wells picks up pace after getting off to slow start
EVANSTON, Ill. -- During the bye week, Ohio State coach Jim Tressel challenged running back Chris "Beanie" Wells with a riddle, asking him the significance of the number 467.

Quick notes
Mighty offensive Since 1980, Ohio State has scored 40 points or more vs. Northwestern 12 times in 22 meetings. In 1980 and '81, the Buckeyes won 63-0 and 70-6, the largest margins of victory in the series.

Opposite sideline
Facts of the matter Northwestern wanted to show that its 7-2 record wasn't the product of a weak schedule, but that's how it will look now. The Wildcats matched Ohio State's early touchdown, then wilted. Even when fully healthy, the Wildcats typically have a hard time matching up against the Buckeyes' brawn. These Wildcats, missing running back Tyrell Sutton and quarterback C.J. Bacher, were one-trick ponies. Once Ohio State figured out how to constrain backup QB Mike Kafka, Northwestern had little left in its arsenal. Defensively, the Wildcats' inconsistent tackling and inability to prevent Terrelle Pryor from making big plays proved fatal.

Scarlet & Gray Matter

The Bottom Line

On the edge

Today's game
Kickoff Noon Ryan Field (47,130),

Buckeyes unsure what ails offense
EVANSTON, Ill. — If the Ohio State offense were a school-menu item, it would be listed as mystery meat.

College football results, schedule
College football Yesterday's results East Penn 14, Princeton 9

OSU history: Brains, brawn collide on field
The 1981 season was a bad time to be a brainiac against the Buckeyes. Ohio State defeated Northwestern, Stanford, Duke and Navy.

Rob Oller commentary: Criticism finds every coach, even Tressel
Sooner or later, Teflon wears thin. Just ask Jim Tressel.

5 key factors
1 Beware of Wildcats' pressure Northwestern is second in the Big Ten in sacks with 26, and Ohio State has given up 22, tied for most in the conference. Those statistics do not bode well for OSU's beleaguered offensive line. Nine games in, hoping for major improvement probably is unrealistic. The Buckeyes might be wise to focus on draws, screens and short, quick passes to help slow down the Wildcats' pass rush.

Top national game: No. 1 Alabama at No. 15 Louisiana State
No. 1 Alabama at No. 15 Louisiana State 3:30 p.m., Baton Rouge, La. TV CBS (Channel 10)

Other top games
No. 8 Oklahoma State at No. 2 Texas Tech 8 p.m., Lubbock, Texas TV ABC (Ch. 6)

Other TV games
OTHER TV Games ONN Louisville (5-3) at Pittsburgh (6-2), noon

Meet a Buckeye: LB Brian Rolle
On the field, Ohio State sophomore Brian Rolle is becoming known for his speed and energy. As a special-teamer and backup linebacker, Rolle has 31 career tackles, a sack and an interception.

Recruiting: Wrapping up a class
Ohio State has 25 players committed to its 2009 recruiting class, and it likely will end up with between 27 and 29 players. A look at some of the Buckeyes' remaining top targets

Recruiting watch: Coaches hit road during bye week
Taking advantage of a recent rule change and with Ohio State on a bye, the Buckeyes coaching staff last week hit the recruiting trail hard.

Big Ten leaders

Game predictions
KEN GORDON OSU BEAT WRITER THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH OSU 27 NW 13 The Wildcats defense (and OSU's offensive inconsistency) will help keep the score respectable, but the Buckeyes are playing with too much confidence on defense for the hosts to pull an upset.

Big Ten standings
BIG TEN STANDINGS LEAGUE OVERALL

Big Ten schedule

Northwestern roster
Two-deep Coach Pat Fitzgerald

Ohio State roster
Two-deep Coach Jim Tressel

Painful reminder: Byars knows what Wells is going through
When Chris "Beanie" Wells fell to the ground, clutching his injured right foot in the third quarter of Ohio State's season opener, most fans could see he was in pain.

By the numbers
Ohio State team stats SCORING1 2 3 4Ohio State71492675Opponent10443432 OSU total 221 Avg. 24.6

In the spotlight: Thaddeus Gibson, Corey Wootton
THADDEUS GIBSON DE OHIO STATE When Vernon Gholston departed for the NFL after last season, Ohio State defensive coaches began their search for a new marauder up front. Defensive end Thaddeus Gibson flashed that potential on occasion in the first eight weeks of the season. Then, against Penn State two weeks ago, he turned into a laser beam.

Transcript of today's OSU football online chat
Each Friday at noon during Ohio State's football season, Dispatch.com and BuckeyeXtra.com readers can chat online with either Tim May or Ken Gordon, The Dispatch's OSU football beat writers. Here's a transcript of today's chat with Tim.

Wild-dog tenacity working for OSU
In regards to the upsurge in sic 'em play by the Ohio State defensive line, there's no question who let the dogs out.

College football results, schedule
College football Yesterday's results Top 25 Virginia Tech 23, Maryland (23) 13

College football notebook: Late drive keeps Utah unbeaten
Brian Johnson threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Freddie Brown with 47 seconds left to cap an 80-yard drive that kept No. 10 Utah's BCS hopes alive with a 13-10 victory over No. 11 TCU last night.

College football: State Spotlight
Game of the week Mount Union (8-0) at Otterbein (8-0), 1:30 p.m. No one is suggesting this is the game of the decade in the Ohio Athletic Conference, even though no one can remember the last time undefeated teams met this late in the season.

Ohio State notebook: Tressel in no mood for Small talk
Two words can describe Ohio State coach Jim Tressel's meeting with reporters yesterday: short and Small.

Northwestern notebook: As a receiver, Ebert gets a thumbs up
The transition from high school football to college is a big one for any player, let alone one making a position change.

Interceptions are proof Coleman has picked it up
Wearing a pinstriped suit and wire-rim glasses and speaking in a mild-mannered tone, Kurt Coleman hides his true identity well.

Daily line

College football results, schedule
College football Yesterday's results Top 25 Ball State (16) 45, Northern Illinois 14

OSU football notebook: Small suspended two games, dad says
Receiver and punt returner Ray Small is in trouble again, and the latest incident prompted his father to lash out at the Ohio State coaching staff.

If U. Go: Northwestern
IN A NUTSHELLIt's a lot easier to find things to do on a Big Ten campus when you have the nation's third-largest city in the backyard. Evanston has its charms, but you'll have no shortage of excitement with Chicago as its brawny backdrop. Great blues clubs, world-class hot dogs and fun with Legos highlight the trip. Paul Keels is along for the ride with his five-star recommendation. And if you wake up Saturday with a ringing in your ears, don't worry, it's probably just the key-jingling Northwestern student body.

Northwestern might play two quarterbacks
A hamstring injury derailed Mike Kafka's budding quarterback career at Northwestern two years ago.

Calling for questions

College football: Buckeyes appear focused after bye
In recent years, Ohio State has struggled after bye weeks. But if yesterday was any indication, this year's team might buck that trend.

College football result, schedule
College football Yesterday's result MAC Buffalo 37, Miami (Oh.) 17 Miami (Ohio)3770--17Buffalo147610--37 FIRST QUARTER: BUFF--Willy 1 run (Principe kick), 9:53; MIO--FG Parseghian 39, 5:56; BUFF--Roosevelt 34 pass from Willy (Principe kick), 1:18.

OSU notebook: Jenkins makes cut for award
It was Election Day, and Jim Tressel has a policy -- preferred by Ohio State President E. Gordon Gee -- not to endorse any candidate for public office. But when asked yesterday what player on his team he could back in a hypothetical run, the coach did not hesitate with an answer.