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37-17
Ohio State Colorado Highlights September 24, 2011 Source: OSU Official Site Audio: Buckeyes Radio Paul Keels & Jim Lachey
Three points September 25, 2011 Source: Columbus Dispatch
Star of the game Freshman quarterback Braxton Miller, making his first collegiate start. He didn’t have spectacular stats, going 5 of 13 passing for 83 yards and rushing for 83 yards on 17 carries. But he did throw two TD passes — both to freshman Devin Smith. For a thrill, replay some of his runs in slow motion.
Turning point Chris Fields pouncing on the punt that bounced off the back of teammate Bradley Roby on Colorado’s first possession. Switch-footing punter Darragh O’Neill said he meant to do it with the left-footed line drive. But it set up OSU’s first TD on what would be a gem of a day for OSU special teams.
Repercussion The Miller era has begun, as coach Luke Fickell confirmed after the game. But now that the up-flat-down-up pre-Big Ten season is over, can Miller help the Buckeyes to a Big Ten title in his freshman year, as Terrelle Pryor did in 2008? Michigan State will offer the first evidence.
Ohio State Handles Colorado, 37-17 Miller throws two touchdown passes in first career start September 25, 2011 Source: OSU Official Site
Miller shows ‘special’ signs September 24, 2011 Source: Dayton Daily News
"He’s going to be special," junior tailback Jordan Hall said afterward. "Real special."
10 Things We Learned from Braxton’s First Start September 24, 2011 Source: The Ozone
1. Braxton is the real deal...
2. Ditto for Devin Smith...
3. Braxton worked on his ball security...
4. Jordan Hall is the most important player on the field...
5. John Simon is an animal...
6. Fickell isn’t afraid to shake things up...
7. The defense needed some tweaking...
8. It’s all about field position...
9. The Buckeyes are a better team than they showed at Miami...
10. Things are only going to get tougher...
Bonus. ‘War Daddies’ stepping up...
THE VIEW September 25, 2011 Source: Columbus Dispatch
How the team sees it: We didn’t take our talents to South Beach, but at least we brought them to the ’Shoe.
How the pollsters will see it: Miller is a hit, but better limit his hits if you expect to climb in the rankings.
How Buckeye Nation will see it: We’re Braxton business.
GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE
What he said: “We wanted to get the students into it.”
What he meant: “But we couldn’t get the ones with sure hands suited up in time to play wide receiver.”
Ohio State 37, Colorado 17: The Buckeyes could hardly have asked for a better response to last week's calamity in Miami. They were in control throughout this game, and Braxton Miller offered reason for optimism. Miller's passing numbers (7-for-16, 110 yards) weren't a huge improvement from last week, when he and Joe Bauserman combined for just four completions. But he threw two touchdowns and didn't turn the ball over while running for 78 yards.
This is clearly Miller's team from here on out, and his mobility gives the offense a much-needed dimension. He doesn't always throw the prettiest ball, but he's only going to get better. Will Ohio State ever be an explosive offense this season? Maybe not, but if the defense and special teams hold up their end of the bargain as they did today, that might be enough.
So what to make of this Buckeyes' team now? This week's home game against Michigan State should be fascinating and a good litmus test as to whether or not Ohio State can truly compete for another Big Ten title. Buckeyes fans have to feel much better about those chances now than a week ago. Source: ESPN
The Bottom Line September 25, 2011 Source: Columbus Dispatch Ohio State Report Card Offense (3 leaves), Defense (3 leaves), Special teams (5 leaves), Coaching (2 leaves), Opponent (2 leaves)
Ohio State can't try to beat Miami, too: The Buckeyes aren't really the team that lost, 24-6, at Miami last week. That was a low point. But, for now, they may be the team that needed to hang on to beat Toledo by five two weeks ago. No fluke there. Ohio State has more talent than Colorado, a Pac-12 team that's probably not as good as Toledo this season. Scattered through Colorado's roster are some athletes, and so far, the Buffaloes have taken care of the ball, one of nine teams in the nation with just one turnover through three games.
But straight up, the Buckeyes win on talent, no doubt. If the Buckeyes miss tackles, commit turnovers, overpursue on special teams or hang their heads if the crowd gets peeved with an early deficit, Colorado might just be good enough to make them pay. The Buckeyes can't redo the Miami loss today. They can only prepare themselves for a looming stretch of four tough games -- Michigan State, at Nebraska, at Illinois and Wisconsin.
Bauserman takes it well
Coach Luke Fickell said quarterback Joe Bauserman took the news of his demotion with the maturity befitting a 25-year-old fifth-year senior.
"He took it like you would hope … knowing the most important thing is the team," Fickell said. “There’s a lot of people counting on each (player), whether they’re starting or not starting.” September 23, 2011 Source: Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State is 3-1 all-time against Colorado and 55-26-2 all-time against current members from the Pac-12 Conference
Etienne Sabino leads all Big Ten players with 4.5 TFL this season.
Ohio State’s four-pass completion game vs. Miami (4-14 for 35 yards with one INT) ties four other Ohio State games in the last 22 years where the Scarlet and Gray had just four completions: the 2007 national championship game vs. Florida (Fiesta Bowl); vs. Washington State in 2002; vs. Northwestern in 2001; and vs. Purdue in 1989.
The Buckeyes fell out of the AP Top 25 for the first time since Nov. 20, 2004 -- nearly 7 years and ending the nation’s longest current streak of appearances in the Top 25 (103 straight weeks).
Luke Fickell, Big Ten Teleconference Sept. 21, 2011
Injury update
Fickell said he expects receiver Corey Brown (ankle) to miss his second straight game. He said linebacker Andrew Sweat, who briefly left the Miami game because of a knee injury, is fine. September 23, 2011 Source: Columbus Dispatch
Source: bodog.com Team records:
Colorado: 1-2 SU, 2-1 ATS
Ohio State: 2-1 SU, 1-2 ATS
Colorado most recently:
When playing in September are 4-6
When playing on turf are 1-9
After outgaining opponent are 4-6
When playing outside the conference are 5-5
Ohio State most recently:
When playing in September are 8-2
When playing on turf are 9-1
After being outgained are 8-2
When playing outside the conference are 9-1
A few trends to consider:
Colorado is 3-8 SU in its last 11 games
Colorado is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Colorado is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Ohio State's last 5 games
Ohio State is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
Ohio State is 20-2 SU in its last 22 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Ohio State's last 5 games at home
