Zach Boren, Etienne Sabino, John Simon To Represent Ohio State At Big Ten Luncheon

Meyer is ready to make his mark on the B1G 

On Wednesday afternoon, the Big Ten Conference released the list of student-athletes who will attend the 2012 Big Ten Media Days and Kickoff Luncheon on Thursday and Friday, July 26 and 27, at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place in Chicago.

Three players from every team will be in attendance, as well as all 12 head coaches. 

For the Buckeyes, fullback Zach Boren, linebacker Etienne Sabino and defensive lineman John Simon will be in attendance for Ohio State.

This comes as no surprise to Tressel fans, as often times the attendees would be seniors on the football team. Now it seems as if Urban Meyer will continue this trend for years to come.

As mentioned above, the event features all 12 conference head coaches and begins at 10 a.m. CT with the players and coaches autograph and photo session for fans attending the luncheon. 

The luncheon is scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m.The list of student-athletes scheduled to attend includes 21 returning All-Big Ten selections. The list also includes the last two Big Ten Offensive Players of the Year in Wisconsin’s Montee Ball (2011) and Michigan’s Denard Robinson (2010).

Keep it at Inside The Shoe for the latest news, updates and opinions on Ohio State athletics.

Ohio State Linebacker Storm Klein Facing Charges

It's not looking good for Klein

More bad news for Ohio State and head coach Urban Meyer. Senior linebacker Storm Klein was arrested on Friday and is facing one charge of domestic violence and one for assault, according to a Franklin County Municipal Court case summary.

This puts Urban Meyer in an unfortunate spot as this is the most recent of a couple occurrences, that included Jack Mewhort and Jake Stoneburner being arrested. Now Klein might be in danger of losing a spot on the team.

Here's an Ohio State official:

"We are aware, obviously, of the situation," a school spokesman said in a statement. "We are in the process of gathering more information. "At this point we won't have further comment until after we know and understand all the details."

Klein is scheduled for arraignment this morning, and he is likely to face punishment from Meyer at some point after that based on precedent the new coach has already set.

Storm started 10 games for the Buckeyes last season and posted 45 tackles while also chipping in an interception, a sack, a forced fumble and a recovery. But he wasn't able to hold on to a first-team role after the first camp under Meyer, losing his spot to Curtis Grant.

Couple this with the recent news of Jordan Hall being out for up to 10 weeks with a foot injury and this just adds to the already high pressures of Urban's job as head coach.

Keep it at Inside The Shoe for the latest news, updates and opinions on Ohio State athletics.

Former Buckeye Jared Sullinger Introduced As A Celtic

Sullinger will wear No. 7 in Boston

Last Thursday, former Ohio State forward Jared Sullinger was drafted 21st overall by the Boston Celtics in the 2012 NBA draft.

Earlier this week Sullinger was introduced to the Boston Celtics fanbase and team alongside fellow draftees Fab Melo and Kris Joseph. While his stock fell dramatically due to certain rumors of having issues with his back, Sullinger landed in a place that I think just might fit his talents very well.

Capable of playing both power forward and center, I expect the Celtics to use Sullinger for both positions when necessary. In the meantime, Sullinger will have some of the best players to learn from on what it takes to play at that level. 

If anyone knows about playing through injuries to a dominant level, Kevin Garnett has to be one of those people. The fire still burns for this guy even as his age tries to put it out. KG can be a big asset for Sullinger, learning the ins and outs of the NBA-style of play.

Sullinger averaged 17.3 points and 9.7 rebounds per game in two seasons at Ohio State.

Keep it at Inside The Shoe for the latest news, updates and opinions on Ohio State athletics.

Jordan Hall Sidelined 10 Weeks With Foot Injury

Hall is a key offensive weapon for Meyer

Ohio State announced some bad news for Buckeye Nation, stating that senior tailback Jordan Hall will be out 10 weeks after having surgery on his foot last Friday.

"Hall, who enters his senior season with 2,513 all-purpose yards to rank 26th all-time at Ohio State, suffered an accidental cut to the bottom of his right foot Wednesday afternoon while walking in grass outside his residence in Columbus. He had surgery Friday at the Ohio State University Medical Center.

“This is an unfortunate accident to a really fine young man,” Meyer said. “He’s handling things well, though. He’ll be in a non-weight bearing cast for about six weeks and then he’ll rehabilitate the injury for at least four weeks after that.”"

In case you were wondering how this affects the team as far as playing games, Hall will most likely miss the season opener against Miami (OH). The Redhawks come to town only 9 weeks from now. If everything goes alright in Hall's recovery, there's no reason he shouldn't be back in time for the second or third week of the 2012 season.

Hall has 817 career rushing yards with five touchdowns and has also caught 21 passes out of the backfield for 202 yards and four more TDs. He came out of spring drills No. 1 on the depth chart at running back. 

Junior Carlos Hyde (707 career rushing yards and six touchdowns), sophomore Rod Smith (116 and one, respectively) and true freshman Bri'onte Dunn were also competing in the mix at running back throughout spring.

Keep it at Inside The Shoe for the latest news, updates and opinions on Ohio State athletics.

2013 4-Star Defensive Tackle Michael Hill Commits To Ohio State

2013 4-star defensive tackle Michael Hill has committed to Ohio State.

Hill had Ohio State at the top of his list even before he visited OSU in early June. He came back from the visit saying there was a 75% chance he would be a Buckeye.

Hill has a very impressive list of scholarship offers that includes Ohio State, Alabama, Florida, LSU, Florida State, Tennessee, Clemson, North Carolina, South Carolina and Michigan.

Hill has made visits to a number of other schools including LSU, Florida, Alabama and most recently Clemson. But today Hill is a Buckeye.

The 6'2, 315-pound Hill has been a varsity starter since the beginning of his sophomore season. Hill made 79 tackles during his junior season including eight sacks. He had 27 tackles for loss and forced four
fumbles.

Hill is the No. 2 prospect in South Carolina in the 247Sports rankings. He is the country’s No. 12 defensive tackle and the country’s No. 197 overall prospect.

This is a huge grab for the Buckeyes. It gives Urban Meyer a super tackle in Hill to complement the great group of defensive lineman Meyer signed in February.

Keep it at Inside The Shoe for the latest news, updates and opinions on Ohio State athletics.

2013 3-Star Athlete Darron Lee Commits To Ohio State

Lee is the 13th commit in the 2013 class

2013 3-star athlete Darron Lee turned in two very good performances at the Ohio State camps this month and has been rewarded with a Buckeye scholarship offer. Now it seems that it didn't take Lee long to accept.

Lee spoke to Luke Fickell on Monday and Fickell indicated an offer was likely on the way today. That became a reality as Darron not only received an offer, but committed almost immediately.

Lee becomes commitment No. 13 for Urban Meyer’s 2013 recruiting class - a class that is expected to number at least 20 come National Signing Day. 

The 6'3", 205-pound Lee played quarterback, wide receiver and safety during his junior season and also returned punts and kickoffs.

Lee was recruited as an 'athlete' that will likely play safety or linebacker for the Buckeyes. He also could be a factor on special teams.

Lee had at least 16 scholarship offers as well, with teams like West Virginia, Illinois, Arizona State, Boston College, Cincinnati, Purdue, Minnesota, Duke and Marshall vying for his services.

Darron is ranked 89th out of all athlete's in the country according to 247Sports and the 52nd best prospect in the great state of Ohio.

Keep it at Inside The Shoe for the latest news, updates and opinions on Ohio State athletics.

5 Buckeyes Make Athlon Sports Top 25 Big Ten Heisman Contenders

Miller tops the list for the Buckeyes

Athlon Sports released their top 25 Big Ten Heisman contenders earlier this week and 5 Buckeyes managed to make the list.

Although I think it's a bit odd to pick Heisman contenders out of every single conference, it is interesting to look at where some players would stand if, in fact, the college football world was just the Big Ten.

As for the Buckeye players, Braxton Miller at 4th, John Simon at 7th, Johnathan Hankins at 14th, Jake Stoneburner at 22nd and CJ Barnett at 24th. 

Here are the Top Ten from the list, with the explanations:

"1. Denard Robinson, QB, Michigan (SR)
There is no player in a better Heisman situation in the Big Ten than Robinson, but because Montee Ball was so unstoppable a year ago, they are essentially 1a and 1b. Shoelace has the NCAA records, the electric, big-play, highlight-reel skills needed to enthrall voters, a better chance at a Big Ten title, has multiple national showcase games in and out of conference and plays the all-important quarterback position (11 of last 12 winners). If he can stay healthy, Robinson will have the slight edge over Wisconsin’s workhorse.

2. Montee Ball, RB, Wisconsin (SR)
It is nearly impossible to argue with Ball’s production. But the 2012 Badgers are not going to be the same team that set school records for scoring two years in a row. Gone is uber-leader Russell Wilson, offensive genius Paul Chryst and three first-team All-Big Ten blockers. Ball will still post big numbers this fall, but a 1,700-yard, 18-TD season will pale in comparison to his 2011 output — and won’t get him back to New York.

3. Rex Burkhead, RB, Nebraska (SR)
Sexy Rexy Superman Burkhead is arguably the most complete football player in the nation. He has every skillset a coach can ask for in a workhorse feature back: Strength, size, toughness, durability, vision, instincts, quickness, hands and leadership. For Burkhead to make it to NYC in December, however, he will likely have to lead his team past Michigan and into the Big Ten title game. A tall order until the defense improves its overall play.

4. Braxton Miller, QB, Ohio State (SO)
If Heisman voters are trying to find a darkhorse from the Big Ten, they need to look no further than Ohio State’s quarterback. Miller showed flashes of brilliance as only a true freshman on one of the worst Buckeye teams in two decades. And now he has spread guru Urban Meyer tailoring his high-powered attack to Miller’s perfectly suited dual-threat skillset. This team could have the best record in the league, but Ohio State’s offensive leader will have to overcome the program’s current sanctions on his way to the Big Apple.

5. Taylor Martinez, QB, Nebraska (JR)
The Huskers’ quarterback is finally an upperclassmen and will have to show improved consistency and accuracy in the passing game to get into the Heisman mix. However, he has electric play-making ability and is poised for his best season yet at the helm of a program known for its dual-threat Heisman Trophy signal callers. With the Big Ten’s top receiving corps around him, Martinez has a chance to silence all of his critics in 2012. And potentially win a conference title as well.

2013 Punter Johnny Townsend Commits To Ohio State

Meyer got the big leg he wanted

There have been many rumors swirling around the past couple of weeks that Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer was looking for a punter to take in the class of 2013. 

It has now been confirmed that punter Johnny Townsend from Orlando, Florida, has just given Meyer his 12th commitment in the class of 2013. 

The 6'2", 200-pound Townsend also had a scholarship offer from Cincinnati, and preferred walk-on opportunities with Alabama and Florida. 

Townsend recently made the trip to Columbus to the Ohio State kicking/punting camp and made enough of an impression to earn an offer.

Townsend will be joining the Buckeyes as a punter, with no reason to not be the Buckeye's starter for 4 years.

Townsend averaged 40-yards per punt as a junior. Along with his punting duties, Townsend was splitting time at safety and outside backer on his high school team and also played baseball during part of the season.

Townsend will arrive at OSU in 2013 -- just as current starting punter Ben Buchanan wraps up his career as a senior in 2012.

Keep it at Inside The Shoe for the latest news, updates and opinions on Ohio State athletics.

Jared Sullinger Medically Flagged By NBA Doctors

What's the future for big Sully?

Chad Ford, the NBA insider from ESPN, is reporting that Ohio State big man Jared Sullinger has been medically flagged by NBA doctors who have expressed concern over the his back.

Sullinger, who is projected to be a lottery pick in the draft on June 28, underwent a series of medical tests at the draft combine a week ago.

A number of NBA team doctors have reviewed the information from the NBA and have told their front office staff that Sullinger's back issues could shorten his NBA career, and some have advised their teams not to draft him in the first round.

Sullinger's father, Satch Sullinger, said he believes the issue isn't that serious.

"He had a bulging area that was due to his hamstring and quads being so tight," Satch Sullinger told ESPN.com senior college basketball writer Andy Katz in a phone call Monday afternoon. "It pulled on his hip flexor and he's been taking care of it to loosen it. You can call it a red flag if you want. But it's tight hamstring and tight quads. He's been to doctors, he's doing yoga and deep tissue massage. The flexibility is helping take the pressure off the area.

"We've got nothing to hide. At this stage it's all about what they can't do. Jared is a skilled player. A two-time All-American. He can play."

Meanwhile, Ohio State's coach Thad Matta weighed in on the issue with: 

 "Jared is fine. He's moving better than I've ever seen him move."

Chad Ford currently has Sullinger being selected to go No. 10 in his 7th Mock Draft.

Much of the media has compared this to Pittsburgh's DeJuan Blair who was also red flagged by the NBA when medical tests at the NBA combine revealed he didn't have ACL's in either knee. At the time Blair was projected as a late lottery pick. He slid all the way out of the first round.

Former Ohio State Lineman Brian Bobek Transferring To Minnesota

Bobek moves on from OSU

Earlier last week, Ohio State center Brian Bobek hinted that he could be leaning to either a Big Ten or Big 12 school. 

On Saturday, Bobek put all the guessing games to rest. It's now known that he will be transferring within the Big Ten conference.

Bobek confirmed to multiple media outlets that he will be moving on to Minnesota to finish his final two years of eligibility. To meet with NCAA rules, Bobek will sit out the 2012 season.

Here’s what Bobek said to the Minnesota paper:

“I am excited to announce that I have given my commitment to Coaches Kill and Limegrover are exceptional coaches, and I am confident they and the rest of the staff are on the way to restoring the winning tradition of the Minnesota football program. I look forward to making a contribution to Minnesota football and, once eligible, having an opportunity to achieve my personal goals as a football player.to announce that I have given my commitment to Coaches Jerry Kill and Matt Limegrover to join the University of Minnesota football program. Minnesota was one of the first schools my family and I had contacted when I made the decision to transfer, and the coaches responded as soon as they got permission from Ohio State to contact me.

“The University of Minnesota offers a quality education, and I hope to take advantage of the many opportunities of going to school in a great city like Minneapolis. Also, my family and I are happy for me to have the chance to continue to compete in the Big Ten, one of the best football conferences in the country.

“I once again want to thank the athletic department and football program at The Ohio State University for their consideration and assistance in easing my transition to the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota Golden Gopher football program.

“Go Gophers!”

Bobek was a four-star member of the Buckeyes’ 2011 recruiting class and played sparingly last season. With the departure of Michael Brewster, Bobek was expected to move into a starting role under first-year coach Urban Meyer. However, Bobek was not listed on the team’s most recent two-deep heading into voluntary summer workouts.

This obviously caused some rumors of a transfer that ultimately led to Bobek leaving the program for Minnesota. We wish the best of luck to Brian in the future.

Sitting Down With 2014 4-Star Offensive Tackle Demetrius Knox

Knox has the Buckeyes on his mind

One of the elite offensive lineman in the country for 2014 is Demetrius Knox (Ft. Worth/Texas). Knox is a 4-star (1 point away from a 5-star) in the class of '14. He is currently the 28th best prospect in the whole country, the 4th best out of Texas and the 5th best offensive tackles overall.

Knox stands 6'5" and weighs 300-pounds, fantastic measurables for an offensive tackle. The Buckeyes know one of their weak points has been on the offensive line, especially the tackle spot. Knox would be a perfect fit for Urban Meyer and Ed Warriner.

For a school that has produced some top lineman including Orlando Pace, Nick Mangold, LeCharles Bentley to name a few, should have no problem attracting some of the top talent in the country at the offensive line position.

Now with Meyer starting his recruiting trail early in 2014, Knox is one of the prospects that Ohio State has at the top of their list.

Join us after the jump to read the interview with Demetrius Knox.

Ohio State Players Jake Stoneburner, Jack Mewhort Lose Scholarships

Ohio State football players Jake Stoneburner and Jack Mewhort have lost their scholarships for the summer,  meaning they will pay their own way for summer school and will have a chance to return to the football team after the summer season has ended.

From the Plain Dealer:

"Meyer had announced on June 4 that they were suspended indefinitely. Stoneburner, a senior tight end, and Mewhort, a junior left tackle, are both key starters for the OSU offense.

"We are disappointed with the decisions made recently by two of our football players," Meyer said in the statement Friday. "Jake Stoneburner and Jack Mewhort will each be removed from athletic scholarship beginning with the summer term, and they will continue to be suspended from team activities until stipulations are successfully met. They will have an opportunity to return to the team in good standing following the summer session.""

According to Ohio State, both Stoneburner and Mewhort will be allowed to work out at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, but they will not be working out with any other Buckeyes. Stoneburner, for one, talked after spring football about looking forward to throwing often with quarterback Braxton Miller this summer. Now that won't happen, at least at the WHAC.

The players initially entered not guilty pleas for their scheduled arraignments this past Monday. The Delaware Municipal Court website now shows those guilty pleas to disorderly conduct, with the status of the cases indicating that they are finished. Both players are listed as owing $299 in fines and court costs.

Keep it at Inside The Shoe for the latest news, updates and opinions on Ohio State athletics

Sitting Down With 2014 Offensive Lineman Jamarco Jones

More offers are sure to be on their way

As of right now, 2014 offensive lineman Jamarco Jones is not ranked by 247. It's no concern for us though, as Jones has the size (6'5", 290-pounds) and power for a solid blocker. Ohio State obviously realized this and reached out to Jones at the Ohio State camp on Sunday to give him an offer.

It's now only a matter of time until Jones will be ranked. On top of being an excellent athlete, Jones maintains a 4.8 GPA at his high school. Yes, you read that correctly, a 4.8.

With Jones attending more and more camps (MSU tomorrow, Notre Dame on 6/22 and Wisconsin on 6/25) he is sure to garner the attention of the coaches that will be in attendance.

Read the interview after the jump.

Sitting Down With 2014 5-Star Linebacker Raekwon McMillan

McMillan has top schools showing interest

With the 2013 class already rolling in big time commits and still about 8 months left to go until National Signing Day, Urban Meyer has been busy. Not only is Meyer dealing with the '13 class, but he already has his eyes set on the 2014 class.

This recruiting class has already received a lot of anticipation in what many hope is one of Urban Meyer's best classes, ever.

One of the top recruits in the country for 2014 is 5-star linebacker Raekwon McMillan. McMillan stands 6'3", weighs 233-pounds and runs the 40-yard dash in 4.65 seconds. Raekwon is the #2 linebacker in the country and #1 prospect in the state of Georgia, according to 247Sports Top 247. 

In his sophomore year, McMillan recorded 84 total tackles and 16 tackles for loss. 

After earning an offer from Ohio State, we spoke with McMillan about his thoughts on Ohio State and the recruiting process thus far. Join us after the jump for the interview.

Ohio State Offers 2014 4-Star Wide Receiver Johnnie Dixon

Dixon has Ohio State on his mind early

The 2013 recruiting season is far from over, but Urban Meyer takes a much different approach then the previous coaching staff in that he begins his recruiting ahead of schedule to try to gain an upper hand on recruits. 2014 recruiting has been underway for a while now and the offers are starting to pile up.

With the latest offer coming to 2014 wide receiver Johnnie Dixon (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla./Dwyer), this offer makes Dixon one of the first half dozen teams to offer him a scholarship.

Including Ohio State on his list, he has offers from Miami, Alabama, Florida, Florida State and South Florida.

The 6'0",180-pound Dixon caught 18 passes for 433 yards and four touchdowns during his sophomore season. While those numbers are not great, it did not take the Buckeyes long to know Dixon is an outstanding talent. Dixon has a tremendous amount of speed, which is one of the big reasons why he's on the offer list for Ohio State.

Dixon is using this summer to go to camps in the state of Florida. Next summer will likely be the Buckeyes’ turn. Dixon has been a Florida Gator fan, but says that won’t have an impact on his college choice.

Dixon is a 4-star prospect in the 247Sports rankings.

Dixon seems as if he is truly interested in Ohio State and a big part of that is Meyer. Since he is a big fan of the Gators, expect Urban Meyer to pull out some big stops with Dixon’s recruitment.

Ohio State's Secondary Rated #1 Overall In Big Ten

Roby is ready for a break-out year

The Ohio State secondary was rated as the best overall secondary in the Big Ten according to Tom Dienhart of the B1G Network. Dienhart goes one step further, continuing his praise for Ohio State's secondary unit by calling it "one of the best secondaries in the nation."

Here's how he looks at the secondary:

"1. Ohio State - All four starters are back for what should be one of the best secondaries in the nation. Cornerback Bradley Roby was a freshman sensation in 2011. His next stop: stardom. Travis Howard forms the other half of this strong corner tandem. 

Christian Bryant (strong) and C.J. Barnett (free) are a stout duo at safety. Barnett is one of best safeties in the Big Ten. In fact, he may be the top safety, flashing instincts, tackling ability and coverage skills."

The rest of the top 5 include Michigan State, Nebraska, Michigan and Illinois. He ranks the rest of the B1G, but here are the explanations for the top 5.

"2. Michigan State - Losing star safety Trenton Robinson hurts, but this still shapes up as a strong secondary. Johnny Adams rates as one of the top corners in the Big Ten—and the nation. He’s a legit Thorpe Award candidate and likely first-round draft choice. Darqueze Dennard is the ying to Adams yan, a corner with size and coverage skills who often is tested with Adams on the other side. 

Strong safety Isaiah Lewis came into his own as a premier talent with All-Big Ten ability last season. Kurtis Drummond is penciled in at Robinson’s strong safety slot. Coaches like his potential."

"3. Nebraska - The Cornhuskers are strong at safety even with the loss of Austin Cassidy. Strong safety Daimion Stafford should be one of the stars of the secondary and maybe the best player on the defense. He’s a big hitter who covers a lot of ground. Free safety P.J. Smith is a veteran who knows the defense and rarely is out of position. There is talent at cornerback but little experience. Standout Alfonzo Dennard is gone, which hurts. Mohammed Seisay arrived from a junior college in the spring and looks like a potential star as the No. 1 corner. Andrew Green and Ciante Evans—among others–also figure in at corner. Former running back Braylon Heard could an asset as a nickel or dime back."

Ohio State Offers Tyquan Lewis, Jamarco Jones At Senior Camp

Lewis has a mean streak

Ohio State’s first Senior Advanced Camp concluded Sunday with two more offers as the Buckeyes reached out to 2013 three-star defensive end Tyquan Lewis (Tarboro, N.C./Tarboro) and 2014 offensive tackle Jamarco Jones (Chicago/De La Salle Institute) after impressive showings. 

From RecruitingNation:

"Being recruited as a hybrid by Ohio State, Lewis made the trip this weekend with the purpose of stitching up a few loose ends.

“It was a non-committable [offer], but now it is committable,” Lewis said. “Today it changed.

“This one means a lot. I’ll have to get my mom back up here. We’re going to sit down and we’re going to discuss this and we’re going to talk academics and things like that and see how everything else is.” "

The 6'3", 220-pound Lewis is still mulling offers from LSU, Ole Miss, Clemson and North Carolina, but he certainly put the Buckeyes in the mix after Sunday. Lewis registered eight sacks his sophomore season. He made 63 tackles with 12 sacks during his junior season.

“They’re up there pretty high,” he said. “I loved it here. This was a great visit. I don’t want to make a decision based on a place I’ve never been. [The facilities] are top notch. Everything is nice here.”

As for Jamarco Jones, who has offers from Illinois, Toledo and Vanderbilt, he thought much of the same after his trip to Columbus.

“It means a lot to me,” the 6'5", 285-pound Jones said. “They’re one of the premier college football schools in the nation, so I was pretty excited.”

Jones has hit the recruiting phase early, being a 2014 prospect. He has 2 more years in high school, meaning that although he's not ranked right now, he has plenty of time to establish himself as one of the better offensive lineman in this class.
Ohio State’s second Senior Advanced Camp is June 23.

Ohio State's First Three Games Set For Noon Start

Meyer's first game as head coach is at noon

Ohio State's first three home games to start the 2012 season, the Buckeyes' first under Urban Meyer, will all kick off at noon.

The games on Sept. 1 against Miami (Ohio), Sept. 8 against Central Florida and Sept. 15 against California each will start at noon.

Four Ohio State start times had already been announced, including consecutive night games vs. Nebraska (Oct. 6 at 8 p.m.) at Ohio Stadium and at Indiana (Oct. 13 at 8 p.m.). Ohio State will play under the lights a third time at Penn State on Oct. 27 at 6 p.m. The rivalry game with Michigan will kick off at noon on Nov. 24 at Ohio Stadium.

Just for kicks, here's the rest of the Big Ten games that were released:

Sept. 1

Ohio at Penn State, Noon, ESPN
Western Michigan at Illinois, Noon, ESPNU
Northwestern at Syracuse, Noon, ESPN2
Southern Mississippi at Nebraska, 3:30 p.m., ABC Regional/ESPN2
Iowa vs. Northern Illinois at Soldier Field, 3:30 p.m., ESPNU

Sept. 8

Central Florida at Ohio State, Noon, ESPN2
Air Force at Michigan, 3:30 p.m., ABC Regional/ESPN2
Michigan State at Central Michigan, 3:30 p.m. ESPNU
Indiana at UMass, 3:30 p.m., ESPN3

Sept. 15

California at Ohio State, Noon, ABC
Arkansas State at Nebraska, Noon, ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU
Navy at Penn State, 3:30 p.m., ABC Regional/ESPN2

Ohio State Basketball Ranks As 2nd Best Coaching Job In The Big Ten

Matta is in an enviable position at OSU

Over at ESPN, it's "Coaches Week" and during this week, the writers go through each conference to rank the best and worst coaching jobs, as voted on by 14 of their writers and television analysts.

For a little more on how it works, here's the explanation:

"A few important notes: This is not an attempt to rank the programs or their histories. A school's tradition was taken into account of course, but more emphasis was given to recent years and how hard or easy it is for a new coach to win there. Current recruits don't remember much beyond, what, 2008?

When voting, our 14 panelists were asked to take into consideration facilities, expectation level, athletic budget, wins and losses, recruiting base, fan support/pressure and all of the other factors that go into determining the "best" jobs in the ever-crazy profession of college basketball coaching.

In short: If you were an agent and every single job was open in a particular conference, where would you direct your client? Where would you tell him to avoid if there are better options?"

The Top 5

1. Indiana

2. Ohio State

3. Michigan State

4. Michigan

5. Wisconsin

Join us after the jump to look at the breakdown of each of these jobs.

Troy Smith Sees Greatness In Ohio State Quarterback Braxton Miller

The sky is the limit for Miller

Since first stepping onto the field in a game against the Akron Zips in the 2011 season, sophomore quarterback Braxton Miller has drawn many comparisons in his style of play. 

It's a common thing college football fans do. Terrelle Pryor was Vince Young, Carlos Hyde is/was Eddie George. When Miller took the reins at quarterback, he instantly was the next Troy Smith. 

Out of many comparisons, I think this one in particular is spot on. Both quarterbacks aren't the tallest in the game (Smith is 6'0" while Braxton stands at 6'3"), but the athletic ability surpasses any type of weakness. Whether it's making plays with their feet or dancing around would-be tacklers to buy time to throw, Troy and Braxton have a lot in common.

Now, Troy Smith himself is calling out the comparison. Only thing is, he's taking it one step even further: 

“I see a lot of myself in him, all of myself,” Smith said. “I solely believe he has a chance to be 10 times better than I was. He’s a lot faster. He’s a much better athlete.

“I’m extremely excited about his future. I want to see him take off.”

Smith said he is impressed with how Miller handles himself off the field, as well, something he learned more about when he said the two quarterbacks met for the first time recently. Smith said Miller and other players today have increased media coverage and social media outlets such as Twitter and Facebook, which put standouts such as Miller under more of a microscope than Smith was under during his OSU career.

To not only be compared to Troy Smith by Smith himself, but to also be told that he can be ten times better than what Smith was in college is a pretty damn good compliment. Smith, as you know, won a Heisman trophy in 2006 while on the way to the biggest stage in college football. The Buckeyes hadn't been to the championship game since 2002, when Smith was a freshman (he later red-shirted). The ending wasn't as sweet as anyone wanted it to be, but Troy had led his team to the promised land.