Monday's Buckeye Bits

It's time again..

Good morning Buckeye fans, and welcome to a new week. National Signing Day is almost upon us, which is next Wednesday, and coaches are looking to make those final pushes towards the best recruits in the country. Meanwhile, basketball is still being played as the inching towards March continues rolling on. The NFL has it's conference champions, and the Super Bowl match up is set.

With all that being said, it's time to get started with our Monday Buckeye Bits!

Joe Paterno Leaves A Legend. As you may know already, legendary and former Penn State coach Joe Paterno passed away on Saturday. He was 85, and died due to a battle with lung cancer. A great coach, his final season of coaching was cut short when he was fired for the recent situation at Penn State. Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer commented on JoePa's death, saying "I was a coach that really admired him and followed him," Meyer said. "Any chance I had to visit with him, I'd wear him out with questions. I was always trying to learn from him.". This is not only a great loss for the Penn State community, but for College football itself. We wish the best for the Paterno family in their time of need.

Ohio State Overcomes Sloppy Play, Wins Big

David Lighty scored 18 points and Ohio State wasn't tested in its first game as No. 1, rolling over Iowa 70-48 on Wednesday night. The Buckeyes (19-0, 6-0 Big Ten) improved to 60-4 when ranked first in The Associated Press poll.

William Buford had 15 points and Jared Sullinger added 13 for the Buckeyes, topping the polls for the first time since the final three weeks of the 2006-07 regular season. That season's team went to the national championship game, losing to defending champion Florida and finishing with a 35-4 record.

Iowa has fallen to 0-6 in Big Ten play, and Ohio State continues to get better.

Live Blog: #1 Ohio State vs. Iowa

Buckeye ballers keeping it at the VAC, taking on the Hawkeyes for the second time this season.

Join us at 6:15 PM EST! Go Bucks!

Preview: #1 Ohio State vs. Iowa

The Ohio State Buckeyes (18-0, 5-0) enter this game in Value City Arena coming off a big win against Talor Battle and the Nittany Lions. After taking the #1 spot for the first time since the 2006 season, they bring in the Hawkeyes of Iowa. They've been anything but dominant of late in staying unbeaten, however, with their last four wins, all against unranked opponents, coming by a total of 15 points.

Those four teams shot a combined 47.7 percent, and Ohio State allowed Penn State to hit 55.6 percent from the floor -- the second highest mark against the Buckeyes this season -- in a 69-66 win Saturday. Thad Matta said he would rather have a better defense then the #1 ranking, and I would agree with him. For right now, rankings don't mean too much. March Madness seedings are usually dependent on RPI (which, for the Buckeyes, looks pretty decent right now).

The stretch of close results began with a 73-68 victory at Iowa on Jan. 4. The Hawkeyes led 35-29 at halftime, but freshman Jared Sullinger had 24 points and 12 rebounds to help the Buckeyes hold on.

Buckeyes Escape Iowa With A Win

Winning, it's what we do.
AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall

When the game was on the line, Jim Tressel and the Buckeyes put the ball in Terrelle Pryor's hands, and they were rewarded with a 20-17 victory over the Hawkeyes in Iowa City. Terrelle Pryor threw for 195 yards and a touchdown for the Buckeyes (10-1, 6-1 Big Ten). 


The win kept Ohio State tied with Wisconsin and Michigan State atop the Big Ten standings heading into next week's showdown with rival Michigan in the Horseshoe. It also preserved the Buckeyes chances for at least a share of the Big Ten title for a record-tying sixth year in a row. Pryor overcame two interceptions to lead his team to victory, but it was Daniel "Boom" Herron that added the late touchdown to give the Buckeye's the lead for good. 


The game wasn't totally over, as with less than 2 minutes left, Stanzi was back to pass on third down, and was under pressure right away. That's when Cameron Heyward made his move, getting his first sack in what seems like forever. After that, McNutt was two yards short on 4th down, and the game was over, as the Buckeyes continued their mastery of the Hawkeyes, winning for the 12th time in the past 13 games. 


This team had to overcome a lot of adversity to get in a game winning situation, though. For example on the play before the 4th and 10 run by Pryor, on third down he had a wide open DeVier Posey. Naturally, he threw it up and everyone held their breath in Kinnick Stadium. We all saw the ball go into his hands, and suddenly drop through his chest, and the game seemed lost. The only comparison I could give to you is the 2005 Texas game when Hamby had a chance to seal a victory, and bobbled the ball. This matchup had long been circled as the biggest of the year in the Big Ten. The Buckeyes and Hawkeyes were picked 1-2 in the league's preseason poll, and Ohio State's 27-24 OT win in Columbus last year had many wondering what might happen when Iowa got Ohio State at home with a healthy Stanzi.

How Sweet It Is

AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall

Awesome. Total team effort to pull it out from under Ferentz's nose.

It's now Michigan week.

Live Blog: #9 Ohio State vs. #20 Iowa

Huge game today for our Buckeyes, join us at 3:15 PM EST to get the chat going! Go Bucks!

Representing: Iowa

Patrick Vint from Black Heart Gold Pants was kind enough to answer our questions this week about the upcoming game and Iowa's season. Also who's going where in the Rose Bowl.


1. How do you feel about where the Hawkeyes are as a team?

Disappointed.  This was supposed to be the year where Iowa hung around the top 10 all season and got their long-awaited trip to Pasadena.  But, despite the fact that the team is loaded with seniors, they've clearly taken a step back from last season, and we're booking our flights to Florida for January 1.  It's not often as an Iowa fan that you can be greatly disappointed in a season that ends in a New Year's Day bowl game.  This is one of those times. 

2. Stanzi and Clayborn are the obvious key players. Who else do the players build around to make plays?

On offense, everything runs through halfback Adam Robinson, who was on pace for 1200 yards rushing before missing the Indiana game with an injury.  Derrell Johnson-Koulianos has broken nearly every career receiving record at Iowa (and don't forget, it's Senior Day) despite only this year becoming the definitive top target for Stanzi.  On defense, watch for the safeties, Brett Greenwood and Tyler Sash, who both have a nose for overthrows.

3. What has to happen for Ohio State to beat Iowa, and vice versa?

Iowa needs turnovers from the Ohio State offense, more than anything.  The last two weeks, Iowa's offense has had significant trouble putting together scoring drives.  The short field would be extremely beneficial.  As for Ohio State, Iowa's plan is going to be to stop Boom Herron and Terrelle Pryor on the ground and make OSU win through the air.  If Posey and Sanzenbacher have big days, OSU wins big.

4. How much do you hate Northwestern? Honestly.

Hate is a binary state, and yes, I hate them.  My list of people I hate right now has Pat Fitzgerald ranked somewhere between Brett Favre and Khalid Sheik Mohammed. 

5. How does Iowa finish the season? (W/L, Bowl game)

I have them losing to Ohio State this week, beating Minnesota to close the regular season, and going to the Outback Bowl to kick the crap out of Mississippi State.  Of course, they could win this week, win at Minnesota, and go to the Outback Bowl to kick the crap out of Mississippi State.  What I'm saying is we're playing Mississippi State.

Keys To The Iowa Game

After last week’s performance against the Nittany Lions, I have to confess that the game against Iowa has me a little worried. Watching that horrendous first half against PSU, I was convinced that we had a Wisconsin 2.0 on our hands. Penn St. really seemed to have the buck’s number in those first 28 minutes. The corner’s were getting burned on the short passing plays, PSU’s running attack was able to move the sticks and the “moxie” of McLovin was on full display as he was calm and collected against the Buckeye defense. On a side note, I want to point out that I was calling him “McLovin” well before that turd Desmond Howard was. Anyway, after a HUGE stop on 4th and 1, Ohio St. was able to escape the half with minimal damage and go into the locker room down only 11.

AP Photo/Al Behrman

We all know how it turned out in the second half. McLovin’s “moxie” (seriously… how many times did Herbstreit and Musburger use that term?) took a swan dive into the Olentangy with 2 (!) pick 6’s. OSU would rattle off 35 unanswered points on PSU to turn a white knuckle affair into a laugher. My question is… did the 2nd half explosion make you feel and better about the lethargic first half? There are some big concerns I have about this team heading into the last couple games.

The Buckeye’s have owned the month of November under Jim Tressel and they look to continue their dominance as they head to Iowa City this weekend. There will be a ton on the line (mostly for OSU) when these teams take the field on Saturday. The Hawkeyes are sure to be in a lousy mood coming off their upset defeat at Northwestern. They will view this matchup as a way to salvage their season along with playing spoiler to OSU’s BCS hopes. I am sure that everyone’s favorite super coach Kirk Ferentz will have a few tricks up his sleeve. There are a few things that Buckeye fans would like to see this weekend in order to ensure victory against Iowa:

Who you got?: #7 Ohio State vs. #20 Iowa

Ian: 17-13, Ohio State - It's going to be a defensive football game, and OSU's secondary almost loses Ohio State the game. Luckily, Pryor has a late minute, game-winning drive to seal the victory. Kinnick Stadium will be loud, though, and this was a tough pick.


SBB: 38-20, Ohio State - Let me start off by saying that to this point Iowa SHOULD BE A 4 LOSS TEAM at this point in the season. Typical of Iowa, they came in ranked high and collapsed for no apparent reason. Now that bye week madness is over, I expect the Buckeyes to come out fired up and unaffected by the pink locker room. The defense, mainly the secondary needs to play well, but it all starts up front. Can our front 4 get pressure on Stanzi and force mistakes? I think so, at least enough to make a difference. Boom goes for 100+ again and opens it up for the pass game.

Brady: 27-17, Ohio State -  Iowa will probably be pretty fired up with the Buckeye's visiting Iowa City this weekend.  Coming off a loss, I expect Iowa to throw everything they have at Ohio St.  Some big plays by the Buckeye offense and an untimely pick for Stanzi will be the difference.  A tough one, but the good guys come out on top.

Danny: 20-17, Ohio State - This is a tough game for me to pick.  If the Buckeyes that played the second half against Penn State show up, Ohio State wins.  If they come out slow like against Penn State, this will be Wisconsin all over again.  The O-line will have their hands full, and I don't see Sonic Boom getting anywhere close to the 190 yards he picked up this week.  This game will be won/lost by Terrelle Pryor.