BY: HERB GOULD (SunTimes.com) -- Illinois hasn't won as many games as it would like this year, but it hasn't lost the belief that it can surprise No. 10 Ohio State on Saturday and revive a fading season. For all of their troubles, the Illini -- coming off a disappointing loss to Western Michigan -- have not lost two games in a row. And they pulled off a major upset when they handed the top-ranked Buckeyes their first loss last November in Columbus. ''Like ... Read More

By: JON SPENCER (NewarkAdvocate.com) -- If I’m reading this week’s Big Ten football statistics correctly, quarterbacks Terrelle Pryor and Juice Williams are not only dual threats, but two-faced as well. Crunching their numbers reminds me of the “Seinfeld” episode where his girlfriend looks pretty one moment and pretty ugly the next. It’s like sizing yourself in the mirror at home compared to the bright lights of the department store changing room. What are you supposed to believe? Good Terrelle leads the Big Ten in pass efficiency. Bad ... Read More

By: Adam Jardy (Scout.com) -- A senior season that did not see things go according to plan for Dublin (Ohio) Scioto safety prospect Bradley McDougald now has him seeking a new future. BuckeyeSports.com has learned that McDougald's commitment to Ohio State has been rescinded and his future now remains uncertain. Dublin (Ohio) Scioto defensive back Bradley McDougald is no longer committed to Ohio State, BuckeyeSports.com has learned. In an e-mail message, head coach Karl Johnson said the three-star safety prospect is no ... Read More

By: Doug Lesmerises (Cleveland.com) -- COLUMBUS -- Jim Tressel sits behind his desk, a Diet Coke at his side, flipping through a copy of "The Winners Manual." "You know, this really is well written," Tressel mumbles to himself as the door of his office swings open. In strides freshman quarterback Terrelle Pryor, his face twisted in consternation, a look that indicates he has something very interesting, and very private, to say, something he'd never tell reporters. "T, what's up?" Tressel says. "Coach Tress, we have ... Read More

By: Matthew Hager (Scout.com) -- Several OSU verbal commitments are in the midst of their postseasons. Three future Buckeyes in Kentucky and Maryland will begin their playoffs, while eight others continue their runs in Ohio and Pennsylvania. • WLB Dorian Bell and CB/WR Corey Brown, Monroeville (Pa.) Gateway – The Gators will take on Pittsburgh Penn Hills in a Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League Class AAAA semifinal at West Mifflin on Friday. The game will be a rematch of both teams’ Aug. 29 ... Read More

By: Doug Lesmerises (Cleveland.com) -- Columbus- Ohio State has been beating conference opponents on the road for three years. Now everyone else is doing it, too. For the first time since 1999, Big Ten teams have a chance to produce a winning road record in conference games, which can be either a good thing or a bad thing, depending how you look at it. So far, teams are 17-17 on the road this season, after going 17-27 on the road a year ago. The ... Read More

By: AP via Cleveland.com -- COLUMBUS, Ohio — What's brewing today with the 2008 Ohio State Buckeyes ... BUCKEYES BUZZ:@ Rory Nicol says he doesn't have time to think about anybody else but himself and his teammates. It's almost an indoctrination for a college athlete. He said coaches try to get players to focus, focus, focus to the point where they have little time or energy for anything outside their sphere. "We're like these trained dogs. We're trained to think about ourselves," he said. "But ... Read More

By: Jim Naveau (LimaOhio.com) -- COLUMBUS - It might be just the sort of things coaches always say, but Illinois football coach Ron Zook insists the Illini are better than they were at the start of the season. No. 10 Ohio State (8-2, 5-1 Big Ten) will find out if that is true when it goes to Illinois (5-5, 3-3 Big Ten) on Saturday. But it seems like a pretty bold statement for a Big Ten coach to be making the week after ... Read More

BY: TODD PORTER (CantonRep.com) -- COLUMBUS Before the Ohio State football team returned from beating Northwestern, the Buckeyes' season changed. The buses carrying Buckeyes still were rolling toward campus Saturday when Iowa kicked a field goal to beat Penn State, giving Ohio State, Penn State and Michigan State all one loss in the Big Ten. Head Coach Jim Tressel has said the same thing every season: November is when it counts most. He was right — again. "Typically, if you go through history, the team that ... Read More