By: Bill Blanton (BuckeyeCountry.net) -- As a steady rain fell from the sky in the first half, the Ohio State ground game couldn’t have chosen a more opportune time to emerge. The Ohio State Buckeyes defense would provide the rest with another dominant effort as they defeated Illinois to open the Big Ten season at the Shoe 30-0. Dan Herron and Brandon Saine ran hard and at will on the Fighting Illini defensive unit that was overmatched and beaten into submission. The Buckeyes ... Read More

By: Bill Blanton (Examiner.com) -- “Three yards and a cloud of dust” was how Woody Hayes described the run-heavy offenses of the Ohio State football program in the 1950s and 1960’s. Though national championship caliber teams need more balance on offense then what Hayes described, the ability to run the ball and get short yards to convert third downs and “move the chains” is as important today as it was then. Though the 2009 version of the Ohio State football team posted 247-yards rushing ... Read More

By: Doug Lesmerises (Cleveland Plain Dealer) -- CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Maybe the Ohio State Buckeyes just needed a vacation, a weekend away. Nothing extravagant, more like a staycation, a spot a couple hours from Columbus. Like Cleveland. Check out the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, grab some dinner, pound a MAC team, clear their heads, forget about that USC loss a week earlier. “I feel pretty good,” Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor said Saturday afternoon. “And I’m losing memory of that USC game.” “A mini-bowl ... Read More

By: RUSTY MILLER (The Associated Press) -- CLEVELAND — Terrelle Pryor hooked up with Dane Sanzenbacher on two early touchdown passes and No. 11 Ohio State defused Toledo's high-scoring spread attack to beat the Rockets 38-0 Saturday at Cleveland Browns Stadium. It was a resounding response after a week of criticism and sniping in the wake of the Buckeyes' 18-15 loss to No. 3 Southern California. Leading an Ohio State (2-1) offense that was relatively punchless a week earlier, Pryor feasted on a Toledo unit ... Read More

By: RUSTY MILLER (AP via DaytonDailyNews.com) -- COLUMBUS, Ohio — This would be enough to make Woody Hayes rip up some sideline markers. Maybe even the guys holding them. Ohio State, long a bastion of power running and ball-control offense, ranks 81st among the 120 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in rushing. The 11th-ranked Buckeyes (1-1) are producing a less-than-robust 120 yards on the ground per game heading into Saturday's contest with in-state challenger Toledo. Air Force leads the country at 368 yards a game. ... Read More

By: Bill Blanton (Examiner.com) -- The game couldn’t have been scripted any better for Ohio State. The Buckeyes were playing a nationally televised game against USC with a chance at redemption for themselves and the Big Ten conference. At the end, the frustration continues for Ohio State, Buckeye fans, and the Big Ten as USC pulled out a last minute victory 18-15 in front of a record crowd at the Horseshoe of 106,033. Ohio State’s defense played a great game. The defensive line controlled the ... Read More

From: OhioStateBuckeyes.com -- Saturday will be USC’s first visit to the Horseshoe since 1990. The Trojans are 1-0 entering Saturday’s game after defeating San Jose State 56-3 last weekend at the Coliseum. USC has made seven consecutive BCS bowl appearances, including four straight Rose Bowls and the 2004 national championship in the Orange Bowl. The Trojans are led on offense by true freshman Matt Barkley, who threw for 233 yards on 15-of-19 passing with one touchdown. Junior tailback Joe McKnight ran for 145 yards ... Read More

By: Doug Lesmerises (Cleveland Plain Dealer) -- Columbus -- Ohio State should be glad to be done with Navy, but the Buckeyes aren't done with the option. While the Midshipmen used their triple option to push Ohio State to the brink Saturday, the option also was one of the best offensive choices the Buckeyes made. It probably won't be a go-to in the game plan against USC in five days, but running the op tion five times against Navy, the Buckeyes gained 37 yards ... Read More

From: OhioStateBuckeyes.com -- COLUMBUS, Ohio - The No. 6 Ohio State Buckeyes hosted the U.S. Naval Academy for the first time in 78 years to open the 2009 season, with the Buckeyes coming out of the hard-fought game with a 31-27 win before an opening game record crowd of 105,092 in Ohio Stadium. Navy, which had trailed by as many as 13, drew to within two points with 2:23 remaining in the fourth quarter on a 24-yard touchdown run following an interception. ... Read More

By: Tim Bielik (BleacherReport.com) -- After eight long months since the Buckeyes' loss to the Texas Longhorns in the Fiesta Bowl, it is finally time for their 2009 season to begin. Their opening opponent is no pushover in the Navy Midshipmen, a team which has led the nation in rushing each of the past four seasons. In Annapolis, there are usually two constants: a heavy running game, and plenty of upperclassmen in the starting lineup. 2009 is no different, with 19 of the 22 starters ... Read More

By: Doug Lesmerises (Cleveland Plain Dealer) -- Notes from Jim Tressel's news conference today: * Cameron Heyward is practicing and will be ready to go. Add backup safety Aaron Gant to the previous list of guys - Travis Howard, Orhian Johnson, Mike Adams, Jermil Martin - who probably won't play this week. * Tressel reiterated that the Buckeyes have a shot at drawing 106,000 fans for the opener with Navy, which would break the Ohio Stadium attendance record of 105,711 set against Penn State ... Read More

By: Doug Lesmerises (Cleveland Plain Dealer) -- Ohio State has released its depth chart for Monday's opener against Navy, and it appears that some position battles have been won. There are no positions listed with an OR that indicate the first-team spot is split. I'm sure we'll still see plenty of players moving in and out at certain spots for the Buckeyes, but according to the depth chart, here is the news: • Andrew Miller is the left tackle. J.B. Shugarts is second team. • ... Read More