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Gary Laney | I'm ready for the debate to end

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For 16 years, we've been stuck with silly debates comparing teams in conferences that don't play each other. After this year, the debate becomes (a little) less absurd.

ATLANTA -- Even when the crowd disperses from downtown Atlanta tonight at the end of the SEC Championship Game, the debate will rage on.

Heck, it'll just be starting.

Should the SEC champion -- and it doesn't matter if it's Missouri and Auburn, two teams with almost identical one-loss resumes that will be separated on the Georgia Dome turf -- have a chance to deliver the conference an eight straight BCS national championship?

Or should unbeaten Ohio State go instead, despite a weaker schedule? And what of top-ranked Florida State, which is coming out of the weakest conference of the four teams (well, three after one of the SEC teams eliminates the other) in question?

What's the answer?

I don't know. Sure, I have an opinion, but I don't really know.

And neither do you.

And neither does any computer.

That's what has made these last 16 years so absurd. College football invites but two teams out of 120-something FBS members (more or less, depending on the year), most of whom never play each other, for one game to determine a national champion.

How absurd is that?

So would a 13-0 Ohio State team be better than a 12-1 Auburn or a 12-1 Missouri?

You can make the case. Ohio State would have done everything it could possibly do right, including beating a good Michigan State team. As for Auburn, nice resume, but it shouldn't have lost by two touchdowns (including the last score of the game) in a decisive loss at LSU. As for Missouri, it shouldn't have blown a 17-point lead at home to lose to South Carolina.

Of course, you can also make the case for the Auburn-Missouri winner. Ohio State would not have had to go through the toughest league in the country (and as much as the rest of the nation is tired of hearing it, it's true) and its best non-conference win -- was it 1-11 California or 7-5 San Diego State? -- doesn't add much to the resume either.

But how can we really compare a one-loss SEC team to an unbeaten Big 10 team?

You can go with the NFL draft -- the SEC more NFL players than any other league. But that doesn't always tell the story. Take Auburn's last team to win a national title, in 2010. Sure, Cam Newton was freakishly good, but that team also had a great college offensive line opening holes for Newton and only one player off that line -- offensive tackle Lee Ziemba -- was drafted in the 2011 draft. And that didn't happen until the seventh round.

So NFL talent doesn't always tell the whole story. The SEC is supposed to be a much better league than the ACC this year, but on the field, the two leagues had competitive games this season, with the SEC enjoying a 5-3 edge but only after winning two dramatic games -- Vanderbilt over Wake Forest and Georgia over Georgia Tech in overtime -- on the season's final day.

A couple of plays here and there and the ACC could have finished 5-3 against the SEC this year.

The point? The SEC's superiority over the rest of college football is real, but it can be overblown. If you have a matchup between a good SEC team and a good team from the Big 10, Pac-12, Big 12 or even the ACC, you can expect a good, competitive game more often than not.

We've gone around and around on this stuff for 16 years now and the bottom line is, we don't know.

What can we base the comparison between the two leagues on? Missouri's win over Indiana? Come on. The SEC is 21-20 in bowl games against the Big 10 in the BCS era. That's hardly a track record that tells you the SEC should get some special pass.

Besides, that's all in the past. This year deserves to be judged on the merits of this year and the bottom line is SEC and Big 10 members simply don't play often enough for sweeping conclusions.

And frankly, it shouldn't matter and next year, more than any year in the the history of college football, it won't.

If this were next year and FSU and Ohio State both won, then Ohio State would play the SEC champion in a national semifinal.

That SEC vs. Big 10 debate would work itself out on the field. And not a Capital One, Outback or Gator Bowl, but in a game with national championship implications.

That's the way these debates should be settled, isn't it?


'I never wear green': Buckeyes still bitter 15 years after Michigan State ruined their perfect season

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It has been 15 years, but the players on the 1998 Ohio State team that suffered its first loss of the season to Michigan State have yet to get over it.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- An old picture ruined Dee Miller's birthday.

On Wednesday, a friend showed him a shot from Ohio State's game against Michigan State in November 1998.

"I'm like, 'Dude, you just messed up my birthday,'" said Miller, a receiver on that '98 Buckeyes team. "I can't block it out. Just that whole sequence, that whole drive, I'll never be able to block that out."

The Buckeyes entered that affair as the No. 1 team in the nation and as a 28-point favorite over Nick Saban's Spartans. Ohio State had beaten its first eight opponents by an average of 29 points per game.

"In my opinion, that 1998 team was one of the best teams to ever play college football," said running back Jonathan Wells. "We were very explosive."

Instead, Michigan State climbed out of a 24-9 hole and pulled out a 28-24 win in Columbus. The Spartans forced five turnovers and the Buckeyes stalled in the red zone with one minute remaining.

"I think it was somewhat of a panic by everybody," Miller said.

Under duress, Ohio State quarterback Joe Germaine hurried a pass toward Miller in the end zone on the Buckeyes' final play. Michigan State's Reynaldo Hill stepped in front, intercepted the pass and sealed the upset. Years later, Miller's wide receivers coach with the Green Bay Packers, Charlie Baggett -- who served as an assistant under Saban at Michigan State -- told Miller the Spartans knew the exact route he was going to run on Ohio State's last gasp.

Michigan State had solved the Big Ten's beast. Out of nowhere, the Buckeyes' reign atop the college football world had ended. For Miller, a senior, the pain was unbearable.

"Maybe if it wasn't me they threw the ball to on the last play, I'd be like, 'Oh, well. We lost,'" Miller said. "But, no. I'm somewhat responsible for not making the play that we needed to make to stay undefeated and ranked No. 1."

Wells said the mood in the locker room was "very somber."

"It was ugly," Wells said. "When you know that you're better than somebody but, unfortunately, on that day, they're better than you, you have to just live with it. It's a tough pill to swallow. It was tough. We were very disappointed. We were heartbroken. We had shown no signs of being beatable that season."

In the first year of the BCS system, Ohio State's national title hopes vanished.

"It was like somebody died," Miller said. "Here we are with all of this firepower, being ranked No. 1. That was the first year of the BCS, so we found out that our mess-up let everyone know that if you lose, you better lose early in the season. If you lose at the end of the season, there's no way for you to get back into that national championship hunt."

Neither Wells nor Miller has ever gone back and watched that game. In fact, Wells admitted that he had never agreed to an interview about the game until Cleveland.com approached him.

"They'll have that game on Big Ten Network and I'll get a whole lot of texts saying, 'Hey man, you're on Big Ten Network,'" Miller said. "People think it's cool that you're on TV, but you're on TV for the wrong damn reason. I have never watched that game. Even the next day, watching it on film just made me sick to my stomach."

Jim Tressel asked Miller to speak to the team before its expedition to East Lansing, Mich., in October 2006. The Buckeyes proceeded to wallop the Spartans, 38-7. And yet, Miller remained dissatisfied.

"I still didn't feel any type of payback feeling," Miller said. "We won as a university, but I wasn't like, 'Yeah, now take that!' I really feel like there's nothing anyone can do to make me feel like it's payback."

That includes an Ohio State win against Michigan State in the Big Ten Championship Game on Saturday. A Buckeyes victory would likely propel Urban Meyer's unbeaten bunch to the national title game. Of course, 15 years later, Michigan State is aiming to repeat history, in the final year of the BCS system.

"It's an eerie feeling this weekend," Wells said.

A native of Louisiana, Wells said he has, for years, debated his alma mater's merits with those living in SEC territory.

"I argue all day with people I don't know on Facebook," Wells said. "I'm not going to tolerate any disrespect when you talk about the Buckeyes. I get it all the time -- all of my LSU boys from high school. It doesn't help that they beat us in the national championship [in 2008]. At the end of the day, I'm still going to hold my ground."

Wells, speaking from experience, has one piece of advice for the Buckeyes this weekend.

"I hope no one over there is looking forward to the national championship until they get this thing taken care of," Wells said.

This is one Ohio State-Michigan State tilt Wells plans to watch. He certainly won't be clad in anything resembling Spartans gear.

"I don't have many things in my closet that are green," Wells said, laughing. "I definitely don't."

Don't even mention the color green to Miller.

"I never wear green," Miller said. "I wish they would change the color of money."


Lancaster OL Kyle Trout out to prove he's much more than a class-filler, not simply an in-state quota for Ohio State: Buckeyes recruiting

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On the surface, Lancaster product Kyle Trout looks like a boring offensive lineman. But when you dig deeper, you find an interesting personality that brings the type of athleticism that could figure into early playing time at Ohio State.

LANCASTER, Ohio – The list of oral commitments that comprise Ohio State’s 2014 recruiting class is impressively diverse. 

Then there’s Kyle Trout of Lancaster, Ohio, a name listed among the others you probably know little about – maybe because he’s a boring offensive lineman.

“When I first started getting recruited, a lot of people thought I was just another Ohio kid, that [Urban] Meyer thought I was like (part of) a quota,” Trout said during an in-person interview with Cleveland.com on Thursday. “But I'm a player.”

Then Trout says things like that – thought-provoking, honest and personable things. It makes you want to dig deeper, to find out more.

You quickly realize that Trout isn’t some boring offensive lineman, and he certainly isn’t some throw-in prospect Meyer added to Ohio State’s class to infuse homegrown talent into the group.

“Coach Meyer wants the best kids, and if they aren’t in Ohio then he isn’t going to only get Ohio kids to make Ohio parents happy,” Trout said. “He just wants to win. He loses his job if he doesn’t win. He wants the best.”

There he goes again. Interesting, right?

But being interesting is not why he has an Ohio State scholarship. Trout is a four-star prospect rated by Rivals.com the No. 19 offensive tackle in the country. He earned offers from the majority of the Big Ten, and had he not committed to the Buckeyes early, Trout likely would have had a national recruitment.

He is quick to remind you, however, that he had to personally earn that Ohio State scholarship by out-performing other in-state prospects in camps and through consistent play during his junior season.

Players such as Nick Richardson of Westerville Central and Jimmy Byrne of St. Ignatius were also vying for an offer from Meyer, but Trout won out in the end. Richardson is heading to Kentucky next year, while Byrne prepares for a future at Notre Dame.

“I knew (I was competing) before they even told me,” Trout said. “It was tough because it was a long time of (the Ohio State coaches) going to Westerville Central and then coming to Lancaster to figure out which kid they wanted to give an offer to. Then finally it was me. It was a great honor.”

It wasn’t anything Trout did in a summer camp or on the football field that eventually convinced Ohio State line coach Ed Warinner that he was the guy. It was at a basketball game, in which Trout starred as the Gales’ center.

Trout ran up and down the floor with great agility, he guarded all five positions and he never came out of the game. This wasn’t some out of shape lineman playing basketball just for the sake of his 6-foot-6, 285-pound frame. 

Trout is immeasurably athletic for a person of his vast size. Smaller guards from the opposing team couldn't believe how quickly Trout was moving. 

“His running ability for a lineman, its unparalleled,” said Lancaster head Coach Rob Carpenter, whose son, Bobby Carpenter, is a former Ohio State linebacker. “I haven't seen a lot of linemen in the NFL, college level or high school, that can run like he does. You can acquire and teach strength, but you can’t acquire his type of athleticism.”

A former NFL running back for the Houston Oilers and New York Giants, Carpenter knows what a football player looks like. Carpenter coached former Ohio State lineman Jimmy Cordle at Lancaster, and now Cordle, coincidentally, is on the Giants.

But it isn’t only positive reviews for Trout. Carpenter said Trout needs to add size to play tackle at Ohio State, and Lancaster’s Wing-T offense hasn’t given him a lot of reps with pass protection. The Gales also don’t have any players that match Trout’s size.

“It’s good he’s enrolling early at Ohio State early,” Carpenter said. “High school is done for you. You don’t need to go to prom, you don’t need all that stuff. You need to get up there with big-time football, get into that environment and get with one of the top training staffs in the country.”

Ohio State will say goodbye to four senior offensive linemen after this season, and Trout sees an opportunity to play early. It probably won’t be at tackle initially, but Trout – much like Cordle was at Ohio State – is versatile.

“People don’t get on fire for offensive linemen,” Trout said. “But I am going to get onto the field because I am a hard worker. I’ll play guard if they want me to play guard, I will play anywhere. Center opens up, I’ll try and play center. I just want to get playing time. And I’ll get it.” 


'I think you have to dream big': Michigan State arrives in Indy with sights set on an upset

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Michigan State might be the underdog, but the Spartans are confident in their ability to match up with Ohio State in Saturday's Big Ten Championship Game.

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Michigan State team bus took a turn on the highway, and Lucas Oil Stadium appeared in the distance.

What a calming sight.

"My feeling when we saw the stadium was, 'OK, we've been there,'" Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio said during Friday's Big Ten Championship Game media session. "It wasn't, 'Wow, here we are. What are we doing here?' It's like, 'We've been here. We need to take the next step here.'"

Ohio State and Michigan State traveled different paths to arrive in Indianapolis for Saturday's conference title game. The Buckeyes have cruised along the expressway for two seasons, having rattled off a program-record 24 consecutive wins. They swerved past a speed bump in Ann Arbor last week to preserve their national championship aspirations.

The Spartans, meanwhile, have driven uphill since a sluggish start. Narrow wins against Western Michigan (now 1-11) and South Florida (now 2-9) preceded an FCS win and a four-point loss to Notre Dame. Michigan State's offense struggled to accelerate. Questions about the quarterback and the running game sprouted up. Then, the Spartans embarked on an eight-game win streak.

"We didn't look back after that," Dantonio said. "I think that's when we started to figure out and develop confidence in ourselves. I've said it many times, I think confidence breeds success."

To Dantonio, the Spartans are the underdog, the road team, the longshot. At least, that's the mentality he wants to instill. Michigan State is technically the home team, the team with the nation's top-ranked defense, the team that sports an 8-0 conference record identical to that of its opponent on Saturday.

"We're not a finished product," Dantonio said. "We're at a point, though, where we can do something special."

A win would likely propel Ohio State to the BCS Championship Game in Pasadena, Calif., on Jan. 6. Win or lose, the Spartans might find themselves in the same city at the same stadium, only five days before the national title game. Michigan State, though, went 7-6 last season, with five of the losses coming by a total of 13 points. Ohio State, on the other hand, opened the year at No. 2 in the polls.

Michigan State is ranked No. 10 in the BCS despite only that single, four-point loss. It has seemingly taken time for voters and pundits to warm up to the idea that the Spartans might be a capable team.

Dantonio isn't surprised by his team's gradual ascension in the standings and in the rankings. He told his players at a football banquet at the end of last season that they would be in this position a year later.

"We were sort of a resilient group of people that just kept pressing," Dantonio said. "I think when you go through adverse situations or storms in your life, it tends to bring you closer together. That's what happened to our football team.

"I felt that. At the banquet, I felt like we had something special. Usually when I feel like that, I'm going to share it with our football team. I did at the banquet. It's come to fruition. We'll find out tomorrow are we or aren't we, but we've come a long way."

The Buckeyes are the team with the athletes, the speed, the explosiveness. The Spartans are perceived to be the gritty replica of Jim Tressel's old Ohio State teams. It's a classic clash of contrasting styles. Is Michigan State really the scrappy underdog? It probably depends on the preferred perspective.

When the Spartans arrived in Indianapolis on Friday, Dantonio reflected on the road Michigan State has taken to reach the pinnacle of conference play. He's been here before, though, as the Spartans fell short against Wisconsin in the inaugural Big Ten title game in 2011.

In Dantonio's eyes, there's more to accomplish.

"I think you have to dream big," Dantonio said. … "For our players right now it's a special time. It's our time."


How long will Ohio State RG Marcus Hall be held out?: Breaking down Urban Meyer's Big Ten Championship news conference

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Ohio State senior guard Marcus Hall will not start for the No. 2-ranked Buckeyes against No. 10 Michigan State in the Big Ten Championship Game on Saturday night. How long will he be out?

INDIANAPOLIS – Urban Meyer seemingly turned the page on the Marcus Hall situation earlier in the week, but Ohio State’s senior right guard isn’t yet out of the doghouse.

During his news conference from Lucas Oil Stadium to preview the Big Ten Championship Game, Meyer said Hall wouldn’t start for the No. 2-ranked Buckeyes against No. 10 Michigan State on Saturday night.

“Other than that,” Meyer said, “We’ll see what happens.”

Meyer instead will stash Hall on the bench for redshirt freshman Pat Elflein in a game that will determine whether Ohio State earns a spot in the BCS National Championship Game.

But Hall isn’t suspended, so how long will he miss? A play? A drive? A quarter? The first half?

Hall was ejected early in the second quarter of the Buckeyes’ win over the Wolverines last weekend for throwing a punch during a fight. As he walked off the field, Hall flipped off the Michigan Stadium crowd with both hands before he reached the tunnel.

The following day, Meyer said he had no plans to suspend Hall for the Big Ten Championship Game. The Big Ten issued a public reprimand of Hall on Monday, but the conference didn’t see grounds for further suspension.

Case closed, right? Not quite.

“Very, very disappointed in his actions,” Meyer said. “He paid the penalty for the fight, which is he missed three quarters in a rivalry game. (That’s) not Marcus. But just really disappointed in his actions after the fight.”

Those questioning Meyer during the week for quickly turning the page on Hall’s actions may have been premature. But how far Meyer will go on Saturday in sending a message to Hall still remains to be seen.

"We're dealing with Marcus in our own way," Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith told Sirius XM on Wednesday. "We don't feel like a suspension was warranted, but we do believe you have to implement some behavior modification techniques, as we call it. So we're doing that.

“Marcus made a terrible mistake, and he's suffering for it from the media, the public and everybody else and that in itself is painful. He knows what he did, our team knows what he did, and we're teaching him never do that again.”

Meyer hasn’t hesitated this season to discipline players who have acted out with the hopes of altering behavior patterns for his team moving forward.

Running back Carlos Hyde was suspended for the first three games of the season for his involvement in an altercation in a nightclub in July. Hyde was never charged of a crime, but Meyer issued the suspension because Ohio State’s coach didn’t like that the running back was even in a compromising situation.

Now having a season some feel would be worthy of consideration for the Heisman Trophy had he not started the season suspended, Hyde has shown Meyer personal growth having paid the consequences for his actions.

“For the past three months (the suspension) certainly has (had an impact),” Meyer said. “I’m hoping it will for the rest of his life. A very humble young man that realized something was almost taken away from him. I’ve loved his approach to everything.”

The same happened with junior cornerback Bradley Roby, who was also involved in a confrontation in a bar in July. Roby was suspended for the first game of the season.

More than any other player on the team this season, Hall was used as the example as what it looks like when a player undergoes a personal transformation, both on and off the field. Even after his actions at Michigan, Meyer said, “that wasn’t him.”

Senior center Corey Linsley said Hall has been punishing himself all week in the form of personal anguish, and performing in the Big Ten title game was supposed to be somewhat of a personal reprieve.

But Hall will have to live with his decision from last weekend a little past kickoff. 


Who will Jim Tressel root for? Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio says his friend and mentor could wear green, "Maybe"

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“I would like to think he’s sitting back and watching,” Dantonio said of Tressel “I don’t know if he’s got green on or not tomorrow, but maybe.”

COLUMBUS, Ohio – On one side are Mark Dantonio and Jim Bollman, two of his closest friends, not to mention his nephew, Mike.

On the other side are still three classes of players he recruited to Columbus and the program he made his own for a decade.

Saturday, when Michigan State and Ohio State take the field at Lucas Oil Stadium in the Big Ten Championship, what will Jim Tressel do?

“I would like to think he’s sitting back and watching,” Dantonio said when I asked him that question at the pregame news conference in Indianapolis on Friday. “I don’t know if he’s got green on or not tomorrow, but maybe.”

When the Buckeyes and Spartans played in East Lansing last season, I made the point that it was the closest we’d ever get to a rematch of the BCS National Championship game between Urban Meyer’s Florida Gators and Tressel’s Buckeyes after the 2006 season.

Now Meyer’s team is in scarlet and gray, and Dantonio, Tressel’s close friend and former defensive coordinator, is winning with a Tressel-like plan of a great defense and an offense that doesn’t put the defense in a bad spot in East Lansing.

This game is 10 times more like the matchup in Glendale, Ariz., from seven years ago than the one last year. It's on a fast indoor track, with Meyer’s offensive style more in place than last year and with Dantonio’s defense even better.

So I asked Meyer if preparing for this game was like preparing for those Tressel Buckeyes.

“Never really thought about that,” Meyer said. “I’m not sure. Probably now that I’m thinking about it, excellent defense like the ’06 team. Run-heavy offense that’s actually got more and more balanced. Yeah, I think so.”

Adding Bollman to the MSU staff this season as a co-offensive coordinator has made that even more true. Last season, he was working at Boston College when the Buckeyes and Spartans played.

“Coach Bolls is a guy that is a great team person. He's a great guy to have on your staff. He's extremely loyal. He's extremely intelligent," Dantonio said.

“When you're a coordinator at the highest level, you're going to take some shots at some times, and he's weathered the storm.

“He's brought components and different things to our program, to our offense, that have been creative, have helped us form an identity. He's done an outstanding job. I just can't tell you how much it means to have him here because he's like a brother to me, as well. We have a very close staff. But he gives you another guy, another person, that you've been through a lot of things with. He's a foxhole guy. He's been there with you through thick and thin. Means the world to us, he and his family.”

If that’s what Bollman means to Dantonio, imagine his relationship with Tressel.

“I talk to Coach Tress every now and then,” Dantonio said of this season. “I talk to him just to settle me as a person. I listen to his advice. Doesn’t talk X’s and O’s. He’s been a great friend and mentor. Also hear from (Alabama coach) Nick Saban a little bit.

“But it’s nice because people who have an influence on me over the course of my life. This is a big moment.”

A text to Tressel asking for comment on his planned attire for Saturday wasn’t returned. But when asked about this matchup last week by ESPN.com, Tressel said, "I need to maybe be in the Antarctic or something where there's not a TV.”

Maybe he’ll wear a green parka.


Big Ten Championship: Our picks for Ohio State vs. Michigan State (we were a little off last week)

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Ohio State beat Michigan by a point last week, and none of us saw that coming. (Did you?) Will we be a little closer with our picks for the Buckeyes and the Spartans.?

COLUMBUS, Ohio - For the first time all season, Ohio State is playing a game where not everyone is picking the Buckeyes. Mike Griffith of MLive.com, who covers Michigan State, went with the Spartans 26-23 in overtime. Opinion around the country has leaned toward Ohio State, but Michigan State has its backers.

Here's what we think.

Doug Lesmerises picks Ohio State 38, Michigan State 27

This game will be more high-scoring than some expect, because I don't think either defense is going to consistently stop the other offense. If Michigan State's offense hadn't made the progress it has in the second half of the season, I don't think this would be close. The Buckeyes should get their points, especially in ideal conditions. It makes sense to me that the Spartans may limit the OSU big plays in the run game, but considering how infrequently Carlos Hyde has been dropped for a loss this season, Ohio State should consistently get four-yard gains to keep the chains moving.

But Connor Cook, Jeremy Langford and the Spartans will score on Ohio State as well. The difference is that the Spartans don't have a game-breaking receiver like Wisconsin or Michigan. So the Spartans will have a more difficult time taking advantage of the OSU secondary, the team's weak spot.

What matters most is that the Big Ten put out a game, with the entire nation watching, including SEC country, that makes the conference look good. The winner has to win this game. It can't be that the loser gave it away.


Ari Wasserman picks Ohio State 34, Michigan State 21

Nobody has been able to stop Ohio State’s offense all year. The Buckeyes, averaging nearly 45 points per game, have been running all over teams since Big Ten play started more than two months ago. Now, however, the Buckeyes are playing the best defense in the country. Nobody scores on Michigan State, a team that allows a measly 11.8 points per game. So what does that mean? Ohio State will probably score somewhere in the middle.

So what is going to decide the game? Michigan State’s passing offense and whether it can capitalize on an Ohio State passing defense that has been susceptible to allowing big plays. I just don’t see it. If the Buckeyes score 30 points, can Michigan State do enough to out-score Ohio State? Granted, the Spartans have beaten every Big Ten team they’ve faced by double-digits, but I don’t see them outscoring Ohio State.


Zack Meisel picks Ohio State 27, Michigan State 20

For weeks, I thought Ohio State would win this game by several touchdowns. Then, the Buckeyes showed their deficiencies against Michigan. And then, I examined some of the numbers more closely. Not only does Michigan State boast the nation's top overall defense, but they possess a unit that seems equipped to handle Ohio State's bread and butter, the running game with Braxton Miller and Carlos Hyde.

The Spartans allow only 64 rushing yards per game and only 2.3 yards per carry. Ohio State ranks second in the nation with 321 rushing yards per game and ranks first with more than seven yards per carry. Something has to give. The key for the Buckeyes will be Braxton Miller finding enough consistency in the passing game to keep Michigan State's defense on alert. Miller has struggled to find a rhythm in recent weeks — he completed only six of 15 passes against Michigan — as the Buckeyes have relied much more on the ground game.

I think Miller will do enough in the passing game to keep the Spartans honest, and I don't think Michigan State will be able to completely shut down Miller and Hyde, who have both run for more than 100 yards in each of the last three games. Still, it should be much closer than what I would have anticipated a few weeks ago.


Bill Livingston picks Ohio State 27, Michigan State 17

Just because I was a wee bit off in my pick for the Michigan game does not mean I should overcompensate this week in the Big Ten Championship Game. Hey, why quibble over a 37-point victory pick that was off only by a pesky 36? This is splitting hairs. The idea is to pick the winner, right?

And so I pick the Buckeyes, who might not necessarily win the national championship because I have grave, tombstone-epitaph doubts about their defense, but who can win the Big Ten championship. FYI,, the old column online Friday gives the Buckeye defense cutting looks, lowering frowns and the old fish-eye.

But I think the domed stadium in Indianapolis plays more to the Buckeyes' speed advantage than to Michigan State. The inside-outside running game of Carlos Hyde and Braxton Miller, plus the much improved Buckeye wideouts, running on a fast track, might be too much for the Spartans to handle. Miller throws the deep ball well. He has had weather-related troubles with the intermediate ones. No excuses in a dome, though.

I also recall that Ohio State ran out the clock in East Lansing in a one-point victory last season by manhandling the Spartans between the tackles. If the Buckeyes have a remotely similar advantage this year, or if they don’t give the Spartans six points off a turnover as they did Michigan, it might not be this close.


Glenville falls to Loveland 41-23 in snow-filled Division II state title game (video)

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CANTON, Ohio -- The elusive state title escaped Glenville again on Friday. While the Tarblooders had a week to prepare for Loveland, it was not ready for the snow that poured on the field throughout the game. The result was a 41-23 defeat in the Division II state title game.

CANTON, Ohio -- The elusive state title escaped Glenville again on Friday.

While the Tarblooders had a week to prepare for Loveland, it was not ready for the snow that poured on the field throughout the game. The result was a 41-23 defeat in the Division II state title game.

This story will be updated shortly with game reaction.

The snowy conditions seemed to have an immediate impact on Glenville. The Tarblooders turned the ball over five times in the first half. After each one, the Tigers scored a touchdown.

All five of those scores came from different players. Luke Waddell, Tre Heath, Gunner Gambill, Beau Ngu and Jake Elfers all found the endzone. Quarterback Drew Plitt threw for two of those touchdowns.

Four of those touchdowns came in the second quarter when Loveland set a Division II state title game record for points in a quarter with 27 points.

After halftime, the Tarblooders outscored the Tigers 23-7, but the damage had already been done.

Glenville had appeared in one prior state title game, a 16-15 loss to Hilliard Davidson in the 2009 Division I final.

The Tarblooders began and ended their season with a loss. In between, Glenville reeled off a 13-game win streak.

Contact high school sports reporter David Cassilo by email (dcassilo@cleveland.com) or Twitter (@dcassilo). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.


Video coverage of the Division I state championship game (videos)

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CANTON, Ohio -- Archbishop Moeller football earned its second consecutive Division I State Championship with a 55-52 win against Mentor on Saturday night at Fawcett Stadium, just a stone's throw from the Pro Football Hall of Fame.  The game featured plenty of offense, including a myriad of impressive plays by both teams as well as many other great events...

CANTON, Ohio -- Archbishop Moeller football earned its second consecutive Division I State Championship with a 55-52 win against Mentor on Saturday night at Fawcett Stadium, just a stone's throw from the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 

The game featured plenty of offense, including a myriad of impressive plays by both teams as well as many other great events that were captured on video. Here is a look at some of them: 

Highlights from the field

Pregame locker room speech by Mentor coach Steve Trivisonno

Mentor's postgame press conference 

Archbishop Moeller's postgame press conference

Halftime analysis

Pregame analysis

Contact high school sports reporter Robert Rozboril by email (rrozboril@cleveland.com) or Twitter (@rrozboril). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.

Sloppy start has Ohio State trailing Michigan State, 3-0: First quarter report

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Michigan State struck first against Ohio State in a defense-heavy first quarter at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Ohio State outscored its first 12 opponents in the first quarter, 220-52. It hasn't been so easy against Michigan State.

The Spartans hold a 3-0 edge after the opening frame, one filled with mistakes and sloppy play on Ohio State's side. Michigan State, meanwhile, has had no issue corralling Braxton Miller and Carlos Hyde.

Michigan State chewed up six minutes and 29 seconds on its first drive, despite gaining only 20 non-penalty yards. Two pass interference calls -- one on cornerback Doran Grant and the other on linebacker Ryan Shazier -- permitted the Spartans to drive into field goal range. Ohio State went three-and-out on its opening drive.

The Buckeyes' second drive didn't last much longer. Receiver Corey "Philly" Brown beat his defender, but Miller didn't lead him far enough and Brown bobbled and dropped what would have been a long reception.

Miller ended the quarter with 10 passing yards and one completion in three attempts, and two carries for minus-4 yards.


Gary Laney | Auburn's offense, the best unit in college football, earns the BCS Championship Game spotlight

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An 'Ohio State guy' gets swayed by Auburn's dominant offensive performance.

ATLANTA -- I came to Atlanta an Ohio State guy.

I thought regardless of what happened in the SEC championship game, there was no way an SEC team should jump an undefeated Ohio State team in the BCS championship game.

I left Auburn's 59-42 win convinced otherwise. After watching the Tigers roll up 677 yards against a pretty good Missouri defense, I was sure AU, not Ohio State, was the right team to play No. 1 Florida State for the BCS national title.

In that regard, I'm sort of glad Michigan State beat Ohio State for the Big 10 title, knocking the Buckeyes out of the BCS championship game. The right team, Auburn, is playing for the national title and we have our best possible matchup.

Auburn's offense presents the best possible challenge to the Seminoles.

Just ask Alabama, which seemed like an impenetrable force before Auburn rushed for 296 yards in last week's 34-28 win. Or Missouri, which had a respectable defensive unit, but was helpless to slow down Gus Malzahn's hurry-up spread attack.

Really, the only thing that stopped the Tigers from gaining more yards against Mizzou was the fact that Auburn built a pretty good lead in the fourth quarter and slowed down the pace of the game.

If Auburn kept its foot on the peddle, it might have gained 750 because Missouri was helpless to stop the Tigers, a theme that got more familiar as the season wore on. Ever since its early-season 35-21 loss to LSU -- a game where LSU shut out AU in the first half -- Auburn's offense steadily improved.

SEC FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME 2013Auburn Tigers quarterback Nick Marshall (14) runs for a 1st quarter touchdown. (Julie Bennett-jbennett@al.com/al.com)
Now, Auburn's offense is the best unit in the game on either side of the ball. It's no longer the young group that was figuring things out against LSU and, later, against Ole Miss in a narrow win.

This offense hasn't evolved slowly. It's been a series of revolutionary break-out performances. The 615-yard explosion against Texas A&M was the first game where I thought Auburn had a chance.

Then came the huge yards without throwing against Arkansas and Tennessee. The shootout against Georgia. And the shocker against Alabama.

Each step along the way, this offense has gotten better to the point where it's hard to imagine a college defense with an answer for it. Stop Nick Marshall? Then Tre Mason kills you, as Missouri learned tonight as Mason set an SEC Championship Game record with 304 rushing yards.

Stop Mason and Marshall kills you, like he did on a key 45-yard run in the second quarter against Missouri. Stop both and the receivers kill you, either on the Jet Sweep -- Ricardo Louis carried on three of those for 43 yards Saturday -- or in the passing game.

What's the key to slowing it down? Maybe it's hoping Auburn makes a mistake. Heck, Marshall fumbled three times Saturday and Auburn still hung 59. Maybe it's just having better athletes. But man, what defense is more talented than what Auburn has on offense?

Missouri coach Gary Pinkel was asked the key to stopping Auburn Saturday night.

"I'm the wrong man to ask," Pinkel said.

I'm not sure any coach has an answer, short of better players.

And, to me, the only team left in contention that might have the players to slow Auburn's offense enough to beat the Tigers is Florida State. I don't think the Seminoles can shut down Auburn by any stretch, but they are good enough on defense -- better than Missouri -- to slow Auburn down enough for the Seminoles' explosive offense to win the game.

A lot of voters would have taken Ohio State over the Tigers simply because the Auburn loss to LSU back in September. And I understand that and up until early in the fourth quarter, I would have agreed. But at the same time, I didn't think Ohio State stood much of a chance against the Seminoles.

But watching the SEC title game unfold, I thought that, outside of Marshall's early fumbles, you can't play any better than Auburn did. Any team with that offense has a chance to beat any other college team, including FSU.

I love that that level of offensive football will get to be displayed on college football's ultimate stage.

Fan provides early on-court message during Cavaliers game: Kyrie Don't Leave

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A fan ran onto the court during the Cavaliers-L.A. Clippers game wearing a T-shirt that read "Kyrie Don't Leave."

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Even though Kyrie Irving was coming off one of the worst games of his career, the only scoreless game he's had in three seasons in the NBA, Cleveland fans showed Saturday that they still love their All-Star point guard.

Well, at least one fan does.

In particular, the one who ran onto the court at The Q with about three minutes left in the second quarter of the Cavaliers-L.A. Clippers game wearing a shirt that read, "Kyrie Don't Leave!"

The fan wandered near midcourt for a few seconds before Clippers guard Chris Paul stopped with the ball and faced him. Referee Gary Zielinski quickly stepped toward the fan as police descended upon him and ushered him off the court.

It's a bit of early panicking from a Cleveland fan base that has been scorned before. Irving is not eligible to be an unrestricted free agent until 2016.

Irving was coming off an 0-for-9 performance against Atlanta one night early, the only game of his career when he did not log a single point. He also is shooting the worst of his three-year career, 39.4 percent.

This is the second time in two seasons that a fan has run onto the court at The Q. Last season, a fan ran onto the court during the Cavaliers-Miami Heat game, wearing a shirt that read, "We Miss You, Come Back 2014" as a message intended for LeBron James.


Michigan State leads Ohio State 17-10 at halftime of Big Ten Championship as Buckeyes get back in game

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Ohio State dug out of a 17-0 hole to trail by one score going to the locker room.

INDIANAPOLIS - Ohio State, at least for a moment, found its offense in the Big Ten Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium, but the Buckeyes still found themselves trailing Michigan at the half, 17-10.

Ohio State went down 17-0 on a perfect 33-yard touchdown pass from Connor Cook to Tony Lippett, beating single coverage in the endzone. That followed a 72-yard touchdown pass from Cook to Keith Mumphrey, when safety Corey "Pitt" Brown took a bad angle in coverage, with no help behind him, and Mumphrey raced in for the score.

The OSU pass defense getting beaten couldn't have been a surprise to anyone who had watched the Buckeyes this season. But the Buckeyes were playing a mistake-filled game, without utilizing the rushing attack they had leaned on all season, to fall behind three scores.

Braxton Miller got going after the Buckeyes fell into that hole, breaking off a 48-yard run on a scramble. Three plays later Miller hit Philly Brown for a 20-yard touchdown to get Ohio State on the board.

After stopping Michigan State, the Buckeyes got the ball back with 1:23 in the half at their own 36-yardline. A Miller 36-yard pass to Jeff Heuerman set up a Drew Basil 28-yard field goal on the last play of the first half that cut the Michigan State lead to one score.

Cleveland Cavaliers and fan favorite Kyrie Irving outlast L.A. Clippers 88-82

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CLEVELAND, Ohio – In Cleveland, sports fans have long proven that they are not very quick to forget. A certain free agent departure in 2010 is evidence of that. But when it comes to their own, when it comes to the most dazzling Cavaliers player who now takes the court nightly, memories, apparently, are short. One night after failing...

CLEVELAND, Ohio – In Cleveland, sports fans have long proven that they are not very quick to forget. A certain free agent departure in 2010 is evidence of that.

But when it comes to their own, when it comes to the most dazzling Cavaliers player who now takes the court nightly, memories, apparently, are short.

One night after failing to score a single point for the first time in his NBA career, Kyrie Irving received an in-game message of support from a fan, and faced down the player he most looks up to in the league, Chris Paul.

The final result was one fan taken into custody after rushing on the court, tapping Irving on the shoulder and displaying a shirt that read, "Kyrie Don't Leave" -- and a Cavaliers 88-82 victory over the L.A. Clippers at The Q.

Irving had 20 points on 6-for-15 shooting while also dishing out six assists and maintaining his composure after the fan strolled onto the court with about three minutes remaining in the second quarter.

The fan calmly tapped Irving on the shoulder as the point guard was back-peddling down the court to play defense. Paul dribbled the ball to midcourt before facing the fan, picking up the ball and staring him down. Referee Gary Zielinski quickly stepped toward the fan, and security swarmed him to escort him off the court.

"He just said 'Kyrie, don't leave.'" Irving said. "Just a prideful Cleveland fan. I love them."

The fan, a minor, was taken into custody by Cleveland police, and charges are pending, Cavaliers PR said. He is the second fan to rush onto the court at The Q in the last two seasons. In March, a fan wearing a shirt that read "We Miss  You, Come Back 2014" ran up to LeBron James during the Cavaliers-Miami Heat game.

It was just part of a bizarre night of basketball that also included a tangled fight between Anderson Varejao and Clippers forward Blake Griffin with two minutes remaining in the game, one that resulted in a technical foul for Griffin and another technical for Jarrett Jack as he entered the fray.

In between the absurdity, the Cavaliers found a way to victory by way of dominating big men and frantic defense that held the Clippers to 32 percent shooting.

Tristan Thompson scored 20 points on 7-for-15 shooting and had 13 rebounds, while Andrew Bynum had 18 points and six rebounds in 23 minutes. Varejao collected 17 rebounds, a season-high.

In all, the Cavaliers outrebounded the Clippers 60-45,

"Our bigs have been leading us, outrebounding teams and just defending our butts off out there," Irving said.

It's what the Cavaliers have needed to help them win three of their last four games, while Irving has struggled through his worst start in his three NBA seasons. His 39.4 percent shooting is his lowest in three seasons, and his 3.25 turnovers per game are his highest.

But even after his 0-for-9 performance against Atlanta, Cavaliers coach Mike Brown reiterated his confidence in the All-Star point guard.

"I don't care if he goes 0-for-30, I want him to keep being aggressive," Brown said. "If he misses five in a row and he feels like he can get a great look on his next one, take it and I'll back him. I'll support him. I just don't want him to lose his aggressiveness on that end of the floor because we need him to score and that's what he can do. He can score and he can make plays for his teammates. So I want him to keep being aggressive. Have a short memory."

Irving scored his first shot of the night on a backdoor layup, and proceeded to have a steady influence offensively. His 360-dribble move around Willie Green for a layup in the first half was highlight-worthy, as was his driving layup past every Clippers defender that gave the Cavaliers an 82-72 edge.

"We look back on the Atlanta game and we have to be disappointed in ourselves," Irving said. "But we came here and competed at home, and it started with me. Just coming out and getting minutes and competing. Everybody followed suit and everybody played their role tonight and got it done."

And for that, Cleveland loves Irving.


At Atlanta and Toomer's Corner, Auburn celebrates SEC championship, trip to BCS championship game

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From Toomer's Corner to Peachtree Street, Auburn Nation is celebrating the Tigers' SEC championship

ATLANTA -- Toomer's Corner, the iconic landmark near Auburn's campus where Tigers fans celebrate football wins, is rolled tonight, per tradition.

So is a lot of downtown Atlanta. Even Charles Barkley and Bo Jackson were there, watching the celebration.

Auburn's 59-42 win over Missouri in the SEC Championship Game set off a night of celebration that picked up even more steam later in the evening when Michigan State's 34-24 win over previously unbeaten and second-ranked Ohio State assured Auburn a place in the BCS National Championship Game.

The SEC will have its chance at an eighth straight national title, the last eight of the BCS era, against Florida State in the BCS national championship game. Next year, college football will add a playoff.

FSU, the nation's last unbeaten team, beat Duke in the ACC championship game Saturday night. Auburn just handed Alabama its only loss of the year last week.

One question we would have if the four-team playoff started this year, is would Michigan State deserve the fourth spot in a playoff?

That's an argument for next year. On Saturday, it was about Auburn's unlikely story from 3-9 team a year ago to a possible national champion and the Tigers' spot in the title game wasn't assured until well after it was done playing.

Auburn (12-1) completed its win over Missouri just as the Michigan State-Ohio State game began and, even as the Michigan State upset was unfolding, those in Auburn's corner started making their case to play for the BCS National Championship in the shootout. It was hard to argue on a night when Auburn picked up 667 yards.

It was so good, Auburn's Tre Mason went from a star to a Heisman Trophy candidate with his 46-carry, 304-yard night.

While Mason's candidacy may be a long shot, Gus Malzahn's candidacy to be named national coach of the year might have been pushed over the top on a magical night where he pushed all the right buttons.

A few hours later, Michigan State pushed the last buttons Auburn needed pushed to get the the title game.

And that gave both Auburn, and the SEC, reason to celebrate.


OHSAA football finals: See coverage from the Mentor, Kirtland, Glenville and St. Vincent-St. Mary state title games (videos)

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CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Northeast Ohio region finished with a 2-2 record in four state championship games from Thursday to Saturday after Mentor fell to Cincinnati Moeller, 55-52, in the Division I state final. St. Vincent-St. Mary started it off on Thursday night with a 24-0 victory over Trotwood-Madison in the Division III state championship.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Northeast Ohio region finished with a 2-2 record in four state championship games from Thursday to Saturday after Mentor fell to Cincinnati Moeller, 55-52, in the Division I state final.

St. Vincent-St. Mary started it off on Thursday night with a 24-0 victory over Trotwood-Madison in the Division III state championship.

On Friday, the region went 1-1 with Kirtland winning, 44-16, over Haviland Wayne Trace in Division VI, while Glenville fell 41-23 to Loveland in the Division II championship game.

This post provides a one-stop shop for extensive Ohio high school football coverage from the finals. Check the links below for game coverage, as well as preview material from across the state.

Here's all the coverage from Northeast Ohio Media Group staffers and additional media outlets from Canton and Massillon the past few days.

Saturday's results

Division I: Mentor falls to Cincinnati Moeller in a high-scoring affair

Both teams scored a lot of points, but in the end, Cincinnati Moeller was able to hold off and get the victory. (Bill Landis, Northeast Ohio Media Group)

Members of the Mentor football program discuss the game, and take a look back at their season:

In a high-scoring affair, quarterbacks Conner Krizancic and Gus Ragland put up record-setting performances. (Scott Patsko, Northeast Ohio Media Group)

Quick analysis of what went right and wrong (Bill Landis, Northeast Ohio Media Group)

Eddie Daugherty has another big day for the Cardinals, and other notes from Saturday, including a list of all the offensive records broken. (Scott Patsko, Northeast Ohio Media Group)

While the offense had a big day on Saturday, the defense of Mentor has to improve for the team to win a state championship.  (Tim Warsinskey, The Plain Dealer)

A collection of seven videos from the game, including Mentor coach Steve Trivisonno's pregame speech, action highlights and analysis. (Robert Rozboril, Northeast Ohio Media Group)

Cincinnati Moeller became the fourth school to repeat this year as state champion. (Cincinnati Enquirer)

The Moeller players talk about their performance and what it means to repeat as state champions:

Division V: Coldwater defeats Columbus Bishop Hartley for fourth state championship since 2005

Two fourth quarter touchdowns helped Coldwater pull away for the 24-7 victory over Columbus Bishop Hartley. (Associated Press)

Friday's results

Division VI: Kirtland wins second title in three seasons

Read the game story as Kirtland limited Haviland Wayne Trace to 19 rushing yards.

Read the game story as Kirtland limited Haviland Wayne Trace to 19 rushing yards.

See a story about RB Adam Hess' big day.

Check out some quick analysis by NEOMG reporter Bill Landis.

See seven videos shot Friday at Canton, including game highlights, the trophy presentation and postgame interviews.


Division II: Glenville unable overcome turnovers, falls to Loveland in the state championship

Snow along with seven turnovers neutralize Tarblooders' normally potent offensive attack.

View our seven videos from Canton, including Ted Ginn Sr.'s pregame speech, postgame interviews from both teams and analysis from our reporters.

NEOMG's David Cassilo gives his five takeaways from Glenville's loss in the championship game.

Our embedded reporter Scott Patsko had exclusive access to the Tarblooders throughout the day and provided live, ongoing coverage with lots of pictures and videos.

Bill Landis opens the notebook and goes deeper inside the state finals.

Cincinnati Enquirer focused on Loveland scoring an Ohio Division II state championship record 27 points in the second quarter to win its first state title.

Thursday's Results:

Division III: St. Vincent-St. Mary football repeats as state champion, defeats Trotwood-Madison 24-0

St. Vincent-St. Mary takes down Trotwood-Madison 24-0 in the Division III state championship. (Bill Landis, Northeast Ohio Media Group)

A look at the video coverage from the St. Vincent-St. Mary Trotwood-Madison Division III state championship. (Stephanie Kuzydym, Mark Kern, Bill Landis Northeast Ohio Media group)

Five takeaways from the Fighting Irish victory over Trotwood-Madison. (Bill Landis, Northeast Ohio Media Group)

Some interesting facts from the Division III state championship. (Stephanie Kuzydym, Mark Kern Northeast Ohio Media Group)

Previous posts summarizing state finals content 

See Friday's post.

See Thursday's post.

See Wednesday's post.

See Tuesday's post.

Nordonia wins Solon Comet Classic wrestling tournament

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SOLON, Ohio — Nordonia wrestling coach Graham Coghill knows a thing or two about winning championships. Prior to taking the job at Nordonia he coached at now-closed St. Peter Chanel for 34 years, where he won five state titles and seven runner-ups. So Coghill wasn’t the least bit surprised his Knights won the 27th annual Solon Comet Classic even...

SOLON, Ohio — Nordonia wrestling coach Graham Coghill knows a thing or two about winning championships. Prior to taking the job at Nordonia he coached at now-closed St. Peter Chanel for 34 years, where he won five state titles and seven runner-ups.

So Coghill wasn’t the least bit surprised his Knights won the 27th annual Solon Comet Classic even though no Nordonia wrestler won an individual title at the two-day tournament, which featured 25 teams.

“Sometimes that happens,” Coghill said. “That’s a team victory. A lot of kids worked their butts off to place. Today, in wrestle-backs a lot of those kids won matches and got pins and that’s where we made up the gap, in the wrestle-backs.”

Nordonia finished with 183.5 points, edging Oregon Clay (181). Parkersburg (W.Va.) finished third with 148 points and Strongsville (130.5) and Lake Catholic (127.5) rounded out the top five.

Mike Decesare (145 pounds), Heath Phillibert (152) and Nick Bina (220) all finished as tournament runner-ups for Nordonia. Freshman Anthony Perrine, wrestling at 170 pounds, picked up a third-place finish for the Knights, pulling out a 3-1 win in triple overtime over Ricky Kollman of Riverside. Senior Andrew Coghill (113) also added a third-place finish for Nordonia as he pinned Josh Portillo of Toledo Central Catholic. Senior Ryan Taylor (160) and junior Cam Duvall (106) added fourth-place finishes for Nordonia.

Coghill, who retired from Chanel after the 2012 season, was an assistant at Nordonia last season before becoming the head coach this year. He hopes his team can make the trek to the state tournament this season.

“We had a strong team last year and we had everyone back, Coghill said. “Our goal is to get our team to state.”

One of the most intriguing matches of the night featured Nordonia’s Decesare, who qualified for the state tournament a year ago, squaring off against Alex Mossing from Toledo Central Catholic -- a 2013 Division II state champion -- in the 145-pound championship. Mossing pulled out a 7-2 win.

Decesare said he used the match as a measuring stick.

“It shows where you are at. I’ve got to bring it up,” Decesare said.

The 120-pound championship match featured a pair of state qualifiers as Alex Mackall of Walsh Jesuit squared off against Lake Catholic senior Brad Taton. Mackall controlled throughout the match and came away with a 5-1 win. Only a sophomore, Mackall said he felt pressure at the start of the tournament but in the championship match said all that stress melted away, which help him pull out the win.

“All day I felt that I was wrestling too tense. I think this match it was more fun. I didn’t feel any pressure in this match. First tournament of the season I was a little nervous, but I got back into it,” said Mackall, who won his first four matches of the tournament by scores of 25-9, 3-2, a pin and 15-6. 

St. Ignatius senior Anthony McLaughlin, who finished sixth at the state tournament in 2013, won an individual title at 182 pound, besting Matt Stencel of Oregon Clay, 8-5. McLaughlin, who wrestled at 170 a year ago, said he stayed aggressive the entire match, which keyed his win.

"It's a tough tournament. This will get me ready for the Ironman next week at Walsh Jesuit," McLaughlin said.

Walsh Jesuit senior Mike Kostandaras, a two-time placer in the state tournament, was named the tournament’s outstanding wrestler. Kostandaras, who beat Nick Boggs of Riverside 1-0 in the championship match, went 5-0 in the tournament.

Two touchdown runs from Braxton Miller have Ohio State back in control: Third quarter update

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After two rushing touchdowns from Braxton Miller in the third quarter, No. 2 Ohio State leads No. 10 Michigan State 24-20 heading into the fourth quarter.

INDIANAPOLIS – Ohio State's hopes at playing for a national title were on life support in the second quarter of the Big Ten Championship Game.

Quarterback Braxton Miller brought them back to life in the third.

Miller had two touchdown runs in the third quarter, and the No. 2-ranked Buckeyes enter the fourth quarter clinging to a 24-20 lead.

Down 17-0 in the second quarter, Ohio State scored 24 unanswered points to take a 24-17 lead. Michigan State added a field goal late in the third quarter to close within four.

Miller led a seven-play, 75-yard touchdown on Ohio State’s first possession of the second quarter. Miller capped the drive with an eight-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 17.

Later in the quarter still in a tie game, Ohio State started a drive from the Michigan State 34. Five plays later, Miller was in the end zone for a six-yard touchdown. 

This is the fourth-straight game that Ohio State got 100-yard rushing performances from both Miller and running back Carlos Hyde. 

ACC championship game: No. 1 Florida State caps undefeated season with romp over No. 20 Duke

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Jameis Winston threw three touchdown passes and ran for a score, and No. 1 Florida State stormed into the BCS national championship game with a 45-7 victory over 20th-ranked Duke on Saturday night in the ACC championship game.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Jameis Winston threw three touchdown passes and ran for a score, and No. 1 Florida State stormed into the BCS national championship game with a 45-7 victory over 20th-ranked Duke on Saturday night in the ACC championship game.

The Heisman Trophy favorite was 19 of 32 for 330 yards and set FBS freshman records for TD passes and yards passing in a season two days after prosecutors decided not to press charges against him in a sexual assault case.

Winston threw two touchdown passes to 6-foot-5, 234-pound receiver Kelvin Benjamin and ran for a 17-yard score to overcome two interceptions.

Florida State's defense was dominant, holding Duke (10-3) to 239 yards and forcing three turnovers to help the Seminoles (13-0) win their second straight ACC title.

It was Florida State's 12th win by at least 27 points. The Seminoles entered as 29-point favorites after outscoring its opponents by an average of 43 points.

Florida State outgained Duke 569-239.

Winston struggled early with overthrowing receivers and the Seminoles failed to score in the first quarter for the first time this season.

Florida State's first scoring opportunity ended when Devonta Freeman coughed up the ball at the Duke 3 following a 22-yard run.

But it wouldn't matter.

Florida State slowly took charge in the second quarter and built a 17-0 halftime lead behind a stifling defense that forced Duke to go three-and-out on seven of its eight first-half possessions.

Winston got the Seminoles on the board early in the second quarter when he found Benjamin for a 14-yard touchdown pass in the left corner of the end zone. Karlos Williams bowled over two defenders on a 12-yard touchdown inside run to make it 14-0 after Lamarcus Joyner intercepted Duke quarterback Anthony Boone's pass.

Florida State outgained Duke 268-94 in the first half.

The onslaught continued in the second half with Winston hooking up on a 54-yard touchdown reception with Benjamin, who showed he's not only big but can move too after blowing by defenders. He finished with 119 yards receiving.

Freeman ran for 91 yards and a touchdown and Williams had 59 yards on the ground.

Winston, a redshirt freshman, was far from perfect.

He threw two interceptions and also made a bad decision on a shovel pass as he falling to the ground. The ball hit linebacker Kelby Brown in the hands, but he couldn't corral the ill-advised pass.

There was a heated moment midway through the fourth quarter when Winston took exception to what he felt was a late hit on the Blue Devils after he released a pass.

Duke's only points came with 1:01 left when Josh Snead scored on a 5-yard run.


Ohio State ignores Carlos Hyde and run game too long in Big Ten Championship loss to Michigan State

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The Buckeyes didn't go to their best weapon, Carlos Hyde, often enough as he finished with 118 yards on 18 carries. Watch video

INDIANAPOLIS – Ohio State faked the ball enough to Carlos Hyde on Saturday to fake the Buckeyes out of the Big Ten Championship.

A dominant back and dominant offensive line, who had toted a huge load while helping carry the Buckeyes through a 12-0 regular season, were sideshows for too long in the toughest test of Urban Meyer’s OSU tenure. Ohio State seemed to yield to the Michigan State defensive line at first rather than go right at it. After watching Hyde run through so many tackles this season, suddenly the Buckeyes were interested in going around the Spartans’ front seven in a 34-24 loss, not through it.

“It’s tough sledding against that defense in terms of getting your running back free,” offensive coordinator Tom Herman said after the loss, acknowledging how close the MSU safeties play to the line of scrimmage.

Herman and Meyer love running the quarterback because it doesn’t take him out of the play, and then by using Hyde as a blocker, it evens up the numbers game with the defense. Against an MSU defense stacking the box, Herman found that even more critical.

In the process, the Buckeyes forgot too often about No. 34.

Hyde got the ball 18 times and ran for 118 yards, carrying it on 29 percent of the Buckeyes’ offensive plays. That came a week after Hyde ran it 27 times for 226 yards against Michigan, getting the ball on 44 percent of Ohio State’s snaps. That was too far of a dropoff no matter the defense.

Asked if he would have liked Hyde to get the ball more often, Meyer said one word – “Yeah.”

Center Corey Linsley said the Buckeyes were too worried about the MSU defense early, treating them like the Chicago Bears instead of a Big Ten foe.

“I’m usually looking for all these internal blitzes that they run, and I was looking and I just screwed up. The first quarter was my worst quarter ever, probably,” Linsley said. “I wasn’t picking them up, so I think those blitzes definitely disrupted us.”

But Hyde was never completely stymied while carrying just eight times for 37 yards in the first half, then 10 times for 81 yards in the second. He never gained fewer than 2 yards on any carry, and 11 of his 18 went for at least 5 yards. Of the other seven, one went for 4 yards, three for 3 yards and three for 2 yards. He was never dropped for a loss.

Hyde could get 40 carries in a game and say afterward that he wanted it even more. As I asked him several times about his workload, he never complained. But he admitted what he thought might have been there.

“I felt like I could have got any yards we needed. Me and the offensive line were doing a great job,” Hyde said. “I felt like we could have ran the ball the whole game (like we did) in the second half, but like I said, you can’t question the coaches’ calls.”

Against the nation’s No. 1-ranked run defense, which had been allowing 65 yards per game and 2.2 yards per carry, the Buckeyes ran for 273 yards and averaged 6.8 yards per carry.

Hyde finished with 118 yards on 18 carries, a 6.6 yard average. Miller finished with 142 yards on 21 carries, a 6.8 yard average. Both should have run more. And they would have gained more. Ohio State threw just 21 times, but that was too much, not too little. Herman said the Buckeyes had to take deep shots to try to loosen up the defense and hit on one, but missed on another four or five. That's true. The Buckeyes had to try at times.

But there was something to be said for running Hyde until the Spartans absolutely shut him down. And that never happened. I asked Herman if he thought Hyde should have carried it more.

“Coming off the field, I didn’t feel that,” Herman said. ““I don’t know. I’d have to see. But from our vantage point, they made some adjustments, so we have to readjust a little bit what we were calling at that point. There’s always a thousand things you have could have done differently in games like that so we’ll sit back and watch the film.”

When he does, he should see a back effectively snaking through holes more often than not. Herman said he thought Hyde ran it well, even as he thought it was difficult to find formations and plays ‘”that at least allowed us to have a chance to get him the ball. He did well. I was proud of that.”

Yet consider the first play of the second half, when Hyde gazed through a gaping hole on the left side of the Ohio State line, a space through which the 235-pound back had plenty of room to scoot. But he didn’t have the ball. Miller instead ran a play-action pass to Jeff Heuerman, but the throw back to the right was incomplete.

On the next play, on second down, Hyde got the ball. He ran for 18 yards. And then he ran the Buckeyes right back to a third-quarter lead.

The first half, with two first-drive pass interference penalties and a Miller fumble under pressure, which he recovered for a 12-yard loss, had the vibe of the Buckeyes’ BCS National Championship loss to LSU after the 2007 season. Weird penalties and mistakes – a “What was that?” gut feeling that eventually turns to doom if it doesn’t change.

The Buckeyes mashed that out, for a while, on the ground. The Buckeyes ran for 147 yards in the third quarter while scoring two touchdowns to take the lead. Hyde carried eight times for 74 yards, Miller six times for 60 yards and Jordan Hall once, in relief of a tired Hyde, for 13 yards.

The Buckeyes tried to throw six times in the quarter – and completed two for 14 yards.

This week Herman had explained that offensive balance in his mind wasn’t mixing run and pass equally - it was being able to go at a defense both ways, then sticking with what works. There’s also a balance to inside and perimeter runs, and a balance to using  Miller and Hyde in a combo that serves as the most dangerous 1-2 rush punch in the conference, and maybe the country.

In the end, the Buckeyes won the run battle. But they lost the game. Much of that was the OSU defense. But it also was because they didn’t take the chance to exploit what they did best. Even on the play of the game.

On the fourth-and-2 call that was the Buckeyes’ last shot in the final six minutes, Ohio State dialed up a run to the right. Hyde was beside Miller in the backfield. But this time he wasn’t an option. The first 1,000-yard running back in Meyer’s career as a head coach was turned into a lead blocker, as Miller was stopped for a gain of one. One yard short.

Meyer and Herman agreed they wanted to go with Miller on that play.

“I wanted to put the ball in the hands of our best player,” Meyer said.

But the Spartans said after the game they knew that was coming, when a regular old read-option with Miller and Hyde could have given the Buckeyes the choice they have made so well this season.

In defeat, Hyde was still waiting for Michigan State to stop him.

“We were going to come out and play our game, and we were going to run the ball,” Hyde said. “We don’t care if it’s the best in nation, we don’t care about that. We’re going to do what we do best which is then the ball. I think we did a great job running the ball.”

As the Buckeyes prepare to likely head to the Orange Bowl instead of the BCS National Championship, their 24-game win streak snapped, they’ll go knowing they did this, in part, to themselves.

The Buckeyes rode Hyde and this offensive line to 12-0. When it mattered most, they didn’t stay on that horse long enough.


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