Athens QB, Ohio State 2015 commit Joe Burrow scored seven touchdowns in a playoff game on Friday night and cleveland.com was there to check it out. Watch video

LOGAN, Ohio — Joe Burrow might have a little more Ohio State in him than he realizes.

That much was evident on Friday night, when the Buckeyes 2015 quarterback commit led The Plains Athens to a 52-20 win over Columbus St. Francis DeSales in an OHSAA Division III regional final at Logan High School.

Behind 319 passing yards, 135 rushing yards and seven total touchdowns from Burrow, the Bulldogs (13-0) clinched a spot in the state semifinals where they'll play two-time defending state champ St. Vincent-St. Mary next Friday.

On one of the more bizarre plays you can see on a football field, Burrow ended up catching his own pass, which was batted down at the line, and ran it in for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. (See a video of that play at the bottom of this post.)

Burrow wasn't sure how to react to such a play, so he ran off the field flashing the shrug celebration we've seen from Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa this season.

"I just couldn't believe that happened," Burrow said. "I couldn't think of anything else to do."

It was the kind of thing that could only happen on a night like the one Burrow had. He opened the game with a 58-yard touchdown run four plays into the first quarter. Then scampered 41 yards on the Bulldogs second drive for his second rushing touchdown of the night.

Burrow, a three-star prospect and the No. 14 dual-threat quarterback in the Class of 2015 according to 247Sports' composite ratings, has some pretty good wheels.

But he's a passer first. He showed some nice zip on a couple passes over the middle, and the ability to make some tougher throws on timing routes. Most of all, he showed an ability to keep plays alive, twice completing passes while being brought down by a defender.

Think of his running more in the way you'd think of J.T. Barrett. Not flashy, but effective.

Urban Meyer has described Barrett as very adept at getting north when a play falls apart. That's what Burrow did on both of his touchdown runs Friday night.

"I would say (Barrett) and I are similar in that regard," Burrow said.

Like Barrett, the majority of Burrow's runs come on scrambles. Designed quarterback runs were few and far between on Friday, and have been most of the season.

But the 6-4, 205 quarterback has racked up 3,669 passing yards, 558 rushing yards and 58 total touchdowns by running an offense similar to the one he'll be in as a Buckeye. Spread all the time. Read options. Quick, short passing plays.

Those kind of numbers have Burrow squarely in the conversation for Ohio's Mr. Football, and that experience could have him well-suited to get acclimated quickly when he gets to Ohio State.

He and Buckeyes quarterbacks coach Tom Herman are already developing a close relationship.

"We casually talk," Burrow said. "We don't talk much about Ohio State or that kind of stuff. We talk about teams we're playing at then what happened during the week."

The close relationship with Herman will give him a leg up when he gets to Ohio State, but he's not the only incoming quarterback. Five-star quarterback Torrance Gibson announced his commitment to the Buckeyes earlier this month, and you can bet he and Herman talk all the time too.

Ohio State was able to take a shot at Gibson because the Buckeyes knew they had Burrow already in the fold.

Now it seems they're guaranteed a competition when they get to Columbus. Assuming Gibson, rated the No. 3 athlete in the Class of 2015, stays at quarterback.

"It's always great to have an athlete like that on the team," Burrow said. "If I want to be the best, I have to beat out the best. Competition is great for me."

Burrow showed on Friday that it could end up being a heck of a battle.

The fact a 5-foot-8, 188-pound undrafted free agent could last a decade playing safety and special teams in the NFL is a tribute to his intellect, work ethic, athletic ability and perseverance. Watch video

BEREA, Ohio – A year ago, Browns coach Mike Pettine learned his longtime safety, Jim Leonhard, was compiling an all-star list of teammates from his 10 NFL seasons.

The former University of Wisconsin walk-on keeps his dream team on a single sheet of paper inside a spiral notebook. It's a working document complete with revisions and includes future Hall of Famers at multiple positions.

Pettine, the Bills defensive coordinator last season, jokingly asked Leonhard one day who he'd choose to coordinate a defense featuring Darrelle Revis, Champ Bailey, Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs, Von Miller and Ed Reed. Would it be Pettine or Jets coach Rex Ryan?

"(Leonhard) said, 'I've got bad news for you, I'm the defensive coordinator. I'll let you guys be my quality control coaches,'" Pettine recalled.

Leonhard, 32, smiled Friday when reminded of the story and produced the weathered notebook from his backpack.

"It's pretty obvious I'd have to be the coordinator because I'm not good enough to play on (the team)," he said. "And, with the defensive personnel I have, anyone could call it."

The fact a 5-foot-8, 188-pound undrafted free agent has lasted a decade playing safety and special teams in the NFL is a testament to his intellect, work ethic, athletic ability and perseverance. He's the last player out of a meeting room and the first one into a pile for a fumble – even when he's not wearing a helmet.

View full sizeJim Leonhard began compiling his all-star team of former and current teammates a year ago. He keeps it in a notebook.Tom Reed, NEOMG 

Pettine thinks Leonhard looks more like a paperboy than pro athlete, but has lobbied for his inclusion on the Ravens', Jets', Bills' and Browns' rosters. He also played one season (2012) in Denver with Peyton Manning and the Broncos.

Cleveland is Leonhard's last stop as he's expected to retire at season's end. He's made four trips to the playoffs and was part of three teams that reached the AFC Championship Game. Beyond his on-field contributions, he's mentoring young teammates in the intricacies of Pettine's defense and what it takes to make the postseason.

Just five members of the Browns' defense, by Leonhard's count, have qualified for the playoffs. At times, he will stoke the imagination of teammates, telling them stories of the 2009 Jets, who backed into the postseason and nearly went to the Super Bowl.

"(The Browns are) 6-4 and we're in a position to make a push," said Leonhard, a reserve defensive back. "That's all I want. It's the only reason I play this game, it's the only reason I ever played this game – to win, be competitive and chase that Super Bowl ring.

"I'm excited with six games left we have a shot to make a run. And, it doesn't matter what happens through those 16 weeks. Once, you get in you've got a chance."

'He gets it'

Katie Leonhard still cannot watch her husband return a punt.

They met his freshman year in college and she's been alongside him for the entire journey, through all the wins and injuries and seasons that ended without contract offers.

View full sizeA helmetless Jim Leonhard pounces on a fumble during a playoff game as a member of the Jets. Associated Press 

The one moment that truly scares her is the sight of Leonhard, father of two small boys, fielding a punt and returning it. He's done it 107 times in his career. She's looked away on every occasion.

While he's never run one back for a touchdown, Pettine marvels at how far Leonhard has traveled from growing up as a pint-sized, three-sport athlete coached by his father, Don. The only thing smaller than the defensive back is his hometown of Tony, Wisc., (population: 110).

Leonhard gets his work ethic from his parents. Don, 57, has labored as a roofer, truck driver and skidder, someone who helps pull cut trees from the woods.

The parents believe "you're only a kid once," Don said, and allowed their three boys to focus on sports rather than taking summer jobs. Leonhard had an opportunity to play baseball in the Twins' organization, but went to Wisconsin as a 165-pounder with only one goal – make the Badgers' traveling football squad. He left as a first-team, all-Big Ten performer.

"It's such a great story because of the person he is and what he's been able to overcome throughout his career," Pettine said. "You're too small you're too short, you're not good enough. It's not just longevity, but the production he's had for us. He had four interceptions a year ago in Buffalo."

Leonhard has started 68 of 136 NFL games with 12 interceptions.

He once won a slam-dunk contest at Wisconsin, but his gridiron career has been played mostly below the rim. He attributes his staying power to film study, preparation and heart.

Leonhard is probably best remembered in New York for running about 40 yards to track down Cowboys' tight end Jason Witten at the Jets' 3 following a 67-yard reception during a 2011 Monday night game. The TD-saving tackle -- the Cowboys fumbled three plays later – sparked a fourth-quarter rally and Jets' 27-24 win.

"He's a guy who's never given up regardless of the circumstance," Pettine said.

View full sizeJim Leonhard's career defensive numbers.Pro Football Reference.com 

Unlike many pro athletes, Leonhard is not a memorabilia collector. He's never asked another player to exchange jerseys or for autographs for himself. The Leonhards are building a home outside Madison, Wisc., and maybe the only picture that will hang in his man cave is one of him diving for a fumble he caused in a playoff game after his helmet was knocked off.

In typical Leonhard fashion, he admits the play was later ruled an incomplete pass, but he remains proud of the effort. And, yes, he recovered the ball.

"To me, it's not about jerseys or helmets," Leonhard said. "football is all about doing. That one picture kind of shows how I play the game."

Pettine often talks about "playing like a Brown." Leonhard embodies the phrase and serves as a role model for a team with 20-plus undrafted free agents.

"The effect he has on a team you can't measure it," Pettine said. "It's why I've always pushed for him on our roster . . . He has a hidden impact on your locker room or meeting room. He gets it and he can further the message and help guys prepare."

'Ready to move on'

Don believes his son could play one more season if the right offer presented itself. Leonhard is at peace with his decision, however, one he made in 2012 after rehabbing a torn patella tendon in his knee a year after breaking his leg.

It's not just the physical toll on his compact frame. It's the playoff losses, rehab stints, endless relocation of family and the disappointment of having to change clubs so often after forming bonds with teammates.

"I have too much respect for this game -- it really comes down to that," Leonhard said. "I know what needs to be put into this game. It's more of the emotional and mental side of it and I'm ready to move on and start the next chapter."

There are no farewell tours for the Jim Leonhards of the NFL. No scoreboard tributes or victory laps. But an undrafted free agent is a few months away from leaving the game on his own terms. How many players can say that?

Don thinks his son will pursue a coaching career, perhaps at the college level. Leonhard isn't looking past the first quarter of Sunday's showdown with the Falcons. He believes in these Browns and man who coaches them.

"I've enjoyed watching (Pettine) grow from an assistant in Baltimore to a defensive coordinator to a head coach." Leonhard said. "His intelligence, his passion for the game. I've been willing to go anywhere with him because I trust in what he's all about."

The safety knows how fortunate he's been to collect so many great memories of big wins and joyous locker rooms. He thinks of former linebacker Takeo Spikes – an All-Leonhard teammate nominee – who played 219 regular season games without ever experiencing the playoffs.

As Leonhard spoke of Spikes in the Browns' locker room Friday, teammate Zac Diles looked at him and said: "I've played eight years, never been to the playoffs."

In the august of his career, Leonhard is trying to get the Browns home for the first time since 2007. Maybe it's making a play here or there. Maybe it's helping a young teammate understand a coaching concept or assignment.

Leonhard already has added several Browns' names to his dream-team list of candidates: Joe Thomas, Joe Haden, Donte Whitner. He hopes a playoff run can produce a few more.

I said Justin Masterson would be an All-Star, Jason Kipnis would drive in 90 runs, and Nick Swisher would hit 22 homers. Oh boy!

Michael Brantley became a fan favorite and an All-Star in 2014.Joshua Gunter / The Plain Dealer 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Time to own up. At the end of spring training, I made 20 predictions about the Tribe:

Here we go, the predictions as I wrote them at the end of spring training:

1. "Justin Masterson makes the All-Star team again, but does not sign an extension with the Tribe."

Verdict: Not even close. Masterson turned down $45 million over three seasons. He then collapsed as a pitcher, was traded to the Cardinals at the end of July.

2. "In 2013, I wrote Nick Swisher would hit 24 homers and 88 RBI. I'll stick with the 24 homers, and give him 80 RBI. He has learned to take better care of his shoulder. I expect a Swisher-type season."

Verdict: That comment matched Swisher's performance: He batted .208 with 8 HR and 42 RBI. In 2013, it was a bad shoulder. This season, it was TWO bad knees.

3. "Josh Tomlin will win at least 10 games and be in the rotation by the middle of May. Still not happy about him opening in Class AAA."

Verdict: Tomlin was 8-9 with a 4.76 ERA. I expected better.

4. "Asdrubal Cabrera has a contract-driven season, hitting above .270 with about 20 homers."

Verdict: Traded at the end of July. Fell apart in the field. Ended up playing second base for Washington. For the year, he batted .241 (.694 OPS) with 14 HR and 61 RBI.

5. "Carlos Carrasco in the rotation doesn't work. He does help in the bullpen."

Verdict: Carrasco in the rotation failed at first ... and was outstanding in his second stint. He also was superb in relief.

6. "Carlos Santana is OK at third base a few times a week, but he has some rocky games early in the season."

Verdict: He ended up playing first. Third was not a good idea.

7. "I'm going back to my 2013 prediction of 15 homers for Michael Brantley, another solid season."

Verdict: Brantley finished third in the MVP voting. He had 20 HR and 97 RBI, batting .327.

8. "Jason Kipnis signs an extension -- probably just wishful thinking."

Verdict: He signed a seven-year, $52 million extension. He also batted .240 with 6 HR and 41 RBI."

9. "Corey Kluber leads the staff in victories. He has the stuff to do it."

Verdict: Indeed he did, winning the Cy Young Award.

10. "Yan Gomes has another good year behind the plate, but his hitting drops off a bit. Gomes had a tremendous season, batting .294 (.826 OPS) with 11 homers and 38 RBI in only 322 plate appearances. But he walked only 18 times. Teams will pay more attention to him at the plate. But I'm thrilled the Tribe signed him."

Verdict: Gomes had another strong season, batting .278 (.785 OPS) with 21 HR and 74 RBI.

11. "If John Axford gets through April as the closer, he will have a big season. I'm worried about a bad start, as he had last year. His first few save chances are key for him this season."

Verdict: He survived April, but lost the closer's job on May 10.

12: "I wish I felt better about David Murphy, but I don't. His bat looked slow in the spring. He batted .204 (.581 OPS) in hitter-friendly Arizona. Last season, he batted .176 in April. His career April batting average is .226. So if he struggles early, the Tribe will be wondering if it's his usual April agony, or if it's a continuation of the .220 that he hit last season."

Verdict: Murphy got off to a fast start, hitting .284 in April with 18 RBI. He finished the season hitting .262 (.703 OPS) with 8 HR and 58 RBI.

13. "Lonnie Chisenhall ends up back in the minors and Jason Giambi has trouble staying healthy."

Verdict: Chisenhall sweated out the final cut, but then had a fast start. He was hitting .328 at the All-Star break (.218 after). Overall, Chisenhall batted .280 (.770 OPS) with 13 HR and 59 RBI. Giambi was hurt most of the year and not a factor.

14. C.C. Lee is up from Columbus and in the bullpen by June, and pitches well.

Verdict: He bounced back and forth between Class AAA Columbus and Cleveland four times. He was 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA. I thought he'd be more effective.

15. "Danny Salazar wins fewer than 12 games because the Indians continue to be very careful with his arm, innings, etc."

Verdict: Salazar ended up spending time in the minors (I didn't see that coming), and he was 6-8 with a 4.25 ERA. I thought he'd be more effective.

16. "Michael Bourn has trouble stealing bases because of his hamstring issues, and doesn't run as much as he'd like."

Verdict: Yes, those hamstrings were an issue.

17. "Jason Kipnis breaks through with a strong performance all season, makes another All-Star team, drives in at least 90 runs."

Verdict: Oh, boy, that prediction was even worse than Kipnis played.

18. "Trevor Bauer comes up from the minors, but he's still not ready to be a consistent big league starter."

Verdict: Bauer indeed came up from the minors and was 5-8 with a 4.18 ERA. He was ready for the rotation.

19. "Cody Allen and Bryan Shaw take over nicely for Joe Smith in the eighth inning."

Verdict: Allen ended up closing and was 6-4 with a 2.07 ERA with 24 saves. Shaw often pitched in the eighth inning, and he was 5-5 with a 2.59 ERA.

20. "One of the Tribe's two lefty relievers -- Josh Outman and Marc Rzepczynski -- has trouble and is replaced by the All-Star break."

Verdict: Outman was sent to Class AAA on June 25. He later was traded to the Yankees.

21. My preview story had them with an 85-77 record.

Verdict: I'll never come that close again, as the Tribe was 85-77.

Can Nick Swisher recover from his knee problems? Chuck Crow / The Plain Dealer 

ABOUT NICK SWISHER

The Indians joined the parade of teams looking for ways to trade players who are on big contracts and have produced very little.

That's why you hear rumors of the Indians open to dealing Nick Swisher, who has $30 million left on his contract over the next two years.

Consider the following:

1. Baltimore would love to dump Ubaldo Jimenez a year after signing him. Jimenez has three years and $39 million left on his deal. He was 6-9 with a 4.81 ERA, and the Orioles didn't put him on their post-season roster. I would not trade Swisher for Jimenez even if the Orioles kicked in some cash. Jimenez has had one good season in the last four years. That was 2013 with the Tribe, but they know how Jimenez can easily lose his confidence and pitching motion.

2. Philadelphia is pleading with anyone to take Ryan Howard, who has $60 million left over the next three years. He's 35 and has not been the same since tearing his Achilles in the 2011 playoffs. He batted .223 (.690 OPS) with 23 HR and 95 RBI, leading the National League with 190 strikeouts.

3. I'd rather have Mark Reynolds than Howard. Reynolds is a free agent. He batted .196 (.681 OPS) with 22 HR and 45 RBI in 130 games for the Brewers. Actually, I'd rather see what the Tribe has in Zach Walters (big power, big strikeouts) than bring in Howard -- even if Philadelphia takes Swisher and pays most of Howard's contract. I'd also rather look at Walters than Reynolds.

4. The Cubs are offering Edwin Jackson, who has $22 million left over two years on his contract. In his last two seasons, Jackson is 14-33 with a 5.58 ERA for Cubs. Good luck with that.

5. Texas has to be wondering about Shin-Soo Choo. The former Indian signed a seven-year, $130 million deal with the Rangers last winter as Scott Boras struck gold again. Choo batted .242 (.714 OPS) with 13 HR and 41 RBI. Only six more years on that contract!

6. Nearly every team has at least one player in the category of Swisher -- and would love to trade him. The idea is to deal one bad contract for another, and then hope some good comes of it. That doesn't happen often.

7. My guess is Swisher ends up with the Tribe and they hope his surgically repaired knees hold up enough so that he can deliver 20 homers as a DH.

THREE QUICK TRIBE STRIKES

1. The Tribe was relieved when Giovanny Urshela turned out to have only a sprained ligament in his knee. It was feared he may need surgery after being injured in the Venezuelan Winter League, where he was batting .398 (.979 OPS). He is considered an exceptional third baseman. He turned 23 on October 10, and he's coming off a season where he batted a combined .280 with 18 HR and 84 RBI between Class AA Akron and Class AAA Columbus. He is a major prospect because the Tribe needs help at third, especially on defense.

2. Since we're talking winter ball, old friend Andy Marte is leading the Dominican League, batting .361. Manny Ramirez is still playing, batting .304.

3. The next Cody Allen/Kyle Crockett reliever who seems to come out of nowhere in the farm system to help in Cleveland may be Shawn Armstrong, who was added to the 40-man roster. An 18th-round pick in 2011 out of East Carolina, the right-hander was 6-2 with a 2.41 ERA at Class AA. He struck out 72 in 56 innings, walking only 22. He had 15 saves. For his career, Armstrong has a 2.43 ERA.

4. Shameless plug: Tom Hamilton and I will be signing copies of Glory Days In Tribe Town at Barnes & Noble at Crocker Park from 7-8 p.m. Tuesday.

• Terry's Talkin' Browns.

• Terry's Talkin' Cavs.

By waiving Ben Tate and playing undrafted K'Waun Williams ahead of Justin Gilbert, the Browns send the message that the best man plays. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A few things happened this week that should tell fans a lot about the Browns front office/coaching staff.

1. They waived veteran running back Ben Tate.

2. They didn't play first-round draft pick Justin Gilbert a single snap in Sunday's 23-7 loss to Houston.

3. Defensive coordinator Jim O'Neil said what was obvious -- Gilbert was the No. 4 cornerback.

From the moment Ray Farmer took over as general manager and was teamed up with new coach Mike Pettine, the goal was a unified voice saying simply, "The best players play."

Let's consider what happened:

WAIVING TATE

The Browns know that dumping Tate does not make the front office look good. While the two big-money veteran free agent signings were Donte Whitner and Karlos Dansby, Tate was brought in to be the No. 1 running back.

Tate had rushed for 771 yards (a healthy 4.3 average) for Houston in 2013. In 2011, he ran for 942 yards.

Now, it's revealing that the market for an experienced (but not old) 26-year-old running back was limited. Tate's contract was announced as $6.2 million over two years. Only $2.5 million (the signing bonus and first year salary) was guaranteed.

While there was much (probably too much) discussion of Tate's grumpy attitude and his complaints to the media, the real issue was production. A grouchy Tate running for about 80 yards a game and a 4.0 average would still be here -- and starting.

But in his last five games, Tate had 90 yards on 53 carries.

He can counter with the fact that he needed more carries to produce ... but that breaks down to 10 rushes per game. And he couldn't even average 2.0 yards per carry.

Cleveland Browns running back Ben Tate had only 90 yards in his last 53 carries.Joshua Gunter / The Plain Dealer 

LOOKING FOR PRODUCTION

When the coaches rated the running backs after Sunday's 23-7 loss to Houston, it broke down like this:

1. Isaiah Crowell: 358 yards, 4.6 average, 78 carries.

2. Terrance West, but a close second behind Crowell. This can change any week. Stats for West: 409 yards, 3.6 average, 112 carries.

3. A distant third was Tate: 333 yards, 3.1 average and 106 carries.

If Tate were a superb team man and leader, he may have stayed on the roster. So yes, his attitude was a factor. The Browns were aware that Tate could be claimed on waivers, and Minnesota did just that.

But they believed Tate was not going to help the team, and his frustration would continue to grow.

Consider that Crowell is an undrafted free agent. West is a third-round pick, and the Browns traded up for him. Tate was the big name of the bunch.

But Crowell is showing the most promise so far. That's why he started Sunday's game. Yes, he had a very costly fumble on the Houston 19-yard line, but Crowell also averaged 4.4 yards per carry. He bolted on a 35-yard run, the longest this season for a Browns running back.

THERE'S GLENN WINSTON

The Browns picked up Glenn Winston off waivers in training camp. In his last two preseason games with San Francisco, he rushed for 113 yards in 19 carries. That's a 5.5 average.

Yes, it's preseason. But The Browns like the 6-foot-2, 220-pounder. Like Crowell, he is an undrafted free agent. The Browns think he supplies some depth behind West and Crowell. That made it easier to decide to say goodbye to Tate.

They believe Winston has the physical gifts to run hard, block and catch passes. So their three running backs are all rookies: West, Crowell and Winston.

ABOUT JUSTIN GILBERT

1. It's been a very long season for the No. 8 pick in the draft. And it looks awful for the Browns that the No. 8 pick in the draft didn't play a single snap on defense last week.

2. Gilbert has played 238-of-735 possible snaps on defense. His playing time is decreasing. He has lost his job to K'Waun Williams.

3. It's important to remember that Williams covers slot receivers. The Browns drafted Gilbert to cover wide receivers. Those two jobs (covering wide receivers) are held down by Joe Haden and Buster Skrine. When the Browns picked Gilbert, the idea was that at some point Gilbert would take over as a cornerback -- and Skrine would move inside to cover the slot receivers. Skrine can play inside and outside in coverage.

4. But Williams has played well covering the slot. He's an undrafted free agent who also has moved ahead of Pierre Desir, a fourth-round pick who has not played a snap this season.

WHAT IT MEANS

1. The Browns know that they leave themselves open to criticism when Tate is waived, Gilbert is on the bench and Desir never sees the field in a game. But their policy is the best players play ... period. Crowell (undrafted) clearly is superior to Tate right now. Williams (undrafted) makes more sense on the field than Desir or Gilbert.

2. In training camp, the Browns kept Taylor Gabriel (undrafted) over veteran Nate Burleson. Undrafted free agent Ray Agnew starts at fullback.

3. If you dig a bit deeper into the roster, you find that Brian Hoyer, Craig Robertson, Tashaun Gipson and Andrew Hawkins were all undrafted free agents and now play key roles. Hoyer and Hawkins started their pro careers elsewhere. Robertson was signed by former Browns general manager Tom Heckert.

4. Yes, it's encouraging how undrafted free agents have paid off for the Browns. But Gilbert especially needs to improve. If he could turn into a Haden-type of defensive back, the Browns could have a terrific secondary. That would allow Skrine to cover the slot receivers. It would mean Williams is an excellent backup. You don't want to miss on a No. 8 pick.

5. Players know who are the top draft picks. They know the front office has invested in them. And they know if it seems the high picks are playing simply because they are high picks ... not because they earned the job. But they also know when the front office/coaching staff is using the players who earned time on the field -- even if they are undrafted. That second approach gives the coaches more credibility with the players, something the Browns have modeled this season.

ABOUT JOSH GORDON

Can we expect Gordon to be sensational in his first game back after missing nearly three months of the NFL season?

The Browns want to make sure they have him for the final six games. After dealing with his 10-game suspension, the last thing they want is for Gordon to pull a hamstring or suffer another injury. Very curious to see how many snaps he plays.

Gordon will have a huge advantage of fresh legs and a healthy body. After 10 games, nearly every NFL player who sees regular action is bruised and dealing with at least a few minor injuries.

That's why I expect Gordon to have some very good moments in Sunday's game. He caught 10 passes for 146 yards from Brian Hoyer when he returned after a two-game suspension to open last season. But missing two games after playing all of training camp meant he was still in "football shape," used to the speed and violence of the game.

That has not been the case for Gordon this season. He last played on August 23 -- the Browns third preseason game.

The impact of Gordon should be obvious, even if he's not close to his best. He now becomes the one player on offense who will most worry opposing defensive coordinators. He will draw extra coverage, and that should help the other Browns receivers get open. It also may help the running game, as opposing defenses have to be worried about Gordon catching long passes.

• Terry's Talkin' Cavs.

• Terry's Talkin' Indians.

Here's a look at the big matchups and top storylines from around the nation as we near kickoff on another Saturday of college football.

Here's a look at the big matchups and top storylines from around the nation as we near kickoff on another Saturday of college football:

The Big Buzz: Gut check time for Bruins, Trojans

No. 19 USC at No. 9 UCLA, 8 p.m. ET

After disposing of archrival USC for the second straight season last November, Bruins quarterback Brett Hundley had an announcement to make. "UCLA runs L.A. and let's have some fun saying it," said Hundley, then a sophomore who would go on to further cement his legacy a month later in the Hyundai Sun Bowl destruction of Virginia Tech.

With Hundley's star on the rise, many pundits considered the Bruins a trendy off-the-radar pick for the College Football Playoff this season. Hundley and company didn't handle it well, battling inconsistency in September before eventually losing back-to-back games to Utah and Oregon last month. Their playoff hopes were derailed -- that is, until Arizona State fell last week. Now, UCLA finds itself in another November showdown with the Trojans, this time with more than just Los Angeles bragging rights on the line.

The Bruins suddenly control their own destiny in the Pac-12 South. A win tonight over USC coupled with another against Stanford next week would setup a rematch against No. 2 Oregon in the conference title game, a prospect that has many believing that UCLA has the best shot of any two-loss team in the country to sneak into the playoff.

Not buying it? Well, consider this: UCLA is projected to play the toughest schedule in the nation by the end of the season, according to ESPN Stats & Information. An 11-2 record would look pretty impressive with that in mind. As ESPN's Ted Miller writes, the Bruins have all but clawed their way back into the playoff conversation:

Ah, but lookie here, rising from the ashes in their power blue. While the college football nation had turned its attention to other matters -- TCU or Baylor? Unbeaten Florida State behind teams with losses? Two SEC teams in the playoff? What about Ohio State? -- the Bruins have quietly put together a four-game winning streak.

USC quarterback Cody Kessler rolls out of the pocket to throw a pass in the fourth quarter against Cal. USC beat Cal 38-30 Thursday Nov. 14, 2014. (AP Photo/The Orange County Register, Paul Rodriguez)PAUL RODRIGUEZ, 

So what changed for the Bruins? In short, it's been their star quarterback. Hundley was under siege early in the season, sacked 21 times in the first five games and collecting bumps and bruises along the way. The Bruins centerpiece only racked up 122 yards on the ground through Week 5. After a few tweaks on offense and a return to health, Hundley has 442 rushing yards in the five games since.

There was a reason that the Bruins were preseason darlings, boasting as much talent on both sides of the ball as any team in the nation. That talent has been put in better position to succeed of late, writes Coy Wire of Fox Sports:

If the Bruins can continue to play soundly in the areas in which they've shown improvement -- better protection for Hundley and a more developed run game -- they can compete with anyone and have a legitimate shot at running the table and finding themselves in the College Football Playoff party.

The Bruins have been impressive lately, but let's not go gift wrapping the Pac-12 South for them just yet. After all, this is one of college football's best rivalries. The Bruin has already been spray-painted, while USC's landmarks are under guard. Even UCLA coach Jim Mora can't contain himself. Anything can happen tonight. In fact, as it stands now, USC is actually atop the South at 6-2 with conference title designs of its own.

So yes, we still have a football game to play in Pasadena. And are we even sure that Hundley is the best quarterback in this matchup? Cody Kessler has the quietest 29-to-3 touchdown-to-interception ratio in power conference history, which has Matt Hinton of Grantland.com considering a bold reality:

I can't believe I'm actually suggesting this, but is it possible we've reached a point at which the starting quarterback at USC is severely underrated? Or does a passing glance at the raw numbers actually tell us less than meets the eye?  It's hard to dispute the statistics on one point: When Kessler heats up, opposing secondaries go up in flames very, very quickly.

There's another thing that's indisputable: Whether it's UCLA's title hopes or Kessler's national profile, something major will be different in California when we wake up Sunday morning. A USC victory would be a defining moment for Kessler, writes Steve Bisheff of ESPN.com:

If Kessler can do in with the underdog Trojans and knock the Bruins out of the Pac-12 title game, his stature can grow exponentially. He immediately goes from being a competent, gym rat of a quarterback to a big time player who will be on everybody's all-star honor roll in 2015. One game. One challenge. One pressure-packed Saturday.

Running Los Angeles, as Hundley put it a year ago, would be nice. But, this season for these two teams, running away with the Pac-12 South would be nicer.

Watch Bonnie Bernstein, Pete Fiutak and Doug Chapman of Campus Insiders weigh in on Bruins-Trojans and the rest of the day's best matchups:

Top games

Here's a look at some of Saturday's other can't-miss matchups involving teams in the College Football Playoff rankings:

• No. 25 Minnesota at No. 23 Nebraska, 12 p.m. ET

• Boston College at No. 3 Florida State, 3:30 p.m. ET

• No. 8 Ole Miss at Arkansas, 3:30 p.m. ET

• No. 15 Arizona at No. 17 Utah, 3:30 p.m. ET

• No. 16 Wisconsin at Iowa, 3:30 p.m. ET

• No. 20 Missouri at Tennessee, 7:30 p.m. ET

Headlines

• Maryland wide receiver Stefon Diggs will miss the rest of the regular season with a lacerated kidney, head coach Randy Edsall announced on Thursday. (via The Washington Post)

Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Nebraska Saturday, Nov. 15, 2014, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)Morry Gash 

• Still recovering from a fractured fibula, Syracuse quarterback Terrel Hunt was officially ruled out for the remainder of the season by coach Scott Shafer this week. (via Syracuse.com)

• Utah linebacker Gionni Paul, who missed the first two games of the season with a foot injury, had season-ending surgery on the same foot this week after recently suffering a setback. (via the Deseret News)

• Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason announced this week that running back Jerron Seymour has been dismissed from the team for an unspecified violation of team rules. (via CollegeFootballTalk.com)

• He's already been ruled out for the season, but Penn State senior safety and co-captain Ryan Keiser returned to team activities this week after three weeks in the hospital. (via PennLive.com)

• Oklahoma State may be without Daxx Garman tonight at No. 7 Baylor, as the junior quarterback is suffering from concussion symptoms after being sacked seven times last week. (via CBSSports.com)

Who they're picking

• Arkansas has Ole Miss' full attention after they beat LSU last week, opines Kevin Scarbinsky of AL.com, who says the Rebels will escape Fayetteville with a close win over the Razorbacks today.

• Florida State has a chance to temporarily silence its critics this afternoon, according to Stewart Mandel and Bruce Feldman of FoxSports.com, who both expect the 'Noles to beat Boston College by three scores.

• Winners of four straight, Brett Hundley and UCLA are rolling at the right time, writes Phil Steele of ESPN.com, who has the Bruins squeaking past archrival USC tonight in a nail-biter.

• Pat Forde is picking Arizona to pull the upset in Salt Lake City, as the Yahoo! Sports scribe believes the Wildcats offense is too explosive for defensive-minded Utah to handle.

• While the entire USAToday.com panel has Melvin Gordon and Wisconsin rolling over Iowa, four of the publication's seven experts think host Tennessee will take down No. 20 Missouri.

What they're saying

Arizona quarterback Anu Solomon (12) during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Colorado, Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)Rick Scuteri 

• An adversity-filled youth toughened up Arizona quarterback Anu Solomon and, in many ways, made his immediate rise to Pac-12 prominence possible, writes Bruce Feldman of FoxSports.com:

This season's most pleasant surprise in the Pac-12 is a soft-spoken redshirt freshman who emerged from a six-man quarterback derby and actually ranks ahead of Oregon's Marcus Mariota, UCLA's Brett Hundley and Oregon State's Sean Mannion -- the league's three quarterbacks who many this summer projected as future first-round NFL picks.

• Heading into today's tilt at Iowa, Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon has already checked off a subjective but meaningful box on his Heisman Trophy application, Matt Borcas of Grantland.com writes:

Oftentimes, there's little clarity. Saturday, however, wasn't one of those instances. No matter your definition of "Heisman moment," Melvin Gordon fulfilled it and then some with his virtuosic day against Nebraska, which, as you may have heard, featured 408 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 25 carries, good for a staggering 16.3 (!) yards per attempt.

• It's been three weeks since Ole Miss lost star wideout Laquon Treadwell and control of their own destiny on the same play, but, with everything breaking right since, the Rebels might now be better off for it, as Greg Ostendorf of ESPN.com writes:

The injury to Treadwell was certainly a low point for this Ole Miss program, but sometimes you have to hit bottom before you reach the top. And with two weeks left in the season, the Rebels still have a chance to make it to the top.

The Hoosiers have lost 18 in a row to Ohio State since winning in Bloomington in 1988. Join Northeast Ohio Media Group OSU reporters Doug Lesmerises, Ari Wasserman and Bill Landis; and Plain Dealer columnist Bill Livingston in the comments below for chat and updates from the press box during the game.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State is going to go on to win vs. Indiana. 

3:01 p.m. – Barrett connected with Marshall on a 15-yard touchdown to put the game away. Ohio State is up 35-20 late in the contest. 

2:38 p.m. – J.T. Barrett just broke Troy Smith's single-season passing touchdown record – he now has 31 – on a shovel pass to Marshall. Ohio State leads 28-20 with 13:03 remaining in the game. 

2:18 p.m. – Jalin Marshall redeemed himself for his two fumbles in last weekend's win at Minnesota with a huge 54-yard punt return for a touchdown to put the Buckeyes up 21-20 late in the third quarter. 

• 2:04 p.m. – A 90-yard touchdown run by Indiana's Tevin Coleman now has the Hoosiers ahead 20-14 midway through the third quarter. Ohio State officially in "make a play now" mode. 

• 1:53 p.m. – Indiana just kicked a field goal and has brought the score within one at 14-13. Ohio State's turnovers keeping the Hoosiers, who look overmatched, in the game. 

• 12:44 p.m. – For the second consecutive week Ohio State is struggling with turnovers. Barrett has two interceptions. 

• 12:27 p.m. – On that 53-yard by Indiana quarterback Zander Diamont, Ohio State safety Vonn Bell had a hard time getting off his block downfield before making the tackle inside the five. The run set up a short touchdown for Tevin Coleman. 

• 12:16 p.m. – J.T. Barrett's 5-yard touchdown pass to Jeff Heuerman that put Ohio State up 14-0 For the second came on 4th down. The Buckeyes aren't even worried that Indiana can stop them from scoring at will. 

• 12:06 p.m. – The Buckeyes received to open the game and Ezekiel Elliott broke off a 65-yard rushing touchdown to pass the 1,000-yard mark. He's the second running back to rush for 1,000 yards under Meyer, the first being Carlos Hyde last year.

• 11:48 a.m. – This was a very late-arriving crowd because the roads were icy. Apparently I-71 South was having major traffic issues. 

Staff predictions for the Browns-Falcons game Sunday in Atlanta.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Staffers from The Plain Dealer and Northeast Ohio Media Group weigh in on the Browns-Falcons game on Sunday at 1 p.m. in the Georgia Dome:

Browns at Falcons
(Falcons favored by 3 points)

Mary Kay Cabot
Record: 6-4
Browns 27, Falcons 20
Gordon flashes that All-Pro magic in his first game back.

Dan Labbe
Record: 5-5
Browns 24, Falcons 23
The Browns have been able to rally after each of their losses this season. They escape Atlanta with win No. 7.

Bill Livingston
Record: 4-6
Falcons 35, Browns 28
Josh Gordon, unfortunately, can't play defense.

Dennis Manoloff
Record: 6-4
Falcons 27, Browns 13
Banged-up Browns struggle indoors on the road.

Terry Pluto
Record: 5-5
Browns 27, Falcons 24
Josh Gordon sparks the offense, and Browns add a big win.

Tom Reed
Record: 4-6
Browns 30, Falcons 27
This one might come down to the last possession. Given the state of these two defenses, the Browns better hope they have the ball.

Bud Shaw
Record: 6-4
Browns 27, Falcons 24
Back on script after a week of getting pass happy, Browns run over Atlanta defense.

Branson Wright
Record: 7-3
Browns 24, Falcons 23
The return of Flash Gordon is bad news for the Falcons poor pass defense.

"Being recognized like this from such a prestigious university like The Ohio State University usually doesn't happen until later years down the line," Smith said. "This is a special time in my life and an important time."

COLUMBUS, Ohio – One of the best players in Ohio State football history will be officially recognized as a Buckeye great next week. 

Former quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith's No. 10 will be enshrined in Ohio Stadium during the Michigan game, which is appropriate considering Smith went 3-0 against the archrival Wolverines. 

• The inside story of how Troy Smith became a Buckeye 13 years ago

"Being recognized like this from such a prestigious university like The Ohio State University usually doesn't happen until later years down the line," Smith said in a release. "This is a special time in my life and an important time.

"I never once in my first few years at Ohio State imagined something like this, but as the potential for this to happen came closer and closer, the thought of it happening became bone chilling. Only a very small percentage of people are up there [in lights in Ohio Stadium]. This honor means everything in the world to me and I can't tell you how much I bleed Scarlet and Gray."

Smith's No. 10 is already placed next to Ohio State five earlier Heisman winners – Les Horvath, Vic Janowicz, Howard "Hopalong" Cassady, Archie Griffin and Eddie George. Chic Harley, the school's first three-time All-American, and Bill Willis, an All-American and member of four Halls of Fame, are up there, too. 

View full sizeTroy Smith was 3-0 against Michigan, won two Big Ten titles as an Ohio State starter and won the Heisman Trophy in 2006.AP 

Freshman defensive end Jalyn Holmes currently wears No. 10 and he'll continue to wear the jersey number throughout his career. 

But moving forward, Ohio State will  "continue to honor individuals and enshrine jersey numbers of its outstanding performers across its 36-sport intercollegiate athletics program, but jersey numbers will no longer be taken out of circulation."

The school's remaining 18 retired jersey numbers will remain retired. 

Smith went 23-5 as a starting quarterback and led Ohio State to two Big Ten titles (2005 and 2006). In 2006, his Heisman trophy year, he threw for 2,542 yards and a school-record 30 touchdowns. The Buckeyes earned a berth in the national title game that year, but lost to Urban Meyer's Florida Gators, 41-14. 

"It's time to honor one of our all-time greats," Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith said. "Troy's playing days are over. His accomplishments and achievements as an Ohio State Buckeye are legendary. And we are so proud to be able to recognize this young man by honoring his name and number in Ohio Stadium."

With Jabaal Sheard hobbled by a foot injury, Mingo should get extra reps in coming games.

BEREA, Ohio – Barkevious Mingo doesn't enjoy conversations focusing on his weight.

At 6-4, 240 pounds, the outside linebacker is built like an exclamation point, but too often has been a question mark in the Browns' defense given his high draft status from a year ago.

Some believe Mingo is simply too light for the rigors of the job. His athleticism often puts him in good position for plays that his lack of strength doesn't allow him to make. The problem has been compounded this season while admirably playing through a shoulder injury that requires him to wear a harness. Off-season surgery is a possibility.

But in a production-based league in which many play hurt this time of a year Mingo has one sack, one fumble recovery, one pass defensed in nine games. Browns defensive coordinator Jim O'Neil was asked this week if the second-year veteran gets graded on a curve because he's playing with the shoulder problem.

"If you're out there, you've got to be able to produce," O'Neil said. "When you get injured in the NFL, the only way to get healthy is to not play. Mingo has not gone that route. He's fought through it. He's been a warrior for us, so it is what it is."

As the Browns' season reaches a dramatic juncture, Mingo suddenly has been afforded an opportunity to change the narrative on the start to his career. Outside linebacker Jabaal Sheard could miss Sunday's game in Atlanta with a foot injury. Coach Mike Pettine concedes even if Sheard plays it will be in a limited basis.

The Browns (6-4) are a wounded bunch on defense. The line has been decimated with injury. Inside linebacker Karlos Dansby, arguably the unit's best player, is likely out with a knee injury.

In pursuit of their first playoff appearance in seven years, the Browns need contributions from unexpected sources. That Mingo -- the No. 6 overall pick in last year's draft -- falls into the category speaks to his underwhelming season.

In fairness, he was more noticeable a week ago in recording a career-high six tackles in the 23-7 loss to the Texans. The Browns require an even bigger effort against a potent Falcons' offense.

"It is important, and he's got to step up," Pettine said. "His workload will definitely increase."

Pettine and O'Neil, who both worked for the Bills a year ago, liked Mingo coming out of LSU. They have altered his game, using him more as a coverage linebacker and less as a pass rusher. He's rushing the quarterback on just 35.3 percent of his snaps, according to ProFootballFocus.com, down from 50.2 percent a season ago.

Mingo has tried adapting to his new role even as knows he was drafted to terrorize quarterbacks. He registered a sack in each of his first three NFL games, but just three more in his last 21 games.

One league talent evaluator, speaking on conditions of anonymity, told cleveland.com: "It's tough to really grade his development when he doesn't get consistent snaps. He was drafted to rush the passer but doesn't get that opportunity enough. With (Paul) Kruger and Sheard in front of him, it's tough."

The source also pinned many of the defensive ills – it ranks No. 22 overall -- on the line, calling it the "Number 1 priority" in terms of offseason upgrades.

Despite ranking third in interceptions with 16, the Browns have registered just 20 sacks. Mingo will get his shot at adding to the total as both Pettine and O'Neil said the outside linebacker would receive more as a pass-rush opportunities against the Falcons.

With Sheard hobbled, Mingo enters an important stretch for a coach and general manager who did not draft him. Play well and impressions of the lithe outside linebacker start to change. Perform poorly and the club could be looking elsewhere next season.

Regardless what the scales reflect, Mingo will be carrying extra weight as the Browns fight for a playoff spot.

Ohio State trailed Indiana in the third quarter before pulling away for the win in the fourth quarter. How will the closer-than-expected win for the 34-point favorites affect No. 6 Ohio State's standing in the playoff poll on Tuesday?

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- First thoughts from Ohio State's win over Indiana on Saturday:

• Ohio State turned the ball over three times in the first half, and after turning it over five times in the previous two games, the Buckeyes' turnovers are not a fluke. They can't be brushed off. They may be the No. 1 thing that could keep this team from doing what it wants to do. But just as concerning were the consecutive three-and-outs to end the half. It's like the Buckeyes for a stretch couldn't figure out how to attack what has been a vulnerable Indiana defense all season.

• It got hairy for a while. Any time a visiting team takes a third-quarter lead, you enter find-a-way-to-win mode. Jalin Marshall's punt return bailed the Buckeyes out of that. But in this playoff world, how you win matters as the playoff committee tries to pick between teams with similar records. The Buckeyes could take a hit for this one.

• The biggest problem? The game for a while may have reminded people of the Virginia Tech loss. The offense was stalling and the opponent was finding ways to move the ball on Ohio State in Ohio Stadium. Ohio State had been pushing that Week 2 loss into the rearview mirror with road wins over Michigan State and Minnesota.

Saturday may have brought it back a bit.

• The committee loves teams that excel on the road, so the fact the problems Saturday came at home for Ohio State will be an issue as well. On the road, you may be excused for finding any way to survive. At home, there's more of an expectation to handle your business.

• Is it a guarantee that Ohio State moves down from No. 6 with the committee? Not at all. We are still figuring out how these people think. But TCU struggled on the road at Kansas last week and dropped from No. 4 to No. 5. Ohio State could move down a spot, maybe behind Baylor, though the Buckeyes did win by more than the Horned Frogs did last week.

• Urban Meyer talked to Zach Smith, the coach in charge of punt return, about taking Jalin Marshall off punt return this week after his fumble last week. But after a talk, they decided they liked Marshall's aggression as a return man too much.

He's risk-reward. You saw the risks last week. With the return that put the Buckeyes ahead Saturday, you saw the reward.

• Indiana running back Tevin Coleman topped more than 300 rushing yards against Rutgers last week and the Hoosiers didn't come close to victory, losing 45-23. Saturday, Ohio State contained Coleman for much of the day, limiting him to 50 rushing yards in the first half on 15 carries. But he seemed to help open up the rest of the Indiana offense, which also was aided by OSU turnovers but got a little more going than expected.

And then Coleman broke a 90-yard run early in the third quarter to give Indiana the lead.

• How the Buckeyes defended Indiana and Coleman is instructive for what the Buckeyes could face against Melvin Gordon and Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship. Ohio State has clinched its spot in Indy. And while the Badgers don't throw it very well, they throw it better than Indiana does.

• Ohio State forced Indiana QB Zander Diamont into a critical interception in the final five minutes once Indiana got the ball back, down eight points. That wasn't a shock. It was more of a surprise that the Buckeyes didn't make the freshman, making his fifth start after beginning the year as the No. 3 QB, more nervous during the course of the day.

 

What's the most damaging thing about the Indiana game in terms of his quest for New York? That maybe it wasn't flashy enough against an inferior opponent.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – It took almost an entire regular season filled with dazzling performances from J.T. Barrett before Ohio State coach Urban Meyer acknowledged he was a legitimate Heisman Trophy contender. 

Meyer did that Monday, and the second he put Barrett's name in the same sentence as the most prestigious trophy in college football, Meyer legitimized Barrett's candidacy. 

Whether Barrett gets to New York City as a finalist is entirely up to Barrett. 

Did he hurt his chances in Ohio State's 42-27 win over Indiana, a game in which he threw for 302 yards and four touchdowns, but also had two interceptions in the first half to keep the Hoosiers in the game? 

Ohio State ended up winning comfortably – which keeps it alive in its pursuit for the No. 4 spot in the College Football Playoff – but so much about winning the Heisman Trophy is looking good while winning. The stats are nice, but there wasn't a ton of flash in Ohio State's win in what was once a Hoosiers scare. 

Following is an initial breakdown of Barrett's performance: 

• First, it's important to note that on a shovel-pass to Jalin Marshall in the third quarter – which gave Ohio State a 28-20 lead to create much-needed separation – Barrett broke Troy Smith's single-season touchdown passes record. That gave Barrett 31 touchdown passes on the season, more than Smith's 30 passing touchdowns in Ohio State's run to the national title game in 2006. 

He finished the game with two more touchdown passes to Marshall, which brought him up to 33. 

• Barrett was sporadic the entire game, and it bit him with two costly interceptions in the first half.

Here's the first one: With Ohio State up 14-10, Barrett was looking for Devin Smith on a slant pattern. He tried to zip it over the linebacker's head, and it sailed 5 yards over Smith and into the arms of Hoosiers defensive back Antonio Allen. 

The second one came in the second quarter with the score the same. Barrett tried to find Evan Spencer down the field deep in the red zone, and the ball hit Spencer in the hands before Allen picked it off again. Some could argue that Spencer needs to make that play – when a ball hits a receiver's hands, it should be caught – but it gets tricky. Barrett threw it to the wrong guy, as Mike Thomas was wide open on a post in the end zone. 

Throughout the rest of the game, Barrett missed open receivers. It was by far his least accurate game as Ohio State's quarterback, and Meyer had just praised his accuracy last week. 

• How about some good news? Barrett sells the fakes on play action and read plays better than any other quarterback I've seen at Ohio State. He regularly tricks the camera man, and I often find myself following a player who doesn't have the ball. Not only does Barrett consistently make the right reads, but he sells it when he keeps the ball, which has to help him in his own rushing efforts. 

• The most impressive thing about Barrett's shaky performance was that he still posted impressive stats, especially because he added two late touchdown passes to Marshall. 

But what's the most damaging thing about the Indiana game in terms of his quest for New York? That maybe it wasn't flashy enough against an inferior opponent. 

 

Ohio State played poorly, but pulled out a win against Indiana on Saturday in Ohio Stadium. The Buckeyes clinched a Big Ten title game berth with the win.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Those turnovers? The ones that Ohio State got away with in back-to-back wins against Michigan State and Minnesota? They nearly cost the Buckeyes their season on Saturday.

No. 6 Ohio State turned it over three times in the first half against Indiana, and at one point trailed the Hoosiers by a point in the third quarter, before pulling away for a 42-27 win on Saturday in Ohio Stadium.

The Buckeyes (10-1, 7-0 Big Ten) clinched the Big Ten East Division title and a spot in the Big Ten championship game with their ninth straight win.

Jalin Marshall's 54-yard punt return late in the third quarter erased the Buckeyes' deficit, giving Ohio State a 21-20 lead, and helped keep its College Football Playoff hopes alive.

After scoring two touchdowns on nine plays in the first quarter, including a 65-yard touchdown run from Ezekiel Elliott on their first possession, the Buckeyes offense stalled. It went like this after the two touchdowns: fumble, interception, interception, punt, punt to end the first half.

Ohio State led 14-13 at the break.

Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett wasn't at his most sharp on Saturday, but still completed 25-of-35 passes for 302 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions. He also ran for 78 yards.

Indiana (3-8, 0-7) turned Ohio State's three turnovers into six points.

The Buckeyes punted the ball back to Indiana with an eight-point lead and 4:34 left in the fourth quarter. Hoosiers quarterback Zander Diamont was intercepted by Tyvis Powell on the first play of the ensuing possession.

Marshall scored his third touchdown of the day on on a 15-yard pass from Barrett the next play to put Ohio State up 35-20 with 4:21 left.

When it was over

When Marshall took a fly sweep from Barrett and ran in for a 6-yard score to put Ohio State up 28-20 with 13:03 left in the fourth quarter.

What it means

The Buckeyes clinched a berth in the Big Ten championship game, but did it come at a price? Could the College Football Playoff selection committee look at the first half against Indiana and slide Ohio State back in the rankings?

It most likely wouldn't have a dramatic effect, but perception is everything in this new age of college football, and the Buckeyes did not look like a playoff team for large chunks of Saturday's game.

Marshall bounces back

Marshall was the subject of much criticism last week for his struggles in the punt return game and fumble problems. Safe to say he put those doubts to bed on Saturday.

He had four touchdowns, three receptions and one punt return. Marshall finished with five receptions for 95 yards.

Barrett sets touchdown record

Barrett's shovel pass on a fly sweep to Marshall was his 31st touchdown pass of the season, breaking the previous record of 30 held by Troy Smith.

Elliott breaks 1,000

Elliott needed 46 rushing yards on Saturday to get to 1,000 for the season. He got 65 yards and a touchdown on his first carry of the game, becoming the second straight Ohio State back to eclipse the 1,000-yard rushing mark.

Coleman gets his

Just when it looked like Ohio State was going to keep Indiana running back Tevin Coleman under wraps, he broke loose for a 90-yard touchdown run that gave Indiana a 20-14 lead with 7:17 left in the third quarter.

He broke through again for a 52-yard score late in the fourth quarter.

Coleman, the nation's second-leading rusher, finished with 228 yards and three touchdowns on 27 carries.

Perry leads OSU defense

Ohio State linebacker Josh Perry, who appeared to injure his knee early in the game, finished with a game-high 14 tackles and two sacks.

What's next

The Buckeyes close out the 2014 regular season next week when Michigan comes to Ohio Stadium for a noon kickoff.

Below-freezing temperatures coupled with misting rain coated most surfaces with ice through much of the morning. The weather closed some highways into Columbus and left city streets treacherous, keeping large numbers of fans from arriving until after kickoff.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Pregame tailgating before Saturday's  Ohio State-Indiana game was only for the adventurous.

Below-freezing temperatures coupled with misting rain coated most surfaces with ice through much of the morning.

The weather closed some highways into Columbus and left city streets treacherous, keeping large numbers of fans from arriving until after kickoff.

Those who arrived early came armed with the essentials: a hot grill, warming trays and lots of food.

The Blue Streaks didn't let a last-second loss to Mount Union affect their first game in the NCAA Division III playoffs, as they won their first postseason game in 12 years.

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio – They said last week was last week, that they forgot about the heartbreaking loss as soon as it was over. John Carroll moved on to its NCAA Division III playoff game against Centre College immediately. That's what they said, at least.

Except an extra fight was there for the Blue Streaks from the start. From the opening kickoff, which Kelly Culbertson returned 94 yards for a touchdown, and from the 43-yard interception return Michael Hollins logged a little more than two minutes later. 

Before the John Carroll offense even took the field, the Blue Streaks had built a two-touchdown lead, as they cruised to a 63-28 victory over Centre in front of 1,290 at Don Shula Stadium on Saturday.

John Carroll will face Wheaton College next week in the Division III playoffs, with the location still to be determined. 

It was the first playoff victory for JCU in 12 years, which pushed it to 10-1. And it was an easy salve for the pain of losing to Mount Union 31-24 last week that brought an unpalatable ending when officials said JCU quarterback Mark Myers illegally spiked the ball with two seconds, violating a rule that prevents spikes with fewer than three seconds left. 

"A week ago, it was something pretty special, I thought, after the game, to see how our players responded and how hungry they were," John Carroll coach Tom Arth said. "They were ready to go out there. They would have played another game immediately after; just so hungry. I think sometimes you need things like that, you need to be cut down to become closer and to be the team that you're capable of being." 

What the Blue Streaks found was a decisive victory. Culbertson returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown – something John Carroll has done three times this season – and set the tone. 

"I thought I was watching a movie – 'Groundhog Day,'" said Centre coach Andy Frye. "What just happened?" 

Soon after, Centre's starting quarterback Heath Haden suffered a concussion, and the team was forced to rely on freshman Devin Hayes for the remainder of the game. Hayes admitted he'd taken just six snaps in practice this week. 

Hayes fumbled his first snap, but settled down enough in the end to pass for 224 yards. 

But with senior quarterback Mark Myers engineering the John Carroll offense, it was difficult to match up. Myers handed off to Tommy Michals (150 yards on 17 carries). He threaded passes to receivers such as Marshall Howell, who had five catches for 84 yards. And in the end, he'd connected on 24-of-30 attempts for 264 yards and five touchdowns – breaking the all-time JCU record, held by Arth. 

"I'm happy about that," said Arth, a 2003 JCU graduate. "I get teased a lot about stuff like that, but I think my name's going to be erased from the record book shortly, here." 

By just before half, JCU had built a 49-7 lead. 

Centre countered with a touchdown from running back Nolan Coulter just before halftime, and then blocked a punt for another touchdown with 9:18 remaining in the third to cut JCU's lead to 49-21. 

But the Blue Streaks continued offensive pounding and two goal-line stands in the second half helped them secure the victory – and keep the momentum that began from the opening kickoff Saturday.

"I think momentum's a great thing," Arth said. "Once you get something rolling, it's hard to stop. I feel we have so much momentum right now."

Kevin Love is averaging 10 fewer points and five fewer shots than he did last season with Minnesota. He seems confused about his role in the offense.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Kevin Love knew that joining the Cavaliers would mean fewer shots and fewer points than he had when he was at the center of the offense with Minnesota last season.

As the Cavs assembled their Big Three of Kyrie Irving, LeBron James and Love -- all three players knew they'd have to sacrifice some of their scoring.

But the biggest sacrifice has been for Love.

Last season, he averaged 26.1 points on 18.5 field goal attempts -- shooting .457. This season, it's 15.9 points on 12.9 field goal attempts -- shooting a career low .389.

Love is playing the same 36 minutes a game as a year ago, but taking five fewer shots per game. Nor does he seem sure where the best spots are for him to shoot. He seemed to hit bottom in Friday's 91-78 loss at Washington.

Love played 31 minutes, was 3-of-8 shooting for eight points. He had eight rebounds. He rarely saw the ball in the half-court offense. Too many of his shots have been 3-pointers -- 44 percent of all his shots are from beyond the arch.

By contrast, James is actually taking more shots this season (19.2) than he did with Miami (17.6) last season. He is averaging 25.5 points, down from 27.1 a year ago. His .465 shooting percentage is his worst since James shot .417 as a rookie.

James is struggling a bit to find his ideal role. Should he be more of a Magic Johnson passer? Or do the Cavs need him to score big to win, as has often been the case early in the season?

Irving is thriving. He is taking slightly fewer shots (15.6) than a year ago (17.4). But his scoring average (21.9) and shooting percentage (.453) are all better than last season.

Understand that Love is not a selfish player worried about his stats. He sometimes is a frustrated player because he knows he can score more, shoot better and make more of an impact.

A year ago, Love ranked No. 2 (behind Joakim Noah) in assists among all centers and power forwards. He averaged 4.4 per game. It's down to 2.6 this season.

The key for Coach David Blatt will be to not just find more shots for Love -- but find shots that make more sense for Love. The 6-foot-10 forward has talked about wanting the ball inside. James has said if that's the case, he needs to set up near the basket more often and "demand" the ball.

Chris Bosh played Love's position with Miami, and he warned that Love would be in for a major period of adjustment playing with James. That seems to be the case.

Bosh averaged 24 points and took 16.5 shots per game in his last season with Toronto. In his four years with the Heat playing with Dwyane Wade and James, he dropped to 17.5 points and 13.1 shots. Of course, he also made four consecutive trips to the NBA Finals, winning twice.

Since James left, Bosh is averaging 20.6 points and taking three more shots per game.

Finding a shooting guard and developing team chemistry is a major challenge for Coach David Blatt. Joshua Gunter / The Plain Dealer 

ABOUT MIKE MILLER

The Cavs should find out if Mike Miller can still produce.

Entering Saturday, Miller had played only 116 minutes -- scoring 11 points. He's shot 4-of-16 from field.

The 34-year-old signed a two-year, $5.5 million contract with the Cavs. He turned down a three-year deal from Denver for more money. So the Cavs weren't the only ones who thought he could still play.

Last season, Miller appeared in all 82 games for Memphis -- averaging 7.1 points in 21 minutes a game. He shot .481 (.459 on 3-pointers).

Coach David Blatt has been trying to figure out who to start at shooting guard. He opened the season with Dion Waiters. Then he switched to Shawn Marion.
One problem with Marion starting is that he was signed to come off the bench and back up James.

Blatt also has been thinking about starting rookie Joe Harris at shooting guard.

Part of making the Cavs a success is figuring out the combinations. James often likes to drive to the rim and look for an open corner 3-point shot. Miller is a career 41 percent shooter from 3-point range.

James and Miller played together for three years in Miami.

Right now, the Cavs offense is so stagnant that it's hard to know what combinations will work. But Miller has been a solid player on the league for 14 seasons.

ABOUT THE CAVS

1. General Manager David Griffin would prefer to use his $5.3 million trade exception for a big man, rather than a shooting guard such as Corey Brewer. It will be interesting to see what Minnesota does now with Brewer as the Wolves have lost guard Kevin Martin for at least a month with a broken wrist. Wolves coach Flip Saunders is in no hurry to deal Brewer.

2. Andrew Wiggins is playing like a 19-year-old rookie for the Wolves. In his first 10 games, he's averaging 10.7 points and shooting .441 from the field. He has only seven assists (compared to 23 turnovers) in 271 minutes. He had 20 points in 23 minutes at New Orleans on Nov. 14, and the next night it was five points in 23 minutes at Dallas. Up and down is the story.

3. Anthony Bennett isn't playing much for the Wolves, averaging 16 minutes a game. He is scoring 7.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and shooting 53 percent. He has had a few minor injuries, but a healthy Bennett scored 20 in Minnesota's 121-92 loss to the Spurs.

4. Some of the Cavs young players are still trying to understand what it means to be on a team where they are often on national television -- and virtually every team is gunning for them. It's why they have been upset by teams such as Denver and New York. James and others have been warning them, but that usually is a lesson learned the hard way.

5. The Cavs have major problems on both ends of the floor. The defensive issues were expected. But on offense, too often the ball stays on the same side of the court -- sometimes, with the same player. The Cavs are outstanding when they run the fast break, as I wrote about last week. But they too often walk the ball up the court. For the Cavs to snap out of this 5-6 record that they carried into Saturday night, they need to start running and scoring.

6. Heading into Saturday night, the Cavs had scored 78-90-97 points in their three previous games (all losses). In the four games before that, it was 127-122-118-110 (all victories).

• Terry's Talkin' Browns.

• Terry's Talkin' Indians.

Indians drop lefty Scott Barnes from 40-man roster to make room for Charles Brewer. Barnes was designated for assignment. Tribe roster stands at 40.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- For those wondering why Scott Barnes survived the Indians first roster manipulation in anticipation of the Rule 5 draft in December, the answer arrived Sunday morning.

The Indians have acquired right-hander Charles Brewer from Arizona for cash. To make room for Brewer on the 40-man roster, Barnes was designated for assignment.

Brewer, 26, was a combined 11-12 in 29 starts at Class AA Mobile and Class AAA Reno last season for the D-backs. He pitched 169 2/3 innings, struck out 138 and walked 48. Brewer was 8-10 at Reno and 3-2 at Mobile. The opposition hit .293 against him in Reno.

He made his big league debut with Arizona in 2013, making four relief appearances. Arizona designated him for assignment on Nov. 20.

Brewer was Arizona's 12th round pick in 2009 out of UCLA.

Barnes, slowed by injuries the last two years, pitched parts of the 2012 and 2013 season for the Tribe. He is 0-1 with a 5.20 ERA and one save in the big leagues.

The Indians acquired Barnes from the Giants for Ryan Garko on July 27, 2009. They have 10 days to trade, release or put Barnes on waivers.

Barnes went 3-2 with a 3.69 ERA in 25 games this year at Class AAA Columbus.He struck out 35, walked 16 and allowed 22 hits in 31 2/3 innings.

Indians updated 40-man roster.

Injured cornerback Robert Alford and offensive tackle Jonathan Scott are out for the Falcons in today's home game against the Browns.

ATLANTA, Georgia – Here are the Atlanta Falcons' inactive players, injuries and lineup changes for today's 1 p.m. game against the Browns in the Georgia Dome:

Inactive players are: cornerback Robert Alford, linebacker James Anderson, tackle Cameron Bradfield, defensive end Cliff Matthews, quarterback Sean Renfree, tackle Jonathan Scott and linebacker Tyler Starr.

Running back Steven Jackson and wide receiver Julio Jones, who missed time earlier in the week with illnesses, are active and in the lineup.

Scott (hamstring), a backup, and Alford (wrist), a starter, were ruled out earlier in the week.

Alford broke his wrist last week.

Scott's injury further depletes a line already hit hard by injuries. Four starting linemen are lost to season-ending injuries: center Peter Konz, previous center Joe Hawley, right tackle Lamar Holmes and left tackle Sam Baker.

Guard Jon Asamoa and defensive end Jonathan Babineaux, listed as probable earlier in the week, are active and in the lineup.

Saturday was anything but shakeup Saturday at the top of the polls

The list of unbeaten or one-loss College Football Playoff contenders remained exactly the same as it was at the start of a week. But it didn't always look like it would end up that way.

Florida State again escaped an upset -- this time against Boston College. Ohio State had to sweat out a threat from Indiana. Even unbeaten Marshall struggled for the first time all season to get around UAB.

Unbeatens FSU and Marshall avoided losses by a combined eight points. And in the end all seven one-loss teams remained one-loss teams.

Given that, here's the question of the day: How much do repeated close wins by Florida State hurt its playoff standing, if at all? And did Ohio State's struggles against Indiana -- the 3-8 Hoosiers had a second-half lead -- hurt considering the Buckeyes are ranked No. 6, on the outside of the playoff field looking in?

That's a question we'll get a better answer for Tuesday when the CFP committee releases its new rankings. But our guess is that things won't change much.

Who's Left

It's the same schools as last week, starting with the two undefeated teams:

• No. 3 Florida State (11-0), which beat Boston College, 20-17
• Marshall (11-0), which beat UAB, 23-18, but the Thundering Herd won't figure into the playoff picture.

Then there are seven one-loss teams, including six from major conferences:

• No. 1 Alabama (10-1), which beat FCS member Western Carolina, 48-14
• No. 2 Oregon (10-1), which beat Colorado, 44-10
• No. 4 Mississippi State (10-1), which beat Vanderbilt, 51-0
• No. 5 TCU (9-1), which had a bye
• No. 6 Ohio State (10-1), which beat Indiana, 42-27
• No. 7 Baylor (9-1), which beat Oklahoma State, 49-28
• Colorado State (10-1), which beat New Mexico, 58-20, but not only won't figure into the playoff picture (the Rams might not even play for the Mountain West title as Boise State holds a tie-breaker edge in the Mountain Division)

Next showdowns?

If you are looking for a showdown between two of the above nine teams that will guarantee we cut back on the number of unbeaten or one-loss teams, that won't happen.

There will not be another game in the regular season -- championship week included -- that will match any of those nine teams. Two leagues have two, one-loss teams. But in the SEC, Alabama has already beaten Mississippi State and they are in the same division. In the Big 12, Baylor and TCU have already played, and Baylor won and owns a tie-breaker there.

The road gets tougher

The fact that they won't play each other doesn't mean the schedules won't get tougher for the elite teams. The combined records for Saturday's opponents of the nine unbeaten or one-loss teams was 34-55 and only two of them had winning records, one of those being 7-5 Western Carolina.

The cupcakes are mostly gone. Here are the paths for the nine teams.

• Alabama: vs. No. 14 Auburn (8-3) then versus either No. 10 Georgia (9-2) or No. 20 Missouri (9-2) in the SEC championship game
• Oregon vs. Oregon State (5-6) then either No. 9 UCLA (9-2), No. 13 Arizona State (9-2) or No. 15 Arizona (9-2) in the Pac-12 championship game
• Florida State vs. Florida (6-4) then No. 18 Georgia Tech (9-2) in the ACC championship game
• Mississippi State vs. No. 8 Ole Miss (8-3) then, if Alabama loses to Auburn, either No. 10 Georgia (9-2) or No. 20 Missouri (9-2) in the SEC championship game
• TCU vs. Texas (6-5) and Iowa State (2-8). The Big 12 has no championship game and the Horned Frogs must hope for a Kansas State win over Baylor to win the Big 12 title.
• Ohio State vs. Michigan (5-6) and either No. 16 Wisconsin (9-2) or No. 25 Minnesota (8-3) in the Big Ten title game
• Baylor vs. Texas Tech (4-7) and No. 12 Kansas State (8-2), with a Big 12 title awaiting the Bears if they win out
• Marshall vs. Western Kentucky (6-5) then the winner of Louisiana Tech (7-4) vs. Rice (7-4) in the Conference USA championship game
• Colorado State vs. Air Force (8-3) then, if Boise State loses to Utah State, either Fresno State (5-6) or San Diego State (6-5) in the Mountain West championship game.

What if they lose?

If enough of the seven main contenders lose, two-loss teams get in the playoff picture -- and, on that front, Saturday was interesting.

UCLA quarterback Brett Hundley celebrates after the Bruins beat USC, making them likely the top two-loss team in the country.Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press 

Ole Miss, the top-ranked two-loss team entering the day, was pummeled by surging Arkansas, 30-0. That means No. 9 UCLA will move up after routing No. 18 USC, 38-20, and likely be the top two-loss team.

Two-loss teams will meet on the field this week. Georgia will play Georgia Tech with the possibility of the winner closing with a pair of signature wins (including, potentially, their respective conference title games). The Arizona-Arizona State game matches two-loss archrivals, but both need a Stanford win over UCLA to get to the Pac-12 championship game.

Records

With no major developments in the playoff race, Saturday was about records.

Oklahoma freshman Samaje Perine broke Melvin Gordon's one-week-old FBS single-game rushing records by rushing 34 times for 427 yards in the Sooners' 44-7 win over Kansas. Gordon, the Wisconsin Heisman Trophy candidate, ran for 408 yards last week against Nebraska.

Also, East Carolina receiver Justin Hardy caught nine passes for East Carolina in a 34-7 win over Tulane, giving the Pirates senior an FBS record 355 catches for his career.

How well will Josh Gordon play in his season debut today?

ATLANTA, Ga. -- Josh Gordon returns to the field today for the first time since the Browns final game last season.

Gordon missed the first 10 games this season while serving a suspension. He missed the first two games of last season due to a suspension and he had 10 catches in his debut against the Minnesota Vikings.

So how well will Gordon play today? Will he have a similar performance as he did last season, or will missing 10 games make a huge difference compared to last season.

In today's Tailgate Talk that took place at a Browns Backers event, fans were asked will Gordon catch more than nine passes or under nine passes?

Cleveland Plain Dealer photographers John Kuntz and Joshua Gunter — and videographer David I. Andersen — are at the Georgia Dome today as the Cleveland Browns face the Atlanta Falcons. See all their photos above. This gallery will be updated through the game, so check back often for all the action.

Cleveland Plain Dealer photographers John Kuntz and Joshua Gunter — and videographer David I. Andersen — are at the Georgia Dome today as the Cleveland Browns face the Atlanta Falcons. See all their photos above. This gallery will be updated through the game, so check back often for all the action.