"We have it pretty much set in stone how we go about our work and business," Fickell said, but the key is to always know who your opponent is and what challenges they possess."

NEW ORLEANS – Knee deep in the deep south game planning for Alabama, you'd expect nothing outside of the state of Louisiana would be relevant enough to get Urban Meyer and Luke Fickell to come up for air. 

Well, there's one thing – recruiting. 

So as news circulated that Jim Harbaugh is all but signed, sealed and delivered as Michigan's next head coach, Meyer and his staff made time to think about something other than stopping Crimson Tide receiver Amari Cooper. 

"There's not a day that goes by that recruiting isn't a talk," Fickell said Monday. "Any time there's a change, any time there's somebody new or a different situation, that's one of those things that we're always on top of. 

"No matter who it would've been, it would've been a big issue for us to say, 'OK, we have to know how we're going to attack our enemy, what we're going to do to combat it and have a plan.' "

Here's the truth: No matter who Michigan hired to replace Brady Hoke, the new blood and new sense of program security would have sparked a resurgence in a 2015 class that only has eight commitments right now. 

View full sizeWhen Jim Harbaugh gets going at Michigan there's going to be a big swing in momentum on the recruiting front in the Wolverines' favor. Associated Press 

Recruiting was never a problem for Hoke until his job came into question. The lack of program stability halted his progress. 

Add in a coach like Harbaugh, a stern personality, a Michigan Man and a coach who led an NFL franchise to the Super Bowl, the Buckeyes know that there's going to be a power shift in the Midwest. 

That shift doesn't mean Ohio State won't be able to recruit in a dominant way anymore. It just means that there's a new player in the Midwest again, a real threat that could make the Buckeyes work a little harder for prospects they may have landed in the past with little resistance. 

Michigan is changing things for Ohio State, from everything to recruiting territories in Michigan – think about all the progress the Buckeyes have made at Detroit Cass Tech – to keeping elite talents in the state of Ohio. 

Harbaugh is a danger to Ohio State. Meyer and Fickell know it. 

The Game is going to be more intense on the field. It's going to be even more powerful off the field in the 365-day battle of recruiting. 

"That game is interesting no matter who is coaching to be honest with you," Fickell said of Ohio State's rivalry with Michigan. "That's one of those things for the future, but the reality is, what it can do on a daily basis is it can create some more competitive nature and competitive situations in recruiting." 

View full sizeUrban Meyer and Ohio State are going to have to adapt to a new recruiting power in the Midwest â Jim Harbaugh and Michigan.Darron Cummings, Associated Press 

Expect Harbaugh to get in contact with four-star running back Mike Weber of Cass Tech, the prospect who was committed to Michigan two months ago before flipping to Ohio State. 

Expect Harbaugh to be on the phone as much as Meyer was in the days after he was hired at Ohio State in 2011. 

Expect things to get tougher for the Buckeyes. 

But don't expect Meyer or Fickell to change. 

"We have our pace and we are going to make everyone challenge to try and get to our pace," Fickell said. "We're not going to change who we are or how we go about our business, we just have to know who we're battling against.

"We have it pretty much set in stone how we go about our work and business, but the key is to always know who your opponent is and what challenges they possess."

Here are team standings after Monday’s first day of the Brecksville Holiday Wrestling Tournament, along with semifinal pairings for Tuesday.

Here are team standings after Monday’s first day of the Brecksville Holiday Wrestling Tournament, along with semifinal pairings for Tuesday.

Meyer was the sixth-highest paid coach in college football this season and he'll drop to seventh with Harbaugh's deal. Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith said he wants Meyer in the top five.

NEW ORLEANS -- Jim Harbaugh is going to be Michigan's new football coach, with a news conference scheduled for noon Tuesday, and Jim Harbaugh is going to get paid.

The blank check Michigan should hand over to its former quarterback, who has a 102-46 record as a head coach in college and the NFL the last 11 years, should contain the words please and thank you and an invitation for Harbaugh to fill in the amount he wants.

Several reports peg Harbaugh's new deal at six years and $48 million. Sometimes those details are off, even when the news of the hire is right. It's safe to assume that Harbaugh, whether or not he gets $8 million a year to pass Alabama's Nick Saban (who made $7.1 million this season) to be the highest-paid coach in college football, will make more than Ohio State's Urban Meyer.

• MLive.com: Harbaugh confirmed as new Michigan coach

So does the Harbaugh hire mean more money for Meyer? Will Ohio Sate give a new deal to the third-year Buckeye boss with the 36-3 record?

"Not now," Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith told cleveland.com Monday. "But at some point we will."

Smith will pay attention to what Harbaugh's final deal is. He's curious to see what the "guaranteed cash" amounts to, and whether the reported $8 million a year includes perks or incentives or just the base pay.

Meyer was among the five highest-paid coaches in college football when he was hired late in 2011, but that's no longer the case. At about $4.5 million per year, which included a $330,000 raise this season, he's been passed by coaches like Michigan State's Mark Dantonio and first-year Texas coach Charlie Strong.

According to USA Today's coaching salary database, Meyer was sixth this season behind Saban, Dantonio, Oklahoma's Bob Stoops, Texas A&M's Kevin Sumlin and Strong. Now he'll be seventh behind Harbaugh as well.

"Somewhere along the line as an institution we'll have to talk about that to get him back in the top five, which is where I believe he should be," said Smith, well aware of Meyer's salary ranking.

Meyer's current deal runs through the 2018 season. But the current deal won't last that long. Just because Harbaugh might make $8 million a year doesn't mean Meyer is going to make $8 million. But he's going to get a raise at some point.

Getting him back into the top five would mean at least $5 million a year for Meyer. And he'll have to thank Harbaugh at least a bit for that.

"We know that at some point it's going to come up," Smith said of a new deal for Meyer. "We're not naive."

Josh Gordon's off-the-field issues have worn thin the patience of Mike Pettine and the Browns front office.

BEREA, Ohio The Browns aren't ready to cut All-Pro receiver Josh Gordon just yet, but the leash is extremely short.

It's more like a bracelet now. A child's bracelet.

 "It's not the ability, but at some point you get tired of using the word potential,'' said coach Mike Pettine. "This offseason for him puts him squarely in a crossroads with us.''

Gordon, who came off his 10-game marijuana ban with six games remaining, was suspended for Sunday's 20-10 loss in Baltimore for missing the walk-through on Saturday. The suspension was the next step for Gordon, who had been disciplined several times for being late to team functions.

Rookie quarterback Connor Shaw, who took a shot to the kidney and peeing blood Sunday night but refused to come out of the game, could've used a Pro Bowl wideout to catch some of his passes.

"Clearly a disappointing way for him to end the year,'' said Pettine. "But at the same time, Josh right now is a Cleveland Brown. We want to take care of our own, but at the same time we're going to hold our guys accountable. I think everybody recognizes the talent that's there, but this isn't an individual sport.

"You have to be accountable to your coaching staff, you have to be accountable to your teammates, more importantly. That's the thing that we have to get right with Josh.''

Pettine stressed that Gordon has a place on the team providing he'll "play like a Brown.''

"It's a better question for him, whether he wants to be here or not,'' said Pettine. "We want him here, but we want him here with him being accountable, with him having the ability to function as a member of this team who's in good standing.''

Gordon tweeted Monday that he wants to be here.

A lot of things didn't go the way I'd like them to this season, but I wouldn't want to go to war with any other group of guys or coaches.

— Flash Gordon (@JOSH_GORDONXII) December 29, 2014

But eight-time Pro Bowler Joe Thomas suggested that Gordon's return Nov. 23rd may have hampered the offense.

"There's a chance,'' he said. "When Josh came back, it seemed to throw off the rhythm a little bit of our offense, and we obviously didn't play as well, so statistically, it's a pretty easy case to make. ....We played better on offense before he came back. When you have a guy that's as talented as Josh, you want to give him as many opportunities to fit in. ...So I would hope that we would be able to get him for the whole year, have him in training camp, have him in mini-camp, and he can prove to the team that he can be the No. 1 guy.''

Quarterback Brian Hoyer disagreed that Gordon's return was a detriment.

"Maybe that just happened to be a coincidence that once Josh came back we kind of took a wrong turn,'' he said. "I'm not going to say that Josh was responsible for us losing five straight games, that would be ridiculous. He came back in that Atlanta game and had some big plays for us.

"Never in any situation can anything be put on one person in this game. This isn't basketball, where a guy can take over a game, or baseball where a pitcher throws a no-hitter. Never should anything, praise or skepticism, be put on one person. That's just the way this sport is.''

Said Jordan Cameron: "I feel for him, I feel bad for him, I hope he figures his stuff out, because he can be the best receiver in the NFL.''

Gordon, who led the NFL with 1,646 yards last season, reportedly attended Johnny Manziel's party Friday night, but Manziel said Monday he didn't have a party and that he wasn't with Gordon late Friday night, only at some point earlier. Manziel said he had three friends in from his hometown of Kerrville, Tex., if that constitutes a party. But Manziel admitted that he stayed out too late with his buddies and overslept for his treatment Saturday morning.

Still, Pettine hasn't reached his limit with the former Heisman Trophy winner and the Pro Bowl receiver.

"We're going to take our time here,'' he said. "We're going to step away from the emotion of it all. I'm sure at all positions will be discussed. How do the players on our roster given where they are now, should they be here or should they not be here?''

Thomas stressed that youth is no excuse for Gordon, Manziel or No. 8 overall pick Justin Gilbert, who was also 'suspended' for Sunday's game, but not designated as such because it was after the 4 p.m. deadline to make it official.

"I think you'd expect a middle-school football player to show up on time,'' he said. "Why can't we expect NFL players to show up on time?''

Pettine noted that the risks sometimes outweigh the rewards.

"It's like a scale, at some point it tips,'' he said. "All of this will be discussed. ...look at what our needs are and where the roster stands and make the best decision for the Browns moving forward.''

Manziel squandered his rookie season with his off-field behavior and on-field production. Watch video

BEREA, Ohio – Hollywood stuntmen only wish they could throw themselves under the bus as frequently and with as much dramatic effect as Johnny Manziel.

If the NFL quarterback gig doesn't work, the Browns rookie could supplant the Allstate "Mayhem" guy because rarely a week seems to pass without Manziel smoldering from some self-inflicted calamity.

As players cleaned out lockers Monday, the young quarterback apologized to teammates for being a distraction and accepted responsibility for arriving late to Saturday morning treatment to his injured hamstring. The act earned him a fine and another round of negative headlines on a weekend youngsters Josh Gordon and Justin Gilbert also were tardy for team functions and suspended or -- in the case of Gilbert – essentially suspended for the 20-10 season-ending loss in Baltimore.

While Manziel disputed reports of him throwing a party Friday night and involving Gordon, he acknowledged that he overslept Saturday morning and made himself and his team look bad again.

"I can't sit here and talk to these mics or these cameras or anything that's going to do any good," he said. "It's about actions, it's about being accountable and doing what I'm going to say instead of looking like a jackass."

Several reporters sprained Twitter thumbs trying to instantaneously tweet Manziel's words to their followers. Johnny from Kerrville remains good copy regardless of the circumstance. Of course, we've been hearing similar Manziel vows and mea culpas from almost the moment he arrived at the NFL Combine in February.

What's changed is everyone has seen him play in the NFL now. In six-plus quarters, spanning three games, he's resembled a poor man's Connor Shaw – only not as elusive. He's completed 18-of-35 passes for 175 yards, two interceptions and a 42.0 passer rating. Manizel also had a nifty 10-yard TD run in his debut at Buffalo and threw a rope to Andrew Hawkins before getting injured in Carolina. The highlights were few.

Some suggest releasing the troubled No. 22 overall pick, but that seems rash. The NFL is a league built on second chances and Manziel deserves an opportunity to repair his life and game in the offseason.

Browns coach Mike Pettine, who's preaching accountability and delivering punishment, offered a spot-on analysis of the quarterback's body of work.

"The sample size on Manziel was not very big and, on the surface, not very encouraging," the coach said.

Eight months into his Browns' career he appears closer to wrecking his liver than the league. That's not to say he can't have a good time, enjoy a few pints and a singsong. Ben Roesthlisberger certainly did early in his career. He also led the Steelers to the AFC Championship Game in his rookie year and to the Super Bowl the next year.

When Manziel was dialing his money phone and floating face down on inflatable swans during the Summer of Johnny we were expecting him to play like the dynamo from Texas A&M -- or at least offer some sustained signs of it. That didn't happen. Not to say it won't, but our last images of him are looking overmatched in two starts against the Bengals and Panthers.

The fact Shaw – nobody's idea of an NFL starter – appeared more productive and prepared Sunday only adds to Manziel's challenge. He needs to improve his mechanics and hope he can start outrunning defenders who easily tracked him this season. Manziel has a good quarterback guru in George Whitfield and by many accounts a great competitive streak.

When he arrives back here for OTAs and minicamps, however, he figures to have ample competition and no free passes.

"For me, there's no sense of entitlement for where he was drafted therefore he is the starter," Pettine said Monday. "We're not going to connect those dots."

Manziel has been lumped into a group of young Browns – Gordon, Gilbert and Terrance West – who need to grow up. The other three, however, have shown serious ability at this level. The mercurial Gordon led the league in receiving yards a year ago. West led the Browns in rushing and, despite his maddening inconsistency, nearly became the first running back in 26 games to gain 100 yards on the Ravens. Gilbert didn't make nearly as many plays, but you can see the talent. His pick six against the Colts might have been the most athletic play of the season.

Among the reasons teammates are so hard on Gilbert, the coach said, is because they recognize the potential. That's certainly the case with Gordon.

All Pro left tackle Joe Thomas said every NFL team has "bad apples" and Monday observed that if middle-school football players are expected to be prompt shouldn't "we expect NFL players to show up on time?"

Asked directly about Gordon, Thomas said:

"We played better on offense before he came back (from a drug a 10-game ban. But) I think when you have a guy as talented as Josh, you give him as many opportunities to fit in and help the offense, help the team. I would hope we would be able to get him for the whole year and have him in training camp and minicamp and he can prove to the team he can be the No. 1 guy."

Translation: Players and coaches are willing to put up with a lot if a guy can produce. Manziel knows that from his days of college stardom.

He no longer will get that benefit, though. He squandered it with his off-field behavior and on-field performance. His apologies and pledges still generate millions of Internet page clicks, but they ring hollow inside the walls of Berea.

" . . . He realizes this, that at some point, the talk is cheap," Pettine said. "To me, the actions, and he's gotten himself to the point where his actions to me are much more important than what he says."

It's getting late early for Johnny Manziel, a quarterback in need of a better alarm clock and higher passer rating.

The Buckeyes defense and Crimson Tide offense talked to the media on Monday in New Orleans.

NEW ORLEANS — Lane Kiffin entered the hotel to enough flash bulbs to make a Kardashian jealous. I can't confirm if TMZ was actually at the media hotel on Monday for interviews with Alabama's offense.

But this was a big deal for the folks who cover the Crimson Tide: The first chance since August to talk to Kiffin, Alabama's offensive coordinator with a checkered coaching past.

Only Kiffin didn't realize this was part of the deal with Alabama playing Ohio State in a College Football Playoff semifinal at the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1.

"I didn't even know I was doing this until last night when somebody mentioned it," Kiffin said.

I spoke with Michael Casagrande of AL.com (we dressed alike for the occasion) about what Kiffin had to say on Monday, and also what was on the mind of Ohio State's defense as both teams creep closer to Thursday's playoff.

Watch our conversation above, and be sure to check out all of cleveland.com's Sugar Bowl coverage below. Also, head over to our colleagues at AL.com for plenty of Tide coverage.

Ohio State and Alabama

Ohio State TE Jeff Heuerman - 'No one said you can't go out and have a little fun': Sugar Bowl Breakfast

'A wideout is the backup QB? That's awful': The 5 Ohio-State Alabama quotes you can't miss

Ohio State's Cardale Jones grew up liking Michigan, jokes about transferring to Houston, almost went to LSU

Alabama called Big Ten teams for Ohio State advice, but 'We're 24-0 against those Big Ten teams'

Lou Holtz on Ohio State disagreements with Mark May: 'I signed the paychecks on the front, he signed the back

Former Ohio State, Alabama center Chad Lindsay didn't 'spill his beans' to Crimson Tide about Buckeyes

Urban Meyer pumped up by 'Hang on Sloopy' and Jalin Marshall throwing passes: Ohio State practice notes, photos and video

Hear Lou Holtz tell funny stories about how Ohio State's Urban Meyer ended up at Notre Dame then Bowling Green

'Confuse him as much as possible': Can Ohio State QB Cardale Jones make right reads vs. Alabama?

Would Ohio State sophomore Joey Bosa be ready for the NFL right now?

Top 5 Ohio State bowl moments in past 30 years: Bill Livingston

Ezekiel Elliott, a building block for Ohio State against Alabama by any name: Bill Livingston

Ohio State and Michigan

'Always know who your opponent is': Why Jim Harbaugh and Michigan are a danger to Ohio State's recruiting plans

Will a big contract for Jim Harbaugh at Michigan mean a raise for Ohio State's Urban Meyer?

Cleveland State falls to 6-8 after losing to Virginia Commonwealth.

RICHMOND, Va. — Treveon Graham scored six of his 20 points in a 17-5 run spanning the halves and VCU stretched its winning streak to five with a 72-63 victory against Cleveland State on Monday night.

Terry Larrier added 13 points for the Rams (10-3), who scored six of the final eight points of the first half, then opened the second half on an 11-3 run. Larrier, Melvin Johnson and Doug Brooks all made 3-pointers in the burst, with Brooks' shot from the right wing giving VCU a 43-30 lead 3:38 into the half.

The Vikings (6-8) didn't get within single digits again until inside the final 2 minutes.

Cleveland State was led by Charlie Lee and Trey Lewis with 15 points each and Vinny Zollo with 14, but Lewis missed 10 of his 15 shots and scored eight points after the outcome was no longer in doubt.

It was the final nonconference game for VCU, which opens Atlantic 10 Conference play at Fordham on Jan. 4, and as they have during their winning streak, the Rams have looked like a worthy A-10 favorite.

JeQuan Lewis added 11 points for VCU, Graham grabbed nine rebounds and Briante Weber had six assists.

The Vikings fell behind 11-0, then used an 18-8 run fueled by three 3-pointers from Zollo to pull within a point. Cleveland State pulled even twice later in the half, but VCU closed the half on a 6-2 run to lead 32-27.

The Vikings outrebounded VCU 17-13 in the half and turned six offensive boards into nine points.

Notes: CSU's Trey Lewis made nine 3-pointers in 11 tries in a victory against Mount Vernon on Dec. 15 and arrived at the Siegel Center having made a total of nine in 17 tries in the three games since... In their three previous games, VCU had allowed 55 field goals and forced 54 turnovers. The Vikings had 23 baskets and 13 turnovers... Cleveland State hosts Milwaukee in its Horizon League opener on Friday at 7 p.m. in the Wolstein Center.

Cole Stoudt threw for three touchdowns and ran for another, and 18th-ranked Clemson routed Oklahoma 40-6 in the Russell Athletic Bowl on Monday.

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Cole Stoudt threw for three touchdowns and ran for another, and 18th-ranked Clemson routed Oklahoma 40-6 in the Russell Athletic Bowl on Monday.

The Tigers (10-3) reached double-digit victories for the fourth consecutive season. Clemson was 10-4 in 2011, 11-2 in 2012 and 11-2 in 2013.

Stoudt was 26 for 36 for a season-high 319 yards. He was sacked four times, but Clemson never turned the ball over. Meanwhile, the Tigers, who came in ranked No. 1 in the nation in total defense, held the Sooners' offense to just 275 yards.

Oklahoma (8-5) had five turnovers, including three interceptions by Trevor Knight.

The Sooners entered the game averaging nearly 40 points but didn't score until late in the fourth quarter.

The Tigers' scoring drives were all at least 50 yards.

Clemson was efficient in all phases but was also the beneficiary of three early Sooners turnovers in building a 27-0 halftime lead. A 47-yard interception return for a touchdown by Ben Boulware was part of a 17-point first quarter.

Stoudt completed his first six passes and finished the half with a pair of touchdown throws -- a 65-yarder to Artavis Scott and a 26-yarder to Mike Williams.

Tigers kicker Ammon Lapkip also did his part to deepen the hole for Oklahoma, connecting on a pair of field goals, including a career long from 49 yards in the second quarter.

The Sooners were out of sync on both sides of the ball during the opening 30 minutes.

Knight was just 5 for 14, with a pair of interceptions. Samaje Perine rushed for 62 yards but also had a fumble inside the Tigers 25 that ended the Sooners' best drive late in the second quarter.

Trailing 20-0, Oklahoma's defense nearly grabbed a bit of momentum when defensive end Charles Tapper appeared to tip, intercept and return Stoudt's pass for a touchdown. But the play was called back for offside.

Stoudt then promptly hooked up with Williams for the Tigers' final scoring play of the half.

Delta leads the team standings with 144 points, followed by Brecksville (116.5), the two-time defending champion of the tournament.

Delta leads the team standings with 144 points, followed by Brecksville (116.5), the two-time defending champion of the tournament.

Tigers take first Cleveland Heights Holiday Tournament crown since 2004-05, extend unbeaten streak to 13.

Tigers take first Cleveland Heights Holiday Tournament crown since 2004-05, extend unbeaten streak to 13.

Other than him being a first-round draft choice, is there any reason to believe the Browns need to spend more time with Johnny Manziel? Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- There is only one reason for the Browns to bring back Johnny Manziel: He was a first-round draft pick.

That's it, at least based on what we saw of the rookie from Texas A&M this season.

So much attention has been placed on Manziel's love of parties and his lack of a serious approach to his job.

Even Manziel knows he sounds ridiculous as he talks about how he plans to change.

Monday, he said, "It's about actions. It's about being accountable...instead of looking like a jackass."

Then he tried to explain that he didn't have a party for the team, but he had some friends from Texas in town and they partied...or something.

Bottom line, he was late for Saturday's treatment on his hamstring.

"I was just letting my guard down a little bit,'' he said.

Please, just stop.

Manziel talked on and on, as you can read in Mary Kay Cabot's story.

But there is a far bigger issue than Manziel's love of the nightlife and his obvious sense of entitlement.

Can he play in the NFL?

A lot of quarterbacks don't spend every night with their iPads, playbooks and game tapes. More than a few have partied with the same zest as Manziel.

But on the field, there was no question about their talent -- they could play.

Mike Pettine can talk about how Manziel "wasn't getting starter's reps throughout the year...and we didn't play very well around him. You had some balls dropped. You had some breakdowns up front. We didn't run the ball very well."

All of that was true in the six quarters that Manziel played as a starter.

But come on: Five (non-penalty) first downs in six quarters? Three points? One hamstring injury?

The Browns coach admitted, "On the surface, it's wasn't very encouraging."

And it looked even worse when Connor Shaw put up 10 points  and 13 non-penalty first downs in the 20-10 loss to Baltimore. It was a game where the Browns had a 10-6 lead with 8:37 left.

It also was a game where the Ravens were battling for a final playoff spot, and they were at home where they allow an NFL-low 14 points per game.

I have doubts that Shaw can be a NFL starter, but he at least was prepared and looked as if he belonged in an NFL game.

That was not true of Manziel in his six quarters.

Manziel vs. Shaw

I know I'm hammering the comparison between Manziel and Shaw, but it makes a significant point.

While Manziel was playing quarterback on the scout team, Shaw often was a defensive back! He rarely took snaps of any kind.

He's an undrafted free agent from South Carolina whose lack of arm strength turned off the scouts. He had to sweat out just earning a spot on the practice squad.

But it's clear that Shaw used his time to learn the plays, study film and be ready in case he was summoned to play. Then he scrambled more effectively than Manziel.

A big negative for Manziel was that his passing was seldom impressive. Too often, he quickly left the pocket and made so many off-balance throws.

This is not a second guess, because I didn't like his future as a pro quarterback before the draft -- and wrote it.

But I never expected him to look this bad.

So the Browns have a young quarterback who is not physically gifted, but also has off-field issues. If he were undrafted like Shaw, would there be so much discussion about him?

Shaw's attitude is like that of Brian Hoyer. They work very hard to "play like a Brown." It's why the veterans rallied behind both players.

It's difficult to believe anything Manziel says right now about his intentions to change.

But I find it just as hard to imagine him being a successful starting quarterback in the NFL. That's what the Browns really need to discuss -- not where he was drafted or how it would look if they trade or cut him.

Rather, they have to ask themselves if they really believe he has what it takes on and off the field to make it in the NFL.

The Buckeyes seem loose, confident and ready to play against a Crimson Tide team that's favored by 10 points in the College Football Playoff semifinal game.

NEW ORLEANS – After talking to players from both Ohio State and Alabama the last three days in anticipation of the Sugar Bowl, it's hard to get any insight for who may have the mental edge. 

But you can certainly see the two different styles. 

Led by Nick Saban, Alabama's players have been more reserved, more business-like during their interviews. There's not a lot of laughing. 

Ohio State has been different. The Buckeyes seem loose, confident and ready to play against a Crimson Tide team that's favored by 10 points in the College Football Playoff semifinal game. 

Perhaps the teams are just taking the personalities of their head coach. AL.com's Michael Casagrande said Alabama is usually more business-like than the opponent. 

Does Ohio State feel like it has nothing to lose because nobody thinks it can beat Alabama? 

Watch the above video for a body language breakdown. 

Below is cleveland.com's full coverage from New Orleans on Tuesday: 

• Ohio State LB Curtis Grant, his late father and a hat close to his heart

• Lane Kiffin on why Jim Harbaugh would leave the NFL for Michigan: 'You can create dynasties'

• The man behind Ohio State's success: Mark Pantoni's recruiting prowess has Buckeyes on biggest stage vs. Alabama

• 'Ready when your time comes?' Chase Farris on call if Ohio State's run of offensive line health runs out

• Ohio State football: Watch Jeff Heuerman interview Joey Bosa about their love of libraries (video)

• 'It's going to be a wakeup call': How Ohio State's Mark Pantoni already familiarized himself with Michigan's Jim Harbaugh

• Ohio State's injured Dontre Wilson plans to play in Sugar Bowl: 'I can bring back some explosive plays'

The Blue Devils earned an ugly victory on Tuesday.

The Blue Devils earned an ugly victory on Tuesday.

Akron Zips overcome early deficit to to take down Marshall's Thundering Herd for Akron's second straight victory.

AKRON Ohio -- The post-holiday return was successful for the Akron Zips Tuesday night with a 70-63 victory over Marshall's Thundering Herd.

With one game left before the start of Mid-American Conference play the Zips (8-5) started slowly, trailing 11-4, before an 18-2 run pushed them to a 22-13 advantage before taking a 35-24 lead at the break.

Typical for Akron, it was the 3-pointers that got things going as Reggie McAdams and Deji Ibitayo both came off the bench to hit a pair that gave Akron the lift it needed.

But the 40-minute anchor was center Pat Forsythe with his first career double-double, 13 points and 10 rebounds, which bodes well for coming MAC play.

"Right now, when Pat leaves the floor we're a totally different team,'' Akron head coach Keith Dambrot said.

"I think I played pretty well,'' Forsythe said. "We're trying to get back to where we were at the beginning (of the season). I'm working on post moves, working on free throws, trying to get better."

Marshall (4-9), which has lost nine straight Division I games, closed within five several times in the second half, and was within three, 58-55, with 5:52 to play. But turnovers -- a combined 38 by both teams -- plus four of six free throws by Akron's freshman guard Noah Robotham sealed the victory.

"He's a little beat up right now,'' Forsythe said of Robotham, but he was big at the end."

The final tuneup for Akron is Saturday at 7 p.m. against Coppin State (1-11) before starting MAC play Jan. 6 hosting defending champion Western Michigan.

Forsythe was one of four Akron players in double figures, including Robotham with 13, McAdams with 12 and Ibitayo with 11. Overall, the Zips were 23 of 34 from the field, including 12 of 32 on 3-pointers.

The big plus was a 42-32 edge on the boards, including 18 on the offensive glass.

Brunswick is off to an undefeated start in 2014-15.

Brunswick is off to an undefeated start in 2014-15.

Brecksville was runner-up and Elyria was third in the team race at the event.

Brecksville was runner-up and Elyria was third in the team race at the event.

Here are championship round results and final team standings after Tuesday’s final day of the Brecksville Invitational Holiday Wrestling Tournament.

Here are championship round results and final team standings after Tuesday’s final day of the Brecksville Invitational Holiday Wrestling Tournament.

The 13th-ranked Kansas Jayhawks hold off Kent State, 78-62.

LAWRENCE, Kansas — Freshman Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 20 points and Perry Ellis added 15 to help No. 13 Kansas beat Kent State, 78-62, on Tuesday night.

Jimmy Hall scored 13 points and had eight rebounds, and Khaliq Spicer added 11 points and five rebounds for Kent State (8-4).

Blunders and bloopers were evident early for Kansas (10-2). On the first possession of the game, Oubre turned the ball over. Wayne Selden Jr. missed a dunk. The entire team ended up on the floor going after a loose ball.

Everyone but Oubre had shooting woes. Excluding the freshman's perfect first half where he made all six shots, Kansas was 10 of 30.

When the Golden Flashes were called for a foul, the Jayhawks only made 3 of 8 free throws. Kent State wasn't any better, shooting 25 percent from the line.

Some of the woes continued after intermission for each team.

Kansas allowed five offensive rebounds for Kent State in the second half along with six second chance points. Kansas also had eight turnovers in the half.

When Allen Fieldhouse was starting to grow quiet, Cliff Alexander dunked life into the crowd. He scored six-straight points in 58 seconds and helped guide a 12-2 run that put Kansas up by 21 points.

Kent State tried charging back in the final four minutes, but the deficit was too big. Three of Kent State's final points of the game came off a 3-pointer from Blake Vedder, a 7-foot-4 center.

The final basket of the game was a breakaway layup from Tyler Self, the son of Kansas head coach Bill Self. It was his first of the season.

Kent State last came to Allen Fieldhouse in Feb. 2008, where Kansas won 87-68.

Kent State hosts Texas-Pan American on Friday.

The former Massillon coach, Jason Hall, has been selected to be the next coach at Westlake.

The former Massillon coach, Jason Hall, has been selected to be the next coach at Westlake.

See box scores and highlights for high school hockey, swimming and wrestling from Dec. 30, 2014.

See box scores and highlights for high school hockey, swimming and wrestling from Dec. 30, 2014.