University of Toledo basketball commit Marreon Jackson registered a triple-double, while Cleveland State-bound Shawn Christian hit seven 3s in Garfield Heights' win.

GARFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio – Marreon Jackson’s triple-double and Shawn Christian’s outside shooting propelled Garfield Heights to a 63-36 win against Brecksville.

The Bulldogs, ranked sixth in the cleveland.com boys basketball Top 25, handed the No. 10 Bees their first loss. Sophomore Kenny Ganley lead Brecksville (5-1) with 11 points, receiving team MVP honors that went with the showcase event.

Jackson and Christian shared the honor for Garfield Heights (7-1).

Shawn Christian w/15 points, Marreon Jackson 14 and Garfield Heights leads Brecksville at the half, 44-19. pic.twitter.com/T6BXAkSLbv

— Matt Goul (@mgoul) December 28, 2016

Jackson, a Toledo commit and senior point guard, scored 21 points to go with 11 rebounds and 10 assists.

“He does everything,” Christian said. “He’s making his teammates better, defending and scoring; he’s irreplaceable.”

Christian added a game-high 25 points, which included seven 3-pointers. It marked his fifth game since a knee injury sidelined the Cleveland State commit just before the season.

“Shawn’s one of the hardest workers that came through this program,” Jackson said. “That first game when he came back, we knew he’d be a little slouchy. But we knew it wouldn’t last long.”

Jackson knocked down five 3s. The duo combined for 12 of Garfield Heights’ 13 shots from beyond the arc, as the Bulldogs stretched a 20-12 first-quarter lead open with a bigger second quarter.

Garfield Heights plays host Thursday to Euclid, then visit No. 3 Lorain on Jan. 3. Brecksville is off until Jan. 3, when it resumes Suburban League play at North Royalton.

Contact sports reporter Matt Goul on Twitter (@mgoul) or email (mgoul@cleveland.com). Or log in and leave a message below in the comments section.

Bowl games Dec. 28 include New Era Pinstripe and Russell Athletic.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The 2016-17 College Football Bowl season continues with four games Dec. 28 and three games Dec. 29.

Some maintain that there are too many bowls (this season: 41). I do not. I cannot get enough of college football, in general, and even nondescript bowls can produce notable accomplishments by individual and team.

For the first time, I am going to pick bowl games against the spread -- entertainment purposes only, of course. It better be EPO because, for as much as I love college football, I do not pretend to be an "expert.'' Leave that to the likes of Phil Steele.

For me, college football is fun. Nothing but fun.

Through 21 Bowls, I have gone 8-13 ATS, including losses in the last five. On Tuesday, I went 0-4 riding all favorites; one (Army) won, but not by enough and three (Temple, Washington State, Boise State) lost. Picking CFB Bowls ATS is every bit as difficult as Nick Camino told me it would be.

Even though this is for fun, I was so angry about the losing streak that I irrationally switched all of my picks for Dec. 28-29 one hour before post publication. All -- except one. I tried but could not get myself to come off Pitt beating Northwestern by more than 5 1/2.

Lines are from MGM Mirage via vegasinsider.com as of the afternoon before first game of group. All times Eastern:

DEC. 28

1. NEW ERA PINSTRIPE BOWL

• Who: Pittsburgh (8-4) vs. Northwestern (6-6)
• Where: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, N.Y.
• When: 2 p.m.
• TV: ESPN
• DMan's pick: Pittsburgh -5 1/2.

2. RUSSELL ATHLETIC BOWL

• Who: West Virginia (10-2) vs. Miami, Fla. (8-4)
• Where: Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Fla.
• When: 5:30 p.m.
• TV: ESPN
• DMan's pick: West Virginia +3.

3. FOSTER FARMS BOWL

• Who: Indiana (6-6) vs. Utah (8-4)
• Where: Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, Calif.
• When: 8:30 p.m.
• TV: FOX
• DMan's pick: Utah -7.

4. ADVOCARE V100 TEXAS BOWL

• Who: Texas A&M (8-4) vs. Kansas State (8-4)
• Where: NRG Stadium, Houston Tx.
• When: 9 p.m.
• TV: ESPN
• DMan's pick: Kansas State +2 1/2.

DEC. 29

5. BIRMINGHAM BOWL

• Who: USF (10-2) vs. South Carolina (6-6)
• Where: Legion Field, Birmingham, Ala.
• When: 2 p.m.
• TV: ESPN
• DMan's pick: South Carolina +10.

6. BELK BOWL

• Who: Arkansas (7-5) vs. Virginia Tech (9-4)
• Where: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, N.C.
• When: 5:30 p.m.
• TV: ESPN
• DMan's pick: Arkansas +7.

7. VALERO ALAMO BOWL

• Who: Oklahoma State (9-3) vs. Colorado (10-3)
• Where: Alamodome, San Antonio, Tx.
• When: 9 p.m.
• TV: ESPN
• DMan's pick: Colorado -3.

Here are Tuesday's boys basketball scores from around the OHSAA, courtesy of The Associated Press.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Here are Tuesday's boys basketball scores from around the state, courtesy of The Associated Press.

Akr. Coventry 63, Rootstown 38

Akr. SVSM 85, Mansfield Sr. 49

Alliance 56, New Philadelphia 48

Amanda-Clearcreek 48, Chillicothe Huntington 38

Andover Pymatuning Valley 79, Middlefield Cardinal 66

Ashland Crestview 62, Bucyrus Wynford 42

Ashland Mapleton 74, Sullivan Black River 64

Ashtabula Edgewood 80, Niles McKinley 71

Athens 70, Circleville Logan Elm 62

Atwater Waterloo 57, Windham 55

Aurora 77, Twinsburg 67

Avon 81, Strongsville 55

Avon Lake 59, Parma Normandy 49

Baltimore Liberty Union 61, Newark Cath. 60

Bascom Hopewell-Loudon 55, Sycamore Mohawk 40

Bay Village Bay 69, Columbia Station Columbia 58

Beavercreek 53, Hamilton 44

Bellaire 82, Cadiz Harrison Cent. 58

Bellaire St. John 95, Beallsville 42

Bellefontaine Benjamin Logan 48, Lima Temple Christian 47

Belmont Union Local 59, John Marshall, W.Va. 48

Berlin Center Western Reserve 59, Wellsville 53

Berlin Hiland 54, Strasburg-Franklin 36

Bloom-Carroll 68, Cols. Independence 62

Bloomdale Elmwood 71, Liberty Center 52

Botkins 47, Minster 42

Bowerston Conotton Valley 67, Can. Heritage Christian 65

Bryan 50, Lima Bath 40

Byesville Meadowbrook 55, Warren Harding 51

Byesville Meadowbrook 55, Vincent Warren 51

Campbell Memorial 60, Youngs. Liberty 57

Canal Fulton Northwest 54, Wooster Triway 53

Canfield S. Range 72, N. Jackson Jackson-Milton 46

Cardington-Lincoln 70, Morral Ridgedale 52

Castalia Margaretta 75, Sandusky St. Mary 71, OT

Chesapeake 49, Rose Hill Christian, Ky. 34

Cin. Mt. Healthy 51, Cin. Winton Woods 37

Cin. Withrow 80, Armada, Mich. 37

Circleville 69, Williamsport Westfall 33

Cle. Cent. Cath. 71, Tol. Cent. Cath. 42

Cle. Collinwood 68, Akr. North 65

Cle. Glenville 68, Euclid 47

Cle. Hts. 92, New Day Academy 49

Cle. St. Ignatius 64, Warren Harding 61

Clyde 56, Monroeville 53

Cols. Briggs 73, Galloway Westland 59

Cols. East 111, Cols. Cristo Rey 37

Cols. Grandview Hts. 82, Centerburg 39

Cols. Marion-Franklin 72, Caledonia River Valley 57

Cols. Mifflin 72, Pataskala Watkins Memorial 50

Cols. South 45, Plain City Jonathan Alder 42

Coshocton 51, Zanesville W. Muskingum 39

Crown City S. Gallia 70, Franklin Furnace Green 50

Danville 58, Fredericktown 56

Day. Ponitz Tech. 63, Day. Oakwood 45

Defiance 52, Napoleon 38

Defiance Ayersville 64, Ft. Jennings 43

Delphos St. John's 51, Van Wert 43

Detroit Country Day, Mich. 69, Cols. Eastmoor 36

Elmore Woodmore 60, Kansas Lakota 25

Fairfield 48, Milford 45

Fairfield Christian 70, Cols. International 33

Findlay Liberty-Benton 61, Continental 53

Frankfort Adena 43, Greenfield McClain 28

Garfield Hts. 63, Brecksville-Broadview Hts. 36

Genoa Area 53, Gibsonburg 34

Girard 54, Brookfield 31

Green 71, Struthers 39

Greenville 69, Riverside Stebbins 55

Grove City 78, Dublin Scioto 69

Hannibal River 76, Paden City, W.Va. 52

Hanoverton United 60, Salineville Southern 57

Haviland Wayne Trace 72, Miller City 53

Jackson 56, McDermott Scioto NW 35

Jay Co., Ind. 66, Ft. Recovery 56, OT

Jefferson Area 78, Cortland Lakeview 56

Jeromesville Hillsdale 70, Mansfield Christian 50

Lancaster Fairfield Union 52, Chillicothe Unioto 49

Leavittsburg LaBrae 57, Newton Falls 4

Lima Cent. Cath. 69, Lima Shawnee 66

Lima Sr. 52, Elida 50

Lisbon David Anderson 64, Columbiana Crestview 39

Lore City Buckeye Trail 70, Sarahsville Shenandoah 50

Loudonville 46, Crestline 43

Louisville 76, Austintown Fitch 65

Louisville Aquinas 45, Can. Cent. Cath. 37

Malvern 74, Minerva 52

Mantua Crestwood 61, Garrettsville Garfield 41

Marietta 54, Dover 50

Martins Ferry 69, Rayland Buckeye 47

Massillon Perry 65, Dublin Coffman 40

Massillon Washington 46, N. Royalton 43

McArthur Vinton County 70, Southeastern 54

McConnelsville Morgan 87, Belpre 58

McDonald 77, Leetonia 46

Middletown Madison Senior 59, Milton-Union 46

Millbury Lake 63, Northwood 31

Mt. Blanchard Riverdale 53, Bucyrus 51

Mt. Gilead 71, Johnstown Northridge 62

N. Bend (Cleves) Taylor 52, Cin. Finneytown 49

N. Can. Hoover 73, Akr. East 41

N. Ridgeville 85, Sheffield Brookside 56

N. Robinson Col. Crawford 87, Plymouth 46

New Lexington 51, Chillicothe Zane Trace 44

New London 60, Lucas 58

New Matamoras Frontier 50, Bridgeport 43

New Richmond 61, Pigeon Forge, Tenn. 53

Norton 63, Akr. Manchester 60

Oak Glen, W.Va. 56, Lisbon Beaver 40

Orrville 63, Creston Norwayne 58

Ottawa-Glandorf 68, Archbold 60

Ottoville 53, Convoy Crestview 49

Oxford Talawanda 52, Monroe 47

Reading 60, Williamsburg 48

Rossford 68, Swanton 52

S. Charleston SE 56, Spring. Shawnee 50

Sandusky Perkins 64, Willard 36

Southside Christian, Ind. 65, Groveport Madison Christian 44

Spring. NW 60, Spring. NE 58

Springfield 87, Cin. Aiken 57

St. Clairsville 63, Wintersville Indian Creek 56

St. Marys Memorial 62, Leipsic 47

St. Paris Graham 69, DeGraff Riverside 45

Steubenville 83, Farrell, Pa. 73

Stryker 53, Delta 21

Sugar Grove Berne Union 48, Granville Christian 41

Sugarcreek Garaway 67, Millersburg W. Holmes 48

Tallmadge 65, Canfield 64, OT

Thornville Sheridan 49, Newark Licking Valley 45

Tol. St. Francis 77, Tol. Bowsher 52

Tol. Whitmer 59, Sylvania Northview 47

Toronto 71, Weir, W.Va. 49

Upper Sandusky 73, Bellevue 30

Urbana 85, Troy 74

Vermilion 78, Amherst Steele 55

Warren Champion 78, Hubbard 76

Warren Howland 64, Sharon, Pa. 57

Wellington 79, Elyria Open Door 54

Wickliffe 74, Newbury 32

Willow Wood Symmes Valley 44, Ironton Rock Hill 42

Youngs. East 55, Ashtabula Lakeside 54

Zoarville Tuscarawas Valley 41, Uhrichsville Claymont 36

Huber Hts. Wayne 83, Tennessee, Tenn. 46

Cle. Benedictine 66, Cle. VASJ 63

Cols. Upper Arlington 64, Blackhawk, Pa. 43

Dublin Jerome 69, Steel Valley, Pa. 47

Groveport-Madison 65, Bethel Park, Pa. 49

Johnstown-Monroe 49, Cols. Wellington 39

Gahanna Cols. Academy 70, Cols. Whetstone 37

Philo 56, Caldwell 33

Horizon Christian, Ind. 77, Groveport Madison Christian 44

Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit 50, Cuyahoga Falls 32

Peninsula Woodridge 43, Cuyahoga Falls CVCA 41

Lincoln Co., Ky. 69, Worthington Kilbourne 45

Mogadore 85, Sebring McKinley 49

Kettering Alter 72, Cullman, Ala. 42

Pomeroy Meigs 72, Cannon County, Tenn. 46

Cin. La Salle 52, Royal Palm Beach, Fla. 44

Bluffton 62, Cory-Rawson 39

Harrod Allen E. 59, Arlington 55

Seaman N. Adams 68, W. Union 53

Cols. Northland 75, Macomb Dakota, Mich. 48

Tol. St. John's 67, Novi, Mich. 39

Warren De La Salle, Mich. 68, Cin. Walnut Hills 64

Lancaster 57, Beverly Ft. Frye 52

Richmond, Ind. 80, Day. Miami Valley 47

Ripley, W.Va. 103, Ohio Valley Christian 54

Cols. DeSales 70, Barberton 57

Marion Harding 58, Washington C.H. 45

Oberlin 67, Sandusky 64

Youngs. Ursuline 74, Erie First Christian Academy, Pa. 61

Sylvania Southview 71, Tol. Start 58

Windermere Prep, Fla. 87, Cin. St. Xavier 71

Cin. Mariemont 49, Eaton 47, OT

Day. Jefferson 54, New Madison Tri-Village 53

Paulding 71, Pioneer N. Central 50

Wauseon 38, Defiance Tinora 26

Canal Winchester Harvest Prep 71, Pottsgrove, Pa. 65

Could McKinney pick the Buckeyes? In short, yes.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Four-star safety Xavier McKinney of Roswell, Ga., was quietly on an official visit to Ohio State for the win over Michigan on Nov. 26.

He wasn't in the spotlight because the Buckeyes were hosting some big-named five-stars like Jeffrey Okudah of Grand Prairie (Texas) South and Marvin Wilson of Bellaire (Texas) Episcopal. 

But McKinney has been on Ohio State's recruiting board for months.

The Buckeyes are on his list, too. 

Rated the No. 8 safety in the 2017 recruiting class in the 247Sports composite rankings, McKinney released a top three through Rivals on Tuesday that consisted of Ohio State, Clemson and Alabama. 

The 6-foot-1, 192-pound prospect is currently at the Under Armour All-American Game in Orlando, Fla., and is scheduled to announce his college decision on Jan. 2, two days after Ohio State and Clemson face off in the College Football Playoff semifinals in the Fiesta Bowl. 

Could McKinney pick the Buckeyes? 

In short, yes. 

What that basically means is that there's a good chance Urban Meyer would take the commitment. 

Though there has been some question as to whether Ohio State would have room for another defensive back, it's seems as if he's a good enough talent to take in the tight 2017 class. Just look at his final three schools. 

That's saying something because Ohio State is still hoping to land Okudah -- who most experts say is a Buckeyes lock -- and five-star cornerback Darnay Holmes of Calabasas, Calif. And Meyer got five-star Shaun Wade of Jacksonville (Fla.) Trinity to reaffirm his commitment a few weeks ago.

Holmes was seemingly slipping away from Ohio State a few months ago, but Urban Meyer picked up a ton of momentum when the cornerback officially visited for the Michigan game. 

Ohio State is stacked at defensive back. 

But McKinney is good enough. He's worth keeping an eye on. 

Jerry Higgins made his return to the Villa Angela-St. Joseph lineup and faced Benedictine to supply the game of the night at the Scholastic Play By Play Classic.

GARFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio – Jerry Higgins made his return to the Villa Angela-St. Joseph lineup and faced Benedictine to supply the game of the night at the Scholastic Play By Play Classic.

Garfield Heights played host to the event, which takes center stage on this Boys Basketball Rewind.

Eight teams stepped on the court. They included individual standouts and two matchups of cleveland.com Top 25 teams.

Click on the links for recaps of those games below and watch video highlights of many featured players and storylines.

Revere 74, John Hay 62: The four-game event began with this matchup that included Revere junior standout Pete Nance.

No. 4 Cleveland Heights 92, New Day Academy 49: The Tigers’ onslaught included a career-best shooting performance from 6-foot-4 junior Keith Jackson.

Forwards Jaylen Harris and Tyreke Smith also got in on the action. Both are being heavily recruited by Division I college for their abilities on the gridiron, but Harris said he nearly didn’t play basketball this season. Find out why.

No. 12 Benedictine 66, No. 7 VASJ 63: The Bengals trailed by double digits in the second quarter, but rallied behind Chris Jefferson’s 18 points and Marlon Moore’s 16. The duo represents coach Rob Stircula’s returning starters from last season’s regional run.

No. 6 Garfield Heights 63, No. 10 Brecksville 36: Long-distance shooting from Marreon Jackson and Shawn Christian made for a lopsided score in this one. Jackson finished with a triple-double, while Christian continued his return from a knee injury with seven 3-pointers.

The next Play By Play Classic is slated for Sunday, Jan. 8, 2017 at Baldwin Wallace in Berea. Here is the schedule for that day.

• Mentor vs. Canton McKinley, 10:15 a.m.


• Brush vs. Holy Name, noon


• St. Edward vs. Brunswick, 1:45 p.m.


• Warren Harding vs. Cleveland Heights, 3:30 p.m.


• St. Vincent-St. Mary vs. Euclid, 5:15 p.m.


• Garfield Heights vs. Revere, 7 p.m.


• Central Catholic vs. Shaker Heights, 8 p.m.

PERFORMANCE OF THE NIGHT

Away from the Play By Play, Crestwood senior forward Jordan Fabry became his school’s all-time leading scorer with 18 points in a 61-41 win against Portage Trail Conference County Division-leading Garrettsville Garfield. Fabry now has 1,281 career points.

He passed his coach, Josh Jakacki, for the all-time mark.

Crestwood's Jordan Fabry still has at least 17 games remaining this season. pic.twitter.com/gmFRaWGgWZ

— TomNader_RC (@Tom_Nader) December 28, 2016

TOP 25 WATCH

No. 1 St. Edward 77, St. Frances (Md.) 56: Jack Sullivan scored 22 points to lead the Eagles in the Eagles’ first of four games in San Diego. They next face event host Torrey Pines on Wednesday night.

No. 2 STVM 85, Mansfield Senior 49: A balanced attack included 15 points from Jon Williams, while Jayvon Graves and freshman Dom Moegerie each added 12 points to lead the Fighting Irish.

No. 3 Lorain 61, Elyria 58: The Titans played the second half without senior guard Jalil Little and advanced to the championship of their holiday tournament at Sandusky. Naz Bohannon’s 25 points, 11 rebounds and four assists led the way. Lorain will face Oberlin, which rallied past the host Blue Streaks behind senior forward Donald Johnson’s 22 points.

No. 5 St. Ignatius 64, Warren Harding 61: The Wildcats rebounded from their three-point loss last week at Canton McKninley.

No. 15 Maple Heights 67, Mayfield 63: A week after their only loss came via just two points at Medina, the Mustangs prevailed in a close game against non-league foe Mayfield.

No. 19 Bay 69, Columbia 58: Sophomore guard Erik Painter scored 20 points and R.J. Sunahara added 16 for the Rockets.

CLICK HERE FOR TUESDAY’S SCOREBOARD

FAST FORWARD

These games and events should be a holiday treat.

Holiday Classic at Sandusky, Wednesday: No. 3 Lorain (4-1), will face Oberlin (5-2) in the championship game following Elyria (5-2) vs. host Sandusky.

No. 20 Stow (4-1) at No. 21 Solon (5-1), Wednesday: This will include an intriguing matchup at guard with juniors Sincere Carry of Solon and the Bulldogs’ Coryon Rice.

No. 19 Bay (6-2) at No. 8 Mentor (3-0), Thursday: Expect a high-scoring game when these nonleague foes meet up.

North Royalton Holiday tournament, Thursday and Friday: No. 14 Holy Name (4-1) faces No. 22 Highland (5-1), while Bedford (2-3) draws the host Bears (3-2).

No. 2 St. Vincent-St. Mary (4-1) at No. 5 St. Ignatius (4-3), Saturday: A New Year’s Eve matchup, this one starts at 3 p.m.

CLICK HERE FOR THE REST OF THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE

Contact sports reporter Matt Goul on Twitter (@mgoul) or email (mgoul@cleveland.com). Or log in and leave a message below in the comments section.

One gaming console sponsors this College Football Playoff semifinal. A different gaming console came off the team plane in the hands of an OSU starter. Watch video

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- You can name it, but you can't make them play it.

The Fiesta Bowl signed PlayStation as its new naming sponsor in November, which you don't care about, because nothing in life matters less than title sponsors of bowl games.

PlayStation replaced the one-year legacy of BattleFrog as the presenting sponsor. BattleFrog was a company that put on obstacle course races that no longer puts on obstacle course races.

Walking off the Ohio State plane when the Buckeyes landed on Monday night, Ohio State senior center and captain Pat Elflein headed down the steps and onto the tarmac with ... and Xbox in hand.

Consider this the first gaming console controversy of this bowl season.

"I'm an Xbox guy," Elflein told cleveland.com on Tuesday. 

Elflein said there were PlayStation consoles available at the team hotel and he would play them as well. But, clearly, bringing your own Xbox serves as an indication of something.

Of course college football players possess free will and aren't paid to play football and don't get any money from bowl sponsors even though they play the game, so no actual controversy exists.

Kent State's Jimmy Hall and Deon Edwin delivered double-doubles to compliment a 24-point effort from guard Jaylin Walker as the Golden Flashes topped Texas on the road.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Kent State went on the road Tuesday and pulled an upset over struggling Texas, 63-58, in the last tuneup prior to the start of Mid-American Conference play.

While sophomore Jaylin Walker led Kent with 24 points, including 16 in the second half, seniors Jimmy Hall and Deon Edwin delivered double-doubles (11/11, 15/12) to anchor Kent's second straight dominating rebounding effort.

The Flashes manhandled Texas on the boards, 55-34, including 22-11 on the offensive glass. Of the 11 players who played for Kent, all but two had at least one offensive rebound. In the last two games, Kent has outrebounded the opposition on the offensive glass, 56-21.

Make no mistake, Texas (6-6) is far from being a traditional hoops power this season. But to go on the road against a Big 12 opponent, no matter what shape they are in, and pull out a victory speaks volumes for KSU (8-5).

The Flashes were coming off a 69-50 setback at Oregon State out of the Pac 12, another struggling power conference team. A tie game with less than 10 minutes to play at OSU became a 19-point loss for the Golden Flashes. So the quick reversal of fortune was pleasing for coach Rob Senderoff.

"When we struggled to score (at Oregon State) we started to struggle in other areas,'' Senderoff said. "Tonight, good and bad, we still worked hard to grind it out.

"Holding them for nine minutes without a basket was big for us. In some ways it was the same for them tonight ... not seeing the ball go through the basket, eventually they broke down a bit and we were able to make some plays, get some stops and get some rebounds.

"The biggest thing for us to learn from this is, we have to defend and rebound at the highest level so we can to have a chance,'' he said. "It's hard when you are not making shots to continue grinding it out.

"But at least, with this victory, going into MAC play, we should feel confident enough going into any gym we play in feeling like we have a good chance to win."

Texas coach Shaka Smart, the former Akron assistant, heaped praise on the Golden Flashes.

"First of all, Kent State deserves a lot of credit," Smart was quoted on texassports.com. "They played hard. They came in statistically as the top rebounding team in the country, and they did a great job of being that tonight. We didn't do a good enough job rebounding."

Another big plus for Kent was the play off the bench of junior transfer guard Desmond Ridenour, a product of Benedictine High. He finished with six points, three rebounds, five assists and four steals.

Kent has struggled to get production out of the point guard spot, but Senderoff was hesitant to say Ridenour -- Kent's most tenacious defender -- was now in the mix for more time at the point guard position.

"Maybe,'' Senderoff said. "We'll see. I'd like not to do it to keep him strong and fresh on defense. But we'll see."

Ohio State's passing struggles are well documented, but may not keep the Buckeyes from winning another national title. Watch video

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Can Ohio State win a national championship if the passing struggles that plagued the Buckeyes all season carry over into the College Football Playoff?

That should be the question on the mind of every Ohio State fan who wonders not only if the Buckeyes can beat Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl on New Year's Eve, but also beat Alabama or Washington on Jan. 9 and capture the program's second national title in three years.

Wanna talk dynasty? Let's talk throw game.

Ohio State's has been inconsistent, sometimes downright bad. That also might not matter. Ohio State has already won games without throwing the ball effectively, sometimes against very good, playoff-caliber competition.

Rushing success and other factors are more indicative of a team's ability to win a national championship. That truth and ample time to tweak the passing game are why the Buckeyes feel good about where they're at heading into the semifinals.

"We have a bunch of different ways we can run the ball, that's why we've been successful," H-back Curtis Samuel said.

That's not to say Ohio State hasn't been working to improve its passing game. It has. But if improvement means simply better execution and not necessarily a massive jump statistically compared to season averages, that could be OK.

Consider that there have been only two top-50 passing offenses among the last 10 national champions: Florida State in 2013 and Urban Meyer's Florida Gators in 2006. Six of the past 10 national title winners have been No. 61 or worse in passing offense. Alabama won a championship in 2009 averaging only 187.9 passing yards per game, No. 92 in the country.

The last 10 national championship winners have averaged just over 230 passing yards per game. This year, Ohio State's overall numbers mesh well with this trend. The Buckeyes are averaging 221.2 passing yards, which is No. 77 in the country but not a death sentence when it comes to vying for another title.

Why? Defense is key. Eight of the previous 10 national champions were top 10 in total defense, and right now Ohio State is No. 4. Like most of the 10 national champions before it, Ohio State has managed to strike a balance and put together a rushing attack that often makes up for passing game deficiencies.

Each of the previous 10 national title winners had a top-40 rushing offense. Right now, Ohio State is No. 9 at 258.33 yards per game, which is best among the four playoff teams and would be third-best among title winners since 2006.

"It's like playing Georgia Tech, a lot of triple-option principles, gap integrity," Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables said. "It starts with a dive, and you better have that edge set outside. I watch it with a lot of stress."

Not because Georgia Tech lit up Clemson earlier this season. That didn't happen. But that type of three-pronged rushing attack that forces you to be sound against multiple points of attack within one play (also think Navy) is tough to face. Imagine facing it with the kind of talent Ohio State has.

Barrett, Samuel and Mike Weber can sometimes look and feel like a triple-option offense on steroids. Other times it's one guy handling the bulk of the load with the others playing their part as decoys and diversions.

That kind of rushing attack has been enough for Ohio State to win major games before.

"My opinion, running the ball takes a toll on defenses," Weber said. "It's different than passing. Success running the ball takes the spirit out of a team."

This isn't the first time the Buckeyes have been compared to a triple-option team. But it's a window into a world where success, even at the championship level, isn't predicated on passing yards. Ohio State needs to throw differently. Differently doesn't always mean more.

Most of the last 10 national champions weren't prolific throwing teams, but the right kind of throwing teams.

Here's another trend among the last 10 national champions and the way they threw the ball: They were all top-50 in yards per attempt, and half were top-10 in that key stat -- which suggests aggressiveness and a downfield mentality.

This is where the Buckeyes should want to see improvement, because their yards per attempt don't mesh with the most recent national champions. In fact, if Ohio State wins it all, it will have fewer yards per attempt (7.1) than the previous 10 title winners.

Ohio State's Curtis Samuel (4) and Mike Weber (25) have combined to form a rushing attack that Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables compared to Georgia Tech's triple-option.Marvin Fong, The Plain Dealer 

A closer look at Ohio State's biggest games paints an even bleaker picture: The Buckeyes averaged 6.3 yards per attempt in games against Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Penn State and Michigan. A 3.9 average against Michigan tied a season-low (also against Michigan State), and if you don't think this is an important stat, know that this year's four playoff teams are among the top seven in the country in defensive yards per attempt.

How does Ohio State improve, even against a Clemson defense that's allowed an average of just 5.9? By being a little bit like Georgia Tech.

"I watch Georgia Tech play, and it's 3rd-and-23 and they're completing it," Venables said. "Every time you watch Georgia Tech it's like, 'How are they doing that? They're not supposed to be able to throw the ball.' Ohio State is a lot better at throwing than Georgia Tech, but the reason they're able to throw the ball with a high percentage completion because of the stresses that the run game -- it forces your hand on defense."

Georgia Tech, for what it's worth, is No. 3 in the country in yards per attempt at 10.8, but it's also a team that rarely throws and is often in a position where it's far behind the first-down sticks and has to throw farther down the field.

Ohio State doesn't need to match that number, but it needs to improve slightly compared to its average, and drastically compared to its last two games to match a yards per attempt number that's on par with the 8.6 average of recent national champions.

Washington (9.4), Clemson (8.1) and Alabama (7.9) are all there despite Clemson being the only team in the playoff ranked in the top 30 in passing offense. Ohio State thinks it can get there by using a dominant rushing attack that sets up the few key pass plays.

It's happened before in games against Oklahoma (152 passing yards, 7.6 yards per attempt) and Wisconsin (226, 7.8), when the Buckeyes didn't exactly light it up through the air but did enough to win.

At a time of the year when winning is the only thing that matters and style is meaningless, history suggests Ohio State is not far off from being a team very much capable of winning another national title.

"Whoever is carrying the ball, you can take the game over, if you establish that dominance up front," Buckeyes center Pat Elflein said. "That opens up play-action pass and things you can build off having a dominant running game."

Samuel has averaged 11 touches in Ohio State's last five games, but however the Buckeyes used their best offensive player, it worked. The Buckeyes are in the College Football Playoff.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Among Ohio State's six most recent rushing attempts, Curtis Samuel got the ball 33 percent of the time.

Overall this season, Samuel has just over 16 percent of the carries.

Maybe, in the end, that was the point. Less all year, more at the end.

Tuesday, Samuel sat smiling in a hotel conference room answering questions about why he's so good at football. Clemson defenders sat in the same room answering questions about why Samuel is so good at football.

He wasn't beaten down, he wasn't nicked up. The 5-foot-11, 197-pound H-back was ready to be Ohio State's most dangerous player in their most important game. Maybe just like the Buckeyes planned it.

"Everybody gets excited when he touches the ball. We do, too," Ohio State offensive coordinator Ed Warinner said. "Obviously everybody wants him to have more carries and more touches, but you also like the fact the he played in every game and has been healthy."

Every question about the Buckeyes this season can be answered with the phrase, "They made they playoff, didn't they?"

The fact that Ohio State is in Arizona as the No. 3 seed in the College Football Playoff to face No. 2 Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl on Saturday is proof that most everything worked. That includes answering one of the most repeated questions on cleveland.com all season, one that basically boiled down to "Why doesn't Samuel get the ball more often?"

If "how much" was a question, the "when" may have been the answer.

When the Buckeyes needed Samuel most, in overtime against Michigan to end the regular season, he was as ready as ever. That was in extra time of game 12.

So he ran for 18 yards on the first play of overtime. In the second overtime, he caught a swing pass and turned a potentially devastating loss on third-and-9 into a game-saving 8-yard gain. And then he ran in from 15 yards out to win the game and send the Buckeyes into the playoff.

The Buckeyes' six rush attempts in overtime were Samuel for 18 and 15, a J.T. Barrett sack for a loss of 4, and Barrett runs of 7, 5, and 1 yards. 

They don't win then without Samuel. They aren't here without Samuel. Maybe they're in worse shape if Samuel carried it so much this season that he was going to be a shell of himself by Saturday.

Samuel most dangerous Buckeye on offense since Ted Ginn Jr.

So he carried it 91 times during the season, while Barrett had 194 carries and tailback Mike Weber had 177. I would have given it to Samuel often. But you know the answer to that - "They made the playoff, didn't they?"

They made the playoff and they have Clemson thinking like this. Here's linebacker Ben Boulware on Samuel.

"He can do it all," Boulware said Tuesday. "He has the receiver, H-back next to his name, but you can probably throw in there five other positions. He's done it all season. He's one of the most talented players in the country. He's a freak athlete. And we're totally aware of that, so we respect what he brings to the game."

Boulware said Clemson has a plan to stop Samuel that they believe in. Samuel said he expects to be used the same way he's been used all season.

"I'm not a coach, I don't demand touches," Samuel said. "I just go out there and make plays and hopefully the coaches see I'm out there doing great and want to use me. I think we'll use me the way I've been used. You can't have the defense key on one spot. Just put me in the position to get mismatches out there and I'll be all right."

In Ohio State's lone loss this season at Penn State, Samuel had two rushes and eight receptions, his 10 touches nearly tripled by Weber's 29 touches. That was the height of Samuel misuse and it helped cost the Buckeyes a win.

Since then, Samuel has averaged just over five carries per game and just over five receptions per game. Overall, it has been 55 touches in the last five games, an average of 11 per game.

"We want to try to slow him down and not let him get as many touches as they maybe want to," Boulware said.

Nonetheless, take the over on 11 Saturday.

Giving Ohio State every benefit of the doubt, let's assume the Buckeyes planned this to perfection. Use Samuel just enough to get him here and keep him at his best.

Now? Just like overtime against Michigan, the Buckeyes will use him however much they need to win. At least, let's assume that's the plan. Because plan or not so far, they made the playoff, didn't they?

Mike Weber has shown a willingness to be a blocker even as his carries have dropped.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Mike Weber didn't even know it was Jabrill Peppers.

Ohio State's running back was just performing his job on the play that sealed the Buckeyes' win over Michigan.

"I really don't have an assignment that play, it's just clear anybody who comes in front of me," Weber said.

Peppers was in front of him, and then he wasn't. Weber took took Peppers out of the play, opening the window for Curtis Samuel's game-winning touchdown. There's nothing glamorous in there, just Weber finding a way to contribute without the ball in his hands.

That's something he may have to get used to if Ohio State's current running trend continues into its College Football Playoff semifinal against Clemson.

In the Buckeyes' last five games, Weber has averaged just 12.5 carries per game. That's down from 16.6 per game through Ohio State's first five games of the season. The game's have become tighter, and Weber has been featured less as quarterback J.T. Barrett has handled the bulk of the running and Samuel has emerged as the offense's best playmaker.

"Every running back wants 20 carries a game," Weber said. "I know I do. That's not my decision. Coach (Urban) Meyer, Coach (Ed) Warinner probably felt like running the ball a different way would help the team win. I'm down for that if we win. I'm not really worried about that."

This isn't Weber banging his fists on the table demanding the ball more -- though he would welcome that. He wants to have a part in this playoff run. If it's not as the featured ball carrier, then it has to be something else.

Remember that game-winning touchdown against Michigan.

Weber's role as a blocker vs. Clemson will be crucial as both a lead blocker on run plays, and as an extra pass protector against the Tigers' aggressive defense.

Clemson linebacker Ben Boulware is a heavy blitzer who personifies that defense. It may be Weber's job to be aware of Boulware and keep him from making impactful plays in the backfield.

"He's around the ball," Barrett said of Boulware. "I think with him, he's just one of those playmakers, ball-seekers. I think he does a great job of, like, deciphering plays, like what the offense is trying to do. ... I think he's instinctive in that way. But he's definitely a ball player, finds himself around the ball a lot."

Boulware's role on Clemson's defense is that of a disrupter, someone Ohio State needs to be aware of at all times because he's capable of blowing up the rushing attack that's been the Buckeyes' crutch offensively.

Weber is eyeing Ohio State history, just 166 rushing yards shy of breaking Maurice Clarett's single-season freshman record. That would be his best game of the season.

Ohio State may need him more as guy without the ball in his hands.

"I know there's a lot more things I can do to help the team win as far as running the ball, but I can only control what they give me and take it from there," Weber said. "We're here now, so it worked out."

Other Ohio State vs. Clemson matchups

Can Ohio State's secondary cover Clemson WR Mike Williams?

Can Ohio State RT Isaiah Prince handle Christian Wilkins?

Jamie Meder was rewarded for sticking up his hand and blocking the field goal in the win over San Diego.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Sound the accordions. The Pierogi Prince of Parma has won AFC Special Teams Player of the Week.

Jamie Meder, the Parma Heights native, who stuck his hand up in the air to block a field goal in the Browns' 20-17 win over the Chargers, has earned the weekly honor, becoming the first defensive lineman in franchise history to do so.

In blocking the kick, he helped to swat away that pesky, looming 0-16 parade.

Instead, Meder deserves a key to the city for helping to avoid the dreaded winless season.

Will he get one of those too?

"Maybe to Parma,'' he joked after the game.

Meder has earned the seal of approval from ironman left tackle Joe Thomas, which is not an easy thing to do.

"That man is awesome,'' Thomas said after the game. "He's one of my favorites. I love a blue-collar guy like that. He's a man after my own heart. You do not hear a lot from the guy during the week, but he's a guy that has fought his way from the bottom and he's made a huge impact on this team.''

The hometown boy was thrilled to save the season and trash the 0-16 parade.
"I felt something hit my hand," Meder said, "and it felt good after it."

Watch Jamie Meder's block

He also deflected some of the credit to Carl Nassib for helping him block the kick.

"It was mostly Jamie," Nassib said. "Jamie did a great job. It was funny, we were talking right before and he was not really making much sense -- he was like, you back out, no, I'll back out, alright, let's both go. Alright we're both going and then we blocked it, so it was really awesome."

Nassib also joked, "I was staying away from him after because he was going to crush my head like he did earlier in the season," defensive lineman Carl Nassib said. "His celebrations are like the Tasmanian Devil."

He was the first Brown to block a field goal since Nov. 30, 2014.

The Cleveland Indians raised their payroll dramatically when they signed free agent slugger Edwin Encarnacion. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- When the Cleveland Indians signed free agent slugger Edwin Encarnacion to a three-year, $60 million deal, they did more than make him the highest-paid player in Tribe history.

They raised their payroll dramatically.

For years, Tribe fans have been waiting for the Dolans to "spend." Well, they just did.

Encarnacion, the former Toronto Blue Jays first baseman/DH, was the top slugger available in free agency. He had turned down a four-year, $80 million deal to remain with the Blue Jays. Oakland, Texas and Houston all had interest in him.

But the Indians landed him.

I talk about it in this video.

According to TiqIQ.com, there has been an 18 percent decline for Fiesta Bowl tickets over the course of the past week. You can get into the game for as low as $63.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- This is the College Football Playoff. 

So you'd anticipate that if you want to see a game in person, you're going to have to pay up. Well, that's not necessarily the case. 

This year's Fiesta Bowl between Ohio State and Clemson is seeing the ticket demand decline. And at this point, this year's Fiesta Bowl has less demand for tickets than last year's matchup between Ohio State and Notre Dame, which wasn't even a playoff game. 

Why? 

Here are the three reasons directly from Jesse Lawrence of TiqIQ.com: 

* Location: "Glendale is the an expensive flight from Columbus, and Tampa is cheaper and closer."

* Bowl Fatigue: "Ohio state fans already shelled out last year for the Fiesta Bowl vs. Notre Dame. Interestingly, last year's game was more expensive than this years game."

* Saving up: "The average price for the championship game is $1,900 and fans are hedging their bets. If OSU loses, it was money not well spent. If they win, a trip to Tampa is closer and there's more on the line, and with the current cheapest tickets for the championship game at $655, they want to make sure they have money to spend on that game." 

According to TiqIQ.com, there has been an 18 percent decline for Fiesta Bowl tickets over the course of the past week. You can get into the game for as low as $63. 

Check out our coverage from the Fiesta Bowl from Tuesday: 

* Isaiah Prince vs. Christian Wilkins: Is Ohio State's RT ready for the matchup that could decide the Fiesta Bowl?

* Why Raekwon McMillan is the perfect Ohio State Buckeye - almost: Doug Lesmerises

* Clemson defender on Ohio State's J.T. Barrett: 'We've definitely faced quarterbacks better than him'

* Ohio State improvements, comparing Urban Meyer to Dabo Swinney, Fiesta Bowl Day 1 wrap: Buckeye Talk Podcast

* Marvin Wilson, a five-star DT and top Ohio State target, includes Buckeyes in top five

With head coach Tyronn Lue making Love more of an offensive focal point once again, Love is averaging 21.7 points on 45.8 percent from the field, including 41 percent from beyond the arc.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Nearly three years ago, Kevin Love was playing in his third All-Star Game in four years, sharing the court with the league's brightest stars, watching as Cleveland Cavaliers youngster Kyrie Irving put on a show.

Love had gotten used to those midseason trips and the individual acclaim. At 25, the Minnesota Timberwolves power forward was in the midst of another season with eye-popping numbers. Equipped with a versatile skill set, ideally suited for the NBA's new style of play, it looked like Love would be a future All-Star lock.

Instead, Love has been outside looking in for the last two seasons -- needing to sacrifice stats, touches, post-up opportunities and comfort after being traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Love needed to make numerous changes to fit in with his new teammates. But, an NBA champion now, Love looks like an even better version of the player he was with the Timberwolves.

In a few weeks when the voting is complete, Love has built a strong case to be named an All-Star again -- in label, anyway.

"I think you come in every year hoping to play well, play your best and I believe in my heart every year -- and it's not like I forgot how to play -- I'm an All-Star caliber player. I don't necessarily need All-Star appearances to show that," Love recently told cleveland.com. "If we continue to win and we keep playing well I think there's a goal and it's within reach. But it's not something I'm going out every night saying I have to be an All-Star.

"I also think the fact that us winning a championship and winning changes a lot of people's perspective on things and you don't really know what that means until you go through that. I think that is different. You mentioned that being the end goal. You have individual goals, but it has to fit within the landscape of what we're doing."

With head coach Tyronn Lue making Love more of an offensive focal point, Love is averaging 21.7 points on 45.8 percent from the field, including 41 percent from beyond the arc. He's also collecting 10.8 rebounds, making him one of 13 players averaging a double-double this season. 

"He's the Kevin Love of old and this is everything we expected out of him," LeBron James said. "That's what we want out of him. But there's no added pressure for him. He's going out and just playing his game right now. He's at a point where he's just comfortable with everything and it's great to have him."

Comfort seems to be a common explanation when discussing Love's resurgence. It's another year in Lue's system, he's surrounded by the same teammates and he knows what the Cavs need from him. It all helps.

Love's talent has never been in question. But he had to refine his game -- no longer consistently operating from the elbow or initiating the offense and getting as many shots as he wanted.

"I've seen it coming," teammate James Jones told cleveland.com. "Rome wasn't built in a day. It's not as simple as just uprooting yourself from one situation and putting yourself in another situation and things not changing. Kev had to change. The way he played, the way he approached the game and just his whole outlook on what it took to be successful changed because there was another level of success he was trying to reach. A lot of times people will tell you that you have to tear it down before you rebuild it back."

That disassembly included Love's body. Healthy again, Love used the summer to get stronger and leaner. It helped that he didn't have to rehab a shoulder injury like last off-season.

"Finding a way to kind of flip the script and reset everything he learned and everything he had to become was tough mentally," Jones said. "When you couple the mental transition and the physical transformation I knew it was a matter of time before he became comfortable with himself, the scheme and his body. Now, if you see him out there, you see him playing with a full toolbox - every skill, every strength and every ability -- and he's honed it. Now you see just how dynamic of a player he is on a very good team."

During Love's first two years, the finger-pointing became unavoidable and there were countless questions about fitting alongside James and Irving. After the Cavs lost by 33 in Game 2 of last June's NBA Finals and the team rebounded in Game 3 without him, some wondered whether Cleveland was better with Love sidelined.

During the tough times, Love leaned on Jones, singling him out in a heartfelt Instagram message shortly after winning the title.

"I told him all along just be yourself," Jones said of his advice. "At the end of the day the only thing you can control is who you are and what you do and people can like it, they can dislike it, but I've learned over my years that when you win they love it. I think he embraced that.

"In order to do that he had to take his bumps and bruises and he almost had to become hard-headed about it, which meant you don't let anyone shake your confidence and you don't let anyone tell you what you should or shouldn't do because it's your career and your life and your legacy. If you do that you will be a winner, you'll create a legacy and all the naysayers and everyone else on the sidelines will just shut up and watch you perform."

The changes haven't solely been on the court either. Love has grown off it as well, becoming more vocal and emerging as one of the Cavs' leaders.

"Everything he does now as far as his free time and personal time -- his body, his mind -- is geared towards becoming the best basketball player he can be," Jones said. "Very few guys have the capability or skill-set to be able to play this game at a high level and manage all the things that come with it and continue to grow and not plateau once they are financially well off and once they've had success on the court and off the court. ... But he's unique in that he understands that and embraces it. If you ask him what's the most important thing in his life, he will tell you it's basketball. And it's winning."

The Cavs are seeing the results. James says Love is playing the best basketball of his career. Opponents point to Love's usage when asked about Cleveland's growth in Year 3. Hornets head coach Steve Clifford called defending the Cavs "hopeless at times" earlier this season, believing they have three stars.

James and Irving get that kind of recognition. Love hasn't. Not since leaving Minnesota. Will this be the year that changes?

Tyronn Lue on if Kevin Love should be an all-star: "We should have three." pic.twitter.com/VHASgL4IBD

-- clevelanddotcom (@clevelanddotcom) December 10, 2016

"It'd be great," Lue said. "We should have three this year, especially the way these guys are playing and being No. 1 in the East right now. Usually when that happens and you're winning, guys are rewarded. Kevin has been playing at a high level all season along with Kyrie and LeBron. It'd be great for him as well as the team and the organization. It's something we're looking forward to."

Take a look at some of best sports fans moments from around the globe in 2016, starring the people who experienced the events live, in person and became a part of the story.

Here's who to watch during Wednesday's games.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Browns are building for the future by stockpiling draft picks. They get five picks in the first three rounds in the 2017 NFL Draft, and possibly 11 picks overall.

With that in mind, Browns fans might want to take a closer look at the draft prospects in upcoming college bowls.

Here's who to watch during Wednesday's games:

(Draft projections are from CBSSports.com)

Dec. 28

New Era Pinstripe Bowl

Teams: No. 23 Pittsburgh vs. Northwestern

When: 2 p.m.

TV: ESPN

Who to watch: Pitt's Dorian Johnson (OG) and Adam Bisnowaty (OT) are two of the top lineman prospects and should be drafted in the early rounds. Teammates James Conner (RB), Nathan Peterman (QB) and Ejuan Price (LB) are projected mid-round picks. Northwestern RB Justin Jackson is projected to be a mid-round pick, and teammate Ifeadi Odenigbo (DE) could be a late-round pick.

Russell Athletic Bowl

Teams: No. 16 West Virginia vs. Miami

When: 5:30 p.m.

TV: ESPN

Who to watch: Miami QB Brad Kaaya is a projected early-round pick, and one who could be on the Browns' radar. Teammate David Njoku (TE) could be taken in the second or third round, and teammates Stacy Coley (WR), Rayshawn Jenkins (FS) and Corn Elder (CB) are projected mid-round picks. West Virginia's Tyler Orlosky is one of the top centers in the country, and could be a second-round pick. Teammate Rasul Douglas (CB) should go in the middle rounds.

Foster Farms Bowl 

Teams: Indiana vs. No. 19 Utah

When: 8:30 p.m.

TV: Fox

Who to watch: Indiana guard Dan Feeney is a projected first-rounder and could be a target for the Browns. Teammate Ralph Green III (DT) should be a late-round pick. Utah's Garett Bolles (OT), Marcus Williams (FS) and Lowell Lotulelei (DT) could all be drafted in the first two rounds. Teammates Hunter Dimick (DE) and Isaac Asiata (OG) could be mid-round picks.

AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl 

Teams: Texas A&M vs. Kansas State

When: 9 p.m.

TV: ESPN

Who to watch: Texas A&M DE Myles Garrett is projected by many to be the No. 1 pick in the draft. Teammates Justin Evans (SS), Avery Gennesy (OT) and Daeshon Hall (DE) could all be taken in the first three rounds. Wide receivers Speedy Noil and Josh Reynolds are projected late-round picks. Kansas State's top prospect is LB Jordan Willis, a projected early-round pick. 

"That's one of my best friends, here man, Jalyn Holmes," McMillan said. "It was kind of weird that we were at Clemson talking about Ohio State." Watch video

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Raekwon McMillan and Jalyn Holmes had only met a few hours ago, but there they were, sitting alone together inside of Clemson's practice facility having an in-depth conversation about recruiting. 

They were both highly-rated prospects dealing with the rigors of being yanked in 15 different directions from top college coaches. They just wanted to exhale for a minute. 

"We told the coaches were were going to chill and relax in there," McMillan said. 

As Ohio State prepares to face Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl on New Year's Eve -- a College Football Playoff semifinal game -- McMillan is finding out how often the past and present seem to weave. 

That little pow wow in the Clemson football building wasn't supposed to be anything other than an innocent chill session. But it turned out to be the catalyst to get two instrumental players on Ohio State's defense to Columbus. 

And now if the Holmes and McMillan want to win their second national title in three years, they have to beat Clemson, of all teams, first. 

"That's one of my best friends, here man, Jalyn Holmes," McMillan said. "It was kind of weird that we were at Clemson talking about Ohio State. ... I asked him his top schools and the two we had in common were Clemson and Ohio State.

"We were talking about the things that weighed out and what was better and what was not, and kind of up there, we came to the conclusion like, 'We're up here talking about Ohio State when we were visiting Clemson.' Ever since there, man, it's kind of taken off. (Holmes) is definitely going to be one of the best men in my wedding whenever I have it." 

McMillan is the perfect Buckeye -- Almost

A former five-star prospect of Hinesville (Ga.) Liberty, McMillan was the No. 1 inside linebacker in the 2014 recruiting class. He contributed as a freshman and was one of those can't-miss type players. 

Clemson really wanted him. 

Ohio State got him. 

Part of the reason was his relationship with Holmes, a former four-star defensive end from Norfolk (Va.) Lake Taylor. The two had an instant connection, starting with that conversation in the Clemson facility, and it has lasted through the past three years. 

Holmes and McMillan were roommates as freshman and now live down the block from each other. 

"We actually argue a lot," Holmes said. 

But Urban Meyer got them to agree on one thing: Ohio State. 

"At the time, Clemson didn't have a real good track record of having the best recruits," McMillan said. "They had just started off with Sammy (Watkins), but at Ohio State, they had Coach Meyer and we went off his track record at Florida, how he always got the best recruits.

"And (Meyer) is showing it right now. He's one of the best recruiters in the nation. Just knowing we were going to have teammates and the best coaches in the nation and have a dream to fulfill all of our dreams after football as well." 

On Tuesday a Clemson defender said he wasn't impressed with Barrett's throwing ability.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Chris Worley didn't cry. So he didn't go full Terrell Owens when defending Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Clemson safety Jadar Johnson was a little critical of Barrett, saying he wasn't among the best quarterbacks the Tigers have faced and that he wasn't impressed with his throwing ability.

Worley came to Barrett's defense on Wednesday.

"That's my quarterback ... That's what T.O. said," Worley said.

The pause made you think Worley was going to get emotional about Barrett the way Owens did in 2008 when Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo came under some heat for his play.

What Johnson said on Tuesday was unexpected, but you could also label it as fair. Clemson did play Louisville quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson this year. Barrett has also been an inconsistent passer. Perhaps Johnson could have found a less blunt way to say it, but he was being honest.

And on Wednesday Worley was honest with his thoughts on Barrett.

"At the end of the day, J.T. is a winner," Worley said. "That's all he cares about. I look at him like a Tom Brady. He may not be the fastest, he may not be the tallest, he may not have the strongest arm in the game, but if you need a quarterback to win the game, you better put J.T. in. That's what it's all about. That's all anyone who plays football cares about, who's winning and who's losing.

"People have seen it throughout J.T.'s career. Overtime at Penn State a few years ago, he had a knee injury, probably wasn't supposed to come back in the game, came back and willed us to a victory. Offense wasn't playing well against (Michigan), see him come back and help us win the game. That's what he is. I'll take my quarterback, like T.O. said, before anybody."

Maybe it will be bulletin board for Ohio State, maybe it won't.

Ohio State is in the College Football Playoff and shouldn't need it.

But the Buckeyes are confident in Barrett's abilities to help them beat Clemson and get to the National Championship.

And Clemson doesn't seem worried that Johnson spoke his mind.

He's done it before, saying earlier this season that he would body slam Jackson if Jackson tried to hurdle him when Clemson played Louisville.

"He's done it before, but I can't control what comes out of mouth," Clemson running back Wayne Gallman said. "I hope he backs it up."

Whether you thought holding a parade for a "perfect" 0-16 Browns season was a great or terrible idea, we can all agree the end result was a positive thing.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Whether you thought holding a parade for a "perfect" 0-16 Browns season was a great or terrible idea, we can all agree the end result was a positive thing.

After the Browns effectively canceled the parade by beating the San Diego Chargers on Christmas Eve, parade organizer Chris McNeil announced that all of the proceeds raised -- $10,591 to date -- would be donated to the Greater Cleveland Food Bank.

Originally, McNeil, better known among Browns fans by his Twitter handle @Reflog_18, planned to donate any money raised over his GoFundMe goal of $1,999 -- that number representing the year the Browns returned to the NFL and, apparently, the amount it costs to stage a parade -- but the win changed all that.

The 20-17 victory, sealed in the final seconds after the Chargers missed a field goal, apparently put the Browns in a giving mood. The team matched the fans' generosity and donated $10,000 to the food bank as well.

Thanks to the Browns fans who donated $10k+ to the Food Bank! The @Browns have announced they're MATCHING with an additional $10k! #give10 pic.twitter.com/u0iW96ibUQ

-- Greater CLE FoodBank (@CleFoodBank) December 27, 2016

The food bank says it can provide four nutritious meals for every dollar given, meaning the $20,000 in donations is equivalent to 80,000 meals.

Bereft of hype and extensive playing experience, Ohio State sophomore safety Malik Hooker exploded on the college football season as an unanimous All-American.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Malik Hooker, Ohio State's safety, could've been, maybe should've been, Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. But he didn't play offense too.

Michigan's Jabrill Peppers, who won the award, did. It made all the difference to casually informed observers.

No stunts, just stats

Peppers scored three touchdowns, all rushing, played everything but waterboy -- Adam Sandler is believed to have retired the role - against Michigan State, and had one (1) interception in his college career.

Ohio State does not do publicity stunts for its players, but Hooker still scored three touchdowns on interception returns in 2016, the best in the FBS division.

The last of them, a 16-yarder, gave Ohio State the first of its two touchdowns created or scored by the defense against Michigan.

Hooker had six interceptions overall.

If you want game-changers in the defensive secondary, Hooker was the guy in charge of U-turns.

Unhyped, unexpected

Hooker is a sophomore whose very lack of hype created the sense that he has ambushed the college football world. He made the jump from basketball to football a mere five years ago in New Castle, Pa. He played only 25 snaps on the field with the Ohio State defense among his 179 as a freshman letter-winner.

Hooker has now made nine first-team All-American teams and is, along with center Pat Elflein, the first Buckeyes duo since tackle Orlando Pace and running back Eddie George in 1995 to be unanimous All-Americans.

Red lines

Hooker ran so far for an interception against Bowling Green in the season opener, tipping it to himself to secure it, that it has drawn comparison to two-way player Chris Gamble's ground-devouring, game-sealing pick against Purdue in the "Holy Buckeye" game of 2002.

Hooker's "range" could be where the deer and the antelope play.

"Bill Walsh was the first to put red lines on the practice field," said Ohio State defensive coordinator and safeties coach Greg Schiano, relating a practice scheme that develops route discipline in receivers and ruthlessly measures ground covered by safeties.

The red lines are 5 yards outside each hash mark and thus make up as much as a soul-searing 43 yards for safeties to cover when the ball is in the air.

"The receivers run inside the red lines and then fade away (toward the sideline)," Schiano said.

Remember Ed Reed?

Schiano said in his experience only two safeties could cover such distance consistently, future Baltimore Raven Pro Football Hall of Famer Ed Reed, whom he coached with the Miami Hurricanes, and Hooker.

"I'd like to take credit for Hooker, but I can't do that," said Schiano. "He's got great hand-eye coordination, great athletic sense, sense of body control and he's very explosive. You put that all together, then as he learns football, and studies football, you decrease reaction time."

"Ed could feel where the quarterback was going and he had the explosiveness and speed to get there," said Schiano.

It applies to Hooker too.

So does the "coverage radius" Schiano praised. It's coach speak for the old basketball term of "length." The 205-pound Hooker plays taller than his 6-2 height.

In the College Football Playoff national semifinal between Ohio State and Clemson on New Year's Eve Night, Hooker's play as the last line of defense against Clemson's receivers will be an important factor.

Unhyped and unexpected

"Hooker's one of those guys who's twitched up," said Schiano, alluding to fast-twitch muscle fiber.

A player making such a quantum jump in play also has to have made vast improvement in preparation, "emotionally, physically and mentally," said Schiano.

That is what made Reed great. It is a burden Hooker willingly accepts.

"God-gifted," he said, when asked the secret of his success. "I didn't do nothing to earn this. I didn't work for these gifts. All I can control is my preparation."

Remember Will Allen?

Perhaps it can be summed up under the old cliche of having a "nose for the ball." A nickel back named Will Allen had that with the early Jim Tressel teams.

He saved at least three games -- Michigan, 2002; Cincinnati, 2002; North Carolina State, 2003.

Allen, who is still in the NFL, worked on his craft, improving over three years in Columbus.

Peppers arrived in Ann Arbor with great expectations. His freshman year was the first part of his Heisman campaign this season.

The best there is?

With Hooker, though, it is as if he suddenly emerged from a chrysalis, altered, improved, and measured by comparisons to the best.

How good can Hooker be?