Ohio State Buckeyes hope to press all the right buttons against Clemson Tigers on New Year's Eve in the Fiesta Bowl

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Ohio State Buckeyes play the Clemson Tigers on New Year's Eve. The winner moves on to the National Championship game in Tampa on January 9th against either the Washington Huskies or the Alabama Crimson Tide.

While both teams have great quarterbacks, Ohio State has struggled to throw the ball consistently all year, especially against better competition. And Clemson's defense might be the best the Buckeyes have faced so far this season.

To avoid Clemson's defense daring the Buckeyes to pass by teeing off on the run, Ohio State's offense is going to need to hit the pass button a little more consistently and hope they can score enough points to keep up with Deshaun Watson and the Clemson offense.

Crowquill, by Plain Dealer artist Ted Crow, appears three times a week on cleveland.com.

LeBron James said he doesn't think about where he is at age 32 compared to Michael Jordan at the same age because their games are different. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- LeBron James says he's not like Mike.

Wants to chase Michael Jordan's "ghost," sure, but James said he doesn't compare himself to Jordan at this stage of their careers -- age 32. James' birthday is today.

"I haven't, because our games are so different," James said hours before the Cavs beat the Celtics 124-118 Thursday night. "He was much more of a scorer, and that point did a lot of, a lot of post work at that time. But our games are just different. His body is different. My body is different than his.

"So, just, you recognize the dominance that someone had at that age, at that age you recognize his dominance, but there's no similarities in our game at all."

Last summer, James told aspiring hoop stars at a Nike camp that he was chasing Jordan's "ghost," meaning his titles, his MVPs, his legacy.

Chasing ghosts

When Jordan was 32, the Bulls won a then-record 72 games in 1995-96. He won his fourth of five MVPs and fourth of six championships. It was the last year in which Jordan averaged 30 points.

James hasn't averaged 30 points for a regular season since 2007-08, when he was 23, and at 25.4 points per game this season he's probably not going to hit that 30 average. The Cavs aren't going to win 72, either.

But Cleveland could conceivably win it all in June, giving James four titles. And he's making an argument for MVP, which would give him five.

LeBron and Michael at 32

The Plain Dealer's Dennis Manoloff compared James' numbers to Jordan's entering age 32. James is right, Jordan was more of a scorer and James' numbers are more well rounded, though Jordan could do it all too and James is going to finish as one of the most prolific scorers in history -- with a really good chance of passing Jordan on the all-time list (fourth place 32,292).

Tyronn Lue, James' coach who's jealous of his star player because Lue had to retire from the NBA at age 32, said James is "a mixture between a few players.

"He's got the explosiveness and power of Dominique Wilkins, the scoring ability of Jordan at times," Lue said. "The court vision and the way he pushes the pace like Magic Johnson and having the height, so he's a mixture between three guys and as far as a comparison between him and Jordan, the comparisons I have is when you're on top, the best player in the league for so long and having to carry that each and every year and never get knocked down off that pedestal, that's a big accomplishment because guys are coming for you and you're a target and to always stay on top no matter what, always being that best player in the league.

"That's how I compare him and Jordan."

James is already on a run Jordan never experienced -- six consecutive trips to the Finals with a possible seventh on the horizon. After winning three Finals from 1991-93, Jordan stepped away from basketball and tried minor-league baseball. He returned 1 1/2 seasons later, but the Bulls failed to reach the Finals that year.

They went on another three-year title run in 1995-96. Jordan entered that season as a 32-year old.

James has played a staggering amount of basketball -- going on 14 seasons, more than 1,000 regular-season games and nearly 48,000 regular and postseason minutes. Jordan had played 667 games and about 30,400 minutes in the same time frame.

And though James is not looking at a career season by any means, his rebounds (7.9 per game), assists (8.6), and 3-point shooting (.377) are all up from last season.

How has Urban Meyer been so good at helping Ohio State win big games? Watch video

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Five reasons the No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes (11-1) will beat the No. 2 Clemson Tigers (12-1) on Saturday in a College Football Playoff semifinal at the Fiesta Bowl.

1. Urban Meyer beats equal talent: Meyer is 61-5 since he took the Ohio State job in 2012, which is simply absurd. 

But his real record is 6-3. 

Before that's explain further, don't take it this as a slight on Meyer. More than half the battle when building an elite college football program is recruiting and building a talented roster. Nobody does that better.  

That said, when you examine the majority of Meyer's wins at Ohio State, you'll find that most of them have come over opponents that simply cannot match up athletically. It doesn't matter how poorly Ohio State plays or how well the opponent plays in some games, there are too many the Buckeyes simply can't lose.

So his real record since 2013 is 6-3, which come in games against teams with equal or comparable talent. Those games, obviously, usually occur in big-time atmospheres or the postseason. 

There's one word for that record: Excellent. 

Here are the games: 

2013: Michigan State in Big Ten Championship (L), Clemson in Orange Bowl (L) 

2014: at Michigan State (W), Alabama in playoff (W), Oregon in national title (W) 

2015: Notre Dame in Fiesta Bowl (W) 

2016: at Oklahoma (W), vs. Michigan (W)

One of Meyer's three losses came to Clemson. But seeing all of Ohio State's biggest games from the past four years laid out in front of you, doesn't that make for a good reason the Buckeyes will beat the Tigers in the College Football Playoff? 

The secret to Meyer's success?

"They key is, you don't change a ton," Ohio State defensive coordinator Luke Fickell said. "You have to be who you are and you have to believe in your guys and make sure they have confidence. That's one of those things that are difficult. 

"There are going to be some matchups that are going to be one-on-one shots. We know that, they know that. Do we have some change-ups? Yes. But the ability for us to go out there and try to have to change what we do, what we've done and what got us here, that wouldn't bode well for us." 

You know what's funny about that? Fickell basically that Ohio State basically has to rely on its good players to win one-on-one matchups. 

So it all comes back around to talent, as former Ohio State head coach John Cooper always says: "The team with the best players wins."

The real key is trusting the talent. 

"If you say, 'Hey, we've got 35 days until this game is played and we have to do things that are different,' what does that do for your kid?" Fickell said. "We believe in them. We look at them at times and say, 'We can do what it is that we do because our corners can play and we do what we do because our SAM backer can eliminate some things outside. We know there has to be a balance." 

You hear coaches talk about the importance of the little things all the time. Meyer has been preaching it like crazy during the previous month. 

"Coach Meyer always preaches that when you're evenly-matched talent-wise you have to find every advantage you can," Ohio State defensive end Sam Hubbard said. "One big thing we always see ourselves doing is having relentless effort and effort overcomes everything in games like this when the talent is equal.

Ohio State wide receiver Binjimen Victor is a tall body who could get his hands on a Clemson field goal. Patrick Semansky, AP  

"There are so many little things that can go either way because everyone's got great matchups. But I think the way we've found advantages in games like this with even talent." 

2. Binjimen Victor can block a FG: Ohio State's freshman wide receiver is listed as 6-foot-4 on the official roster. But in a world where heights are embellished, that one seems like an undershot. 

Victor is one of many youthful bright spots behind the scenes of this offense, but he was doing something in practice that was interesting: He was on defense during field goal situations trying to get his lanky arms up in the arm to tip the ball. 

Asked if he thinks he's going to see some game time in the playoff, Victor smiled and said "most likely." He was talking about offense, but maybe he'll get his hands on a Clemson field goal attempt. 

3. Deshaun Watson and 50-50 balls: Part of Clemson's game plan is to allow its talented quarterback throw passes -- sometimes questionable -- to its talented receivers. Deshaun Watson to Mike Williams is a tough thing to stop. 

But part of throwing 50-50 balls is turning it over, and Watson has thrown 15 interceptions in 13 games. 

Ohio State's strength? Turning interceptions into touchdowns. 

Malik Hooker turns interceptions into touchdowns. Deshaun Watson has thrown 15 interceptions this season. Marvin Fong, The Plain Dealer 

"We haven't really paid attention to how many turnovers he's had this year because we know he's still a Heisman-candidate quarterback and one of the better players in college football," Ohio State safety Malik Hooker said. 

That's nice. However, he has three pick-sixes this year on a Buckeyes defense that's returned seven interceptions for scores.

4. Dwayne Haskins giving the Buckeyes a good look at Watson: Haskins may be the No. 3 on Ohio State's quarterback depth chart, but everyone is saying that he's done a tremendous job simulating Watson in practice. 

Haskins is the future -- and he knows it -- but he has arguably has the best arm on Ohio State's roster. And he's made it feel like the Clemson offense in practice. 

"It's our job to give our team a good look in practice," Haskins said of the scout team. "And we score on them, so it feels good to be doing our job." 

5. Ohio State is fired up because of a comment: When a backup quarterback at Oklahoma said Ohio State has a "basic defense," linebacker Raekwon McMillan said he didn't really care. Then when Ohio State blew out the Sooners, McMillan and his teammates stood on their field with signs that read, "Basic defense." 

So maybe it wasn't a good idea for Jadar Johnson to make those comments about J.T. Barrett. 

They weren't a shot. Johnson wasn't blasting Barrett. Everything he said was true. 

But Barrett heard them and Meyer is so good at giving Ohio State reasons to feel disrespected. This could be a latest example. 

Five reasons the No. 2 Clemson Tigers (12-1) will beat the No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes (11-1) on Saturday in a College Football Playoff semifinal at the Fiesta Bowl. Watch video

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Five reasons the No. 2 Clemson Tigers (12-1) will beat the No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes (11-1) on Saturday in a College Football Playoff semifinal at the Fiesta Bowl.

1. Sammy Watkins 2.0 Plus: If Clemson receiver Mike Williams has the kind of game Sammy Watkins had against Ohio State in the 2013 Orange Bowl, then what were all of these defensive changes for?

The Buckeyes completely revamped their defensive backfield after Watkins torched them for 227 yards and two touchdowns in that Orange Bowl loss.

So sorry, Mike. It shouldn't be as easy for you as it was for Sammy when you and your teammates play Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl.

But that's OK, because Williams is only part Watkins. He's also part DeAndre Hopkins and Martavis Bryant. Clemson has a receiver pipeline to the NFL that's unrivaled across college football. Williams is the embodiment of everything great that those Clemson NFL receivers possess.

"Each of those guys have something different," Clemson co-offensive coordinator Tony Elliott said. "Nuk (Hopkins) was the ultimate competitor with great ball skills. Sammy was the freakish athlete. And Martavis, I've never seen somebody at 6-foot-5 run as fast as him. Now you look at Mike, he can do a little bit of everything that those guys did.

"He's quicker than you think, he's faster than you think, he's bigger than you think and he's got great ball skills."

Ohio State has seen some fine receivers this year. And the Buckeyes have excellent cornerbacks.

They haven't seen a player like Williams maybe since they played Alabama's Amari Cooper in the 2014 College Football Playoff. These kind of players are rare.

Buckeyes cornerbacks Marshon Lattimore and Gareon Conley are considered legitimate NFL prospects, Lattimore a no-brainer first-round guy in most scouts' eyes. This will be their biggest test this season, and they should both get chances to cover Williams.

"Mike Williams is a monster," Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. "I mean, he's a game-changer every snap whether he gets the ball or not. If he lines up on the field, he impacts the game because I promise you the defensive coordinator is hoping that it doesn't go No. 7's way. He's just that type of guy."

And he's motivated.

Williams missed Clemson's run to the College Football Playoff National Championship last year because of a scary neck injury suffered early in the 2015 season. Maybe if he would've played, Clemson would be looking to defend a national title this year rather than looking to make up for a missed opportunity.

While the Tigers prepared for the playoff last year, Williams had a role as supporter and a voice for any other Clemson receivers looking for advice. Assistant coaches even gave him a whistle during bowl practice.

But the guy who might have been the best receiver in the country last year wasn't on the field then. He is now.

"That's one of the main things I wanted to do when I came back, I wanted that College Football Playoff experience, and National Championship experience," Williams said. "For my season to end like that would be very special."

Clemson spreads the ball around, but Williams' numbers are just as gaudy as you'd expect for a receiver of his caliber: 84 catches, 1,171 yards, 10 touchdowns.

What sets him apart from other receivers Ohio State has faced this season is his willingness to play for contested balls, and Clemson's offensive philosophy of being aggressive in the throw game.

Williams doesn't have the kind of cocksure attitude that you'd expect from a player who should be the top receiver selected in the 2017 NFL Draft. Most star receivers will tell you nobody can cover them. Williams was asked several times to go down that road here in the lead up to the Fiesta Bowl and he didn't go there.

Maybe that's because he has respect for Ohio State's corners, which he should. Or maybe it's because he doesn't have to talk. He's playing now, and that's all that needs to be said.

"He's a better player this year than he would have been last year, and he would have been amazing," Swinney said. "But I think his mindset, his mentality, his appreciation for his opportunity, the fact that he was able to sit and learn last year, and I think that fire was burning hard and intense for him coming into the season.

"He's a problem. I mean, he's a matchup problem. And everybody knows it. And he has a quarterback that can get him the ball."

2. Clemson has a better version of Ohio State's offense: These are two similar offenses. There's a multi-pronged rushing attack with an element of a power quarterback run game, and there's speed on the edges meant to force defenses to cover the full width of the field.

The Buckeyes have had so much offensive success using that formula since Urban Meyer has been in Columbus, but this year Clemson is doing it better.

Ohio State is more one-dimensional than it would like to be, even if throwing the ball around the yard isn't something that's necessarily needed to win a national championship.

Clemson's rushing numbers aren't what Ohio State's are, because Watson doesn't run like J.T. Barrett and the combination of Curtis Samuel and Mike Weber is more dynamic than what the Buckeyes have in the backfield.

Does it matter that Ohio State can't throw?

But Clemson does have a run game that it combines with a passing offense Ohio State wishes it had.

"Probably the best - not probably -- the best unit of receivers that we've ever played, certainly Mike is an elite level guy, but I think the guys that surround him are not far back. That's what makes it a challenge," Buckeyes' co-defensive coordinator Greg Schiano said.

Clemson TE Leggett is a matchup problem

"If you had one great receiver you can do certain things to take him out of the game or limit his chances to touch the ball. When you do that you leave yourself exposed in other places, but you can't in this offense. The other guys will beat you there. So you gotta play more balanced up and hope that you can -- you're not going to win every battle but hope you win your share."

Clemson has Williams and four other players who have caught at least 30 passes. The Tigers will spread Ohio State out, and you wonder if the Buckeyes have the bodies to cover everyone.

3. Red zone scoring: One of the things that's made Ohio State's defense so tough this season is that it doesn't allow touchdowns, even if it's allowing yards. Clemson is No. 3 in the country with 48 red zone touchdowns, and gets touchdowns in the red zone at a 70 percent clip. 

That's better than any team Ohio State has seen this year, and the Buckeyes have only faced two other teams in the top-50 in the country in red zone touchdown percentage. When Clemson gets into scoring position, it usually doesn't settle for field goals

4. A massive defensive line: In a world where Ohio State is still trying to lure those big earth movers on the defensive line, Clemson has amassed a group of them.

There's 310-pound end Christian Wilkins, 305-pound tackle Carlos Watkins and 340-pound freshman freak Dexter Lawrence.

"I don't think we've seen that kind of size in a group that's that deep," Buckeyes' co-offensive coordinator Ed Wariner said.

Why doesn't Ohio State get monster D-linemen?

Clemson is different in the sense that it doesn't have some of the traditional edge rush defensive end types. So maybe that's a plus for the Buckeyes as they try to get a player like right tackle Isaiah Prince past a bad game against the Wolverines and an up-down-season.

Clemson's defensive line is more about strength, but it does find ways to bring pressure using a combination of their size up front and aggressive linebackers behind them.

"Tremendous challenge, and they do a great job schematically with their defense," Ohio State offensive line coach Greg Studrawa said. "It's not just the front four, it's the linebackers. They rush five or six guys and it's solo blocks. They have six one-on-one blocks, all they need is one guy to win. You can have five perfect blocks and it's a bad play."

5. Deshaun Watson runs in big games: Clemson's quarterback is one of the best athletes in the country, but he doesn't always show it. You get the feeling that Watson would rather show off his big arm and make plays that way than run and make plays with his legs.

Unless he has to.

He's kind of a reverse J.T. Barrett in that sense.

Barrett only throws into tight spots when the pressure is on and he has no other choice. Watson always wants to throw, tight window or not, and runs only when it's needed most.

A playoff game might fall into that category.

In Clemson's biggest and closest games, Watson has averaged 13 carries per game, which is slightly up from his season average of 10.8. In the ACC Championship against Virginia Tech, Watson ran for 85 yards and two touchdowns.

"He does a great job of extending plays and controlling the game," Buckeyes' defensive end Sam Hubbard said. "He reminds me of J.T. a lot with how he avoids pressure and controls the game."

The Browns are in line to avoid some bad end-of-season trends.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - By the final game of a season, the Browns often look like a ship barely staying afloat. And in the end, the captain usually goes down with it.

Last week's win against the Chargers brought relief for the Browns and their fans. And even though it was just one win in a historically bad season, it helped the Browns dodge some of end-of-season trends suffered since 1999.

A win against the Steelers on Sunday would dodge even more. Here's how they can do it.

Win the final game                           

Many fans realize the Browns own the NFL record for consecutive Week 1 losses (currently 12 straight). But the Browns haven't had much luck in the last week, either.

They are 6-11 in regular-season finales since 1999, and have lost their last six.

No end-of-season losing streak

The Browns haven't just ended seasons with losses, they've ended them in free fall. Last week's win stopped a string of six seasons in which the Browns ended with at least three straight losses.

Since 1999, the Browns have ended seasons with losing streaks of five (twice), six (twice), and seven games. They ended 2014 with a win to stop a nine-game losing streak.

An end-of-season winning streak

The Browns have ended seasons with consecutive wins just twice since 1999. The last time was 2009, when they rebounded from a seven-game skid to win their final four games under coach Eric Mangini.

The other winning streak was the final two games of 2002, which helped the Browns qualify for a playoff berth that remains the only one since the franchise returned in 1999.

Defeat the Steelers

If you're concerned the Browns will defeat the Steelers Sunday and ruin their chances of claiming the No. 1 pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, consider this: The Browns are 0-7 vs. the Steelers in season finales since 1999. And that's not counting the 2002 playoff loss.

That 0-7 mark includes five walk-off losses to the Steelers since 2010.

RG3 will start barring any setbacks

Return of the starting QB

If Robert Griffin III starts Sunday, it will be the first time since 2006 that a Browns quarterback started the first and last game of a season. And it would be just the fourth time since 1999 that a Browns quarterback accomplished it.

Worse yet, one of those four times was Ty Detmer in 1999, when he only started the first and last games of the season.

Three quarterbacks - Bruce Gradkowski (2008), Thad Lewis (2012), Connor Shaw (2014) - made their only starts for the Browns in the last game of a season.

Check out our game preview of Sundays Browns-Steelers matchup in Pittsburgh. Watch video

BEREA, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers wrap up the regular season on Sunday at Heinz Field. The Steelers are preparing for the playoffs. The Browns, of course, are not.

Mary Kay Cabot and I previewed the game and what to expect. We talked about what it means for the Browns that they won't have to face, among others, Ben Roethlisberger, Le'Veon Bell and Antonio Brown. We also talked about what a win would mean for the Browns future -- you know, that whole draft position thing -- and whether or not we were picking the Browns to win this game.

The Cleveland Browns, coming off their first victory of the season, play their final game at the Pittsburgh Steelers. Can they get on a winning streak? Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns finish the 2016 NFL season against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday in Pittsburgh, the site of a lot of bad things in Browns history.

The Browns are coming off a 20-17 victory over the San Diego Chargers, their first win of the season, so they won't be in the history books joining the 2008 Detroit Lions as the worst team in NFL history.

Can they beat Pittsburgh this week and finish the season with a winning streak?

Why did so many Browns fans find so much joy in last week's victory?

We talk about it in this video.

The best thing that can be said for the Cleveland Browns' season finale at the Pittsburgh Steelerrs is that it is the season finale. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Fittingly, the end of a season in analytics hell, a season to end hope and pride and tolerance for candy corn orange, comes for the Cleveland Browns in Pittsburgh.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are the hated and envied neighborhood rivals, only two hours away by the turnpikes, yet in a different universe of success and stability.

With all the focus on quarterback play in the NFL, it seems as if the Steelers have always had a Terry Bradshaw or a Ben Roethlisberger, while the Browns have not had a consistently good signal-caller since Bernie Kosar, or even a short-lived playoff-caliber quarterback since Vinny Testaverde.

Still, with the new year on the way after a 2016 that brought an actual, major-sport Cleveland championship by the Cleveland Cavaliers and a narrow World Series loss by the Cleveland Indians, the idea is to find some source of encouragement for the feckless, feeble and forlorn Browns.(Good luck with that.)

Nooo, you won't find it on the Browns' current roster, a team designed to fail and as victory-proof as you will find. (It's good to know the Haslam regime is good at something, right?)

Mostly, all these Browns are is a repository of yearnings for the way they were before the Baltimore Ravens.

But let us turn to a little more recent history for our guide, to the year the Browns II were born in 1999.

Kordell Stewart, "Slash" as his Jack the Ripper nickname had it, was the Pittsburgh quarterback. He was probably the best Steeler QB from Bradshaw to Roethlisberger. He oversaw a 16-15 last play loss to the Browns on Phil Dawson's field goal that split the uprights.

It was the second victory by the expansion Browns. The first was pure luck, a last-play Hail Mary pass against the Saints.

It didn't mean Stewart was through as the Steelers' QB. He lingered on for a few seasons, but the clock was ticking louder than Big Ben.

The Steelers will keep Roethlisberger, who has won two of the three Super Bowls he played in with the Steelers.

The Steelers have clinched the AFC North and everything else they can clinch, so it might become a Cavaliers-at-Memphis rash of no-shows in Pittsburgh for the stars of the host team. Nevertheless, because the video was shot before we knew the outcome of the Steelers-Ravens game, I'll have to stick with my rash pick, made in the belief that Big Ben would play.

It was 34-0, Pittsburgh. Sigh.

As we near the end of 2016, we thought it would be interesting to see how LeBron James' achievements stood next to Michael Jordan. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- As we near the end of 2016, we thought it would be interesting to see how LeBron James' achievements stood next to Michael Jordan. 

James, who turns 32 today, has often been compared to Jordan, 53. Many sites, including landofbasketball.com, have done head-to-head comparisons that include championships won, honors and awards obtained, regular season and playoff stats and other data.

An age-to-age comparison is more difficult because James joined the NBA after graduating from high school and Jordan played three years in college before beginning his professional career.

James said he is "not like Mike" and doesn't compare himself to Jordan at this stage in their careers.

Who is LeBron James at 32? Not Michael Jordan, he says

Jordan played 15 seasons in the NBA. James is in his 14th season.

Watch the video above to see some of the achievements James has that Jordan didn't reach, and then Jordan's achievements that are in reach of James.

It's the final weekend of the NFL's 2016 regular season and several games Sunday will decide playoff positioning and division titles.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Two division championships and playoff positioning are on the line as the 2016 NFL regular season comes to a close. All games on this final weekend are played on Sunday.

• NFL playoff picture

The Green Bay Packers (9-6) are at the Detroit Lions (9-6) on Sunday night (8:30, NBC) in a most important game. The winner is the NFC North champion and earns a bye in the playoffs. The loser could be out of the playoffs, depending on the outcome of the New York Giants-Washington Redskins game earlier in the day. If the Redskins win, the loser of this game is eliminated, so the Packers and Lions will know they are playing for the playoff lives.

The AFC playoff field is already set, but seed positions are at stake Sunday.

The Oakland Raiders (12-3) are at the Denver Broncos (4:25 p.m., CBS) and will try to hang on to the AFC West lead in their first game without quarterback Derek Carr, who suffered a broken leg last week.

The Kansas City Chiefs (11-4) are at the San Diego Chargers (4:25 p.m., CBS) and if the Chiefs win and Raiders lose, Kansas City gets the title after beating the Raiders twice during the regular season.

The New England Patriots are at the Miami Dolphins (1 p.m., CBS) with Tom Brady and the Patriots trying to lock down the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage, while the Dolphins could move up one spot to the No. 5 seed if they win.

Here's a look at some prime games to watch, along with the complete schedule and TV. You can get live scores along with previews and updates from all the games on our NFL Scoreboard.

PRIME MATCHUPS

Sunday

Green Bay Packers (9-6) at Detroit Lions (9-6)

• When: 8:30 p.m., NBC
• Why watch: The NFC North title is on the line in this game and the loser could be out of the playoffs, if the Washington Redskins beat the New York Giants. The Packers are riding a five-game winning streak, while the Lions have lost two straight road games, including a 42-21 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night.

New York Giants (10-5) at Washington Redskins (8-6-1)

• When: 4:25 p.m., FOX
• Why watch: The Redskins are trying to become the third NFC East team in the playoffs, but must beat the Giants and hope Green Bay and Detroit don't tie in the Sunday night game. The Giants are locked into the No. 5 seed in the NFC playoffs and have nothing to play for.

NFL WEEK 17 SCHEDULE

Sunday

New England at Miami, 1 p.m., CBS
Cleveland at Pittsburgh, 1 p.m., CBS
Carolina at Tampa Bay, 1 p.m., FOX
Dallas at Philadelphia, 1 p.m., FOX
Houston at Tennessee, 1 p.m., CBS
Buffalo at N.Y. Jets, 1 p.m., CBS
Chicago at Minnesota, 1 p.m., FOX
Baltimore at Cincinnati, 1 p.m., CBS
Jacksonville at Indianapolis, 1 p.m., CBS
Seattle at San Francisco, 4:25 p.m., FOX
New Orleans at Atlanta, 4:25 p.m., FOX
Kansas City at San Diego, 4:25 p.m., CBS
Arizona at Los Angeles, 4:25 p.m., FOX
Oakland at Denver, 4:25 p.m., CBS
N.Y. Giants at Washington, 4:25 p.m., FOX
Green Bay at Detroit, 8:30 p.m., NBC

Will any of these sports predictions come true next year?

How the Ohio State quarterback is like Urban Meyer's star quarterback at Florida, winning, warts and all. Watch video

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- J.T. Barrett is Tim Tebow.

Urban Meyer's star quarterback at Ohio State, the player he leans on to make everything work, is the new version of Meyer's star quarterback at Florida, the player he leaned on to make everything work.

But right now, Barrett isn't the Tebow who went down as one of the great players in college football history, with two national championships, a Heisman Trophy and legendary stories of his leadership. 

He's the Tebow with the crooked throwing motion.

What Tebow did like virtually no other college player is what we remember now. That's the player with the benefit of time and distance. Barrett is still the up-close, in-the-moment Tebow of 2009, the guy who made people wonder why he wasn't as good as he used to be. And Florida fans did wonder that his senior year.

"Oh yeah," Meyer said Thursday as Ohio State continued to prepare for Saturday's College Football Playoff semifinal against Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl. "It comes with the territory. You start getting to be a big-name guy, oh my gosh, yeah. Tim went from the poster (boy), a little bit like J.T. 

"J.T., his freshman year, he broke Drew Brees' record (for single season touchdowns by a Big Ten quarterback) and he was the golden child. And then he broke his leg and he had to fight back from that and now everyone is, 'What happened? Why is he not as good as he was?' Tim went through the exact same thing."

Barrett won't go down as an all-time great in college football, but Ohio State history will remember him fondly as a winner, a leader and a guy who successfully fought to make the Buckeyes better. In the moment, you wonder why he can't throw it like you'd want him to or the way Ohio State needs him to.

In the moment, it might do Ohio State fans well to accept the comparison. In hindsight, Barrett will be Meyer's Buckeye version of Tebow, no doubt about it. In the present, he's that, too - leadership, competitiveness, wins, faults and all.

They were both rare quarterback with glaring questions about the most obvious part of a quarterback's job, throwing the ball. They were both Meyer's perfect quarterback, and at times, perfectly frustrating.

One thing - Barrett wins more.

Tebow was 35-6 as a starter, an .854 winning percentage.

Barrett is 26-3, an .897 winning percentage.

One other thing - Meyer wouldn't have traded either of them. 

This Meyer offense puts loads of pressure on the quarterback, who almost never has an easy snap. There's no turning around and handing it off. Nearly every run play requires an instant decision by the quarterback in the zone-read game on whether to keep it and run it or give it up. There are reads at the line about whether to run it or throw it. And then there's the actual running, with Tebow and Barrett also united by their physical style, carrying it more like a running back when they do keep it.

Tebow ran it 692 times in his four-year career. Barrett, at the end of year three, is at 480 carries.

Not every quarterback could do this. 

Not most.

"Very select," Meyer said.

Both fit what Meyer wanted, and throwing was never at the top of that list.

"It's as far as QB play but also as a person, how are you going to be perceived across the country being that Ohio State is everywhere," Barrett said this week of what's needed from a Meyer QB. "I think that plays a part in it."

In the offense, Barrett said Ohio State fit his skills as much as any school that recruited him, because he never threw for a ton of yards in high school. He worked on his passing, but "more the mold I fit coming out of high school was running the ball well and what Ohio State wanted to do as far as the quarterback run stuff." 

Barrett said he's never studied Tebow, but Meyer said he's imparted a few Tebow stories over the years. He'll never stop doing that. And Tebow and Barrett have met on Tebow's visits to Columbus,

"Tim loves him, great respect for him," Meyer said.

So it's reasonable to ask questions in the moment. Meyer said again Thursday what he's said for weeks, that the pass game does need to improve. Everyone sees that.

But there's a chance Barrett is the perfect player to attack this complex Clemson defense. There's a chance the Buckeyes could not throw it well for two games and still win the national title - it's happened before.

There's a greater chance that in 10 years, you'll remember more about what Barrett did well than what made you wonder. 

But now? 

Meyer said after Florida won a second national title in 2008 in Tebow's junior year, he saw the world turn on him, "criticize everything he did," Meyer said.

Meyer, retelling the story, threw his hands up, indicating he doesn't understand the questions now any more than he did then. 

Tebow saw his offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, Dan Mullen, leave after 2008 just the way Barrett saw his offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, Tom Herman, leave after 2014.

Their worlds changed, but the expectations had been set.

Just like Meyer changed football programs, but what he wants and needs from a quarterback has always been set.

"You can't have a bad day," Meyer said. "I always tell people that. If you have a bad day at receiver, you replace him. You can't have a bad day as a quarterback."

Except, of course, quarterbacks do have bad days. They have plenty of them in the midst of great careers.

While you're watching what those quarterbacks can't do in the moment, it helps to imagine how you'll see them later.

Sure, J.T. Barrett is Urban Meyer's Ohio State Tim Tebow, throwing issues and all.

He's also Urban Meyer's Ohio State Tim Tebow. Think about that.

Browns top football execs Sashi Brown and Andrew Berry will attend the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas today to watch North Carolina QB Mitch Trubisky.

BEREA, Ohio - Browns top personnel executives  Sashi Brown and Andrew Berry will be in El Paso, Texas today to watch hometown boy Mitch Trubisky of North Carolina take on Stanford in the  Sun Bowl.

Trubisky, the Mentor, Ohio native, has risen up draft boards this season with a sensational campaign in which he completed 68.9% of his passes and threw 28 touchdowns against only four interceptions.

Brown and Berry, the Browns Executive Vice President of Football Operations and their Vice President of Player Personnel, also went to the Texas Bowl three days ago to watch Texas A&M pass rusher Myles Garrett, who made just one tackle in a loss to Kansas State.

The Browns currently have two top 10 picks: the No. 1 overall and the No. 10 overall from Philadelphia.

They are in the market for a quarterback, but they're also intrigued by Garrett, widely regarded as the best player in the draft.

Trubisky, who's started only 12 career games, is a junior who has yet to declare for the NFL draft. That could happen shortly after this bowl game.

More to come soon.

Here's who to watch during Friday'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 bowl games.

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

(Draft projections are from CBSSports.com)

Dec. 30

AutoZone Liberty Bowl

Teams: Georgia vs. TCU

When: 12 p.m.

TV: ESPN

Who to watch: TCU's Josh Carraway (DE) is the top prospect in the game, projected as a mid-round pick. Teammate Aaron Curry (DT) could be a late-round pick. Georgia's Dominick Sanders (FS), Greg Pyke (OG) and Brandon Kublanow (C) are projected late-round picks.

Hyundai Sun Bowl

Teams: No. 18 Stanford vs. North Carolina

When: 2 p.m.

TV: CBS

Who to watch: North Carolina's Mitch Trubisky will be one for Browns fans to watch in this game. He's projected to be the first QB drafted by numerous analysts. Teammates Ryan Switzer (WR), Nazair Jones (DT) and John Heck (OT) are projected to go in rounds 4-6. Stanford RB Christian McCaffrey and DE Solomon Thomas are projected first-round picks.  

Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl

Teams: Nebraska vs. No. 21 Tennessee

When: 3:30 p.m.

TV: ESPN

Who to watch: Tennessee DE Derek Barnett is a projected first-rounder, and teammate Cameron Sutton (CB) could be drafted as early as the second round. QB Joshua Dobbs should be a late-round pick. Nebraska's Nathan Gerry (SS) is a projected late-round pick.

Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl

Teams: South Alabama vs. Air Force

When: 5:30 p.m.

TV: (No TV).

Online: CampusInsiders.com.

Who to watch: South Alabama's Gerald Everett (TE) is a projected sixth-round pick. Air Force's Weston Steelhammer (SS) could be a late-round pick, but clearly has the best name in the country.

Capital One Orange Bowl

Teams: No. 6 Michigan vs. No. 11 Florida State

When: 8 p.m.

TV: ESPN

Who to watch: This game is loaded with talent. Michigan's Jabrill Peppers (LB), Taco Charlton (DE), Chris Wormley (DT) and Jake Butt (TE) are all projected first- or second-round picks. Jourdan Lewis (CB) and Amara Darboh (WR) are projected second-rounders, and Ryan Glasgow (DT), Erik Magnuson (OT) and Jehu Chesson (WR) are projected fourth-rounders. Florida State's Dalvin Cook (RB), DeMarcus Walker (DE) and Roderick Johnson (OT) are projected to go in the first two rounds, and teammates Travis Rudolph (WR), Marquez White (CB), Derrick Nnadi (DT) and Freddie Stevenson (FB) should be mid-round picks. 

Words of support will carry RG3 to his final start of the season in Pittsburgh Sunday. That's what team leaders like Joe Thomas do. It doesn't mean it's a good idea to bet the 2017 season on Robert Griffin.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Joe Thomas' support of Robert Griffin III is exactly what you'd expect from a team leader but hardly reason to believe the Browns have finally found their quarterback.

Thomas says RG3 has shown "franchise-level talent" and that he wouldn't write him off as the answer in 2017 by "any stretch of the imagination."

The Browns need a better answer than Griffin, who a handful of years into his NFL career still doesn't look comfortable in the pocket and still doesn't see the field nearly well enough.

There's talent and there's quarterback talent.  Quarterback talent amounts to more than speed and arm strength.

''I wouldn't be shocked at all if he was our guy at the beginning of next season because I think he has shown enough that if they do decide to make Robert the guy, I think he can definitely be the guy, and I think he'd have the support of the locker room," Thomas told reporters this week.

I agree with Thomas on one front. I wouldn't be shocked if Griffin was the starter at the beginning of next season, given the readiness of the 2017 quarterback draft class and the high cost of acquiring a quarterback such as New England's Jimmy Garoppolo.

But that doesn't mean RG3 will have earned "the guy" status. And it certainly won't mean the Browns have found the answer at QB.

* "The way he is now is night and day from last year. He has a bright future ahead of him," said Thomas.

Wait. Sorry. That's Joe Thomas on Johnny Manziel from April 2015.

* Arkansas tight end Jeremy Sprinkle missed Thursday's Belk Bowl after a shoplifting incident.

Sprinkle allegedly lifted some items from Belk department store.

Despite being given a $450 gift card to use during a 90-minute spree.

At Belk department stores.

* Sprinkle was cited for unlawful concealment of merchandise estimated at $260.

I suppose the charges could've been far more serious had he played at the Hyundai Sun Bowl.

* Cavs' rookie guard Kay Felder made his Canton debut, scoring 33 points with seven rebounds and even assists.

Even if he's not quite ready for NBA prime time, we should be able to agree he's over ripe playing in the developmental league.

* The Browns' win over San Diego cancelled plans for a 0-16 parade. The $10,000 or raised will go to the Food Bank with the team generously and good-naturedly matching the figure.

It's one thing if you can't take a joke and felt the parade would've somehow brought national shame to a city that deservedly basked in the Republican National Convention, NBA Finals and World Series this year.

Not a small thing. But one thing. It's quite another if you can't recognize a happy ending when you see it.

* The Buffalo Bills haven't made the playoffs since 1999. So, fire Rex Ryan for his part in the last two years of the drought?

* That streak without a postseason appearance is longest in the NFL. The Browns, of course, last made the playoffs in 2002.

Since 1999, counting interim situations, the Bills have employed head coaches Wade Phillips, Gregg Williams, Mike Mularkey, Dick Jauron, Perry Fewell, Chan Gailey, Doug Marrone, Rex Ryan and now Anthony Lynn.

The Browns: Chris Palmer, Butch Davis, Terry Robiskie, Romeo Crennel, Eric Mangini, Pat Shurmur, Rob Chudzinski, Mike Pettine and Hue Jackson.

That's a 9-9 standoff in head coaches.

And absolutely no surprise.

* The Bills could vault ahead in that category if Lynn doesn't keep the job in Buffalo and Jackson does keep his job in Berea, as expected.

But Buffalo has a long way to go in catching up to the Browns in starting QBS since '99. The Bills have had 14.

The slackers.

* Hall of Famer Marv Levy says he's open to coaching the Bills again but that he's not expecting a call anytime soon.

He's 91.

John Glenn skied until he was 85.

 Ed Whitlock, a Brit living in Canada, just became the oldest man on record (85) to run a marathon in less than four hours.

Gary Player, 81, does 1,300 sit ups a day.

"Retirement," Player once said, "is a death warrant."

That's clearly not the case for Levy.

Still, I doubt he could coach the Bills at 91 years old.

To anything better than 10-6.

* I once got passed with a mile to go in a half marathon by a man wearing a shirt that read, "87 year old runner."

I learned later the cheater had a personal trainer.

 * Bill Belichick shared his thoughts on NFL roster makeup this week.

The Pats' head coach pointed out that offensive linemen in the NFL came to their positions at some point because they were deemed to lack an ingredient or more that would've made them top defensive lineman.

Conversely, defensive players at other positions in many cases couldn't cut it offensively.

Noting exceptions, Belichick said, "I think most of the defensive players need to understand that the reason they don't play offensive is because they're not good enough to play offense."

That's not a surprising take. The only surprise is Belichick shared his thoughts and didn't just say, "We're on to Miami."

* You don't have to watch interceptions dropped five times a game to know if defensive backs had hands they'd be starting wide receivers.

* To the question of why he didn't wear a hat during the Ryder Cup this year, Rory McIlroy explained it in simple terms.

I've a pea head and the hats were way too big for me! https://t.co/YrOZs4qi8C

-- Rory McIlroy (@McIlroyRory) December 27, 2016

A little self-deprecation goes a long way in how fans relate to players.

McIlroy apparently learned that from watching Tiger Woods.

And deciding to do the opposite.

* The NBA Referees Association picked up where Golden State's Kevin Durant left off on the subject of the NBA's Last Two Minute game reports.

The review of the Christmas Day matchup showed two decisions that went against the Warriors.

An uncalled Richard Jefferson foul on Durant was one. The other takeaway from the review said LeBron James should've been called for a technical for hanging on to the rim.

Durant nonetheless criticized the report as other players have before him.

"I think it's B.S. the NBA throws refs under the bus like that," said Durant.

"We agree with Kevin Durant," the refs' association statement read. "The L2M report unfairly targets NBA refs and reform is needed."

Make sense.

But I'm still waiting for the day when the refs have to admit they agree with Draymond Green.

* Asked to talk about the happiest Alabama head coach Nick Saban has been with the Crimson Tide play calling and offense, coordinator Lane Kiffin said, "I don't recall a happy moment. I just remember the ass chewings."

He was joking.

A little.

And here you thought Nick Saban regularly tried out his comedy club material on his coaching staff.

 * Tennis star Serena Williams is engaged to Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian.

A decision she surely reached when she couldn't get her first choice, a You Said It contributor, to marry her.

Lots of winners, and a few losers, in the 2016 world of sports.

Horton and his wife will donate the money as part of the fund that was intended to back the 0-16 parade that some fans were planning.

BEREA, Ohio -- The Browns winning their first game of the season over San Deigo last Saturday has been the gift that keeps on giving for those in need this year.

The win led to the cancellation of the infamous 0-16 parade that Chris McNeil, known on Twitter as Reflog_18, was putting together. That meant that the money McNeil raised -- boosted by national attention brought on when local radio host Tony Rizzo's rant against the parade went viral -- had to go to something, and the beneficiary has been the Greater Cleveland Food Bank.

The campaign, set up on crowdsourcing site GoFundMe, has now raised over $10,000 for the Food Bank. On top of that, the Browns have pledged $10,000 and local radio personality Mark "Munch" Bishop has raised $7,000 of his own after initially saying the food bank should turn down donations from the organizers of the parade.

Browns defensive coordinator Ray Horton threw his hat into the ring on Friday, announcing that he and his wife would make a donation of their own.

"A lot of the coaches and players obviously came here for parades, not the kind that was going to happen," Horton said. "I know they canceled it. I am glad that we did cancel it. We also want to have one next year for the right reasons. I heard that they were going to donate the money to the (Greater Cleveland) Food Bank. My wife and I, we are going to match it. We are going to give them $5,000 to the Food Bank because I think it is a great cause that they are giving it to the food bank."

Friday, McNeil tweeted that the grand total was up to $32,700, enough money to provide 130,800 meals.

The @CleFoodBank donation so far:

Browns Fans: 10.7 K
Browns: 10K
"Munch" Bishop: 7K
Browns DC Ray Horton: 5K

Total: $32.7K/ 130,800 meals pic.twitter.com/XQ5wWzIYxH

-- McNeil (@Reflog_18) December 30, 2016

-----

Follow me: on Twitter | on Facebook

Felder, 5-foot-9, understands there aren't a lot of diminutive success stories in the NBA. Constantly hearing from the naysayers about the countless obstacles he faces can be tough.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The chip on his shoulder has been there for quite some time.

It was there before being overlooked coming out of high school, before still being questioned despite college numbers that put him in elite company and before sliding to pick No. 54 in this year's draft after leaving college early.

"Just because people always count the little guys out," Felder told cleveland.com. "People always want the 6-foot-5 or 6-foot-7 point guard. That's why the chip is always on my shoulder."

Felder, 5-foot-9, understands there aren't a lot of diminutive success stories in the NBA. Constantly hearing from the naysayers about the obstacles he faces can be tough. However, he's been able to draw inspiration from Boston Celtics point guard Isaiah Thomas, who has helped create a roadmap to success.

"Watched his whole career and I remember him hitting a big shot in the Pac 12 Tournament," Felder said with a smile prior to Thursday's game against Boston. "He just dominated college all around and ended up leaving early. I thought about it -- yeah, I can model my game after him and put in bits and pieces from guys like Chris Paul and D-Rose (Derrick Rose) and (Russell) Westbrook and those types of guys. But Isaiah Thomas has definitely been a big inspiration. He reached out to me my last year in college and we have been connected ever since."

So what message did Thomas try to relay when the two first interacted?

"Basically said be you. Do what you do. Do what got you here," Felder said. "I'm a scorer and assist type of guy so don't let anybody change my game. That's definitely the biggest thing."

Thomas was the 60th -- and final -- pick of the 2011 NBA Draft and, like Felder, is listed at 5-foot-9, which might even be a little bit generous.

Despite early-career success, Thomas went from Sacramento to Phoenix before ending up in Boston, a place where has flourished, becoming a first-time All-Star last year and one of the premier lead guards in the Eastern Conference.

Prior to the Cavs-Celtics clash on Thursday night, LeBron James raved about the pint-sized Thomas, comparing him to former NBA guard Damon Stoudamire.

"They got a clear-cut star and that's Isaiah," James said. "The notion that they don't have a star I think is fugazi as Donnie Brasco would say. Earlier I was watching the movie. So, they're a good team for a reason and it starts with the head of the snake and that's Isaiah."

James pointed to Thomas' craftiness, ability to get into the paint at will, smooth shooting stroke and knack for commanding the opponent's attention, all things Thomas displayed during Thursday's game against Cleveland where he scored 31 points, including 17 in the second quarter.

Thomas, the seventh-leading scoring in the NBA, has scored 15 points or more in 51 straight games, which is the longest current streak, edging James by one.

"Kay could definitely learn from IT for sure," James said. "He should be looking at the way Isaiah has gotten better each and every year from when he was drafted to now. Going to Phoenix and Sac and to now. Seeing where he's gotten better over the years. He reinvented himself and playing more at a pace, but in control. Continuing to improve his jump shot. He should watch him."

Felder does. He also texts Thomas -- to catch up and pick his brain.

"I think you have to study those guys, especially when you're the same size," he said. "You're not about to watch LeBron. You can't do the things he can do. So I definitely study those guys."

It's been a tough rookie season for Felder. Unlike Thomas, Felder didn't go to a rebuilding team that had a place for him immediately.

The rookie has struggled to crack the Cavs' championship rotation, which led to him being sent to the D-League on Wednesday night.

"We don't practice a lot, so he doesn't really get a chance to get a lot of reps in practice," head coach Tyronn Lue said. "Then in a game situation, he hasn't really played a lot either. Just having the chance to go down to Canton and play, let him know he still has his game, has the confidence to go down there and play and play well. We know he can play, that's not a doubt."

Felder tallied 33 points to go with seven assists and seven rebounds in a win -- the most important aspect of that particular game, according to Felder.

Former D-League All-Star DeAndre Liggins made the trip to Canton to watch his shootaround workout mate. James kept tabs on the rookie's performance as well, giving him dap while shouting his stat line in the locker room Thursday night.

"You sometimes can get down on yourself," Felder said. "But at the same time, you know what you can do. That was a great confidence boost for me. It was kind of a wake-up call and a reminder."

If Felder had any other doubts, all he had to do was gaze across the court on Thursday night, watching as a 5-foot-9 point guard created countless issues for the Cavs' defense.

Or on other nights when Boston's not in town, Thomas will still be just a phone call or text message away. 

Mary Kay Cabot answers reader questions in a video edition of her weekly Q&A. Watch video

BEREA, Ohio -- It's time again for Hey, Mary Kay!, our weekly video edition of Browns beat reporter Mary Kay Cabot's reader mailbag. Each Friday, Mary Kay picks three reader questions to answer on video.

This week's topics:

One reader asks if Mary Kay would give up a first and a fourth-round pick for Patriots backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo?

Another has just named her GM of the Browns: What does she do now?

Lastly, the topic of getting the No. 1 pick comes up and how meaningful it is for the Browns to pick first as opposed to second overall.

You can submit your Hey, Mary Kay! questions here.

Three things to know from Urban Meyer and Dabo Swinney's joint news conference, the final media availability before Saturday's College Football Playoff semifinal at the Fiesta Bowl.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Three things to know from Urban Meyer and Dabo Swinney's joint news conference, the final media availability before Saturday's College Football Playoff semifinal at the Fiesta Bowl: 

1. Gameday underwear? Meyer was talking about the importance of preparation and being nine units strong before making a comment about how winning has nothing to do with whether you're wearing your lucky T-Shirt. 

"You mean the game day underwear, that's not the key ingredient?" Swinney interrupted. 

"I'm not saying I don't wear them," Meyer quipped back. 

"I thought it was the lucky underwear," Swinney responded. "I read that in your book, by the way. Awesome, four-to-six, A-to-B. Nine units. I'm getting it." 

2. Recruiting adversaries: Ohio State and Clemson are both recruiting at a high level, which means that Meyer and Swinney are butting heads all year, not just when their teams happen to meet in the playoff. 

"I've never really recruited against Ohio State until Coach Meyer went there," Swinney said. "And once he went up there and I think he brought some of his ties and recruiting experience from being at Florida. And it seems like now there's a lot of guys we end up recruiting. Ohio State is kind of always in the mix.

"I think that ultimately that's why we both have been successful. We've got good staffs but we've had good young people, good players. He's done a great job of identifying guys and building a culture at Ohio State, and we've tried to do the same."

3. It's been 10 years since Meyer's Florida team beat Ohio State in the desert: Has it already been a decade since Meyer beat Jim Tressel's Buckeyes in the national title game in Glendale? A lot has changed in those 10 years, enough to make Meyer forget that the title was even won in Arizona. 

"We had to do a video of something because it's a reunion for that great team," Meyer said. "And I'll be honest, I forgot it was out here. It's a time warp. That was a great moment.

"That was the first one, and I still, to this day remember, everybody on the sideline celebrating screaming it's not over yet. And it was pretty much over. And then we ran a bubble screen with about a minute and a half left to Percy Harvin, and he nudged the ball past the first down marker, and I thought, 'Even us, we can't screw this up now.' The knees started shaking and it was a special moment.

"And I think the great John Madden said it best is that - I'm sorry, Bill Parcells said it, that once a team wins a championship of that magnitude it's like a blood transfer. You're forever brothers. And that's the case. Because we're still very close." 

Watch the full news conference below: