Know Your Opponent Week 13: Ohio State Buckeyes

Will Buckeye fans have a third consecutive division title to celebrate Saturday night?

Written By Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

This Years Record: 9-1 (6-0) 1st in Big Ten East

Head Coach: Urban Meyer 3rd year at Ohio State

Overall: 137-26 .840 (13th year)

At Ohio State: 33-3

Bowls: 6-7

Last Years Record: 12-2 Lost to Clemson 40-35 in the Orange Bowl

Bowls Since 2000: 13 Appearances (5-3 Record)

Mascot: Brutus Buckeye

Colors: Scarlet and Gray

Outfitter: Nike

National Titles: 7

Conference Titles: 36

Heisman Winners: 7

Fun Fact: A committee of three students decided on the colors for the university during the 1878 Spring Term. The original colors selected for Ohio State were orange and black. However, because Princeton had already chosen those colors, the committee decided to change their decision to scarlet and grey. Alice Townshend, one of the members on the committee, reported that the colors did not signify anything. Instead, the committee wanted to choose something that was a nice combination and had not been used by any other college.

1. J.T. Barrett Spells Braxton Miller- The Buckeyes were dealt a bad hand to start the season when Braxton Miller was lost for the year. Now there are reports that Miller would not even be the starter at quarterback in 2015 if he returns to Ohio State due to the play of the freshman Barrett. Barrett has accounted for 2,356 yards through the air, completing 64 percent of his passes with 29 touchdowns against just eight interceptions. Barrett also has the ability to use his legs in the offense, running for 771 additional yards and nine for touchdowns. He is the single season record holder for most total touchdowns for a Buckeye. He has improved exponentially since the Buckeyes loss against Virginia Tech and has them poised to clinch a second consecutive berth in the Big Ten Championship Game.

2. Joey Bosa is an Animal on Defense- While J.T. Barrett is reaping the awards on offense defensive end Joey Bosa is turning heads on the other side of the ball. Bosa leads the Big Ten in tackles for loss with 17 and 11.5 sacks, those numbers are also good enough to be ranked in the top-10 nationally. Bosa has also recorded a TFL in each of the last 14 games, forced three fumbles all of which led to Buckeye scores, and is a semifinalist for both the Bednarik and Lombari awards.

3. IU Game Holds Playoff Implications for Buckeyes- While the Buckeye-Hoosier matchup may not get many college football fans to tune in on the Big Ten Network, the game does have plenty of meaning, for the Buckeyes that it. Ohio State can clinch the Big Ten East win a win on Saturday and keep their hopes to make the College Football Playoff alive. A win over Indiana won’t impress the committee enough to move Ohio State into the top four, but would give them a chance to probably get matched up with Wisconsin in the Big Ten title game in Indianapolis.