INDIANAPOLIS -- Three things to watch, know and analyze ahead of Saturday night's Big Ten Championship Game (FOX, 8:17 p.m. ET kickoff) between Ohio State and Wisconsin...
1. Urban Meyer said Friday that he's a "nut job" and wouldn't be able to sleep the night before the game. It's understandable. The Buckeyes appeared headed to a forgettable bowl game in early September after losing to Virginia Tech but haven't lost since. In last week's emotional win over Michigan they lost quarterback J.T. Barrett to injury, then the day after the game found out senior walk-on defensive tackle Kosta Karageorge had been found dead. Now, they play for Meyer's first Big Ten title with a new quarterback and the possibility of going to the first College Football Playoff and do so with a team that's likely followed its coach's lead in being short on sleep and high on emotion. What does it all mean when it comes to trying to tackle Melvin Gordon? We'll see. But the Buckeyes have been a team on the uptick and a team that's played unselfish football all season. Maybe there's another big game left in this bunch. Or, maybe, the tank is flirting with being empty.
2. If Meyer thinks he's a nut job now, wait until Gordon breaks a couple long runs. And he will; Ohio State is hoping he gets, say, 130 yards and not 190. Or more. Gordon is averaging 8 yards per carry on his way to a seat at the Heisman Trophy presentation and is averaging an absurd 188 yards per game. Everything Wisconsin does goes through him, and the Buckeyes have been vulnerable against the run at times this season. Wisconsin backs up Gordon with a defense that's high in many major rankings and gets him going not just with a commitment to the run but a powerful, experienced offensive line. Joey Bosa, this is your chance to back up a really good season with a signature-type game.
3. Ohio State can't afford to let Wisconsin turn Gordon's talents into success with the play-action passing game. With new quarterback Cardale Jones making his first start, the Buckeyes can't afford to turn the ball over, either. Ohio State needs to try to play the kind of game it's played most of the season in different circumstances. Barrett got rid of the ball quickly and got the Buckeyes to the line quickly. Pace will be important as Wisconsin obviously wants to move the chains and control the clock with Gordon. Ohio State was very comfortable going fast with Barrett and doesn't want to find itself scrambling and trailing and forcing Jones into must-pass situations. Things like using Jalin Marshall at quarterback for plays or even stretches should be a luxury, not desperate moves. Both teams come in confident and playing well. If Ohio State can run the ball and keep Gordon's big runs to 15-20 yards and not 50 at a time, Jones should have time to settle in and put his team in position to win it in the fourth quarter and maybe -- two quarterback changes and three months past that Virginia Tech disaster -- make the College Football Playoff. No wonder Meyer can't sleep.
