GAIL BURTON/Associated PressOhio State head coach Urban Meyer likes the momentum that the Buckeyes have built in the past month. COLUMBUS, Ohio — After bouncing back from its Sept. 6 loss to Virginia Tech with three consecutive wins, the Ohio State football team now finds itself enjoying its second bye in the past four weeks. Only for Urban Meyer, the enjoyment of the Buckeyes’ week off will be kept to a minimum. Because truth be told, a bye week is the last ingredient that Ohio State needs to add to what’s been a winning recipe for the better part of the past month. Especially after one of the craziest weekends in college football history, the Buckeyes suddenly find themselves back in the thick of a hunt for a playoff spot, but that’s predicated on Ohio State maintaining its newfound momentum. “I wish we were playing another one next week,” Meyer said following the Buckeyes’ 52-24 win over Maryland on Saturday. “Our whole team wishes we were playing.” What’s led Ohio State from its defeat at the hands of the Hokies to being a team that can’t get back on the field soon enough? It starts on the offensive side of the ball, where the Buckeyes have found their footing behind the play of redshirt freshman quarterback J.T. Barrett. An emerging star in college football, Barrett has combined for 909 passing yards, 156 rushing yards, 15 total touchdowns (14 passing, one rushing) and just one interception in Ohio State’s past three games. Those numbers stand in stark contrast from what they were during the Buckeyes’ 35-21 loss to Virginia Tech, where Barrett completed just nine of his 29 pass attempts for 219 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. In the mere matter of weeks, the reigning Athlon Freshman of the Week has gone from a liability to the focal point of an OSU offense that ranks seventh nationally with an average of 44.6 points per game. …
Continue Reading: Ohio State Football: How Buckeyes Can Maintain Momentum
