What They're Saying: Ohio State-Indiana Aftermath

A lot of links today after a big week of college football for the Buckeyes. The reciprocal effect of Alabama's loss has put the Buckeyes, along with Oregon and Boise State, squarely in the middle of all college football discussion this week. With that, we'll jump right in with poll talk.

Coaches, Harris, and AP Polls

Ohio State new No. 1 in both polls with 83 of 119 first-place votes | cleveland.com
In the coaches polls, which is one-third of the BCS rankings that will be released for the first time next weekend, the Buckeyes earned 49 of 59 first-place votes. Oregon (6), Nebraska (2), Boise State (1) and TCU (1) also had support to be No. 1 . Overall, Oregon is No. 2, 67 points behind Ohio State. Boise State is No. 3, Nebraska No. 4 and TCU No. 5. Former No. 1 Alabama dropped to No. 8 after losing to South Carolina. South Carolina is ranked No. 12. In the AP poll, the Buckeyes received 34 of 60 first-place votes, with four other teams getting votes for the top spot: Oregon (15), Boise State (8), Oklahoma (2) and TCU (1).

OSU football: Tressel reacts to No.1 ranking | BuckeyeXtra
Jim Tressel today became coach of the No.1-ranked college football team in the country. Ohio State (6-0, 2-0 Big Ten) defeated Indiana 38-10 yesterday. The victory, coupled with then-No.1 Alabama's loss to South Carolina, lifted the Buckeyes into the top spots of the Harris, USA Today coaches and Associated Press polls.

"When you take a look at the Top 10 week to week, the precarious nature of any ranking is obvious -- just review the change in the makeup of the Top 10 between the beginning of the season until now," Tressel said. "The Buckeyes know what's it's like to have a target on our back, especially since we are now well into Big Ten play. We expect that every team will give us its best shot. How we respond will determine our ultimate ranking."

Other comments from Ohio State players on their No.1 ranking: OL Bryant Browning: "It's a good feeling. Now we just have to work to have the chance to stay No. 1 the rest of the season. We will keep focused on each game and hope we're still up there in January."

DL Cameron Heyward: "The No. 1 ranking just means that more than ever, we're in control of our own destiny."

LB Ross Homan: "It's a good feeling to be No. 1, but it really doesn't change how we work. We still have to work hard every day and try to get better. We've just got a bigger target on us now."

Buckeyes react to Ohio State's No. 1 ranking | cleveland.com
The Harris Poll and the coaches poll each count for one-third of the BCS standings, which will be announced next weekend for the first time. Ohio State released statements from coach Jim Tressel and several players after the Buckeyes assumed the top spot for the first time since losing the BCS title game after the 2007 season. For juniors like Terrelle Pryor, this is their first experience being a No. 1 team

Seniors like Bryant Browning, Brian Rolle and Cameron Heyward have been there before.

LB Ross Homan: "It's a good feeling to be No. 1, but it really doesn't change how we work. We still have to work hard every day and try to get better. We've just got a bigger target on us now."

QB Terrelle Pryor: "I love it for the Ohio State students and fans, but it's a big responsibility and opportunity for us. How we react to being No. 1, and how we stay determined in our focus and in our work habits, will tell us how long we will stay there."

LB Brian Rolle: "It's good to be No. 1, but if we don't play like it every week, then all the hype will be for naught."

RB Brandon Saine: "Maybe the polls have changed, but I don't feel much difference in our team than I felt last week. We still have to take it one game at a time and remain true to our goals."

WR Dane Sanzenbacher: "The top ranking is obviously a challenge we welcome, but we all know how much more important it is to be No. 1 at the end of the season."

Ohio State-Indiana Stories

Terrelle Pryor is just fine in the pocket, as QB hurls Ohio State past Indiana (and to No. 1?) | cleveland.com
What if Terrelle Pryor wasn't born fast? What if Ohio State's junior quarterback was still 6-foot-6 and 235 pounds, but his 40 time was in the 4.8 range instead of the 4.3 range? 42Share 32 Comments "I thought about that today," Pryor said Saturday. "I was thinking after I was hurt, 'man, what if I couldn't run, how would that be?'" Nursing a week-old strained left quad Saturday against Indiana, Pryor found out. It turns out he and the Buckeyes would be just fine. Maybe not as dangerous or scary to opposing defenses but still able to put some points on the board.

Big day passing pleases Pryor | BuckeyeXtra
Maybe coach Jim Tressel preferred not to take a bow after reaching his milestone 100th win at Ohio State yesterday, but quarterback Terrelle Pryor didn't mind saying his career-best passing yardage day - 10th best in OSU history - left him feeling good after a 38-10 win over Indiana. That was especially true after Pryor compared OSU's production, including his 334-yard, three touchdown-pass performance, to the 574 yards Michigan and its quarterback Denard Robinson turned in the week before against Indiana in a 42-35 win. Pryor, nursing a sore left leg from a thigh muscle strain the week before at Illinois, did all of his damage passing, and Indiana could do little to stop it.

"We were done in the third quarter, with eight minutes to go," Pryor said, noting the first-team offense's early exit. "I mean, Michigan is a great offense, too, but we scored that (pretty much) in the first half." The Buckeyes did it passing against a defense that, statistically, cried out to be run against. The Hoosiers are last in the Big Ten against the rush.

Pressure pays off in picks | BuckeyeXtra
Ross Homan has some hops. The Ohio State linebacker proved that in the second quarter yesterday when he leapt to bat a pass to the right flat from Indiana quarterback Ben Chappell. And Homan almost made the interception. Twice. Just when he thought he'd blown it, in swooped fellow linebacker Brian Rolle to scoop it in the nick of time. "I saw a flash come across my face and I think it was 36," (Rolle's number) Homan said. "So as long as someone came down with it, I didn't care."

Talk about great fortune falling into Rolle's lap. "I was looking to throw a block, and he was just like this," Rolle said, impersonating Homan's desperate attempts at plucking the ball. "I just reached out and grabbed it. I'd call it an assist rather than an interception." It gave OSU the ball at the Indiana 31-yard line and set up the touchdown that pushed the OSU lead to 28-0. It was the death knell for an Indiana team that entered intent on spreading the field and spreading the ball by passing.

The Bottom Line | BuckeyeXtra
Otherwise known as an Ohio State fan's dream day: Buckeyes win easily, Michigan loses, and Alabama stumbles to allow OSU to move to No. 1. Can this possibly last? Leaves are awarded on a zero-to-five basis. Offense (4 leaves) Sure, everyone figured the Hoosiers for paper tigers, but who would have guessed Terrelle Pryor would shred them the way he did? His 334 passing yards accounted for the bulk of OSU's 478 total, but the question remains: Was that really Pryor, or Joe Willie Namath? They moved about the same. Defense (4 leaves) Nothing short of a pile of presents on Christmas morning makes an Ohio State defender's eyes light up like a team wedded to a horizontal passing offense and a token running game. Sacks are rare, yes, but the hard hits play all day. The Hoosiers barely had room to move against OSU's starters.

Scarlet & Gray Matter | BuckeyeXtra
Short-attention-span synopsis: Sore-legged Pryor turns in Thighsman Trophy passing performance. Hoosiers have Roy Halladay defense -- no hitters. Still no OSU running game to hang hat on. Pregame buzz: This was the week the running game would kick into gear. Instead, it got kicked to the curb. The Buckeyes offense remains a pass-first work in progress.

As for the fear of Indiana's passing attack possibly denting the OSU defense? Nary a scratch. The $70 question: The Buckeyes had it made in the shade from the opening kick, but fans sitting on the west side of the stadium sweated it out until the third quarter, when the sun finally dropped. By then, the blowout had turned to boredom. One-liner: Unlike Chilean miners, IU football fans face many more months of dark despair. M go Blow: Only against Indiana could a Michigan game break out.

The Hoosiers were so bad that fans focused their comments on the Wolverines' suspect defense -- it allowed 35 points to Indiana last week -- instead of the Hoosiers' suspect everything. "The general consensus up here is that Michigan's defense couldn't handle any high school offense around here," a stadium usher said.

Serious air time | BuckeyeXtra
Michael Brewster couldn't sleep Friday night. The Ohio State center tossed and turned in his hotel bed, eager to shake the memory of a blustery, ugly day at Illinois the week before. "The biggest thing for us is we wanted to get back on the horse after last week," the junior said. "My stomach was sick all week after that game." Enter Indiana - as usual, the cure for what ails Ohio State. The Buckeyes blazed forth with a powerful performance that matched the bright Indian summer afternoon in Ohio Stadium, jumping on the hapless Hoosiers early and often yesterday in a 38-10 victory.

OSU notebook: Saine takes flight | BuckeyeXtra
Brandon Saine is still called a running back, but it seems clear that his role has changed. The Ohio State senior co-captain, who had averaged just 2.3 yards per carry over the past four weeks, did not have a rushing attempt yesterday for the first time since 2008. Instead, he caught four passes for 84 yards, including a 60-yard touchdown, in the Buckeyes' 38-10 victory over Indiana. "We knew that the best way for us to win is to put guys in the best position possible," Saine said, "and I think the coaches did that today.

It wasn't necessarily part of the game plan. It wasn't like (the coaches) wrote down, 'No carries,' but the way it worked out, I was more of a receiver." Coach Jim Tressel echoed Saine, saying it was not a conscious decision to not give Saine one of OSU's 27 handoffs. The spin was that he is more effective out in space. He certainly was on the touchdown. Saine ran a deep route and made a nice juggling catch, the longest reception of his career. Asked whether he was all right with the shifting role, Saine said, "Yeah, definitely. I'm just excited to be able to get out there and run around with this jersey on."

Buckeyes freshman Christian Bryant keeps his cool, helps OSU shut down Indiana | cleveland.com
Before every game, Christian Bryant's face wears the same steady expression, his energy is at the same constant output. He doesn't show nerves or excitement, even when he's a true freshman earning his first start in front of 105,291 people at Ohio Stadium, as he did Saturday.

But a mother knows the truth, no matter how well a son can mask reality. "Christian is real level-headed," said his mother, Tonya Ellis, after Ohio State trounced Indiana 38-10. "He tries not to show his emotions, but he told me he was hyped about this game. I could tell he was hyped." Ellis might have been the only one who could sense the extra enthusiasm, which even her son acknowledged with a bright grin afterward. Starting in place of the Buckeyes' injured Tyler Moeller as the fifth defensive back in the nickel package, Bryant played well enough to earn praise from teammates, and hid his emotions just enough to fool everyone into believing he approached this game like every other.

Coach Tressel's 100th Win

Jim Tressel honored by OSU after 100th win with the Buckeyes: Best and worst of OSU 38, Indiana 10 | cleveland.com
The best and worst from Ohio State 38, Indiana 10. 0Share 2 Comments Best interruption: Jim Tressel didn't get very far into his reflection of Saturday's win before he was interrupted. OSU athletic director Gene Smith bounded onto the platform where Tressel sat addressing media Saturday, and said he had a good reason to halt Tressel mid-sentence. Smith heaved up an enormous representation of Tressel's 100th victory at Ohio State -- a scarlet and gray "100" standing about a foot high and three feet long -- and acknowledged the head coach's achievement. A plaque mounted beneath the number read, "Commemorating Coach Jim Tressel's 100th Buckeyes' win, with sincere appreciation from your football family."

Tressel reached 100 wins in his 121st game at OSU, logging the landmark in his 10th year coaching the Buckeyes. He was the third-fastest to reach 100 wins in Big Ten history, though he preferred not to dwell on the accomplishment. "This is a place that if they let you stay long enough, you should win 100," he said. Still, Tressel said he found time in the game to reflect on his father, Lee, the longtime coach at Baldwin-Wallace who attended OSU before leaving to serve in World War II. "This was always his team, no matter where he coached in high school or college," Jim Tressel said. "Ohio State was very special."

Bob Hunter commentary: Tressel gets 100th win his way | BuckeyeXtra
Ohio State coach Jim Tressel had already started into his postgame spiel to reporters when athletic director Gene Smith suddenly appeared like an apparition and planted an 18-inch-high "100" trophy on a table. "One-hundred wins, man," Smith said. "I know what it takes to do that, so congratulations." A reporter asked for Tressel's thoughts, and he started back into his analysis of the game. "I thought we came out ready to go and ... " The reporter pointed to the giant "100." "Oh," Tressel said. "About that?" The suspicion is that that is really about how much serious thought Tressel has given the subject, impressive though the milestone is.

In Big Ten history, only two coaches have reached 100 wins in fewer games than Tressel has, and they're two giants - Michigan's Fielding Yost and Bo Schembechler. But this didn't come at the end of his career or even the end of the season; it came after a 38-10 win over Indiana in week two of the conference schedule, with this week's road game against Wisconsin looming like a menacing iceberg in the midst of what has been a pleasure cruise.

A very special moment for a very special person.