GAME PREVIEW: BUCKEYES BEGIN BIG TEN TITLE QUEST AT MICHIGAN STATE

TBT/Darla Dunkle-Hudnell

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Some have wondered if the Ohio State football team — which is prohibited from participating in this year's post-season by the NCAA — has anything of importance to play for, other than pride?

MEYER BELIEVES BUCKEYES WILL BE GREAT SOONER THAN MANY THINK

Urban Meyer
TBT/Darla Dunkle-Hudnell

COLUMBUS — When Urban Meyer was hired as head coach of the Ohio State football team following last season, many Buckeye fans expected the championship-winning mentor to come in, wave a magic wand, and turn a 6-7 squad into the New England Patriots ... in just one year.

Shoot, in just one game for some people.

BUCKEYES' ROD SMITH HAS MADE A TURNAROUND, ACCORDING TO MEYER

Rod Smith
TBT/Darla Dunkle-Hudnell

COLUMBUS — Ohio State reserve tailback Rod Smith found his way onto the playing field last Saturday against Alabama-Birmingham and scored on a touchdown run from one-yard out.

It seemed like just an ordinary goal-line plunge from the layman's eye. But, when you discover just how long of a road Smith has traveled in just eight short months, that three feet to pay dirt seemed like a trip to the moon.

BUCKEYES LOOK AVERAGE IN WIN

Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller (5) dives for a touchdown in the Buckeyes' 29-15 win over UAB in Columbus. (AP)

COLUMBUS — Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer was expecting to see his team perform better than just average on Saturday against visiting Alabama-Birmingham.

Well, not only did the 14th-ranked Buckeyes (4-0) not accomplish their coach's mission, they actually took a step backward.

GAME PREVIEW: BUCKS LOOKING FOR NO ADVERSITY GAME AGAINST UAB

TBT/Darla Dunkle-Hudnell

COLUMBUS — If you ever get an opportunity to spend much time around Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer, you will discover fairly quickly that he enjoys being in the presence of an average football team about as much as a field mouse likes being in the company of a hungry honey badger.

BUCKEYES NEED MORE THAN JUST MILLER, SMITH TO MAKE BIG PLAYS

Devin Smith
TBT/Darla Dunkle-Hudnell

COLUMBUS — Urban Meyer isn't just satisfied with winning football games by a touchdown or two, he wants his team to be explosive, feared, a threat to take it to the house on any given play.

Simply put, he doesn't just want to win ... he wants to make SportsCenter highlights doing it.

Thus far through three games, sophomore quarterback Braxton Miller has been the catalyst for the Buckeyes' weekly inclusion on the big-play reels. In fact, out of the Buckeyes' 10 plays of more than 25 yards this season, the dual-threat signal caller has contributed on all of them, including touchdown runs of 65 and 55 yards.

MEYER: SIMON IS A SELFLESS HUMAN BEING; HYDE OUT AGAIN SATURDAY

John Simon
TBT/Darla Dunkle-Hudnell

COLUMBUS — To say that Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer has admiration for Buckeyes' senior John Simon just doesn't properly exemplify his true feelings for the OSU star defensive end.

In fact, if he and his wife Shelly ever decide to have a fourth child, we will all see just how much the Buckeyes' boss "loves" the kid out of Youngstown.

MILLER, BUCKEYES SPOIL GOLDEN BEARS UPSET BID SATURDAY, 35-28

Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller runs for a 55-yard score in the Buckeyes 35-28 win over California Saturday in Columbus. (TBT/Darla Dunkle-Hudnell)

(updated) COLUMBUS — Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller had another Heisman Trophy-like performance on Saturday afternoon, in the Buckeyes 35-28 victory over visiting California.

Although Miller had some rough times against the Bears — most notably in the third quarter where he totaled minus-1 yard of offense — he came up huge when it mattered most, leading his team on two momentous scoring drives in the final quarter to move the Buckeyes to 3-0 on the season.

WITHOUT TRESSEL, THERE IS NO CHAMPIONSHIP CELEBRATION

Jim Tressel
TBT/Darla Dunkle-Hudnell

COLUMBUS — Ohio State plans to commemorate the 2002 national championship football team on Nov. 24 when the Buckeyes host arch-rival Michigan at Ohio Stadium.

Details of how they will celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the Buckeyes' last title have not been set in stone, but more than likely, the team will be brought onto the field sometime during or prior to the game for the fans to pay tribute.

GAME PREVIEW: BUCKEYES LOOK TO HOLD OFF UPSET-MINDED BEARS

David Perkins, left, and Devan Bogard
TBT/Darla Dunkle-Hudnell

COLUMBUS — Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller has been ripping opposing defenses apart this season with his dual-threat capabilities, racking up 664 yards of offense and seven touchdowns in just two outings.

This Saturday, the star sophomore should be licking his chops, as the 12th-ranked Buckeyes host California (1-1) — a squad who has had major issues containing athletic signal callers in 2012.

BUCKEYES DEFENSE MUST STEP UP AND PREVENT THE BIG PLAYS

Garrett Goebel, left.
TBT/Darla Dunkle-Hudnell

COLUMBUS — Although Ohio State's defense has only surrendered 13 points per game in their opening two contests of the season, the total yardage and number of big plays by the opposition is quite unsettling to Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer.

The Buckeyes' defense has given up 332 yards per game — in victories over Miami (OH) and Central Florida — with 281 coming through the air. Ohio State has given up 12 pass plays of more than 10 yards through the first two weeks, including five throws of more than 20.

MEYER: MUST PROTECT MILLER

Braxton Miller (TBT/Darla Dunkle-Hudnell)

COLUMBUS — With tailbacks Jordan Hall and Carlos Hyde out due to injury, the 12th-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes must find a productive replacement in the backfield this Saturday, if they hope to continue with their winning ways

Oh ... and that replacement's name shouldn't be Braxton Miller.

BRAXTON MILLER SHINES AGAIN IN BUCKS WIN OVER CENTRAL FLORIDA

Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller (5) looks to score one of his four total touchdowns in the Buckeyes 31-16 win over Central Florida Saturday in Columbus. (TBT/Darla Dunkle-Hudnell)

(Updated) COLUMBUS — When asked earlier in the week about Braxton Miller's name being mentioned in the Heisman Trophy conversation, Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer just rolled his eyes and replied, "Oh gosh ... there will be no discussion of that."

After his performance in the Buckeyes 31-16 win over Central Florida on Saturday, that "discussion" may soon be underway, as Miller racked up 296 yards of offense and four touchdowns in the triumph — including tying an OSU-record for quarterbacks with three scores on the ground.

GAME PREVIEW: BUCKEYES HAVE TOUGHER TASK AGAINST KNIGHTS

Carlos Hyde
(TBT/Darla Dunkle-Hudnell

COLUMBUS — It may have been a bit slow going coming out of the gates, but the inauguration of Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer last Saturday against Miami (OH) definitely resulted in a huge success.

The Buckeyes, who managed just 46 yards of offense — and zero points — in the first quarter Saturday, rebounded furiously the rest of the way by gashing the RedHawks for 492 yards and eight touchdowns in the final three periods of play, giving Meyer his first victory at Ohio State, 56-10. 

BRAXTON MILLER FOR HEISMAN? MEYER SAYS TO SLOW OUR ROLL

Braxton Miller, left, and Urban Meyer
(TBT/Darla Dunkle-Hudnell)

COLUMBUS — Ohio State sophomore quarterback Braxton Miller dazzled in Saturday's season opener against Miami (OH), racking up 368 yards of offense and three touchdowns in the Buckeyes' 56-10 win ... in less than three quarters of work.

In fact, Miller — who tallied an OSU quarterback-record 161 yards on the ground Saturday — has actually received some Heisman Trophy chatter for his efforts against the RedHawks.

URBAN MEYER ERA BEGINS AT OSU IN DOMINATING FASHION WITH 56-10 WIN

Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer, right, leads his Buckeyes on the field for the first time Saturday against Miami (OH). TBT photo by Darla Dunkle-Hudnell.

COLUMBUS — It took about 16 minutes to get it out of first gear on Saturday, but when 18th-ranked Ohio State finally popped the clutch early on in the second quarter, it was pedal to the metal, full throttle football the rest of the way.

Buckeyes quarterback Braxton Miller totaled 368 yards and three touchdowns — in less than three quarters of work — as Ohio State crushed visiting Miami (OH), 56-10, in the highly anticipated debut of new head coach Urban Meyer.