[caption id="attachment_98" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Ohio State faithful pour onto the field after the Victory over Wisconsin."]
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Since about 11:30 pm on Saturday night, the Buckeye Community, as well as the Big Ten conference, has come to a conclusion: (cue the Thin Lizzy) THE BUCKS ARE BACK IN TOWN! What a rejuvenating win for the boys in scarlet and gray over another ranked Big Ten opponent, and with it comes a completely different outlook on the season from that after the loss in southern Florida. Gone is the complaining about the quarterback situation, replaced with the swagger of past years, when Ohio State was expected to walk into stadiums and destroy teams.
The Buckeyes have now knocked off ranked teams in consecutive games, and look to storm into the last four games with a vengeance, ultimately shooting for a game in early December at Lucas Oil Stadium. With the way things are going right now, Buckeye City has many reasons to celebrate and look forward to a trip to Indianapolis.
As of right now, the Buckeyes sit tied for second place in the Leaders division with Wisconsin, trailing only the Nittany Lions of the Pennsylvania State University. With only four games left in the season, Ohio State faces three more Leaders Division foes (Indiana, Purdue, and Penn State) and the team from That State Up North.
In the past three games, the Buckeyes have looked as if they are a top-notch team again. Braxton Miller is finally getting acquainted with the offense, and is getting time in the pocket to go through his progressions and decide to throw or take off. Even though he holds a 52.4 completion percentage, he has three times as many touchdowns as he has interceptions (6 TDs, 2 picks). Tack on two rushing touchdowns and 342 yards on the ground, and Miller is becoming a multi-talent threat.
The rushing game has been the brightest spot on this team. Against Wisconsin, Boom Herron gained 160 yards, and Braxton Miller was one yard short of hitting the century mark. Altogether, the Badgers allowed 268 yards on the ground, allowing the Buckeyes to effectively control the clock and set the tone of the game. This year, Ohio State has the 35th best rushing offense in the country, averaging 186.6 yards per game, with a total of 15 touchdowns and 1493 total yards on the ground. The imposing force that is the Ohio State Buckeyes running back corps has pounded the Big Ten’s best defenses, and face relatively weak defenses in the coming games (with the exception of Penn State).
In recent games, the defense has been an incredible force to be reckoned with. Arguably the top rushing offense in the NCAA was held to an astounding 89 total yards in Ohio Stadium. Fleet-footed Russell Wilson was sacked three times and had rushing yards in the negatives. A blocked punt was a key to the victory Buckeye victory. Wisconsin only converted on 6 of 15 third down conversions, and was stopped on the lone fourth down conversion attempted. The way the Badgers were held and failed to convert in essential situations was entirely credited to the defense.
With only four games left and a new attitude, the Buckeyes are an entirely new team. Rejuvenated, reinvigorated, and restored with confidence, Ohio State looks to finish out the season similar to previous years: hoisting ANOTHER Big Ten Championship Banner. If this newly discovered swagger carries over into the on-field play, Interstate 70 will be filled with the Scarlet and Gray faithful come December.
By the way, it has been 2901 days since M!ch!g@n last defeated The Ohio State Buckeyes.
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