Scarlet and Game
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Ohio State Must Improve While Beating Inferior Opponents

By Thomas Scurlock

GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 31: Head coach Urban Meyer of the Ohio State Buckeyes looks on against the Clemson Tigers during the 2016 PlayStation Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 31, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 31: Head coach Urban Meyer of the Ohio State Buckeyes looks on against the Clemson Tigers during the 2016 PlayStation Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 31, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
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Is there anything to take away from Ohio State wins during this stretch of the schedule?

What can we really gauge from the last two Ohio State wins and likely the next three?  Is it possible to get better playing inferior opponents?

I don’t think you can, at least not significantly.  You sharpen metal against steel, not Styrofoam.

Let’s preview the next three games.

Rutgers is improved, but not to the level that will challenge the Buckeyes. Plus, J.T. Barrett has killed the Scarlet Knights for three-straight years passing for 732 yards and 10 touchdowns.  He likes playing this team.

Maryland opened up the season with a huge win against Texas, but lost its starting quarterback in the game.  The backup Kasim Hill was playing well, but he was injured against Central Florida last weekend and is out indefinitely.

The Terps are not deep enough to go through the Big Ten using their third-string quarterback.  After watching Dwayne Haskins perform against UNLV, I suspect the pain of losing the DC area’s best prospect to the Buckeyes in 2016 stings a little more now.

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Traditionally a road game at Nebraska meant a tough physical battle.  Those days seem deep in the rearview mirror right now as the Cornhuskers were blasted by Oregon and then followed it up with an embarrassing loss to Northern Illinois.

Head coach Mike Riley is on the ropes and his athletic director Shawn Eichorst was fired last week.  Coupled with quarterback Tanner Lee throwing almost two interceptions per game and an inconsistent rushing attack, Nebraska should pose much of a threat.

Then the team gets the bye.

The positive part of this stretch of games is the team will be well rested heading into the backend of the schedule.  The negative aspect is Meyer may not know if his team has improved before the showdown with Penn State.

The Buckeyes will be 6-1 on Oct 27 and full of confidence.  I suspect the offense will be humming along at a record pace. Will that lead to a much-needed win against the Nittany Lions?

Next: 5 takeaways on offense from big win over UNLV

Buckeye Nation needs to pull for Penn State against Michigan on Oct 21.  The Buckeyes need Penn State to be in the Top Four so they can demonstrate improvement and deliver a dominating win that will give them the credibility they need for the College Football Playoff Committee when it releases its first rankings on October 31.

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