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| And to think, these two guys still have two more years (hopefully) together. |
Week 1 vs. Miami (OH) W- 56 to 10
- Watching the opening stanza, and witnessing the Buckeyes fall behind 3-0 at the end of the quarter, nightmares of the 2011 season started to creep back into my head. However, one Catch of the Year nomination touchdown from WR Devin Smith, and the Buckeyes rolled in this one, 56-10. Urban picked up his 1st W as the Buckeyes Head Coach, and starting sophomore QB Braxton Miller went for 368 total yards and three touchdowns.
Week 2 vs. UCF W- 31 to 16
- The "noise" of the crowd was mentioned about 100x during this telecast, do to comments made by Golden Knights HC George O'Leary on his thoughts about Ohio Stadium and the crowd factor. The Buckeyes jumped out to a 31-10 lead early in the third quarter, and held on to win by 15 points. Braxton Miller had another stellar performance going for another 296 yards of total offense and four scores (1 pass, 3 rush).
Week 3 vs. California W- 35 to 28
- Sweaty-palms time late in this one, due to a number of defensive mishaps, however, the Buckeyes were able to win this shootout vs. a gamed PAC-12 opponent, Cal. Braxton Miller was the focal point (and a foreshadow of things to come) for the Buckeyes offensive attack, having his best game passing as the Scarlet & Gray's signal caller. Miller, threw for 249 yards connecting on four touchdown passes, including the GW 72-yard pass & catch to WR Devin Smith, who emerged as the Buckeyes best down the field receiver. Miller also had a highlight reel 55-yard rushing touchdown. Concerns towards the defense started to become an issue.
Week 4 vs. UAB W- 29 to 15
- The Buckeyes 4th consecutive non-conference game at home, was anything but a cake walk, more like a sleepwalk. Trailing 9-0, the Buckeyes rallied back, and went on a 29-6 run, and putting the game away with just five minutes left on the clock. A less then advertised performance from all three units, special teams most notability was a concern, allowing a block punt to be returned for a touchdown. Questions all around, heading into the Buckeyes first test, a road trip up to East Lansing, MI to face the Michigan State Spartans.
Week 5 @ Michigan State W- 17 to 16
- Right out of the gate, the Buckeyes scored on their first offensive possession, and took the early momentum. Falling behind 13 to 10 in the 3rd quarter, the duo of Miller and Devin Smith again hooked-up, this time for a 63-yard GW touchdown pass & catch. The Buckeyes probably should have won this one by a larger margin, but were hampered by three Braxton Miller turnovers. However, in the end the Silver Bullets defense held and the Buckeyes escaped with a one-point road victory, in the teams 1st Big Ten Conference game under HC Urban Meyer. This marked the first of four straight games, that starting QB Braxton Miller was forced to miss some action due to injury.
Week 6 vs. Nebraska W- 63 to 38
- Homecoming in Columbus, and the Buckeyes had revenge on their mind, after losing to the Cornhuskers a season ago in Lincoln, 34 to 27. However, things did not get off to a very good start, as the Buckeyes totaled just 7 yards of offense in the first quarter, falling behind 17-7 early in the 2nd quarter. Following a long dash down the field from Braxton Miller, it seemed like the Buckeyes offensive attack could do no wrong the rest of the way, outscoring the Cornhuskers 56 to 21, from that point on. Braxton Miller had a huge performance racking up 313 yards of total offense and two scores. Carlos Hyde, getting the nod at the starting RB position, rushed for a career-high 140 yards on the ground and FOUR touchdowns. The Buckeyes were off to a 6-0 start at the midseason mark, however, had issues on the defensive side of the ball.
Week 7 @ Indiana W- 52 to 49
- Again another high-scoring performance by the Buckeyes offense, was overshadowed by a pathetic performance from the Silver Bullet's D. The Buckeyes accounted for a number of big plays in this one, while also allowing a number of big plays. The special teams gave up another blocked punt, resulting in a IU score. The Buckeyes were ahead 52-34, before surviving a late-game rally from the Hooisers, that included recovering an on-side kick with a minute to go in the game. Braxton Miller (360 total yards, 3 TD's) & Carlos Hyde (183 total yards, 3 TD's) lead the way as the Buckeyes totaled 578 total yards of offense and topped the 50-points mark for the second game in a row and third of the season. The defense was the talk of the post-game chatter, however, surrendering 49-points and 481 total yards.
Week 8 vs. Purdue W- 29 to 22 OT
- This is the game, when you started thinking to yourself, that you might be witnessing something pretty special. Trailing all afternoon, to the Boilermakers, who were coming off two-straight home blowout losses vs. Michigan & Wisconsin, they came to play in this one. Scoring on the opening play of the drive, the Boilermakers seemed to have hold of the momentum all afternoon, and where leading late in the final quarter, 22 to 14. The Buckeyes played the 4th quarter without star QB Braxton Miller, after he was slammed to the ground on a long run and taken to the medical center for examination. Have no fear Buckeyes fans, back-up QB Kenny "G" Guiton rallied the troops in the closing moments of the game, leading the Buckeyes to a touchdown and tying 2-point conversion. In overtime, the Buckeyes scored first and held the Boilermakers from scoring, sending the Buckeyes fans into a joyous "from the dead" celebration and the Buckeyes improved to 8-0 on the season. The best news of the day, Braxton Miller was released from the medical center cleared of all symptoms.
Week 9 @ Penn State W- 35 to 23
- The week leading up to this game, was a bit concerning. Braxton Miller's health was an issue, as he had been knocked out of action in the previous four games (all Big Ten) and the Nittany Lions were riding a 5-game winning streak. It was a wild atmosphere at Beaver Stadium that night "White-Out", and it got even crazier, when Penn State blocked a Ohio State punt and fell on the ball in the endzone, to take a 7-0 lead. Things calmed down in the 2nd half for the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions fans. After a 7-7 1st half tie, the Buckeyes came out in the 3rd quarter and outscored the Nittany Lions, 21 to 3 in the quarter. The Buckeyes thanks to Braxton Miller (277 yards of total offense, 3 scores), coming back from being knocked out the previous game, rallied to beat the Nittany Lions 35 to 23. It was a huge road victory for the Buckeyes, who moved to 9-0 on the season.
Week 10 vs. Illinois W- 52 to 22
- The talk all week leading up to this one, dealt with the Buckeyes 2007 meeting with the Fighting Illini, a game OSU lost 28 to 21 in Columbus as the #1 team in the nation and holding a 10-0 record. History would not repeat itself in this one. Following a close opening quarter, Buckeyes holding a 7-6 lead, they exploded for a 31-6 halftime lead. The Buckeyes kept the scoring up in the 2nd half cruising to a 52-22 victory and winning their 10th in a row. The Buckeyes defense had been improving over the last couple weeks, and didn't allow the worse team in the Big Ten to gain any momentum or hope in this one. Braxton Miller & Carlos Hyde lead the way for the Buckeyes offensive attack, as they start becoming a nice one, two punch for Urban's spread attack. The Buckeyes improved to 10-0 for the first time since 2007, heading into their Bye Week.
Buckeyes remaining 2012 schedule:
@ Wisconsin, BIELEMA!!! No love is lost between these two teams. The Buckeyes defeated the Badgers a season ago in a thrilling game, 33-29. The Badgers upset the #1 Buckeyes back in 2010, 31 to 18 in Madison.
vs. Michigan, The Game, this one has been circled on the calendars of Buckeyes fans ever since, last seasons 40-34 defeat up north in the Big House. The Buckeyes play this one like their bowl game, and will have a ridiculous loud home crowd behind them, heres to starting a new streak vs. that school up north! BEAT MICHIGAN!
So there it is, a recap thus far of the Buckeyes 2012 season, that has them sporting a 10-0 record. It's been a perfect (imperfect) season up to this point, but you have to love that after a 6-win season a year ago, the Buckeyes have a chance to double that mark just one year later. Albeit, with a new coaching staff and new philosophy it has been pretty amazing. The final two games of the season will be a nice send off for the seniors and a springboard to start the off-season with, as the Buckeyes will be one of the top teams heading into the 2013 campaign.
