Escape in Evanston-Buckeyes win 40-30

The Ohio State Buckeyes made multiple mistakes against a strong opponent and as I chatted with my friend Ian during the game, more than once did each of us think that this may not be the Buckeyes night.
However,it was one man's night wearing white as Carlos Hyde pounded the Northwestern defense for 168 yards and three touchdowns and Ohio State escaped with a 40-30 victory at Ryan Field.
The escape enabled the Buckeyes to move to 6-0 overall and 2-0 in the Big Ten,which kept those pesky National Championship hopes alive.
Ohio State gets its in conference bye next week before the Iowa Hawkeyes on the following Saturday.

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1) I know I've said that Jordan Hall is the best back on the team and I've also said that Hall gets injured far too easy.
Hall missed the game and Carlos Hyde stepped into the breach.
For a game plan such as this-Hyde would be the superior choice anyway as his bruising running style would be more likely to wear down the Wildcats

2) Hyde did just that and Ohio State needed him badly as this was not Braxton Miller's night.
Two fumbles and an interception (his arm was hit while throwing) may have ended any Heisman hopes.
Sometimes,you just have a bad game,but I do wonder if Urban Meyer was even mildly tempted to see what Kenny Guiton could do.

3) The Ohio State offense did not score an offensive touchdown until the second half and much of that has to be on red zone issues.
The problems in the first half was moving the ball and then using Carlos Hyde too much.
The time for a bruising back is late,not early and maybe Urban Meyer was a bit too conservative early on...

4) The hopes for a BCS run took a hit these last two weeks.
Both Wisconsin and Northwestern are good clubs and played tough,which may be the best thing in the long run,but will hurt the chances of getting to the big game.
The schedule shows no ranked teams until michigan and it looks like the hope is this -run the table and hope for some Pac 10 help with Oregon and Stanford beating each other up and the same in the ACC for Clemson and Florida State.
If you ask me,its unlikely...

5) I did like the blocked punt and following recovery for a touchdown by Bradley Roby.
Although if Roby did not get the block,about one of three other guys would have.
Hell,I think Brutus Buckeye was within a few inches away from the block!
Just too many players for the Wildcats to block on the play...

6) Speaking of Bradley Roby though,for the second week in a row,the All American had issues in coverage and allowed some big plays for his man.
Not the type of games that one expects from a player expected to be a first round NFL pick...

7) The stand that gave OSU the football on a 4th and 1 stand with two and a half minutes to play was the game ender,but I thought Kane Colter's knee was down before the line was even close.
I bet replays would have shown that as well....

8) Funny point of the night-the lateral plays on the final play that the Buckeyes fell on in the end zone for the touchdown and a ten point win,not a three point victory.
Brent Musberger brought it up without specifics about much money in the big monster known as sports gambling shifted hands from one column to another.
I laughed from the road office...

9) Another big play was an interception by Doran Grant that set the Carlos Hyde touchdown that gave Ohio State the lead.Grant gambled and unlike Bradley Roby-won...

10) Urban Meyer's fake punt inside their own territory failed,but it still was worth the risk in my opinion.
Ohio State shows that they will do anything at any time and keeps opponents on their toes for any possibility.
For one game,it backfired,but will be worth its weight down the road....

11) Northwestern has always been the lone wolf being a private school in a conference filled with state universities,but Northwestern did have a terrific atmosphere at Ryan Field and I love Pat Fitzgerald as a coach,
Ryan has problems rooting for other Big Ten teams other than his Badgers,but I have always had a soft spot for Wisconsin, Iowa,Purdue and now Northwestern under Pat Fitzgerald.

12) I referred to Buckeye title hopes above and what would be helpful would be for the Wildcats to run the table,finish with one loss and hope that michigan enters their big game with only that loss.
The Buckeyes are going need all the schedule strength that they can get....

I haven't forgotten the Browns recap from Thursday,so I hope to be back soon with some thoughts on that...

Photo Credit: Cleveland Plain Dealer.