THE RUNNING START

TV: Saturday, 12:00 ABC Regional

1967 was the last time Ohio State lost a home opener against an unranked opponent. I believe there would be very few readers of Eleven Warriors that attended that attended the 7-14. The Buckeyes finished 6-3, but defeated That Team 24-14 in Ann Arbor to conclude the 1967 season.

The Last Time...

• The Buckeyes lost two-straight home games to start a season was 1967 when they lost to Arizona 7-14 and No. 2 Purdue 6-41.
• Ohio State did not play a team from the MAC in the regular season the year was 1996.
• Urban Meyer coached against Kent State he was on the sidelines of Bowling Green and won 45-14 in 2002.
• Urban Meyer lost to a non-conference opponent at home was never. Virginia Tech was the first non-conference opponent to beat an Urban Meyer coached team at home.
   

Kent State Knowledge

• Kent State is 1-12 against teams currently in the Big Ten. The Golden Flashes are 0-12 when you account for the fact that Rutgers was not in the Big Ten when the Scarlet Knights lost to Kent State.
• WR Chris Humphrey has at least one reception in 22 consecutive games.
• Kent State converted 8 of its last 12 3rd downs last week.
• The Golden Flashes lead the MAC in net punting.
• DB Nate Holley leads the MAC with 27 tackles.
• According to NFL.com Nate Terhune is the toughest player in college football.
   

Today's Trivia Questions:

Who is the only senior on the Buckeyes to score during the 2014 season?

Can you name the only current MAC school Ohio State has ever lost to in football?

Since the year 2001 Ohio State has lost two home games in a season one time. Are you able to name the year and the opponents?

2014 Statistical Comparison

2014 STATS	CATEGORY	2014 STATS
27.5 (77th)	Points For	13.5 (117th)
26.0 (72nd)	Points Against	20.0 (50th)
	OFFENSE
151.0 (81st)	Rushing Offense	47.5 (120th)
222.5 (73rd)	Passing Offense	238.5 (66th)
373.5 (90th)	Total Offense	286.0 (115th)
	DEFENSE
245.5 (110th)	Rushing Defense	180.5 (92nd)
109.5 (11th)	Pass Defense	211.5 (52nd)
355.0 (59th)	Total Defense	392.0 (73rd)
	OFF. MISC.
.250 (116th)	3rd Down Conv.	.469 (42nd)
.714 (96th)	Red Zone	.500 (118th)
8.0 (59th)	Punt Return	6.0 (75th)
19.9 (77th)	Kickoff Return	21.8 (57th)
	DEF MISC.
.448 (101st)	3rd Down Conv.	.419 (90th)
.875 (77th)	Red Zone	1.00 (88th)
115.0 (49th)	Pass Eff. Def.	160.1 (119th)
37.1 (77th)	Net Punting	42.9 (18th)
Total: 9	The Edge	Total: 7

 

The Series:
Ohio State is 2-0 against Kent State. The Buckeyes won the first game 51-17 in 2002. Ohio State defeated the Golden Flash 48-3 in 2007.

 

PASSING

2014 Stats: 47 / 81 (.580), 477 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT
Last Game: 17/40 (.425), 213 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT

Career: 233/ 397 (.587), 2,434 yards, 16 TDs, 10 INT

 

 

 

RUSHING

Last Game: 47 yards, 3.4 ypc, 0 TD

2014 Stats: 53 yards, 2.8 ypc, 0 TD

Career: 53 yards, 2.8 ypc

 

 

 

 

 

Last Game: 1 yard, 0.5 ypc, 0 TD

2014 Stats: 20 yards, 2.5 ypc, 0 TD

Career: 520 yards, 3.8 ypc, 3 TDs

 

 

 

 

RECEIVING

Last Game: 57 yards, 3 rec., 19.0 ypr, 0 TD

2014 Stats: 119 yards, 14 rec., 8.5 ypr, 0 TD

Career: 161 yards, 22 rec., 7.3 ypr, 0 TDs

 

 

 

 

DEFENSE

 

Last Game: 4 solo tackles, and 5 assisted tackles.

2014 Stats: 16 solo tackles, 11 assisted tackles and a pass break up

 

 

 

 

PASSING

Last Game: 9/29 (.310), 219 yards, 1 TD, 3 INTs

2014 Stats: 21/44, 445 yards, 3 TDs, 4 INTs

Career: 21/44, 445 yards, 3 TDs, 4 INTs

 

 

 

RUSHING

Last Game: 50 yards, 5.6 ypc, 0 TD

2014 Stats: 120 yards, 3.6 ypc, 1 TD

Career: 120 yards, 3.6 ypc, 1 TD

 

 

 

 

 

Last Game: 32 yards, 4.0 ypc, 1 TDs

2014 Stats: 76 yards, 3.8 ypc, 2 TDs

Career: 338 yards, 6.8 ypc, 4 TDs

 

 

 

 

RECEIVING

Last Game: 58 yards, 58.0 ypr, 0 TD

2014 Stats: 152 yards, 50.7 ypr, 1 TD

Career: 1,724 yards, 18.9 ypr, 19 TDs
 

 

 

 

Last Game: 98 yards, 16.3 ypr, 1 TD

2014 Stats: 137 yards, 15.2 ypr, 2 TDs

Career: 159 yards, 13.3 ypr, 2 TDs

 

 

DEFENSE

Last Game: 1 solo tackle for loss, 2 assisted tackles tackles for, 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble.

2014 Season: 2 solo tackles, 4 assisted tackles, 1 solo tackle for loss, 2 assisted tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Freshman Arm:
Barret's second game was not as good as his first. Against the Hokies Barrett was 9/29 for 219 yards. He also threw one touchdown and 3 Interceptions. For the season Barrett is 21/44 for 445 yards, 3 touchdowns and 4 Interceptions.

J.T. Barrett was only the second freshman in the history of Ohio State football to start a season opening game. Barrett's 226 passing yards were better than the 182 Schichter put up against Penn State in 1978. Barrett's yardage was the third most of any quarterback in their first start in Ohio States history. Guiton's 276 yards against California in his first start last season ranks as Ohio State's best.

 

 

Freshman Legs:
Had J.T. Barrett not been sacked seven times he would have gained 125 yards against Virginia Tech. With the sacks Barrett gained 70 yards.

True freshman Curtis Samuel ran for 26 yards (5.2 ypc) against Virginia Tech. For the season Samuel has gained 71 yards, 5.9 ypc and 0 touchdowns. Expect Samuel's first collegiate touchdown to happen against Kent State.

 

 

Seasoned Sophomores:
Ezekiel Elliot and Dontre Wilson are primed to make more of an impact in 2014. After being held to -5 yards rushing on 2 carries against Virginia Tech, Dontre Wilson still has 315 all-purpose yards in two games this season. Ezekiel Elliot has rushed for 76 yards (3.8 ypc) and 2 touchdowns.

 

 

 

Block That Kick:
Since Urban Meyer arrived at Ohio State the Buckeyes have 9 blocked kicks/punts. Will Kent State be the first victim of the 2014 season?

 

 

 

 

THE RUNOFF

Urban Meyer
25-3 at Ohio State (3rd year)

129-26 overall (13th year)

Meyer is 48-5 in August and September games

First game against Kent State as Ohio State's head coach

 

 

 

Paul Haynes 

4-10 at Virginia Tech (2nd year)

4-10 overall (2nd year)

First game against Ohio State as head coach.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cliff Claven's Little Known Facts Corner:

• Ohio State has never lost its first two home games to start a season.
• Ohio State is 29-1* against current MAC schools.
• 49 of Ohio State's 55 points have been scored by freshmen and sophomores.
• The Buckeyes are 84-9 in Ohio Stadium since 2001 (includes 8 vacated losses from 2010).
• Time for a return? The Buckeyes did not returned a kickoff or punt for a touchdown in 2013. That broke a ten-year streak of having at least one return in a season.

*31-1 if you ignore the NCAA's vacated wins policy.

 

 

 

Virginia Tech busted Cliff's Little Know Facts

• The last time Ohio State lost a night game in Columbus was against USC in 2009. Busted.
• The Buckeyes have won 64 consecutive regular-season home games against unranked, non-conference opponents (Florida State, 1982). Busted.

 

 

 

 

 

Today's Trivia Answers:

Who is the only senior on the Buckeyes to score during the 2014 season?
Answer: Devin Smith, 80 yard touchdown against Navy.

 

Can you name the only current MAC school Ohio State has ever lost to in football?
Answer: Ohio State lost to Akron 6-12 on 9-15-1894. The game was played on the grounds of the Ohio State Fair.

Since the year 2001 Ohio State has lost two home games in a season one time. Are you able to name the year and the opponents?
Answer: 2011, Michigan State (7-10) and Penn State (14-20).
 

Today's Reality Check:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sources- Kent State Media Guide and The Ohio State Team Guide