Eleven Warriors

Braxton Miller and the offense had probably their worst game of the season (managing only 236 total yards and 21 points), but thanks to Bret Bielema being, well, Bret Bielema, the Buckeyes were able to hold on in what was an insane overtime finish. Montee Ball had an insane game, but when it counted the defense came up huge, most notably on a goal line stand that eventually ended with Ryan Shazier evolving into Charizard and forcing a fumble.

John Simon and Ryan Shazier are pretty much the undisputed heroes tonight. Simon's four sacks were key, and Shazier was everywhere.

A lot will be said about the lack of El Guapo throughout the game, but a win is a win is a win and hey guess what?

It's Michigan week, baby. RAAAAGGGEEEEEEEEEEE!

Thomas led all scorers with 25 points

While Urban Meyer and the Ohio State football Buckeyes were pulling off another heart-stopping win up in Madison, Wisconsin, Thad Matta and the basketball Bucks were in action at Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut, taking on the Rhode Island Rams in the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Classic.

The Bucks came into the contest with a 1-0 mark after dispatching Albany, 82-60, last Sunday following the cancelation of their supposed-to-be-opener against Marquette on an aircraft carrier in Charleston, South Carolina.

Rhode Island came into the game at 0-2 on the 2012-2013 season, with losses coming to Norfolk State and Virginia Tech. The Rams, trying to forget a 7-24 mark just a year ago, were not off to the start they had hoped for, but entered the weekend at Mohegan with a chance to make some noise against the fourth-ranked Buckeyes.

Make some noise is certainly what Danny Hurley's squad did, giving Matta's squad all they could handle in the early going, but falling short at the end as Ohio State moved to 2-0 on the season with a 69-58 win in the opening game of the weekend.

Where has the time gone?

It seems like only yesterday that a young freshman from Deerfield Beach, Florida was bursting onto the scene in the Big House.

Today, he'll play his final home game in front of the key-rattlers in an appearance that may be reduced to just one symbolic play.

Mohegan Sun Arena.

#4 Ohio State 1-0, 0-0 Big Ten Roster | Schedule

November 17, 2012 5:00 PM ET - ESPN3 —— Mohegan Sun Arena Uncasville, CT

Rhode island 0-2, 0-0 A-10 Roster | Schedule

Ohio State goes back on the neutral site circuit this week. But barring some sort of unforeseen events, it actually gets to play real games. Ohio State is playing in the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Classic in Uncasville, Conn., at the Mohegan Sun.

The Buckeyes will play two games this weekend in the event that jump-started Kentucky’s national championship a year ago. It won’t be learned until April if that happens again this season, but the expectations for Ohio State remain the same.

“Every game is an opportunity for us to grow as a team,” junior guard Lenzelle Smith Jr. said. “I’m stoked about it.”

The camaraderie grew last week away from Columbus; the only problem was the Buckeyes didn’t get to gel on the court.

The unfriendly confines. 

#9 Ohio State 10-0, 6-0 Big Ten Roster | Schedule

November 17, 2012 3:30 PM ET - ABC/ESPN2 —— Camp Randall Stadium MadiSon, WI

Wisconsin 7-3, 4-2 Big Ten Roster | Schedule

Camp Randall Stadium.

It’s been a house of horrors for Ohio State. In the past 13 trips to Madison, the Buckeyes are 6-6-1. Four times they’ve entered undefeated and four times they’ve left without a win. Thrice the Badgers have ended long Ohio State winning streaks at Camp Randall. In 1958, it was a 13-game unbeaten streak, while the “Lee Evans Game” in 2003 ended a 19-game Ohio State winning streak. The Buckeyes had been victors of 12 consecutive games over two seasons when they lost at Wisconsin in 2010.

On Saturday, Wisconsin is looking to continue that trend.

The Ohio State-Wisconsin game, once an afterthought, has grown into one of the top games in not only the Big Ten but also the country. Prior to the 1981 season, the Buckeyes had not tasted defeat to the Badgers since 1959. The series has tightened considerably ever since. Over the past 20 years, Ohio State holds a slight 15-11-1 advantage. It’s even closer when you only consider games played since 1999 – 6-5 in favor of the Buckeyes.

In the past two seasons each team has delivered a crushing blow to the other. In 2010, Ohio State arrived in Madison undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the country. But in front of a national television audience and under the night sky, Wisconsin ran roughshod over the Buckeyes, returning the opening kickoff for a touchdown and winning, 31-18.

Last season, Ohio State returned the favor, sending an already-reeling Badger football team to even lower depths. Wisconsin came into the game off a heartbreaking defeat to Michigan State, a game that ended on a Hail Mary. The Buckeyes closed out the game in similar fashion, on a Braxton Miller-to-Devin Smith 40-yard prayer that was answered in the final minutes.

The annual meetings are almost certain to carry heavy significance for years to come, as well, with Ohio State and Wisconsin competing in the Leaders Division. Illinois, Indiana, Penn State and Purdue aren’t likely to be competitive in the near future.

“When the divisions came out and Ohio State was in our division, I thought that was a great thing for us just because we knew we were going to get to play them every year,” Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema said.

Saturday’s game will be the division clincher for Ohio State if it wins. But Wisconsin will represent the division in the Big Ten championship game due to the Buckeyes’ postseason ban.

“We’re in a race that we’re trying to win the Leaders Division crown,” Bielema said. “Ohio State is at the top of the list. We’re in a race to finish at the top of our division, and this opportunity this week is a chance to play the team that’s at that No. 1 spot.”

Print this and tape it to every telephone poll in the 614.

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William Houston is a powerful back who will fit in well at OSU

Coach Meyer and the Ohio State coaching staff are always looking to add pieces to their team, especially on the offensive side of the football.

With Zach Boren and Adam Homan set to graduate after this season, there is no true fullback/H-back on next year's team, and with the way the Bucks want to continue to pound the football in the run game, it is a position that certainly could be needed.

With Jeff Heuerman and Nick Vannett expected to hold down the traditional tight end role in the offense, the coaches turned close to home to fill this need by offering Dublin (OH) Scioto FB/LB William Houston a preferred walk-on spot a couple of months ago.

Houston looked around for a while, including weighing accepting a scholarship offer from Bowling Green, before ultimately deciding to take the opportunity the Buckeyes were offering after observing a practice earlier this week.

Standing at 6-0/230, Houston figures to fit in well at the H-back role at OSU. As he put it, he will play a role similar to the one Heuerman and Vannett are playing on this year's team, and he will be enrolling this coming January, giving him a head start to work his way towards earning a scholarship one day from the Bucks.

We caught up with Williams to find out why he decided to become a Buckeye, what he's looking forward to, how the staff plans to use him, and more.

Keep reading to find out more about the newest Buckeye, William Houston.

Ohio State football is back from a bye and that means we have another Eleven Warriors football Roundtable featuring your favorite Dubster Analysts.

The bye week is over and football is back!

Today, we have Corey, Chad and Derek chiming in with all kinds of knowledge bombs and witty one-liners. I even joined the action today, because hey, this is a pretty big weekend.

Please feel free to let us know your thoughts in the comments.

The Buckeyes are fresh off their bye and have had two weeks to prepare for Wisconsin. With the extra preparation time, what different aspects will we see this week from the offense and the defense, if any?

Chad: On defense, I expect the Buckeyes to have worked on Wisconsin's shifts and motions extensively – I think we'll be ready with sound gap defense, which will allow for more blitzing against a green Wisconsin quarterback. On offense, I expect to see more of the two running back set as well as a greater focus on the passing game. While Vannett, Heuerman, and Stoneburner have all looked good catching the ball recently, Devin Smith and Corey Brown have kind of taken a back seat, so look for more deep throws their way.

Dave: On defense, I expect the Buckeyes to load the box. Wisconsin has been through so many quarterbacks and that definitely takes a toll on their confidence in the passing game. The Badgers definitely want Montee Ball to get that record and to get it convincingly.

On offense, with a game of this magnitude, I expect the playbook to open up meaning more QB designed runs and long bombs.

Derek: I think the offense will continue to implement more and open up the playbook more.  Braxton Miller's continued development will allow more and more creativity with the play calling. The defense will just be a lot more healthier which should help solidify things, especially at linebacker with the return of Etienne Sabino.

Corey: I think the defense will remain the same, nothing too different. They have played well the last two games and they just need to continue to improve off of that. On offense, I think we will see a good dose of the run game to try to control the clock and take the crowd out of the game.