Urban Meyer knows his current Ohio State football team is nowhere near its potential six games into the season—it rarely ever is at that part in the calendar—but that doesn't mean the head coach is upset with where the Buckeyes stand at the midway point.
“I love this team. I love the fact they found a way to win a game,” Meyer said Tuesday on the Big Ten teleconference. “I like the toughness, I like the fact that they're getting very close.”
Ohio State grew tighter out of necessity last Saturday, coming from behind to beat No. 8 Wisconsin 30-23 in overtime at Camp Randall Stadium. Players and coaches alike spoke after the win of the brotherhood that blossomed in the second half when the Buckeyes trailed 16-6 at intermission.
The team's flaws—an inconsistent and struggling passing attack, for example—came to light against the Badgers. But it played hard and acted on the necessary changes the coaching staff put in place down the stretch after getting punched in the mouth against a very well-prepared Wisconsin team. That is what pleases Meyer more than anything.
“We did get out-played. I wouldn't say we got out-toughed. They didn't out effort us,” Meyer said on Monday. “They had some very good stuff. Very good team, very good coaches, and you keep swinging.
“As anguished as that was, as much of a root canal as that was, I'd much rather have it that way for that kind of game, for the development of your team.”
The Buckeye defense allowed more than 300 yards in the first half against the Badgers, and Wisconsin finished with 450 when the night was over. Both were season highs for Luke Fickell's unit.
“It's a big growing time for us. Nothing's been this difficult for us yet,” Fickell said. “It gives us a chance to go back and figure some things out, make some adjustments and keep getting better.”
The Buckeyes will need to be better than the 236 rushing yards they allowed to Corey Clement and Co. this Saturday when they travel to Penn State for a prime-time date with Penn State. Meyer is high on Nittany Lion tailback Saquon Barkley, who nearly ran for 200 yards last season in Columbus as a true freshman.
Another challenge and another question must be answered. That is normal in any conference game as the season progresses.
“The O-line, we stayed healthy and we're very fortunate they have progressed. The D-line, we're getting a really good rotation,” Meyer said. “We’re still not where we need to be as far as eliminating certain things but their effort is outstanding and they are getting better.
“I don't think you ever get them answered completely. I've never been in that situation.”
Stopping the run with more consistency, getting J.T. Barrett and the wide receivers more in sync and continuing to establish more depth all remain concerns. But the Buckeyes haven't lost a game yet and are ranked second in the country. Another opportunity to develop as a group and pick up a win in a tough road environment beckons at a place where Meyer felt the same way he did on Saturday night as he did two years ago before his team pulled out a win in overtime.
“All the things you look for in a team is outstanding,” Meyer said. “The measurables, efficiency of completion of the ball down the field, stopping the run, there's all different areas that we need to continue to improve on. But when you talk about the word 'team' I like exactly where we’re at.”
