Urban Meyer Making Sure Ohio State Does Its Best to Avoid Michigan Hype With Maryland on Deck

There's a reason for that.

With Michigan looming in a few weeks and the whole world already talking about it, Meyer's biggest task from now until Nov. 26 is to get his team to avoid a letdown.

Ohio State plays Maryland on Saturday and then at Michigan State the following week before that regular-season finale against the Wolverines.

"That's the essence of this whole sport of college football," Meyer said Tuesday on the Big Ten coaches weekly teleconference. "A lot of people wake up on [Sundays] and go how did that happen? I'm not one of those guys that does that because I know how that happens. It's because you're coaching 18- to 22-year olds and it's our job as a staff to be great leaders and it's our older players' job to be great leaders." 

The Buckeyes are coming off a 62-3 thrashing of Nebraska. Saturday's matchup with the Terrapins could be a perfect time for the old cliche of "trap game" to come into play. Next weekend's matchup at Michigan State could fall into that mold, too.

Ohio State will be heavily favored in both and Meyer's focus is to make sure his team plays like it.

"What we're saying around here this week is those guys made a decision to perform like they did Saturday and you can throw that away if you don't perform again this week. Perform on Tuesday and Wednesday. If we have a good Tuesday and Wednesday, I think we'll play well Saturday."

Additional Meyer notes:

• Meyer on Maryland coach DJ Durkin, a former co-worker: "He's the ultimate professional. ... I'm very proud of DJ."
• Meyer was asked if he saw something immediately in Durkin: "No doubt. I immediately gave him full-time responsibilities after the first few weeks."
• Meyer on J.T. Barrett potentially passing Drew Brees' Big Ten record for touchdowns responsible and a comparison between the two: "I'm a big fan of Drew Brees and I certainly do see the competitive spirit in both of them and the efficiency that they both work."
• Meyer on Ohio State's ability to return interceptions for touchdowns: "Our guys take it to another level. Guys turn like their hair is on fire."
• Meyer was asked if margin of victory should matter to the CFP committee: "I don't think the score should be the ultimate or you'll see teams maybe be very unsportsmanlike. I'm hoping the committee just looks at the body of work, the strength of schedule and then how they're playing."
• Meyer on running back Mike Weber: "I'm very pleased with Mike. Mike is also blocking well; he's been very solid."
• Meyer on challenges of back-to-back games against top teams in the Big Ten: "Just the wear and tear on the young people playing the game."

Ohio State wallopped Nebraska in last weekend's big-time conference matchup while Penn State, somewhat surprisingly, ran Iowa off the field and Wisconsin held off Northwestern. This weekend's slate is highlighted by Michigan's trip to Iowa City to take on the Hawkeyes.

In addition to Meyer, the Big Ten's other 13 coaches gathered Tuesday afternoon for their weekly teleconference. Some highlights of what each coach had to say can be seen below. 

Pat Fitzgerald (Northwestern):

• Fitzgerald on the Big Ten: "I think it's a gauntlet each and every week."
• Fitzgerald on close losses to Ohio State, Wisconsin: "We were in the last two games in the fourth quarter and just didn't find a way to finish."

Jim Harbaugh (Michigan): 

• Harbaugh on Iowa: "Very good team that won its conference last year and had seven returning starters on offense and defense, some All-Big Ten players, some All-American players.
• Harbaugh on whether or not margin of victory should matter to CFP committee: "I don't have an opinion or know the answer to your question."
• Harbaugh on Michigan's rush defense vs. Maryland: "We have to do a better job setting an edge. It's that simple. That's something we addressed at halftime and we're going in the right direction."
• Harbaugh asked if there's a cumulative effect of playing top teams in the Big Ten back-to-back: "I don't know. I haven't studied that."
• Harbaugh on whether or not he discusses CFP with his team: "I don't know that we address it either way."
• Does Harbaugh encourage his players to vote? "Yes."

Paul Chryst (Wisconsin):

• Chryst on Wisconsin's ability to control its difficult schedule: "I've loved that and appreciate it a ton. We've spent a lot of time talking about it but talk is one thing and we've been able to do it."
• Chryst on Wisconsin's CFP potential: "None of that matters. You focus on the now."
• Chryst on the Wisconsin student-athletes' statement made on social media yesterday "I did see it and I really am appreciative — we've got smart student-athletes — and I applaud them for expressing themselves and the way they did it. They want to make this campus, this university the best they can be."

Mike Riley (Nebraska):

• Riley on difficult back-to-back games and if there is an effect: "We definitely fall into that category."
• Riley: "Ohio State played a great game, did a great job and we were obviously not at our best."
• Riley on quarterback Tommy Armstrong: "Tommy is doing well, but he will go through that whole protocol for that head injury. We don't know what that means for the weekend."

Mark Dantonio (Michigan State):

• There were no questions for Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio, who is off to an 0-6 start in the Big Ten. 

Kirk Ferentz (Iowa):

• Ferentz: "It's disappointing that we're 5-4 right now, but we're trying to look at this thing week by week and try to get ready for every Saturday."
• Ferentz asked what jumps off the film about Michigan: "I don't think we have enough time to cover that here."

Tracy Claeys (Minnesota):

• Claeys: "If we play well these last three weeks we'll have a say in what happens in the Big Ten West."
• "This is way back from the beginning of the season. We've got a good group of seniors and we felt like if we played well that we could get to November and be in that discussion."
• Claeys on the targeting rule: "I hope that's something that gets looked at in the offseason."
• Claeys on the potential of a two-loss team making the CFP: "History tells you it doesn't happen."

Chris Ash (Rutgers):

• Ash: "Really happy with our kids and their effort they continue to give every day and each and every Saturday."
• Ash on playing some of the Big Ten's top teams back-to-back: "When you play those types of teams back-to-back, it not only tests your depth but your physical make up."

Lovie Smith (Illinois):

• Smith on his relationship with Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst: "When you're both in the coaching profession, you keep up from afar. We haven't had a whole lot of interaction, but I got a chance to see his product up close. That's been our relationship for the most part."

DJ Durkin (Maryland):

• Durkin: "Ohio State is coming off a big win and we've got a big task ahead of us."
• Durkin on playing Ohio State and Michigan back-to-back: "That's difficult for any team or any program in the country, but that's the schedule and what we're faced with."
• Durkin on quarterback Perry Hills, who has an injured shoulder: "He's day-to-day right now."
• Durkin on recruiting in Maryland: "I'm not surprised, I just think there's a lot of reasons Maryland is great and will be great."
• Durkin on working as a grad assistant with Urban Meyer: "It was a very valuable experience. It was my first experience as a coach, my first job. I learned a lot from it."
• Durkin on Ohio State's defense: "The biggest thing that jumps out is their team speed. Every level of the defense, they've got great team speed and that pops off the tape as you're watching it."

Gerad Parker (Purdue):

• Parker on loss to Minnesota: "We just couldn't hold on to finish, but I'm proud of our guys' effort under some tough circumstances."

James Franklin (Penn State):

• Franklin on his team handling success rather than adversity: "I think when you're dealing with a young team like we are, adversity is probably easier to handle than success. Being aware of those things is really important. For us, we don't change anything. When things are going well we don't change our process and when things aren't going well we don't change our process."
• Franklin on Indiana: "The offense has been explosive really since [Kevin Wilson] has been there."

Kevin Wilson (Indiana):

• Wilson on Penn State: "They're playing as hot of football as anybody in college football. It's going to be a great challenge playing these guys on Saturday."