Why is this news?: Joey Bosa, J.T. Barrett semifinalists for awards, Urban Meyer on Michigan State

"...late last night Bosa was named a semifinalist for the Rotary Lombardi Award, which is awarded to the lineman of the year by the Rotary Club of Houston."

- Ohio State Buckeyes

Following up Monday morning's announcement that Joey Bosa had been named as a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik award, late last night, Bosa was added as a semifinalist for the Rotary Lombardi Award. Given annually to the nation's best lineman, Bosa has a chance to bring yet another award to Columbus.

Bosa leads the Big Ten in tackles-for-loss, with 14.5, sacks (10) and forced fumbles, with three. Those three forced fumbles have all gone for touchdowns as well. To add to that, Bosa accounts for 30 total tackles and two additional quarterback hurries. Nationally, he ranks in a tie for third in tackles-for-loss, fifth in quarterback sacks and 12th in forced fumbles.

Bosa's streak of consecutive games with a tackle for loss ties him with Andy Katzenmoyer and Ryan Shazier for the OSU school record, which stands at 14 consecutive games. He'll look to break that record against Michigan State this weekend. Finalists for the Lombardi trophy will be announced on Nov. 17.

1st 8 semifinalists: Barrett (OhSt), Boykin (TCU), Carden (ECU), Cato (Marsh), Cook (MichSt), Golson (ND), Hundley (UCLA), Mariota (Ore)...

— Davey O'Brien (@daveyobrien) November 4, 2014

Ohio State's J.T. Barrett has also been a standout for the Buckeyes this season and has been named a semifinalist to the Davey O'Brien Award, given annually to the nation's best quarterback. Along with the other first eight semifinalists listed above, Barrett has an opportunity to make the cut for finalists but will be competing with the aforementioned eight quarterbacks above as well as the second half of the full list.

That list includes Nick Marshall (Auburn), Bryce Petty (Baylor), Dak Prescott (Mississippi State), Henry Sims (Alabama), Clint Trickett (West Virginia), Bo Wallace (Ole Miss), Jake Waters (Kansas State) & Jameis Winston (Florida State). So far this season, Barrett has thrown for 1,856 yards and 23 touchdowns (to only 7 interceptions) while completing 65% of his passes.

"I'd lie to you if I said there's not frustration. We're here to compete for championships ... that's one of our jobs. We didn't seal the job last year. Got close...We were down 17-nothing. Took that darn lead 24-17 and we gave that up. To not say it ripped you apart would be not true. I don't want to experience it again."

- Urban Meyer, via Dan Wetzel, Yahoo Sports

Michigan State week has finally arrived. This has been a date that Ohio State fans have had circled on their calendars ever since the Spartans knocked the Buckeyes out of a spot in the national championship and took home the Big Ten crown. It's a different team now, with Braxton Miller on the sideline and Carlos Hyde in the NFL (along with several playmakers from last year's team), but the desire for payback is ever present.

With J.T. Barrett running the show as a redshirt freshman, Ohio State looks to keep their College Football Playoff chances alive, while trying to end Michigan State's concurrently. Both teams have a loss, so whichever team wins will have the only real shot to represent the Big Ten in the playoff this season. The losing team will have to settle for a New Year's Bowl at best.

We all know how Coach Meyer felt after the Big Ten title game last season and he knows how Buckeye fans felt as well after coming so close to making the national title game. It will be up to the coaching staff and the players to get back on track on Saturday night.

"Friends and family can wait in the Gisela and Urban Meyer Visitor Lounge on their way to see a patient in the Ellen and Jim Tressel Patient Room."

- Carrie Ghose, Columbus Business First

It looks like when new parts of the James Cancer Center and Solove Research Institute open in Ohio State's University Wexner Medical Center, there will be two rooms named after a pair of outstanding Buckeye head coaches. Jim Tressel's name (along with Ellen) will be given to the patient room, while Urban Meyer and Gisela will be honored with the visitor lounge.

This is a pretty nice gesture to two head coaches that have done a lot for Ohio State both on and off the field. Voting for the names of the rooms took place earlier this year, and were pretty popular decisions, clearly. It makes sense to have the two most recent coaches (as well as two of the most successful) in a place also so synonymous with the university.

"The EA SPORTS^TM UFC College Tour will be stopping in Columbus, OH at Out-R-Inn for the following dates and UFC Pay-Per-View events. Come out early to get in the game and feel the fight with EA SPORTS^TM UFC!"

- EA Sports

If you're into MMA,  video games, beer, and Out-R-Inn (and really who isn't?), Saturday, Nov. 15 for Velasquez vs. Werdum and Saturday, Dec. 6 for Hendricks vs. Lawler, you'll want to get to the off-campus institution. You could even make an evening out of the latter if the Buckeyes make their way to the Big Ten Championship Game.

Mug Night it ain't, but good times, good fights, and some PlayStation 4 never hurt anybody.

STICK TO SPORTS

• Late night tacos are coming to Columbus.
• An ex-NCAA investigator says the Ohio State case seemed silly in retrospect.
• An Ohio-made model lifts Honda, Acura sales. Because the Buckeye State does it best, of course.
• Running narratives about living through Ebola.