Why is this news?: Urban Meyer says Braxton Miller is staying at Ohio State

"He's playing for [Ohio State] this fall."

-Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer, on Braxton Miller

We've been saying this for the past several months, along with virtually everybody else close to the situation in Columbus, and this statement ought to close the book once and for all on whether Braxton Miller will transfer from Ohio State. Speaking to reporters earlier this afternoon, Urban Meyer shot them down, saying that Miller had told him he's staying.

Miller isn't back to 100% yet, but according to Meyer, "he's throwing the ball 35 yards", and is in great shape. Even Ohio State players agree, sleep on Miller's chances here at your own peril.

B1G TIME CONGRATS! @OhioState places LEAGUE-BEST 166 student-athletes on Academic All-Big Ten Team #GoBucks #OSUnews https://t.co/XA7YHUPzvB

— Ohio State Buckeyes (@OhioStAthletics) May 29, 2015

Ohio State athletes dominated the Big Ten in academic honors this spring, according to a release by the school. For the spring and at-large seasons, 166 athletes from Ohio State made Academic All-Big Ten—a league-high number. Overall, 1,147 spring and at-large athletes made the list from around the conference.

In order to be considered for these honors, student athletes need to be letter winners who have a cumulative grade point average above 3.0 and be in at least their second academic year. This season, 13 individuals maintained a perfect GPA. Women’s lacrosse led the field with 19 honorees, while men’s lacrosse, women’s track and field and rowing each had 15.

Ohio State had 304 Academic All-Big Ten honorees for the 2014-15 academic year, tying Minnesota for the year overall.

Ohio State has a reputation for outstanding academics among athletes, and the recent APR report, which measures how well colleges prepare their student athletes for graduation, has helped to further that reputation.

"It’s clear that the number is pretty big, but in reality, you can’t spend a building. It’s not cash. It’s a physical asset."

–Oregon associate AD Craig Pittens, interviewed by Andrew Greif.

Ohio State may be No. 1 in football, but its athletic department wouldn’t quite make the College Football Playoff. At No. 5, Ohio State raked in over $145 million in 2014, according to a report from USA Today.

Oregon was No. 1 in overall revenue a $196 million, up more than $80 million from 2013. Texas sat at No. 2 with $161 million, and Michigan came in No. 3 with nearly $158 million in revenue. Alabama was the first SEC school to appear on the list at No. 4 with more than $153 million in revenue. Wisconsin (8), Penn State (12), Minnesota (15), Iowa (16) and Michigan State (18) in the top 25 nationally.

Ohio State did not subsidize its athletic department, meaning that all of its funds were generated from athletic revenue. USA Today defined subsidies as "the sum of student fees, direct and indirect institutional support and state money." Ohio State was just one out of five schools nationally to not use subsidies for its athletic department. Moreover, Ohio State was one of just 24 schools nationally that is considered to be self-sustaining.

Most revenue comes from donations and athletic gifts rather than ticket sales. For example, Nike-founder and Oregon grad Phil Knight gifted a large portion of a $95 million football complex in 2013.

"A week before they play Michigan, the Buckeyes will face arguably their toughest opponent. A ton of talent will be on the field…And there will likely be Heisman statements to be made by Michigan State QB Connor Cook, Ohio State TB Ezekiel Elliott and whomever is playing quarterback for the Buckeyes."

--Mike Huguenin, Chase Goodbread and Bryan Fischer for NFL.com

Not only is the Nov. 21^st matchup between Ohio State and Michigan State the top game to watch in the Big Ten next football season, it is also the No. 2 game nationally according to an NFL.com list of the 100 most anticipated games of 2015.

The game comes a week before the Michigan game.

NFL.com’s list includes four other Buckeye matchups:

• No. 21: Ohio State at Michigan (Nov. 28)
• No. 31: Ohio State at Virginia Tech (Sept. 7)
• No. 52: Ohio State vs. Minnesota (Nov. 7)
• No. 92: Ohio State vs. Penn State (Oct. 17)

Three of these matchups (Virginia Tech, Penn State and Minnesota) have already been announced as primetime night games.

NFL.com also recently rated Brutus Buckeye as the No. 2 best college mascot in the country, for what it’s worth.

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