Urban Meyer refuses to discuss Ohio State’s playoff potential at weekly press conference

The rollercoaster that is the Ohio State football season had another exhilarating high on Saturday as No. 13 Ohio State Buckeyes knocked off the No. 12 Michigan State Spartans 48-3, in a game that wasn’t really even that close.

Coupled with a rash of highly-rated teams falling, the Buckeyes are... somehow... maybe... kind of still in the discussion for the College Football Playoff. However, for those conversations to happen, OSU needs to play like they did against MSU for the rest of the season, starting with the Illinois Fighting Illini this Saturday. The game will also serve as Ohio State’s 2017 Senior Day.

On Monday, Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer met with the media to discuss Saturday’s blowout win and what it means for the rest of the season.

Michigan State Recap

• Offensive Players of the Game: Billy Price
• Offensive Champions: Johnnie Dixon, Parris Campbell, K.J. Hill, Terry McLaurin, Austin Mack, J.K. Dobbins, Mike Weber, Jamarco Jones, Michael Jordan, Isaiah Prince, Demetrius Knox, Marcus Baugh, Rashod Berry
• Defensive Players of the Game: Tuf Borland and Damon Arnette
• Defensive Champions: Nick Bosa, Sam Hubbard, Tyquan Lewis, Jalyn Holmes, Chase Young, Chris Worley, Malik Harrison, Denzel Ward, Kendall Sheffield, Damon Webb
• Special Teams Player of the Game: Erick Smith
• Meyer said that after issues in previous weeks, the kickoff coverage team was outstanding.
• He added that he thought that the running backs ran really hard against MSU.

Illinois Preview

• Meyer said that he is very close to this year’s senior class. So this Saturday’s Senior Day will be important, and that the best way to show respect to them would be to win against Illinois.
• He said that the Illini defensive line is very strong. He said that they are made up of big athletes, and they regularly penetrate the line.

Injury Report

• Damon Arnette was pulled from the MSU game with a thigh bruise, but is expected to play on Saturday against Illinois.

Depth Chart

• Meyer said that the offensive line has done an incredible job in recent weeks, and that they are moving in the right direction.
• The coach said that Malik Harrison has earned more playing time at the linebacker position.
• Meyer said that he thinks that their current running back depth is as good as they’ve ever had it, thanks in part to the offensive line.

Miscellaneous

• There will be 19 seniors participating in this Saturday’s Senior Day.
• Urban Meyer also apologized that he didn’t mention Veterans Day after Saturday’s game, and thanked all who have served, including his father and sister.
• The head coach said that he doesn’t think that there need to be any changes to the targeting rule. If the replay official makes a mistake, he or she should be penalized, but otherwise, the players should know better.
• Meyer said that you have to have a quarterback in every recruiting class, and you almost have to have multiple options just in case something changes with commitments.
• He also said that this season could see two quarterbacks in the upcoming class, but those types of discussions are difficult because of the nature of the position.
• Meyer said that there will be “zero conversation” about the College Football Playoffs in the building.
• Meyer repeatedly refused to discuss much about past games, this team’s legacy, Big Ten championships, or potential playoff berths. Instead just saying that they needed to play well on Saturday.
• When asked about Saturday being J.T. Barrett’s final game at the Horseshoe, he said that the fifth-year QB is a member of the Meyer family and the Buckeye family for the rest of his life, and Urban just wants him to have a good game on Saturday.

The Ohio State Buckeyes will be back on the gridiron this Saturday, Nov. 18 at 3:30 p.m. ET against the Illinois Fighting Illini. The Battle for the IlliBuck will be broadcast on ABC.