Fanshots

Behind the scenes with the Ohio State Marching Band

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USA TODAY Sports' Laken Litman got to hangout with The Best Damn Band in the Land to get a closer look at how the best got even better. A must read.

If Michigan shuts out Ohio State, folks will get free cars

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A Monroe, Michigan (which is about 30 minutes northeast of Toledo) car dealership is offering a promotion where by which if you buy a car between now and The Game, if the Wolverines shut the Buckeyes out, you get to keep it for free. Seems like a pretty safe bet for the dealership.

Michigan's best commit, Jabrill Peppers, to take official visits

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Before committing to the Wolverines (which he did so in verse!), Peppers was considering Alabama, Auburn, Boston College, Florida, and home state Rutgers. Though this could just be him enjoying some free trips, even the seed of doubt may be too much for some UM partisans after the way this season has transpired.

PSU's Bill O'Brien on OSU's Side

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The Ohio State Buckeyes have an unlikely ally in Penn State head coach Bill O'Brien, who told Jeremy Fowler of CBS Sports that leaving the Buckeyes out of the title game "makes no sense" to him, and that the only solution to crown a champion is an expanded playoff. Strong words from a coach who, just a few weeks ago, was served an historic beat-down by the team he's trying to elevate on the national stage. Conference solidarity may not be much in the Big Ten these days, but given the job B.O.B. has done with Penn State since taking the reigns from Joe Paterno, maybe his statement will catch the ears of a voter or two in a few weeks. That is assuming the Buckeyes can take care of business against Michigan Sr. and Jr. in the next two weeks.

Ohio State LB Ryan Shazier named a finalist for the 2013 Butkus Award

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Ohio State linebacker Ryan Shazier has been named a finalist for the 2013 Butkus Award, which is given annually to the nation's top linebacker. Buffalo's Khalil Mack and Alabama's C.J. Mosley also made the final cut, among the five total.

Bret Bielema still not crazy about Ohio State

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It would appear that Bielema, as the kids say, is still mad. Miss u.

Ohio State's Aaron Craft and LaQuinton Ross make Naismith Award Watchlist

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Ohio State point guard Aaron Craft and small forward LaQuinton Ross have been named to the Naismith Award Watchlist, which is given annually to the nation's best basketball player.

Ohio State DB Bradley Roby to forgo senior season

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In a move that should surprise nobody, 11W's Kyle Rowland reports that Urban Meyer says that Bradly Roby will forgo his senior season to pursue a professional career. Rowland added that Roby will be honored on Senior Day. Best of luck to Roby.

Urban Meyer named semifinalist for coach of the year

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Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer has been named one of sixteen semifinalist for the Maxwell Club Coach of the Year Award. Wisconsin's Gary Andersen and Michigan State's Mark Dantonio have also been named semifinalists for the award last won by Penn State's Bill O'Brien.

Former Ohio State commit Lonnie Johnson commits to Western Michigan

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A tiny bit surprising given the buzz surrounding him, his cousin, and the University of Cincinnati, but P.J. Fleck's getting a playoff conference caliber threat in Johnson, the former Buckeye pledge. Best of luck to him in Kalamazoo.