Also working in Ohio State’s favor is it can lose a game and still get a berth into the four-team playoff if it still wins the Big 10.
QBs J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones have been competing against each for the starting QB job.
On Ohio State’s first touchdown drive, Jones helped the Buckeyes preserve their drive after they faced third-and-21 at midfield on the heels of an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty called on center Jacoby Boren.
Foster is hoping for a less-memorable night from whoever starts at quarterback for top-ranked Ohio State on Monday. After their explosion in the second half, though, the Buckeyes covered the spread, even with a garbage time touchdown from the Hokies. Beamer and I both agreed it was a wonderful gesture on the part of [OSU athletic director] Gene Smith, [OSU coach] Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes. Cardale Jones picked up where he left off last season by throwing for two touchdowns and running for a third, and tailback Ezekiel Elliott was virtually untouched in breaking off an 80-yard run and gained 122 yards on just 11 carries. Elliott rushed for a game-high 122 yards and a touchdown.
After going down 28-17 in the third quarter, Motley was intercepted by Buckeyes safety Tyvis Powell on a deep ball to Isaiah Ford.
Thats the day Ohio State and Virginia Tech will meet in the nationally televised season-opener, set for an 8 p.m. kickoff.
It’s not like that’s a bad thing for Ohio State. Whether or not Michael Brewer will be able to play remains to be seen. He will undergo surgery on Tuesday and miss at least 4-6 weeks, perhaps eight.
According to WTVR-6, the Virginia Tech athletics department announced last Sunday that the Hokie players will wear a helmet sticker that features the No. 7 and teal and maroon ribbons, along with the initials of both victims. The game is big, there is no question about that. Quarterback Max Witek completed 19 of 38 passes for 202 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions.
Virginia Tech uses a big play to get back into the game on a 51-yard touchdown pass to fullback Sam Rogers. The Cougars, who lost quarterback Taysom Hill for the season (again), host Boise State this week before consecutive games on the road at UCLA and Michigan.
In 7-on-7 drills, Barrett took the first rep, but then the two alternated. Even Braxton Miller took a snap before Barrett got a chance.
Virginia Tech responded with 17 straight points. Ohio State hosts Hawaii next week and that should present more freedom to experiment on offense a bit more if that is what Meyer desires.
Bus trouble: Ohio State’s band left for Blacksburg on Monday morning, and one of the buses broke down in West Virginia.
Ohio State comes in having won the national title past year and now they are looking to repeat after being named the preseason number one.