In his weekly press conference on Monday, Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer called the Buckeyes’ week two opponent a “different animal.”
Ohio State played three tremendous quarters against the Miami RedHawks, but the Central Florida Golden Knights will present a much more difficult task, and Meyer is well aware.
The Knights and Buckeyes have one thing in common so far in this 2012 campaign. Both schools hung 56 points against a MAC opponent in week one. UCF defeated Akron 56-14, while the Buckeyes handled Miami 56-10.
The numbers in the UCF-Akron game weren’t staggering—the Knights only outgained the Zips by 66 total yards—but there was one thing that leaped out at me. UCF got into the red zone seven times against Akron, and scored touchdowns on all seven possessions.
Running back Latavius Murray led the way for the Knights, carrying the ball 14 times for 109 yards and a touchdown. Murray suffered a shoulder injury, though, in the Knights’ win against Akron, and will not play against the Buckeyes on Saturday.
Since Murray cannot go, the Knights will likely turn to Cedric Thompson and Storm Johnson to carry the load. Against the Zips, Thompson had 11 carries for 45 yards and a touchdown and Johnson had 12 carries for 36 yards and two touchdowns.
Ohio State fans saw an offense they haven’t seen before from their Buckeyes against Miami. Things will not come as easy against UCF, though.
Quarterback Braxton Miller was unleashed, throwing for 207 yards and two touchdowns and running for 161 yards and a touchdown.
If OSU plays its game, and there is no reason to believe it won’t, the Buckeyes should come away with a win against UCF. But, one of the most famous quotes in sports is “that’s why they play the game.”
Coming off an impressive debut, it would be very easy for OSU to have a letdown against a team it should beat.
This isn’t your normal Ohio State football team, though. And something tells me Urban will have the boys ready for this one.
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