How to watch Ohio State vs. Navy: Preview, TV schedule, odds, more
Ohio State loses Braxton Miller to injury and welcomes freshman QB J.T. Barrett to action. Navy isn’t likely to go down easily, though.
Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
This game is over
This game is over
A month ago, this looked like a decent opening test for the Buckeyes and their Heisman candidate quarterback, Braxton Miller. Welllllllllllp. Instead it's now a trial by fire for redshirt freshman J.T. Barrett, who has been thrust into the starting role about a year earlier than anyone in Columbus would have wanted.
And make no mistake, this game wasn’t a gimme even when Miller was healthy; Navy went 9-4 last season and is one of the most consistent teams in the nation in reaching a bowl game. Now, Ohio State’s in real upset danger, particularly if Barrett struggles and the defense can’t keep gap integrity against the vaunted Navy option attack.
How to witness
TV: Kickoff is at noon, and the game will be on the CBS Sports Network, which some folks may not get. But really, if you don’t you only have yourself to blame. Don’t come crying to us.
Radio: The Buckeyes can be found on these stations, and Navy football is broadcast on these affiliates.
Online streaming: Be sure to check CBSSports.com for streaming options.
The numbers
Rankings and records: Ohio State is ranked fifth in the AP Poll and sixth in the Coaches Poll. Navy is unranked, but did garner two votes in the AP. So, there’s that.
Vegas: Ohio State is still favored in this one, but the line has dipped from 17.5 to 13 in the wake of Miller’s injury. Curiously, the over-under has fallen by even more, from 63 to 55.5.
Weather forecast: Baltimore will see temperatures hitting the low 80s under partly cloudy skies.
Three names to know
J.T. Barrett: You'll be hearing Barrett's name early and often, and odds are pretty good that he'll put on a show in the process. Barrett was one of the top-10 dual-threat QB recruits in the nation in 2012, and he had outplayed sophomore Cardale Jones for the backup QB job at OSU before Miller's shoulder disintegrated. The coaches seem to like him, and Urban Meyer isn't the type of guy who hands out empty praise.
Joey Bosa: Ohio State's front four is one of the beastliest in college football, and the king of the unit is Bosa, a sophomore who started 10 games as a true freshman last year and racked up 13.5 tackles-for-loss. He's one of the most physically dominant linemen in the nation, and Navy's going to have to figure out a way to neutralize his bull rush.
Ken Niumatalolo: This will be the seventh full season at the helm for Navy head coach Niumatalolo, which is no small feat; only three coaches have ever lasted longer at Navy, and nobody has coached for more than nine years there. Niumataolo needs only seven wins to become Navy’s winningest head coach ever, which would be a sterling accomplishment at one of the most historically great college football programs.
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Two things at stake
Even without Braxton Miller, Ohio State’s still a national championship contender -- but there’s no margin for error, and for as decent as Navy is, a loss effectively dooms the Buckeyes’ title plans.
Navy’s still in the “really good for a service team” category as a football program, which if you think about it is pretty unfair for a team that’s missed the bowls only once in the last 11 seasons. A lack of signature wins plays into that, though, and a win over a powerhouse like Ohio State can go a long way toward pushing Navy into “really good, period” territory.
Further reading
Read more about the Buckeyes at Land-Grant Holy Land, and the Big Ten at Off Tackle Empire.
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