Jake Ballard News

Continuing with position breakdowns, today I'll go over the tight ends. If you missed yesterday's, click here to read about the wide receivers.

Ohio State, which has won seven of the previous eight games against Michigan since Jim Tressel became head coach, will hope to extend its winning streak when the two teams renew the Big Ten rivalry today at noon in Michigan Stadium.

While Michigan and Ohio State die-hard fans probably couldn't imagine pledging allegiance to the other, but for the players, most of them have been courted by both schools.

The Ohio State-Michigan week is a time of orchestrated civility. It is a time when the players and coaches from both sides slobber with compliments about the opposition.

Michigan's Brandon Graham, right, might be the best player on the field on Saturday, but the Wolverines' defense remains a subpar unit.

His first memories of the big game go back to his grade-school days, standing in the crowd along the South Main Street parade route in Springboro, listening to Christmas music and waiting for Santa Claus to come by tossing out candy.

COLUMBUS, Ohio - It didn't take long for the Justin Boren question to come up. At Jim Tressel's news conference Monday, a reporter asked: "What will this week be like for Justin?" "I'm sure he'll be excited," Tressel said.

The Ohio State upperclassmen, the old-timers with enough Michigan memories to fill a week's worth of reminiscing, were asked Monday for their best memory from this run of dominance, their favorite plays and feelings from five straight Ohio State wins over the Wolverines.

Ohio State had to beat Penn State to stay in the Big Ten race. The next week, the Buckeyes needed to beat Iowa to win the conference and go to the Rose Bowl.

Jim Tressel owns a 92-21 record as the Buckeyes' head coach. Colleague Pat Forde accurately summarizes the two prisms through which Tressel is viewed .

Ohio State started working the clock the first time it gained a lead Saturday. The Buckeyes tried so hard not to lose the game with a turnover that they nearly lost it without making one.

All the talk about how lucky Iowa was to win its first nine games brought back memories for Ohio State coach Jim Tressel.

DeVier Posey has proved in the past four weeks that he's better at catching than sitting.

Ohio State tight end Jake Ballard was stunned when he was told that with a win against Iowa on Saturday, the Buckeyes are headed to the Rose Bowl.

Michigan coach Bo Schembechler once said that college football games are meant to be played at noon or 1 p.m. on Saturday afternoons - no exceptions.

There's a blueprint out there for beating a Penn State defense that doesn't change much from year to year, and Ohio State doesn't have to go far to find it.

What's brewing today with the 2009 Ohio State Buckeyes ... BUCKEYES BUZZ: Two numbers are scaring a lot of Ohio State fans.

Ohio State's 2002 team went 14-0, yet didn't get much respect until that final win, a 31-24 double overtime classic over favored and then-No. 1 Miami, Fla.

Ohio State football players will be in uniform for Halloween, but they look forward to dressing up in more than just scarlet and grey, 10TV's Jeff Hogan reported.

DeWayne Walker may never rival Patrick Henry or John Paul Jones when it comes to stirring rallying cries.