ins a work in progress -- especially without Del Rio. It r

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Indianas upset of Michigan State in overtime Saturday raised some eyebrows among college football pundits around the country, but it wasnt a huge stunner for Ohio State players who know the Hoosiers as a tough out the past few years.Indiana (3-1, 1-0 Big Ten) overcame a 14-point Spartans lead in the final 16 minutes Saturday night, and won on a 20-yard field goal in overtime, 24-21. Indiana won its first overtime game in six years and got its second win in 26 tries over a ranked foe.The task this week will be more formidable for the Hoosiers when they travel to Columbus to play No. 2 Ohio State (4-0, 1-0).Last year the Buckeyes just snuck by Indiana 34-27, fumbling the ball four times and racking up 109 penalty yards. In 2014, the Buckeyes didnt manage to pull away until the third quarter in a 42-27 win.Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said Monday the Hoosiers have by far their best team this season.I see an outstanding team, Meyer said. For four years in a row its been a swing-as-hard-as-you-can (game)....Theyve got an excellent coaching staff, you can see some really good things on video tape, and their game Saturday was a great win for that program.Defensive end Sam Hubbard said Indianas victory over the defending Big Ten champs last week just adds to the intensity of Saturdays matchup.They almost beat us last year, so we didnt really expect it to be an easy game at all, Hubbard said, noting that Indiana could have the best offensive line the Buckeyes have faced this year.When I heard about it, I wasnt shocked by any means, said quarterback J.T. Barrett, who became the Ohio State career leader for touchdown passes Saturday. Indiana is not a team to look past because they give us trouble every year.DEFENSE MAKES THE DIFFERENCEA slow start in the Tulsa game notwithstanding, the Buckeyes have clicked early this season and havent run into any major potholes, in contrast to last season when they had trouble playing consistently until near the end. Meyer credits a deep, stifling defense with making the difference.Ohio State had another shut-down defensive performance on Saturday in the 58-0 dismantling of Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights were held to 116 total yards, 33 passing yards and nine first downs. Ohio State is third in the nation in total defense and is the only team not to have allowed a rushing touchdown.Thats just the way the game of football is -- if you have a great defense, things are usually going to get rolling for you at some point, even if you struggle a little bit, Meyer said. And the fact that you have J.T. Barrett running the show, its pretty smooth. Even when he makes a mistake, usually its not an awful one and we can rally right back up. But it starts with defense.WEBER ROLLING ALONGRunning back Mike Weber was named Big Ten freshman of the week after rushing for 144 yards on 14 carries against Rutgers, including a 46-yard breakaway for a touchdown. He also had a 49-year breakaway run. Weber, a redshirt freshman, leads the Big Ten with a 123.8-yards-per-game average. He ranks 11th nationally.LAST WORD ON RUTGERSTwelve Ohio State players caught passes from Barrett Saturday, and eight different players scored touchdowns. Wide receivers Terry McLaurin, Parris Campbell and Johnnie Dixon all caught the first career TD passes....Backup running back Demario McCall ran for 85 yards and a TD on 10 carries late in the game after spelling Weber....Nick Bosa -- Joeys younger brother -- had four tackles and a sack.---Follow Mitch Stacy at http://twitter.com/mitchstacyFor some of his other recent stories: http://bigstory.ap.org/content/mitch-stacy Mc Hammer Athletics Jersey .Y. - Nelson Mandela will be honoured by the New York Yankees with a plaque in Monument Park. Ryan Buchter Athletics Jersey . Datsyuk will miss Tuesdays game against New Jersey and could be sidelined longer, while Cleary will likely miss at least the next three games. Its been an injury-plagued season for Datsyuk, who has suited up for just 39 games. https://www.cheapathleticsonline.com/2935m-grant-holmes-jersey-athletics.html . He said Tuesday thats a big reason why he is now the new coach of the Tennessee Titans. Whisenhunt said he hit it off quickly with Ruston Webster when interviewing for the job Friday night. Athletics Jerseys 2020 . -- The Portland Timbers and Real Salt Lake played to a 0-0 tie Saturday night that left the top of the Western Conference standings unchanged. Sal Bando Jersey . -- There were a lot of firsts for the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night. GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- No. 23 Florida likely will be without quarterback Luke Del Rio against Southeastern Conference rival and 15th-ranked Tennessee next week.Del Rio injured his left knee in a 32-0 victory against North Texas on Saturday night, a huge setback for the Gators and their championship hopes.It doesnt look great, so well do whatever, said coach Jim McElwain, adding that former Purdue starter Austin Appleby would be the next guy up. Somebody else will play and well get some guys ready and move forward and get ready to go play next week.The injury overshadowed a dominant performance by Floridas defense, which allowed a school-record 53 yards on 50 plays. The previous mark was 59 yards allowed against Western Carolina in 2006.Defensive lineman Joshua Wheeler hit Del Rio low at the end of incomplete pass late in the third quarter, drawing a personal-foul penalty. Trainers and coach Jim McElwain rushed to the field as Del Rio ripped off his helmet. Del Rio eventually got up and walked to the locker room without any assistance.But that was hardly the end of it for Florida (3-0). McElwain, who initially believed Wheelers hit was dirty, started yelling at the North Texas (1-2) sideline and had to be restrained by officials and then his players.I obviously took that low hit on Luke awful personal, McElwain said. Im sure his guy was just scrambling trying to make a play, but I really care about these players. I care about them in more ways than just football players, and when you see something like that, its my responsibility when their parents arent here to be their parents.Both teams responded to McElwains tirade by stepping onto the field and moving toward the hash marks.I care about these kids, McElwain said. Theyre mine..dddddddddddd. I see something like that, it aint right.On the next play, Florida guard Martez Ivey was ejected for grabbing linebacker Fred Scott by the facemask during a run. Ivey will not be suspended for the first half of next weeks game against the Volunteers.Del Rio completed 14 of 25 passes for 186 yards, with an interception.THE TAKEAWAYNORTH TEXAS: Coach Seth Littrell, a former offensive assistant at Arizona, Indiana and North Carolina, is trying to change the culture at North Texas. Playing the Gators tough early -- the score was 19-0 through three quarters -- was a good start and something to build on in Littrells first season.FLORIDA: The tune-up games are over. While handling UMass, Kentucky and North Texas, Floridas defense was dominant and its offense remains a work in progress -- especially without Del Rio. It remains to be seen how the Gators young and inexperienced offensive line will fare against the meat of the schedule.POLL IMPLICATIONSFlorida should remain at or near No. 23 , making next weeks game at Tennessee the second in eight years in which both rivals were ranked. They also were both ranked in 2012. The Gators, who have won 11 in a row in the series, and Volunteers were both unranked the previous two meetings.UP NEXTNORTH TEXAS: Opens Conference USA play at Rice (0-3). The Mean Green are 2-4 all-time against the Owls.FLORIDA: Plays the Volunteers (3-0) for the 27th consecutive year. Florida is 20-6 during that stretch, including 11 straight wins that mark the longest streak since the programs first played in 1916.---AP college football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '