COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Buckeyes will try to get back on the winning track Saturday, but as the week began, they were still smarting over a 35-21 loss to Virginia Tech in their home opener.
“Just pain of regret is phenomenal, and there is so much regret about things we could have done better to win that game,” head coach Urban Meyer said during his weekly media luncheon Monday.
Every Sunday night after a win, Ohio State’s players and coaches get to enjoy a sumptuous buffet of steak, lobster or shrimp. But, after the loss to the Hokies, the menu was spaghetti and mashed potatoes.
“Tough loss against a very good team,” Meyer said. “First one we’ve had during the regular season, so there is no victory meal for our players. I can tell they’re hurting.”
A lot has changed for the Buckeyes — beyond the cuisine — since suffering their first defeat in a home opener in 36 years and having a 25-game regular-season winning streak ended by the Hokies before an Ohio Stadium-record 107,517 fans.
What has not changed are the expectations of their coach.
“Everything we’re shooting for is playing for championships in November, and that’s still right at our disposal,” Meyer said.
The Buckeyes plummeted 14 spots to No. 22 in the latest AP Top 25 and to No. 18 in the “USA Today” coaches poll heading into a home game on Saturday with Kent State (Noon/ABC6) hoping to regain a degree of equilibrium since being thoroughly outplayed on both sides of the ball and on special teams.