That's the problem I had. They just looked totally lost and above all else, like they didn't even want to be there. I've not seen an Ohio team do that in quite some time.

I'm sure that it is true that where one team is stronger than the others, it increases the chances of injury of the weaker team. I'm also sure that flexibility has a role in injuries, too, as well as conditioning. Finally, failure to properly rotate players (i.e. making players play when tired) could contribute to injury. Still, there is going to be so much statistical variance due to the randomness of injuries, I'm not sure how you would try to analyze the data to see the problem.

My observation regarding relative strength of teams is based, not on injury data, but on how games play out. If one team is stronger than the other, and/or, has a better conditioning/rotation and is able to keep players fresh, it shows up in terms of results on the field, not just in injury data. When one team is stronger than the other, I find that after 1 1/2 quarters, the stronger team begins to dominate. Then, after a halftime rest, the weaker team is good for a little while, but by midway through the third quarter, the stronger team takes over again. The stronger team doesn't always win, but it often does.

Thus, if you want to see how strong Ohio is, relative to other teams, go back and look at results that way. Throw out games that are lopsided, and look at competitive games. How did Ohio fare in those times (last half of the 2d quarter, last half of the third quarter, fourth quarter). Examples come to mind that run both ways. In the 2008 game versus Ohio State, OSU was dominant in the those times. In the game last year against Penn State, Ohio was dominant in those times. Ohio also dominated those times versus Marshall and U.Mass last year.

As far as losses, Miami game was an example of where the stronger team in those key times did not win, as Ohio was stronger, but lost anyway. BG loss was more attributable to special teams miscues than anything, and was pretty even otherwise. Kent got ahead early, and other than that was hard fought. The only team that looks like they were stronger, based on my pattern, was Ball State.

What about Louisville? It was never a competitive game, so from my methodology, I can't draw any conclusions.

Typically bigger stronger teams wear you out in the second half and role in the 4th quarter. These guys rolled from play one. We played a bigger stronger Ohio State several years ago and it didn't look anything like this game. I think they just were not prepared properly and didn't want it very badly. It shouldn't have been so dominating. I watch all the South Carolina games and they play weak teams but never ever dominate them like we got manhandled.

Anyone have our health status for stupd cow...anyone hurt vs. North Texas...anyone coming back this week?  Thanks.

Sam Johnson clearly has a knee injury as he was on the sideline with an immobilizing brace and crutches for the North Texas game, last year he broke his ankle/fibia on a similar play with a defensive lineman diving into the side of his leg.