Bucknuts Morning 5: An Ohio State athletics podcast

It's Tuesday. Duane Long is here. He is loaded with opinions.

Who can beat Ohio State the way it is playing right now?

What type of threat does Michigan State pose this coming Saturday?

Will weather affect the game?

How will Wilton Speight's injury affect Michigan down the stretch?

You had questions. Duane had answers.

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If Ohio State moves up to No. 2 in the College Football Playoff rankings on Tuesday as expected, and then the Buckeyes go on to beat Michigan State and Michigan, would the Buckeyes make the playoffs even if they don't win the Big Ten championship?

That is the big topic that Brandon Castel and Dave Biddle discuss on today's show.

Also covered:

* Little-used true and redshirt freshmen that look very good for Ohio State.

* Thoughts on OSU's game at Michigan State this Saturday. The Spartans have been a thorn in Urban Meyer's side since he arrived in Columbus (the teams are 2-2 against each other over the last four seasons).

* What Castel wants to hear Meyer answer at his press conference later this morning.

With Ohio State redshirt freshman running back Mike Weber dealing with a painful shoulder injury, should he even play against Maryland on Saturday?

Bucknuts' contributor Jonah Booker thinks so.

J-Book joins Dave Biddle to discuss that, plus:

* Thoughts on true freshman Demario McCall perhaps having a bigger role this week.

* Thoughts on Curtis Samuel being the Buckeyes' primary punt returner.

* Thoughts on the Dante Booker (no relation) situation.

* Thoughts on Ohio State's basketball team tipping off its regular season Friday night at Navy and what we think of this year's team.

* Predictions on OSU at Maryland.

After a recruiting weekend that saw Ohio State put on quite a show against Nebraska, it's the perfect time to bring in 247Sports Director of Recruiting Steve Wiltfong for the latest.

He has flipped two Crystal Balls towards the good guys recently.

Why?

Updates on Baron Browning, Bubba Bolden, Adrian Jackson, Brian Kelly at Notre Dame, Ohio State vs. Maryland and more.

Spend 5ish with us this a.m.!

A big debate among Ohio State fans right now is whether Curtis Samuel should return punts.

On today's show, Patrick Murphy and Dave Biddle discuss why it's a wise decision to have Samuel be the Buckeyes' punt returner.

Also covered on today's show:

* Reaction to Ohio State moving up to No. 5 in the College Football Playoff rankings, but not jumping No. 4 Washington.

* Whether Dante Booker will redshirt this season, and what effect that could have on OSU and Booker's future.

* Murphy's prediction on Ohio State's game at Maryland this Saturday.

What a difference a win makes.

The mood is clearly better among Bucknutters and we bring in Duane Long for his usual Tuesday appearance to tackle the latest.

Should Curtis Samuel be Dontre Wilson's replacement as the punt returner?

What changed that allowed the Buckeyes to have so much success Saturday night?

Is it wise to try and redshirt Dante Booker?

Is Ohio State back in Duane's weekly Eye Test Top 5 teams in the nation?

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Ohio State couldn't have written the script any better.

Beat a top-10 team by 59 points? Check.

Do it on the biggest recruiting weekend of the year? Check.

Perfect weather and a great environment? Check.

The Dean of Ohio State Football Recruiting, Bill Kurelic, on today's show? Check.

Yes, Bill joins Dave Biddle to discuss the following:

* The latest on safety Bubba Bolden who wrapped up his official visit to Ohio State last night and is flying home today.

* Same deal for cornerback Shaun Wade. He took his official visit to OSU and is flying back today. Are the Buckeyes going to hold off Alabama for Wade's services?

* The latest on defensive tackle Jay Tufele, who hasn't talked to the media in a while. Will this battle come down to Ohio State versus Michigan?

* How many recruits will the Buckeyes sign in their 2017 class? Will they hold off the Crimson Tide for the No. 1 recruiting class in the land?

* Thoughts on Ohio State's 62-3 rout of Nebraska. What does this mean moving forward for the Buckeyes?

* That and more on the Monday version of the BM5.

Ohio State will be hosting its "biggest recruiting weekend of the year" for the Nebraska game, per our Alex Gleitman.

Alex joins Dave Biddle to tell you exactly what you need to know about recruiting, and they also discuss:

* Tim Beck's role on the coaching staff. Are Buckeye fans right when they say he's not cut out for the job? Are there too many cooks in the kitchen as it pertains to play-calling?

* Beck's development of quarterbacks like J.T. Barrett.

* Predictions on Saturday night's Nebraska at Ohio State contest.

Ohio State will welcome in a star-studded cast of commitments and targets this weekend when the Buckeyes host Nebraska in a nationally televised night game from The Shoe.

We bring in 247Sports Director of Recruiting Steve Wiltfong - coming to you live on tape as he readies to board a flight at Indianapolis International Airport headed for Miami - to put it all in context.

Should we be on commitment watch?

Which targets will Ohio State really focus on?

Which recruits are here just to take in the sights?

That and more is here for you to start your morning.

On Tuesday's Big Ten teleconference, Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer said the problems in the passing game were due to a lack of execution.

Translation: The players are messing up.

And while there is no doubt they are at times, don't the coaches share in the blame for the passing game woes? 

Matt Baxendell joins Dave Biddle to discuss that, plus:

* Talk about the freshly-minted College Football Playoff rankings.

* Give thoughts on Parris Campbell's injury and what impact it might have on the Buckeyes.

* Give opinions on Ohio State's game against visiting Nebraska this Saturday.