COLLEGE FOOTBALL

End Zone: OSU Buckeyes

Florida A&M — the preferred homecoming opponent of the Sisters of Mary.

9/18/2013

If Christian Bryant had his druthers, Ohio State would play a top-10 team Saturday.

"I like to showcase our talent," the senior safety said. "I would like to play bigger games. But it's really out of our control."

The Buckeyes will instead close their nonconference schedule against Florida A&M — the preferred homecoming opponent of the Sisters of Mary. Although the experience of a day at the Horseshoe transcends the play on the field, it is a shame Joe Buckeye will have to pay a minimum $79 cover to watch a puffed-up exhibition even the guy who paints his chest for NFL preseason games thinks is silly. OSU is a school-record 57-point favorite against the FCS Rattlers (1-2).

Yes, the game comes at a good time for OSU, sandwiched between a sleepless redeye back from California and next week's primetime Big Ten opener against Wisconsin. Coach Urban Meyer can use the first quarter to ease back Braxton Miller and tailback Carlos Hyde and the third quarter to lend clarity to the battle for fifth-string tight end.

Credit OSU for pledging to fill its future schedules exclusively with power-conference teams. You want it. The players want it. And, if Saturday goes to plan, the Rattlers will want it.

Contact David Briggs at: dbriggs@theblade.com, 419-724-6084 or on Twitter @DBriggsBlade.