Ohio State looking to extend noon dominance

Ohio State and Maryland are set to kick off at noon Saturday — the perfect time for the Buckeyes so far in the Urban Meyer era.

Perfect as in they haven’t lost a noon kickoff yet since he took over as the coach in Columbus.

>>RELATED: Meyer doesn’t want Buckeyes looking ahead to Michigan 

The Ohio State sports information department produced that eye-opening stat this week: 29-0 in games that kick off at noon since the start of the 2012 season.

“I think (strength coach Mickey Marotti) and our staff do a good job of just the energy and getting them to bed early and we’re used to noon games,” Meyer said Wednesday night. “A lot of guys like ‘em. I know I like them as well. So I like the energy we’ve had the last few noon games.”

The game against the Terrapins won’t be the last early start for Ohio State.

The annual showdown with Michigan is scheduled for the same time a week later back in Columbus, as usual.

The last team to beat the Buckeyes in a noon start?

That was the Wolverines, who held off Ohio State 40-34 in Ann Arbor on Nov. 26, 2011 — two days before Meyer was officially introduced as the newest head coach of the Buckeyes.

Here is everything Meyer discussed as well as interviews with Parris Campbell and Thayer Munford.

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