How Buckeyes showed championship mettle leading into, throughout win over Purdue

COLUMBUS — This was not the statement Ohio State made last week. That, against previously-undefeated Penn State, was a statement that told college football not to forget about the Buckeyes in the national title picture. No, this was a much different type of statement -- the one championship-level teams deliver. This was the ultimate hangover spot for the Buckeyes. They were returning home for a sleepy Noon kickoff against the worst team in the Big Ten. They had every reason to come out slow, play sloppy and plod their way through 60 minutes for an uninspiring win. Some might have been upset with it, but who could blame Ohio State? It looked destined to be one of those games. It was everything but that.