Scarlet Sunrise: Buckeyes hoping to have Julian Fleming back this week after missing opener

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Buckeyes hoping to have Julian Fleming back this week after missing opener

Ohio State was without one of its top receiving options Saturday in the top-10 win over Notre Dame in the Horseshoe; Julian Fleming was scratched from the lineup after being a game-time decision.

Buckeyes coach Ryan Day says it was just due to a tweak, and he is hoping to have Fleming back on the practice field this week — and Saturday in the game against Arkansas State.

“He went through warmups, and he was close,” Day said. “It tore his heart out not to be in this game. He had an unbelievable offseason and did a really good job this preseason. He tweaked something leading up to the game, and we’re hoping to have him back Saturday.”

While also missing Jaxon Smith-Njigba for most of the game, Ohio State was thin at wide receiver on Saturday night against Notre Dame. But Fleming could boost the Buckeyes at that position and make his season debut this weekend.

Ohio State falls in latest AP Poll

The Buckeyes are leaving Week One with the No. 3 slot in the AP Poll, trailing only defending national runners-up Alabama and national champion Georgia. Michigan and Clemson rounded out the top five.

Ohio State received six first-place votes after the win over No. 8 Notre Dame, showing that there are some pollsters who watched the Buckeyes beat the Fighting Irish at both lines of scrimmage.

The Big Ten has four teams ranked in the second AP Poll of the year, as Michigan (4), Michigan State (14) and Wisconsin (19) join the Buckeyes.

Voters believe that the Buckeyes are still among the national title contenders. They just thought Georgia was better, so the Bulldogs leaped the Buckeyes. Ohio State doesn’t care about those rankings, nor should it.

Now it’s time for Ohio State to finish its nonconference slate with a pair of wins over lesser opponents.

READ: Buckeyes fall in AP Poll despite double-digit opening win

New Tim May Podcast

Tim welcomes former Ohio State national-title winning defender Matt Wilhelm to the show to remember the 2002 national championship team for the Buckeyes, a team that was honored at the game Saturday night. Tim and Matt break down what had to go right to win a title that season, the lasting imprint it left at Ohio State and if this current Buckeyes team can win it all this year. They also take a deep dive into the Buckeyes defense and how good it can be.

Then Tim and Lettermen Row staffer Spencer Holbrook break down every angle of the game — and give their first thoughts on the upcoming Arkansas State matchup.

You will not want to miss this interview and plenty more news and analysis and in another edition of the Tim May Podcast.

Counting down

Buckeyes vs. Arkansas State: 3 day away

Ohio State vs. Michigan: 80 days away

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