Ohio State defeats Buffalo 42-20

Ohio State linebacker Ryan Shazier had to be carted off the field in the second quarter of Saturday's 40-20 win against Buffalo. This week, the OSU defense will encounter a San Diego State team that ran 99 plays in its opener.

(Marvin Fong, The Plain Dealer)

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The most essential elements for the Ohio State defense the next two weeks might be hydrogen and oxygen.

The late-August heat forced four Buckeyes from Saturday's season-opening win against Buffalo, including quarterback Braxton Miller, who twice exited the game because of cramping. Receiver Evan Spencer and linebackers Ryan Shazier and Josh Perry also missed time.

"We can't have guys leave the game," OSU coach Urban Meyer said Monday.

Shazier had to be carted off the field in the second quarter and taken to the locker room to receive fluids. Miller, who also cramped up during last year's opener against Miami, said he felt like he played more than four quarters.

With temperatures this weekend in Columbus again expected to approach the mid-80s, the players have grasped the necessity for a steady dose of H2O.

"I'm pretty sure the guys learned their lesson with hydration," said junior cornerback Doran Grant. "You just have to hydrate all week."

Buffalo ran 67 plays in its 40-20 loss at Ohio Stadium. The Buckeyes' next two opponents -- San Diego State and California -- both ran 99 plays in their opening tilts. Both teams attempted 64 passes, compared to only 35 rushes.

Last season, San Diego State prided itself on a run-based offense. The reigning Mountain West Conference co-champions rushed the ball on 65 percent of their possessions during the 2012 campaign.

In their 40-19 loss to Eastern Illinois on Saturday, however, the Aztecs played from behind for the final three quarters. Running back Adam Muema, who totaled a team-high 1,458 yards on the ground last season, departed in the first half with a low ankle sprain. Thus, coach Rocky Long's team was forced to wear out the arm of quarterback Adam Dingwell, who completed 27 of 63 passes and threw four interceptions.

In the end, San Diego State owned the football for 38 of the 60 minutes. Against Ohio State, Buffalo had possession for less than 28 minutes.

"We just found ourselves backed into a corner and statistics tend to get skewed when that happens," said San Diego State quarterbacks coach Brian Sipe. "Absolutely, we want a balanced offense here."

That might be a tall order against Ohio State. The Buckeyes jumped out to a 23-0 lead in the first quarter against Buffalo. From that juncture until the Bulls notched their first score, Buffalo threw the ball on nine of 10 plays.

That is not how San Diego State wants to attack the OSU defense.

"Running the ball is definitely a key part of the game," said Aztecs tackle Bryce Quigley. "We have to be able to run the ball and that starts with the offensive line up front."

OSU's offense did not exactly help matters, though the group can hardly be blamed. Three of the Buckeyes' touchdown drives took 80 seconds or fewer, which left the defense little time to catch its breath.

The defensive players decided not to let that function as an excuse.

"Knowing it's going to be hot and playing a lot of reps, you know you have to take care of your body," Grant said.

The Buckeyes were short half of their starting secondary on Saturday, as cornerback Bradley Roby served a one-game ban and safety C.J. Barnett rested a balky ankle. Both are expected back this week, so Ohio State will have more bodies to rotate into the lineup.

That does not, however, satisfy the conscience of Meyer, who would prefer to see his players remain on the field, uninhibited by petty, bothersome cramps.

"If you look out there and some guys are cramping or they are not playing, then we've got a problem," Meyer said. "No one has that much depth."