season, posting a 5-2 record as the starter while incumbent Ricky Ray was injured.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State coach Urban Meyer has reason to feel a little unsettled as his team begins preparations for the 2016 season. He has to find replacements for his best offensive player, his best defensive player and other key parts of a squad that finished 12-1 last year and ranked No. 4 in the nation.Ezekiel Elliot, one of the best running backs in Buckeyes history, departed early for the NFL, as did defensive end Joey Bosa. Both were stalwarts in the 2014 national championship run and right on through last season. Just six starters from last year will be in camp this fall.The good news: Quarterback J.T. Barrett enters a season as the undisputed starter for the first time after taking over for Cardale Jones at mid-season last year. In 2014, Barrett led the Buckeyes to an 11-1 record before breaking his ankle in the Michigan game and giving way to Jones, who led the team to the national title.I anticipate he will be as good a quarterback as weve had, Meyer said. Its his show and he knows it, and hes prepared.Middle linebacker Raekwon McMillan, a second-team All-American who was one of the Big Tens top tacklers, will anchor a defense with a ton of potential -- including Bosas little brother, Nick, an incoming freshman defensive lineman.Freshmen and other inexperienced players will see extensive playing time on both sides of the ball and must perform for the Buckeyes to have success. A true freshman might even start on the offensive line, an exceedingly rare occurrence at Ohio State.But that doesnt necessarily mean it will be a rebuilding year for the Buckeyes. For Meyer, a master recruiter, its always a matter of waiting for the next crop of All-Americans to come of age and take over the team.We have a lot of momentum here at Ohio State right now, he said. We cant lose it just because we lost some great players.Some things to watch as the season arrives:THE GROUND GAMEWith Elliott now in camp with the Dallas Cowboys, Ohio State enters fall practice without an established running back. The teams most experienced back, fifth-year senior Brionte Dunn, was dismissed last month for violating an unspecified team rule. That leaves redshirt freshman Mike Weber and true freshman Antonio Williams, both highly regarded prep players Meyer has raved about. Weber likely will be the starter, and look for H-back Curtis Samuel to get a share of the touches, too.ABOUT THOSE RECEIVERSOhio States three best receivers from 2015 are gone. The four players expected to step up as top pass-catchers -- Noah Brown, Corey Smith, Dontre Wilson and Samuel -- were recovering from injuries and didnt participate in spring practice, opening the door for youngsters like Terry McLaurin, Parris Campbell and Torrance Gibson, all of whom had their shining moments in the spring game. Meyer needs one of them to emerge as the guy who can consistently get open and catch the deep ball.KEY GAMESSept. 17 at Oklahoma; Oct. 15 at Wisconsin; Nov. 19 at Michigan State; Nov. 26 vs. Michigan.SEASON OPENERSept. 3 vs. Bowling Green: The Buckeyes may have to work up a sweat dispatching the Falcons, one of the Mid-American Conferences better teams. Its the first of two tuneup games Ohio State will play at home before traveling to Oklahoma for an early-season showdown.PREDICTIONDespite losing a lot of experienced players, the Buckeyes have the talent to remain among college footballs elite teams. An 11-1 finish seems likely, with potential stumbles at Wisconsin or perhaps against Michigan.---Online:AP College Football website: http://collegefootball.ap.org/---Follow Mitch Stacy at http://www.twitter.com/mitchstacy Cheap Adidas Superstar Shoes .com) - Yankee Stadium is the home of the Bronx Bombers, but on Sunday afternoon it will open its gates to host the latest addition of the Hudson River Rivalry. Cheap Adidas Shoes China . During the athletes parade, the 23-strong Ukrainian team was represented by a lone flagbearer in an apparent protest at the presence of Russian troops in Ukraines Crimean peninsula. http://www.wholesalefashionsuperstar.com/cheap-adidas-superstar-white.html .ca NHL Power Rankings for the second straight week, ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Colorado Avalanche. Cheap Adidas Superstar Womens . Scott Kazmir allowed four hits in seven shutout innings, Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning and the Indians maintained their hold on an AL wild-card spot with a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night. Adidas Superstar White Wholesale . Collaros, 25, was solid last season, posting a 5-2 record as the starter while incumbent Ricky Ray was injured. Collaros also started Torontos 23-20 regular-season finale loss to Montreal — Ray didnt dress because the Argos had already clinched first in the East Division — but was one of three quarterbacks to play that day. EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State defensive lineman Malik McDowell is skipping his senior season to enter the NFL draft, where he is a potential first-round pick.The 6-foot-6, 276-pound McDowell led the Spartans with seven tackles for losses, despite sitting out of three games with an apparent leg injury, and was named to The Associated Press All-Big Ten team. As a sophomore last year, he helped Michigan State win the Big Ten title and advance to the College Football Playofff.dddddddddddd McDowell had 24 + tackles for losses, including 7 + sacks, in 23 starts and 36 games.Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio says McDowell is an extremely gifted player with the mindset to succeed at the next level.McDowell made his announcement Tuesday.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 ' ' '