| 1 | CHICAGO (AP) -- Ohio State will face one of its toughest tests of the season without its best defensive player and three talented receivers. |
| 2 | The Buckeyes suspended All-America defensive end Joey Bosa, receiver Corey Smith and H-backs Jalin Marshall and Dontre Wilson for their opening game at Virginia Tech because of unspecified violation of athletic department policies. |
| 3 | ''Violation of team policies,'' Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer said Thursday at Big Ten media days. |
| 4 | Meyer did say the violations had nothing to do with players breaking any laws. |
| 5 | He said he has known for a while that the suspensions were coming and that he is ''100 percent supportive'' of the policies. |
| 6 | Ohio State opens its season Labor Day night in Blacksburg, Virginia, looking to avenge a 35-21 loss to the Hokies. |
| 7 | The Buckeyes have won 13 straight since. |
| 8 | ''We're pushing forward,'' Meyer said. |
| 9 | Bosa had 13 1/2 sacks as a sophomore and enters his junior year as one of the top NFL prospects in college football. |
| 10 | Meyer said the Buckeyes will look toward sophomore Jalyn Holmes and redshirt freshmen Sam Hubbard and Darius Slade to help pick up the slack for Bosa. |
| 11 | Marshall was second on the team in receptions as a freshman with 38 and was also the team's best punt returner. |
| 12 | Wilson and Smith combined for 41 catches for 555 yards. |
| 13 | The Buckeyes were ranked No. |
| 14 | 1 in the preseason coaches' poll released Thursday and are likely to be top-ranked in The Associated Press preseason Top 25 when it is released Aug. 23. |
| 15 | Ohio State brings back most of its key players from last year's team, which bounced back from a September loss to the Hokies in Columbus to win the first College Football Playoff. |
| 16 | Bosa might be the best of the Buckeyes. |
| 17 | He had 21 tackles for loss last season, including a game-ending sack in overtime against Penn State. |
| 18 | Marshall was a versatile playmaker the Buckeyes lined up all over the field, including at quarterback at times. |
| 19 | Wilson, a junior, plays a similar role for Ohio State. |
| 20 | A foot injury against Michigan State in November cut his season short and kept him out of spring practice. |
| 21 | Smith, a senior, is in his second season with Ohio State after transferring from junior college. |
| 22 | ''This is just another obstacle,'' linebacker Joshua Perry said. |
| 23 | ''As we say in the building, this is just another E we've got to respond to.'' Perry said E is for event. |
| 24 | The Buckeyes will likely have a new addition at H-Back when preseason practice starts in August. |
| 25 | Braxton Miller has said he will switch from quarterback to receiver, which could help make up for the losses there. |
| 26 | Meyer said the transition of Miller to receiver was a plan B that's been in the works for about a month and a half. |
| 27 | The coach he will personally work with Miller when preseason practice starts before it the staff determines the best way to use the two-time Big Ten player of the year. |
| 28 | ''He's one of the best athletes I've ever coached,'' Meyer said. |
| 29 | ''He's got an incredible first step. |