Surgery pending, OSU RB pushes on

DALLAS — Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott will have surgery on his left wrist after the season. He broke the wrist in August, had surgery and played sparingly in the season’s first three games. Because of a brace on the wrist, he doesn’t carry the ball in his left hand.

“It’s something I had to get used to as the season went on,” the sophomore said. “When I first had surgery, just getting out there and practicing with it and only keeping [the ball] in that [off ] hand. It’s be come second nature, it’s easy.”

It certainly hasn’t affected his performance. Elliott ran for 1,632 yards this year and 14 touchdowns, including a Sugar Bowlrecord 230 yards in the 4235 upset of No. 1 Alabama on New Year’s Day. Elliott has heard how important he is to a victory Monday night — Oregon’s run defense was ranked 66th in the nation, allowing 154.2 yards per game on the ground — and he plans to be up to the task.

“It’s a little bit of pressure, but I know the big guys in front of me, we call them ‘the slobs,’ are going to pave the way,” said the Sugar Bowl’s Most Outstanding Player on offense. Ohio State coach Urban

Meyer reiterated his belief injured quarterback Braxton Miller will return to Columbus for his final year of eligibility despite the glut of talented teammates at the position. There have been rumors Miller could go elsewhere — to Oregon, Florida State or Duke.

“I do expect Braxton to return,” Meyer said Sunday.

Miller was supposed to be a Heisman Trophy candidate before suffering a torn labrum in his right shoulder during fall practice. Having completed his undergraduate degree this month, he would be eligible immediately as a graduate transfer.

If Miller comes back, he would be battling the current starter, sophomore Cardale Jones, and redshirt freshman J.T. Barrett, who enjoyed a stellar campaign, finishing fifth in the Heisman voting, before fracturing his right ankle.

In addition to losing standout redshirt freshman receiver Darren

Carrington to a drug suspension, Oregon also will be without senior RB Ayele Forde, a key member of the Ducks’ special teams unit because of the same infraction.