Dispatch reporters and editors answer readers’ questions about Ohio State athletics each week at BuckeyeXtra.com:

Q: Are the Buckeyes eligible to play in the 2012 Big Ten championship football game if they have the best record in their division? — Bob Miller, Lowellville

A: No. Regardless of its record, Ohio State’s 2012 season ends on Nov. 24 against Michigan, just as the NCAA wrote in December in its summary of penalties imposed on OSU: “The institution’s football team shall end its 2012 season with the playing of its last regularly scheduled, in-season contest and shall not be eligible to participate in any postseason competition ... (including) an end-of-season conference championship game.” Similarly, Southern California’s record in the Pac-12 South Division was two games better than any other team’s, but the Trojans’ postseason ban allowed UCLA to represent the division. — Tim May

Q: What value is there in what Thad Matta and other basketball coaches do in benching a star player after his second personal foul? It is in effect fouling out the player, much to the delight of the opposing coach. Against Indiana, benching Jared Sullinger for most of the first half turned an 11-point advantage into a one-point halftime deficit. Why not wait until the fourth personal? — Howard Byer, Gahanna

A: If you wait until the fourth personal, then that player will have four personals for the entire second half, in effect neutering him as a defender. Sullinger said Indiana was able to go to the basket with impunity against him late in the game because he had four fouls and could not defend. Pulling a player in the first half with two fouls is pretty much standard operating procedure among coaches. Give him a two-foul limit in the first half — that gives him three to play with in the second half, when most games are won or lost. — Bob Baptist

Q: With such a weak linebacker corps this season and no real big-time recruits to replace them, how will Urban Meyer fix this weakness that Ohio State fans are not used to seeing? — Jonathan Christoffersen, Murfreesboro, Tenn.

A: There was no question that linebacker play was not up to snuff in 2011, and the most consistent player from that unit, Andrew Sweat, is graduating. The good news is that Ryan Shazier looks like a star. Beyond that, there are questions. Curtis Grant, who was last year’s top-rated recruit, was slow to catch on to the Buckeyes’ system and might be used as a hybrid pass-rushing end/linebacker. His development will be key. Etienne Sabino also had a disappointing year but will look to build off a strong performance in the Gator Bowl. Storm Klein also returns and will be in the mix. OSU has only two commitments from linebackers for this recruiting class. No doubt, Meyer would like to add to that. — Bill Rabinowitz