As you may know, Keith is hanging up his keyboard.  It was a great ride and we owe him a debt of gratitude.  Personally, I am very grateful he allowed me to contribute to the site and feel there is still much for me to offer.  So, readers willing, Buckeye Commentary will continue. 
 
Keith had a great style and voice.  While I will not try to replicate it, I will strive to create the same energy, consistency, and creative analysis.  After all, that is what drew me in as a reader years ago.  
 
For now, I am going to keep the site updated, and I am working on some ideas for new features. I'd really like your input on this, as this site is for ultimately for you, and will be posting a survey in the near future.  And yes, your responses and comments will guide the future of Buckeye Commentary, and hopefully keep you coming back (and being less-than-totally-focused at work).
 
Thanks.
-Massey

---

I started Buckeye Commentary three years ago as a way for me to creatively express my thoughts and opinions on Ohio State athletics. In the process, the content was good enough to build a loyal and growing readership. I am proud of that and I want to personally thank everyone of you who have made this site a daily or weekly read. I tried my best to bring you news but also create original work whether it was my game analysis, Feldman(ESPN writer) and Silverman (BTN Prez) interviews, statistical commentary or video collection.

It's with great pleasure that I see the site continue onward under Massey. He shares my passion for Ohio State sports and I know he has some very good ideas for the site in the months to come. Again many thanks to Massey, past and current contributors (Sam Anderson, John Russell) and all the readers who have shown their support. There may be a bump or two in the road as we migrate the domain and hosting but stick around. The site is in good hands.

Go Bucks,
Keith Courter

Lucky No. 7: The Buckeyes received their seventh commitment for 2009 on Tuesday.  Chris Fields, a 6'1", 180 lbs wide receiver from Harvey High School in Painesville, runs faster than you or me - 4.39 in the 40, to be exact.  It is not that I am disappointed, but I would really like to see a stud running back or the next great defensive tackle commit.  Still, the draw to play for Ohio State seems to be at an all time high.  Sure, early commitments is an increasing trend, but for a program that has been very selective, it appears the Buckeyes are getting some players they have initially targeted. 

Cut the halftime: The NCAA is at it again.  They want to shorten the length of games.  This time by changing up the play clock.  Call me Scrooge, but how about shortening halftime to the NFL length: 12 minutes?  College football and the NFL have been trending together for years (see next topic) and I do not see any reason why half time should be any different.  Hell, at NFL games you can buy beer, so there is a compelling reason to stand in the insufferable concession lines.  And, if you are not attending the game, watching Jon Saunders and crew bumble their way through meaningless first half highlights is a veritable punishment.  I know what you are thinking, "I love watching The Best Damn Band In The Land at the half."  Sure, but how many show tune medleys can you sit through?  Personally, I have seen them perform the Jon Williams Star Wars piece about 35 times.  They perform Script Ohio at the beginning of most games, anyway.  And, truth be told, most schools do not even have watchable bands.  I would rather watch those fast dogs catching Frisbees while jumping through flaming hoops for 10 minutes than sit through that nonsense.    I am probably in the minority here in central Ohio.  I get it.  I know I am in the majority around the rest of the college football landscape. 

Roy Williams back in college?: Despite having left Oklahoma a few years ago, Roy Williams is still having an effect on the college game.  (Deep breath Texas fans; Chris Simms is not involved this time.)  Rules are rules, and I usually do not feel compelled to talk at length about these types of modifications.  But, I think this rule change is overdue.  It does not change the flow of the game and attempts to prevent unnecessary injury.  On a side note, the NCAA is proposing to eliminate the incidental face mask penalty.  I like that rule and think it was typically enforced evenly.  Oh well, you cannot win 'em all. 

Gray Matters: What do Charlie Weis and Jim Tressel have in common?  Nothing, right?  Well, Yahoo Sports has come up with something and Ohio State fans may be a little nervous.  Yahoo Sports has been on a serious role recently as they ramp up their efforts to take on ESPN, breaking some key stories ahead of the "Worldwide Leader."  Far be it from me to take a serious position on this.  NCAA rules are too crazy to analyze (ham sandwich anyone?), so I will leave this one to the pros. 

at·ten·u·ate  [uh-ten-yoo-eyt]
–verb (used with object)
 
1. to weaken or reduce in force, intensity, effect, quantity, or value: to attenuate desire.
2. become weaker, in strength, value, or magnitude.
3. the feeling I have when thinking about the recruiting process for Terrelle Pryor, who still is not any closer to making a decision almost two weeks after signing day. 
 
I do not begrudge Mr. Pryor the right to take his time.  After all, the NCAA rules allow it (he has until April 1, 2008 to sign a letter of intent).  But I do question his need to hold a press conference to say nothing.  Moreover, there are plenty of other all-world recruits that did not feel the need to court the limelight, hire a current NFL quarterback as their adviser, or add and delete schools from his list with regularity.  In fact, Julio Jones, the WR from Alabama, who many consider to be the top rated player in the country never spoke publicly about his recruiting process.  He simply announced his decision on Signing Day.  Sure, there was some drama but only because the fans have created that arena. 
 
You could substitute the word "weary" or even "indifference" and I would not argue.  But the level of national media attention this entire episode has received has worn me out.  Perhaps, my feelings are tainted by the last Ohio State recruit that waited until well after signing day to commit to OSU: Ken-Yon Rambo.  The hype far outweighed the product in that instance. 
 
Don't get me wrong, I hope Pryor commits to Ohio State.  I hope he is the next Vince Young.  I hope he is better than Vince Young.  I just cannot understand what is taking so long.  His on-field decision making better be faster than his off-the-field decision making.  To be sure, I am engaging in hyperbole and taking some artistic license, but it still does not change my feeling.  Am I the only one that feels this way? 

A Pair and a ...:  I am not a recruiting analyst and I do not even play one on the Internet, but I am not going to let that stop me from commenting on the 2008 class now that it is (mostly) assembled.  The three offensive lineman are great and I think the WRs (Posey, Stoneburner, Thomas) are underrated.  Of course, there is the hole at quarterback waiting for Terrelle Pryor. 

But what happened at RB?  There seems to be a giant vacancy there. Devoe Torrence was going to fill that need but Ohio State pulled its scholarship offer and never filled his spot with another RB.  That leaves Ohio State with Beanie Wells and Brandon Saine as the only viable running back options on the active roster (sorry, Mo Wells).  If Beanie gets nicked up at any point the ground game could grind to a halt.  Torrence is undeclared so I suppose there is a chance that he could join the Buckeyes as a member of the '08 class, but I have not heard any rumblings to that effect.  It is not out of the question that the above mentioned Thomas could play RB, but it seems that Ohio State recruited him to play outside. 

And, what happens in 2009?  I do not currently consider the Buckeyes stocked at running back, and there is a better than average chance that Beanie Wells leaves after the 2008 season.  Unless Boom Herron explodes onto the scene (pun intended) the Buckeyes will be paper thin at RB in 2009.  (I could be getting a little ahead of myself.)

Is there a stud junior running back or two that OSU has their eye on?  Perhaps, but right now the Buckeyes are not fulfilling their coaches' desire for "a pair and a spare." 

Coaching tree update: Back in September we mentioned former Ohio State coaches that have moved on to bigger roles with other teams.  Well, add Mel Tucker to that list.  Tucker was recently named the defensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns.  Tucker is not an Ohio State graduate (Wisconsin '95) but he played a major role on Ohio State's 2002 National Championship team coaching Mike Doss and turning Chris Gamble into a excellent CB.  Just like I said before, you have to admire Tressel's ability to recruit coaches as well as players.  

Ohio State received its sixth commitment this past week ... for 2009.  C.J. Barnett is a cornerback from Clayton Northmont High School and at 6'1", 180 lbs, he is a big cornerback to boot.  I point this out for selfish reasons, mostly.  There are two types of defensive recruits that I hope for every year: (1) physical cover corners and (2) gap-clogging defensive tackles. 
 
I do not have a lot of gripes about the current state of Ohio State football.  In fact, I suggested that we may be in the Golden Era of OSU Football.  But one thing that I would like to see is the defense be more aggressive.  More press coverage.  More creative blitzes.  I believe physical CBs that can play bump and run are a big part of those schemes.  The Buckeyes are virtually always more talented than their opponent, so I understand the temptation to line up and say, "Our guys are better than your guys, so we are just going to line up and not do anything fancy."   But, I think the coaches should seek to emphasize that discrepancy by speeding up the game when they are on defense.  I am not saying they should blitz every down, but making a less talented offense fearful of what is coming on the next play can be very disruptive.  Hell, it can even work against talented offenses (see Super Bowl XLII). 
 
Moreover, I think an aggressive defensive is becoming increasingly important as answer to the proliferation of spread offenses (read Michigan).  An aggressive scheme does not allow a quarterback in a spread system as much time to read blocks, and it makes throwing downs even more uncomfortable, i.e., do not let Juice Williams sit back in the pocket and throw into zone coverage.  If a team can play press coverage against a spread team it allows the safeties to cheat up to stop the run more quickly.  You get nine defenders with the eyes in the backfield, instead of drifting into a designated zone when playing a Cover-2.  I also understand the flip side: if the offensive player breaks a couple of tackles a really big gain could be in order. 
 
The Ohio State coaching staff has not shown a great tendency towards press coverage over the least couples of seasons.  Against Michigan and Florida they were content to sit back in a bend-but-don't-break scheme.  They employed largely the same philosophy in 2007.  Would they have won any of the three games they lost in 2006 and 2007 with a more defensive pressure?  Who knows?  But I certainly think it would play to the strengths of a very talented 2008 Ohio State defense. 
 
Zwick Sighting:  Former Ohio State quarterback Justin Zwick is still playing football.  And, close to home.  We all know the saga of Zwick: from uber-heralded Masillon recruit to ersatz Ohio State savior to Troy Smith's backup.  No matter what you think of Zwick as a player you have to respect the classy way he handled his career with the Buckeyes.  He never cried about being replaced after being injured or even after Smith was benched for accepting improper benefits.  He never threatened to transfer.  It is with those thoughts that I wish Zwick good luck.  After all, have could you not root for a former Buckeye who appears to be a class act. 

Please stay, Pete:  I hope Pete Carroll decides to stay at USC, at least for two more seasons.  My interest is not altruistic, but selfish.  When Ohio State plays USC these next two seasons I want the machine that Carroll built to be at full strength.  After all, you have to beat the best to be the best.  While the Buckeyes have been incredibly consistent over the last few seasons, the Buckeyes have not beaten the best teams they have played in the last three seasons.  To be fair, Ohio State has only lost 5 games in the past three seasons, and 3 of those 5 losses came against that season's national champion (Texas, 2005; Florida, 2006; LSU, 2007).  The win in Austin was great and four wins in a row versus Michigan is amazing, but it hurts when you look at the schedule and see that Ohio Staet was beaten by the best opponent they played.  Here's hoping that streak stops when the Buckeyes roll into L.A. this fall. 
 
To be, or not to be:  We all know Terrelle Pryor is the uber-hyped recruit from Pennsylvania deciding between Ohio State and Michigan.  While we all have our reasons to believe that Pryor will sign with the Buckeyes next week, the Detroit Free Press had a nice, impartial piece on the pros and cons of the possibilities and what the  pundits think. 
 
Tell it like it is, Larry:  I stumbled across this excerpt from an interview with ex-Wolverine LB Larry Foote.  In case there was ever any doubt about the priorities in Ann Arbor, at least we know where Larry stands. 

I know I am not the first person to discuss this topic, but has there been a messier divorce than Rich Rodriguez and West Virginia?  I thought Stewart Mandel made a nice analogy when he called West Virginia fans the "psycho ex-girlfriend."  From where I sit, I think this situation is clearly isolated to Mountaineer fans.  Nick Saban, Tommy Tuberville, and Bobby Petrino annually shop for, and take, new jobs.  I will not even mention Dennis Erickson. 
 
Let me start by saying that I have nothing against the West Virginia program, its players, coaches, or fans.  With that said, in my mind there is only reason for the vitriol that WVU fans have been spewing: lack of confidence in the future.  Continuing the analogy of Mandel, that was the best-looking date they were ever going to have, and now he is gone.  You can hear their internal monologue, "It was supposed to be forever.  What happened?"   I do not necessarily believe that to be true, but is the a plausible scenario in my mind. 
 
As is often the case with disappointment, complex emotions manifest in the simple form of scorn towards the departed.  Just like with an ex-lover, you tell your friends how ordinary they were and you augment all of their bad habits and shortcomings.  You can use as much hyperbole as you want because you know they are not coming back, so there is no bridge to burn.  It seems like West Virginia fans, administrators, and boosters are doing the same thing, only via the press and courts.  Rodriguez is not coming back, so what do they care.  Let's just ruin him for the next program.  Sorry Michigan.  
 
To get some perspective on this situation, I talked with a friend of mine getting his PhD in psychology.  Here are some of his thoughts: 

You could relate it to the Kubler-Ross Five Stages of Grieving, but it looks like they're stuck in stage 2.  The difference here between the other coaches you mentioned is that each of the others was a hired gun.  Rodriguez is a native son who still turned his back on his own state for greater riches.  That just reinforces what everyone else tells West Virginia: you're not good enough.  To me, the fact that he left is sad because he really could have done a lot to improve the psyche of a state that is often kicked around.  Instead he just reinforced what many are told is true about them.  I've met many West Virginians and few think they suck like the rest of the country tells them they do.  Yet Rodriguez is a West Virginian and he told his own state that its flagship university was not good enough, at least not as good as Michigan. 

The irony is that he was so revered within the state that he probably could have had the people fired within the athletic department that he supposedly didn't get along with.  Instead he took the easy way out and went to UM.  I personally think the story is quite sad.  What does Morgantown not have that Blacksburg, VA does?  There is no reason he couldn't have stayed and built himself a nice dynasty there, like Beamer did.  If he could pull Noel Devine out of Fla, and could get Terrelle Pryor considering his school, there is no reason he couldn't have built a long-lasting winner in Morgantown.  In the end, what did Michigan really offer him that he couldn't get in Morgantown?  If the contract numbers we are told are true, then not much.

For me, this situation is a commentary on the importance that college sports, especially college football, has in our society.  That is about it.  I do not think less of Rodriguez, West Virginia fans, or their program.  I just think they got caught up in the emotion of something that has become very important to all of us.  Probably too important. 

If you are like me, you are really bored with sports these days.  Sure, the NFL conference championships are this Sunday, but that is only two games in one afternoon.  For whatever reason, I do not have the desire to follow the NFL on a day-to-day basis like I do college football.  Every year in mid August,  I become overjoyed at the prospect of college football dominating my weekends.  I mentally prepare to watch every minute I can and I will watch any palatable college game.  Put two BCS conference opponents on the same field and there is a good chance I will tune in. Knowing that specific feeling is eight months away and the frustration setting in, I give you the Five Things I most looking forward to in the 2008 season (in no specific order). 
 
1.  Ohio State v. USC: Okay, I lied.  This is No. 1 on the list by a long shot.  I am talking more about the spectacle of the event.  No doubt, it will be the ABC Primtetime Game with Musburger and Herbstreit.  I am not foolish enough to predict a win, or even a competitive game.  Too much will happen between now and September 13, but it will be exhilarating for every Ohio State, USC, and college football fan to watch those two teams line up against one another. 
 
2. The seniors talk about returning for their final year:  It has received a little ink so far but you will really start to hear about the decisions of Boone, Freeman, Jenkins, Laurinaitus, and Robiskie once spring practice and the NFL Draft are out of the way.  Make no mistake, I am excited that each player decided to return but this adds even more pressure to an Ohio State program that is soaking in it right now.  This past season was all about redemption and showing the nation that Buckeyes were better than Glendale.  This coming is all about the seniors that skipped an opportunity to play for pay.  Will the third time be a charm for these guys?  Will there even be a third time? 
 
3. Cameron Heyward: Newsflash - Heyward is going to be a superstar, but you knew that already.  There is going to be so much talent on the defense that opposing blocking schemes are not going to be able to focus on the sophomore from Suwanee, GA.  After an offseason in the weight room, at the training table, and learning the intricacies of the defense, I think it is a safe bet that Heyward will be able to beat most blockers.  We will get an early look at his progess in the aforementioned USC game against their talented offensive line and complex formations.  I cannot wait to watch this guy. 
 
4. Ohio State's Quarterback Situation:  Maybe it is like this for every college program, but this position causes the Buckeyes (and me) almost constant strife.  Tood Boeckman is no different.  Ohio State played 5 good or great teams in their last five games this season and, in my opinion, Boeckman had one good game - @ Penn State.  He has been in the program for a long time, had 7 games to hone his games, and a great running game, and still disappointed when the games got tough.  He threw away the Illinois game, was not allowed to throw against Michigan, and was totally rattled by LSU.  I am not calling for his benching, but I am demanding he get better or allow someone else to try.  If he does not, this will be the same Ohio State team next season ... at best. 
 
5. The Initial BCS Rankings on October 18, 2008:  Will the pundits lose their minds if Ohio State is ranked #1 or #2 in the first BCS Poll?  There is a good chance of this happening.  Ohio State will surely be highly ranked to begin the season and plays USC in Week 3.  A victory out west would could catapult them to #1, where they should remain at least through the first rankings.   Will my television explode as Mark May angrily recounts the Buckeyes' past two BCS game performances?  I hope this one comes true.  It is worth seeing Mr. May have a mental breakdown on air. 

We're breaking the mold here at Buckeye Commentary. I asked all of the contributing writers to pen some thoughts and prediction for the game. I add mine at the very bottom. Without further ado:

John Russell:
The last time Jim Tressel faced Les Miles in a bowl game, his Buckeyes were able to out-athlete Oklahoma State on their way to an easy victory. He will not have that luxury this time, as LSU is easily the most talented team OSU will face this season. The key to the Buckeyes' attack will be the ability of the offensive line, particularly on the interior, to give Todd Boeckman time to pass. If they succeed, Boeckman and his receivers have the ability to do some damage against the LSU secondary. However, if the pressure gets to Boeckman, Buckeye fans are all too familiar with what can happen (see: Illinois). The effective threat of the pass will only help Beanie Wells as he does the rest of the work to carry the Buckeye offense.

On defense, OSU should match up far better with LSU than they did Florida a year ago. LSU tends to feature a more traditional attack. While their athletes are very talented, they have not been quite as explosive as one might initially expect. For example, Early Doucet, widely regarded as one of the top senior WRs in the country, has in fact only averaged 9.5 yards per catch in what has been an injury plagued season. Jacob Hester, while a tough and hard-nosed runner, had only one run longer than 22 yards all season. If the Buckeyes can keep LSU from converting any big trick plays, they should at least be competitive in containing the LSU offense.

LSU has everything going for them in this game. The home crowd. A talented roster. Veteran leadership. A fiery coach. But the Buckeyes seem focused and ready for redemption. The prediction of an eternal optimist: 24-17 Ohio State.

Prediction: Ohio State 24-17

Sam Anderson:
When I watched LSU play earlier in the year I thought to myself, “we are two touchdowns better than that team.” I am not going to stray away from what I thought then. There is no better game strategist in college football than Jim Tressel.
It doesn’t help that the game is 80 miles away from LSU, however, with trips to Washington, Purdue, Penn State, and Michigan this team is prepared to play on the road. Also, is there any doubt that there will be 100,000 Buckeye fans making a pilgrimage to New Orleans in order to support Tressel and Crew?

Prediction: Buckeyes: 31-14

Massey:
Whether you like it or not, these teams are very even.   Since 2002, Ohio State is 66-10 (.868) and LSU is 63-15 (.807).  Each team has had great success in BCS Bowls (Ohio State 3-1, LSU 3-0), each with a Crystal Football on their mantle.  And, the last team to defeat each squad just got punished in their respective bowl game.  

So, what can I use to determine advantages in this game?  I will not bore you with OSU stats and player match ups.  If you are reading this, you know it all.  This time it is nothing scientific, just instinct.  There are a few thing that keep floating to the front of my mind.  The first makes me confident and nervous at the same time (and I imagine it does the same for LSU fans).  It's that gambler's streak that Miles seems to have passed along to the team.  They appear to be confident at all times and are willing to risk everything.  That is a great swagger to have but it can get you in trouble in a hurry.  In my mind, LSU's 11-2 is as close to being 13-0 as it is to being 7-5.  They were 12 for 15 on 4th down this season.  At first blush I say, "Wow, that is really impressive."  And, then I think, "Why do they have to go for it on 4th down so often?"  Because they are often losing late in games.  Of course, if they continue to be so successful on 4th down then the Buckeyes' defense is going to have a tough time getting off the field.  Still, I love Ohio State's chances if they have a fourth quarter lead in the game.  

Second, they are too careless.  Don't get me wrong, they are very talented, but they make a lot of mistakes.  Did you know that  LSU led the SEC in penalties with 113 for 844 yards on the season.  By contrast, Ohio State only had 65 for 491 yards.  With the way Tressel play field position, penalties can have a magnified effect on the game.  

Finally, what is going on with their red zone defense?  On the season, LSU's opponents were 30 for 35 in the red zone (86%) scoring 22 TDs (63%).  Yikes!  Their opponents' numbers are even more impressive when they were ranked opponents (14 for 16 for 12 TDs) and when LSU lost (11 for 11 for 9 TDs).  And, at home with the Death Valley crowd howling?  Their opponents were 15 for 16 for 12 TDs.  Goodbye Superdome home field advantage.  

There are hundreds of other factors I could focus on, but those are the three that keep coming up in my head.  In the end, a couple of costly penalties and a big stop by the Buckeyes' defense on 4th down will seal the victory.  

Prediction: Ohio State 21, LSU 18

Keith Courter:
The others have condensed it very nicely. The only thing I'll say is I'm excited and nervous and I can't help but think this time will be different.

Prediction: Ohio State 27-21

Ohio State has a very storied college football history.  We all know it:  seven Heisman Trophy winners,  fourth highest winning percentage, 786 victories, 32 Big Ten Championships, and 7 National Championships.   Not to mention the 52 former players in the NFL, including 66 first-round draft picks.  So, saying that this could be the best current era for the Buckeyes would be saying a lot. But the numbers might support it.  

From 2002 through this season, Ohio State is 66-10 (.868), with one National Title (possibly two), three championship game appearances,  4 Big Ten Championships.  Has there ever been such a prolonged run of success in Ohio State' great history?There are a few candidates that immediately jump out.

In the recent past, from 1993-1998, the Buckeyes put together a nice run: a record of 62-12-1, three 11-win seasons, 3 Big Ten Championships, and two #2 final AP rankings.  Not bad, but still not on the level of the current streak.  Next, if you look back to the Woody Hayes and Earle Bruce years, you will notice a great 10 year stretch from 1968-1977.  For starters, there is the 91-16-2 (.844) record and two National Championships (1968, 1970).  Perhaps the Buckeyes' most amazing accomplishment was winning 9 of 10 Big Ten Championships during that time.  Think about that for a second.  How would you feel if OSU won 7 of the next 8 Big Ten titles?  I am guessing you would thump your chest at opposing opponents every you chance you got.  Or, maybe you would simply get tired (and sore) from celebrating. Finally, there was 1954-1961.  Ohio State had a record of 56-14-4 (.783) and that includes a 3-5-1 clunker in 1959.  The Buckeyes won three National Championships and 4 Big Ten Championships. Very impressive, indeed.  

I am sure we cannot all agree on which of these epochs is the greatest, but I am sure we can all agree that we are very fortunate to be watching one of the best eras in Ohio State history.  

Season For Giving: Tis the season for giving, and it is times like these that I think we all owe Andy Geiger a hearty thanks. Mr. Geiger was a lot of things, but he certainly did much for the football program.  First, he presided over the renovation of Ohio Stadium making it the finest college football facility in the country.  Anyone who says otherwise is just being contrarian. If that was not enough, he then hired a little-known D-II coach named Tressel, instead of the crown favorite, Glen Mason.  So, next time you watch the Buckeyes, especially at home, think of Andy Geiger and of his many contributions to the current success of the Buckeyes.

Remember 1998?  The Buckeyes were cruising along at No. 1 until unranked conference opponent wandered into the Horseshoe and stole the Ohio State's thunder.  Kind of like this season.  

Let me stop you here.  I know you are cursing me under your breath, wondering why I would bring up one of Ohio State's darkest hours at a time like this. (And, you are probably wondering why I linked to that picture at the start, too.)  

If you take a deep breath and remember the conclusion of that season you will find something beyond the beat down of Texas A&M.  Something far more very precious.  Hope.  

Hear me out on this one.  Ohio State had been the consensus No. 1 all season and was atop the BCS standings.  Yet, after the Michigan State loss, Ohio State had fallen from 1st to 8th when the 3rd edition of the BCS standings came out on November 7, 1998.  Tennessee, UCLA, and Kansas State were each undefeated and ranked 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, respectively.  Florida State, Florida, Texas A&M, and Arkansas (also undefeated) were all in front of the Buckeyes. It was hopeless, the pundits said.  There was no way Ohio State could make it to the title game with multiple teams from the same conference in front of them.  Sound familiar?  (By the way, Michigan was ranked 19th in those same BCS Standings.)

But a funny thing happened on the way to the Fiesta Bowl (that season's championship game).  The teams in front of the Buckeyes started dropping out of the way while the Buckeyes finished the season in dominating fashion.  

Arkansas lost the very next week.  Ohio State moved to 7th.  The next week Florida lost.  Now the Buckeyes were sixth.  Then the real fun started.  The Aggies lost the last week of the regular season, but were still guaranteed a spot in the Big12 Title Game.  Ohio State moved up to 5th in the BCS Standings.  

With one week to go the Buckeyes were finished playing with no foreseeable chance of playing for the BCS Title.  Then, at noon, on the last Saturday of the year, No. 2 UCLA lost a heart breaker to Edgerrin James and Miami.  A few hours later, Texas A&M beat previously undefeated, No. 3 Kansas State in overtime.  By 8:00 p.m. that evening, two of the four teams ahead of the Buckeyes had fallen.  

If somehow, some way, Mississippi State could beat Tennessee in the SEC Title Game, Ohio State would most likely play Florida State in the Fiesta Bowl for the national title.  Sure enough, midway through the fourth quarter, Tennessee was b ehind 14-10.  Unfortunately, Tennessee scored two late touchdowns to hold off a tenacious Mississippi State squad, and Ohio State was forced to  pummel Texas A&M.  

What does this all mean?  The point is that Ohio State is not done yet.  Was that a crazy finish to the 1998 season?  Yeah.  But, was it crazier than the 2007 season?  Nope.  Could that one last team fall this season?  Absolutely.  So, don't despair Buckeye fans.  

Of course, it will all be for naught without a win this weekend.  Once again, The Game is for more than just a Big Ten Championship.  It is for Hope, too.  

Plan B: Of course, if you find the preceding too much to believe in, just go to PoorSportz to relieve some stress (and exact some Internet revenge).  

Rank	Team	Delta	Comments
1	Oregon	1	I am not as convinced of this ranking as I once was.  Justify yourselves, Ducks, by blowing out Arizona on Thursday night.
2	LSU	1	This weekend should provide very little challenge.  Ditto the following week.  We will have to wait for the SECCG for their next live opponent.
3	Oklahoma	1	If they win out I will vote them in the Top 2, which is all that really matters (if this poll mattered, which it doesn't). They may already have the most impressive pair of wins this season (Missouri and Texas).
4	Missouri	1	They have a tough finishing kick @ Kansas St. and @ Kansas, with a potential Big12CG after that.  If they win out, how can you not vote them No. 1?
5	Kansas	1	See Missouri.
6	Ohio State	5	The Buckeyes need to win at Michigan to win the Big Ten, prevent a trip to Orlando, and retain a thread of hope for the BCS Title Game.
7	Georgia	2	They need some help to get to the SECCG where they could give LSU a game.  Their rejuvenated offense could be scary next season.
8	West Virginia	1	They play 3 of the top 4 Big East teams to finish the season.  You can decide if you think that is worth anything.
9	Arizona State	1	They are off this week preparing for a Thanksgiving showdown with USC.  I do not think they can afford to take the first quarter off in that one.
10	Southern Cal	3	I thought they would defeat California more soundly.  A big win on against ASU might make me believe in them.
11	Florida	4	Hello Citrus Bowl.  Unless they screw it up and lose to Florida State.
12	Texas	2	It was nice of the offense to show after their season was over.  At least they can send Franchione into retirement in style.
13	Virginia Tech	5	Not in a million years would I have guessed that the 11/24 game @ Virginia would be more meaningful than this week's game v. Miami.
14	Tennessee	3	By my calculations, with wins over Vanderbilt and Kentucky (a combined 5-8 in the SEC) the Volunteers go to the SECCG.  How did that happen?  They have lost 3 games by an average of 26 points/game.
15	Illinois	6	They are going to finish 9-3 (6-2).  And, without the aberration against Iowa this is a 10-win team.  Don't forget, they played Missouri to the bell without Juice Williams and a banged-up Mendenhall.
16	Clemson	3	Two weeks ago I was really looking forward to this week's game against Boston College.  It is still a nice game on paper, but BC's free fall has made it less attractive.
17	Virginia	7	I reluctantly admit that this team is good.  How?  I have no idea.  I guess I have to watch them play VT now.
18	Penn State	5	I could be overreaching on this one.  But there is no way I am ranking Boise State or Hawaii in the Top 20.
19	Wisconsin	6	Sure, Penn State slaughtered Wisky.  But the Badgers beat Michigan, something PSU never does.
20	Boston College	10	BC took the express elevator from 2 to 20.  The loss to Maryland was horrible.  They are staring a 3-game losing streak in the face right now.
21	Michigan	10	I should have dropped them out of the poll for mailing it in last week versus Wisconsin.  Resting Hart and Henne was pathetic.
22	Cincinnati	4	This will be the last that you see of them after they get crushed by West Virginia this weekend.
23	Boise State	3	This is purely a vote for nostalgia.
24	Hawaii	2	Mercy vote.
25	Auburn	13	What happened last week?  They have two weeks to regroup for the Iron Bowl.

Rank	Team	Delta
1	Ohio State	--
2	Oregon	--
3	LSU	1
4	Oklahoma	2
5	Missouri	3
6	Kansas	1
7	West Virginia	2
8	Arizona State	5
9	Georgia	1
10	Boston College	5
11	Michigan	--
12	Auburn	1
13	Southern Cal	2
14	Texas	--
15	Florida	1
16	Alabama	4
17	Tennessee	--
18	Virginia Tech	1
19	Clemson	2
20	California	--
21	Illinois	5
22	Connecticut	--
23	Penn State	3
24	Virginia	2
25	Wisconsin	7

Rank	Team	Delta	Comments
1	Ohio State	--	Say whatever you want about the Big Ten but this team consistently performs well and has yet to be challenged in the fourth quarter (Michigan State included).
2	Oregon	--	They played well on a huge stage.  Next up, the 4th ranked Sun Devils.   If you made them #1, I would understand.
3	Arizona State	3	They came from behind with their best player out and their QB dinged up.  If Carpenter is not totally healthy this weekend, they could be in trouble.  They have to win in a shootout.
4	LSU	1	They are not unbeaten and they are not the best one-loss team.  This is their last tough opponent. Will Les Miler outsmart Saban ... or himself?
5	Boston College	--	Winning at Lane Stadium on Thursday night should garner more respect.   So, why do I feel like the Eagles are about to fall apart?
6	Oklahoma	2	Hey Sooners, look better than Kansas did last weekend or prepare to switch with the Jayhawks.
7	Kansas	1	When was the last time Kansas was favored against Nebraksa?  Seriously, when was it?  I have no idea.
8	Missouri	1	Depending on your view of Oklahoma, Missouri could be the best one-loss team in the country.   They finish with 3 of 4 on the road, so that status may not remain for long.
9	West Virginia	3	When no one is watching the Mountaineers are as good as they want to be.   Turn on the bright lights and they cannot get out of their own way.   Fortunately for West Virginia, no one will be watching the rest of the way.
10	Georgia	8	The celebration annoyed me, but the offensive balance was impressive.  The big pass plays and Moreno allowed the Bulldogs to convert 10-13 third downs.
11	Michigan	5	It is a little uncomfortable placing the Wolverines here, but the win against Minnesota is better than you think.  Michigan had trouble converting yards into points, but they were basically starting their B-Team.
12	Alabama	14	Which Alabama team will we get?   The "lights-out" squad that played Tennessee?  Or, the one that got pushed around by Florida State?
13	Auburn	4	Same story as Michigan except they had their starters.  I am trying not to read too much into that game.
14	Texas	7	To make it any higher than this season the Longhorns need to blow out their last three opponents.
15	Southern Cal	5	If you think Oregon is #2, then show some respect to a Trojan team who hung tough on the road with the backup QB.
16	Florida	9	t is strange to rank a three loss team this highly, but I believe they would beat everyone below them (see Tennessee).
17	Tennessee	7	They were reeling at home and found a way to win in overtime.  When it is all said and done, you cannot spell Citrus without UT.
18	Wisconsin	8	The Badgers have won three straight at Ohio Stadium.  Can they make it four?  I doubt it, but they will not go down without a fight.
19	Virginia Tech	6	The defense looked great for 55 minutes, then they went to the prevent defense.  When will coaches learn that is a lead reducing defense?
20	California	6	They have lost three in a row?  How are they ranked you ask?  I am not sure, but I think they would beat the last five teams.
21	Clemson	5	Their two losses are forgivable but they have Wake Forest, BC, and South Carolina coming to town after a tune up against Duke.  They have a chance to climb up this ladder in a hurry.
22	Connecticut	4	I do not believe in the Huskies.  I will not be surprised if they lose their last four games.
23	South Florida	12	While I am at it, I do not believe in South Florida either.  I bet they lose at least one more.
24	Wake Forest	2	Don't look now, but Wake is on its way to another 10 wins if they can beat Clemson in two weeks.
25	Purdue	1	They have zero quality wins, but their losses are against the conference heavyweights, which is more than many two-loss teams can say.

Tidbits:  In case you missed it, the Buckeyes have won 26 consecutive regular season games.  That is a school-record.  Overall, the Buckeyes have won 27 of their last 28 games.   The previous record for consecutive regular-season wins was 21, set from 1967-69.  The Scarlet and Gray have also won 17  straight home games  and 21 of the last 22 games played in the Horseshoe.  Ohio State has won a school-record 18 consecutive Big Ten Conference games, dating to the 17-10 loss at Penn State Oct. 8, 2005.   Ohio State is now 65-9-1 when ranked No. 1 in the country.  

Here We Go Again: If nothing else, SEC fans are immodest and shameless self-promoters. Now that Ohio State and LSU are precariously close in the BCS standings the talk has already begun about what the Tigers would do to poor little Ohio State if they met in New Orleans (that is assuming Ohio State even bothers to show up).  I hear this stuff all the time, but I wondered but the historical data would show.  

A little research tells us that Ohio State is 1-9-1 against SEC teams since 1950.  That is not a misprint. So, you are probably asking yourself, "Why is an ardent Ohio State writing such blasphemy on the best Ohio State blog?!"  Mostly, because I was curious what the record is and because you are bound to hear it over and over again if Ohio State is fortunate enough to play in the National Title game against LSU.  But there is another reason; I wanted to analyze the record.  

So, what is causing this horrible record?  One common theory is that the SEC teams are playing virtual home games in the south.  The mileage says otherwise.  On average, Ohio State has traveled 930 miles, while the SEC team has traveled 765 miles to play each other.  In the days of chartered flights and 4-star hotels, I hardly think the extra 170 miles makes much difference.  Strangely lending some credence to this theory, Ohio State's lone win against the SEC is a home win versus LSU.  Moreover, a bad Ohio State team (4-6-1) beat LSU (8-4) 36-33 with  furious comeback in the fourth quarter. 

The other comment I often hear is that Ohio State (and, Big Ten teams in general) always get bad bowl match-ups.  Because the Big Ten teams draw so many fans, bowls are willing to take lower ranked, high-profile teams to fill seats.  Thus, a mismatch is born.  I have no hard data on this hypothesis beyond the teams' records in the individual year they played.  But, as SEC fans are so apt to say, records can be deceiving.  Ohio State was a cumulative 91-39-3 (.684) in the years it played an SEC team.  The SEC teams were a cumulative 112-23-1 (.829) when playing Ohio State.  That is a big spread, folks.  What makes Ohio State's winning percentage in those seasons even more surprising is that since 1950 the Buckeyes' winning percentage is the best in college football: .754 (465-147-15).  

Finally, I thought I would check to see how other Big Ten teams have fared against the SEC.  Surely, if the mightiest of them all struggles there is no hope for the rest of the league.  Yet, that is not the case.   Michigan is 10-4 against the Southeastern Conference;  Penn State is 15-16; including winning 6 of the last 8, and Iowa is 3-3.  Even the Golden Gophers are 3-1. 

So, is it bad travel schedules, bad match ups, bad teams, or bad luck that has caused OSU's skid?  Most likely a combination of each.  If Ohio State makes it to New Orleans at the end of this season and has to play an SEC team, remember one thing fellow Buckeyes fans:  if Minny can beat them, anyone can.  

Picture Pages:  A new site has been launched called PoorSportz.  It is founded by a local and is poised to become the finest sports trash-talking site on the Web.  It is billed as a site dedicated to the best (worst) fans around.  It is easy to use and will provide you with hours of enjoy (and inactivity at work).  You can browse photos uploaded by fellow fans and arch rivals. Or, you can create your own images and email them around the globe to opposing fans.  Show us what you've got Buckeyes' fans!  

Rank	Team	Delta	Comments
1	Ohio State	--	Welcome back Chris Wells.   Now, stay healthy and the Ohio State ground game is in good hands.  Lost in the close win was the suffocating defense.
2	Oregon	5	This is the best offense in the country.   24 fourth quarter points?   661 yards?   Yikes.  USC may have a nice defense but they may only hold the Ducks to 35 points.
3	LSU	2	The offense looked better with Doucet back, but this team is only a few plays away from having a 3-game losing streak.   How long can they live on the edge?
4	Oklahoma	2	National Champion caliber teams do not struggle with the Cyclones.
5	Boston College	1	Hopefully, the Eagles got all their penalties out of the way against ND.   Otherwise, it will be a long trip home from Blacksburg.
6	Arizona State	3	This is what the world has been waiting for.   ASU v. a real opponent.  The injury to Torain is upsetting, but Keegan Herring has two weeks to get integrated into the offense.
7	Florida	4	The Gators finally finished well.   Now, they have to finish the nasty 4-game stretch this weekend with a 2-2 record.
8	Kansas	4	Teams are gunning for them now and they did win at Colorado – something the Sooners could not do.
9	Missouri	4	hat was an impressive win against Texas Tech the week after the tough loss to OU.   The schedule lets up until the road finale at Kansas.
10	Southern Cal	4	I did not watch one play of the Notre Dame and it would not have proved anything if I had.   If they can get healthy and win this weekend, there is a jump in their future.
11	South Florida	2	This is where they were last week and this is where they stay.   They were not a top-5 team last week, but they do not deserve to be any farther down than this.
12	West Virginia	2	I seriously doubt the Mountaineers will lose again.   That schedule is garbage.   Unless USF loses, I will not rank them ahead of the Bulls.
13	Virginia Tech	2	They have everything going in their favor to get back into the National Title picture. Last time they had this chance, they were destroyed by LSU.
14	California	8	What happened?   Losing to Oregon State with a backup QB is acceptable in this crazy season.   Losing to UCLA is not.   If they can pull it together, they can knock off ASU and USC in the next few weeks.
15	South Carolina	7	They got behind by 17 and were hopelessly lost.   The defense might be very good, but the offense just does not inspire confidence.
16	Michigan	7	The win against Illinois was nice but the injuries are disconcerting.   This week is a bye against Minnesota and then the big finish.
17	Auburn	--	They almost pulled off the unthinkable – winning at LSU, at night.   The same team that lost to Mississippi State at home should have pulled it out. Non matter how you shake it, however, they have lost three games.
18	Georgia	4	They never beat Florida.   In this upside down season, take the Bulldogs.   The defense is playing well on the radar.
19	Kentucky	3	Lost in all the excitement around the Wildcats is their terrible defense.   They gave up 34 to Lousiville, 23 to South Carolina, 29 to Arkansas, 37 to LSU, and 45 to Florida.   What is the over/under on Mississippi State this weekend?
20	Penn State	5	As usual, 20-25 are interchangeable and disposable.   The Lions two losses on the road do not appear to be that bad, but this team has no identity.   The defense shows up against Wisconsin and then takes a vacation against Indiana. What do we get this weekend?
21	Texas	3	Their best win is against TCU.   Ugh. And, they do not play anyone the rest of the way. They need to destroy some folks to get noticed.Their best win is against TCU.   Ugh. And, they do not play anyone the rest of the way. They need to destroy some folks to get noticed.
22	Rutgers	4	Nice win on Thursday.   Now, back it up this Saturday.
23	Virginia	3	They barely win each week, but at least they win. That has to count for something.
24	Tennessee	6	Three road games.   Three huge losses.  Luckily, they only have one road game remaining.   Unfortunately, that is at Kentucky.
25	Hawaii	1	I should probably have ranked a BCS conference team here.   But, these spots don't count this late in the season, so what the hell?

Rank	Team	Delta	Comments
1	Ohio State	2	Has Ohio State beaten anyone?   Their most impressive opponent so far? Try Northwestern.   Purdue and Minnesota are 1-6 in the Big Ten.  These next five weeks will tell the nation a lot about the Buckeyes.
2	Oklahoma	5	Yeah, they lost to Colorado, but unlike other high profile teams, they have bounced back against good competition.   Their schedule is really soft for the rest of the season so we might not learn much more than we know now.
3	Arizona State	2	The schedule has been soft but they are blowing teams out by an average of 23 points per game.   The next four games are v. Cal, @ Oregon, @ UCLA, v. USC.   Hello reality.
4	Boston College	--	I know the score was deceiving and that ND only scored one offensive touchdown, but a top 5 team does not struggle that badly this Irish team.   BC's 15 penalties for 131 yards are unacceptable.   They would have lost to anyone in the Top 10 yesterday.
5	LSU	3	I told you last week that the Tigers had an average offense.   It finally cost them last weekend. I am not confident it will not again.   So, why are they ranked #5 still?   Because all of the teams around them continue struggle as well.
6	California	5	Wow, I did not see that coming.   I have them ahead of Oregon because they won at Autzen.   That cannot be forgotten.
7	Oregon	1	You could rank the Ducks in the Top 3 and I would not argue.   They will certainly have a chance to prove themselves in the coming weeks.
8	South Carolina	2	They did not look great against UNC, but they won which is everything this season.   That Kentucky win looks really nice now.
9	South Florida	3	In the spirit of full disclosure, I thought there was a real chance of an upset last weekend against Central Florida.   I was wrong … really wrong.   I am still having a hard time with this team but they keep winning.
10	West Virginia	5	They have played one decent opponent and lost.   I am not sure they play another one all year.   If they lose again, they should be ashamed.
11	Florida	2	This ranking seems simultaneous low and high considering the two game losing streak.   They have Kentucky next and that will tell me something.
12	Kansas	1	Their schedule is atrocious, but they have beaten everyone.   And, the schedule does not get much more difficult.  They may be undefeated when they play Missouri.
13	Missouri	5	Speaking of, they played a strong game in Norman but the turnovers were too much to overcome late.   They need to bounce back against the Red Raiders or they may be 1-2 in the Big 12.
14	Southern Cal	1	They are trading on their name at this point.   The offense is middle of the pack.   I know they have many injuries, but those are part of the game and really affecting the Trojans rhythm.
15	Virginia Tech	3	I do not believe in this team.   And, now they have a quarterback controversy on their hands.   They need to beat BC to make me a believer.
16	Kentucky	9	They played LSU evenly and did so without their best RB.   They get Florida next week and a win may help set up a rematch against LSU in the SEC Championship game.
17	Auburn	3	I am still having a hard time with the Mississippi State loss, but they have won four straight.   They play at ultra-motivated LSU this weekend at 9:00 p.m.   Uh oh.   At this point in the rankings, all the teams blur together.
18	Tennessee	5	Their only losses are on the road against two pretty good teams. This week the Vols travel to Alabama.   Fulmer was 1-2 against Saban while he was at LSU.
19	Texas Tech	7	They are averaging 500 ypg passing and 50 ppg.   Can Missouri do anything about that?
20	Kansas State	6	The Wildcats are averaging 37 ppg in Big 12 play.   I am sure they will keep that up against a horrible Oklahoma State defense.
21	Illinois	7	Losing to Iowa is bad.   Scoring 6 points against Iowa is even worse.   This is a young team and they need to get over the loss before the Wolverines come to town.
22	Georgia	4	I cannot figure this team out. They may go 1-4 down the stretch if they do not find any consistency.
23	Michigan	3	Is Michigan ready to participate this season?   The passing game looked potent but if Hart is injured they will struggle.
24	Texas	3	I did not even pay attention to the win over Iowa State.   They have weeks to get better before they play Texas Tech.
25	Penn State	1	[Insert 5-2 team here]

This season is nuts.  Do you have faith in any one team against all others?   Do you really see a team out there that is demonstratively better than the rest?   I don't. 

I should mention at this point I am no longer taking the mythical "Conference Power Rankings" into consideration.   Is the SEC better than the Pac 10?   I have no idea and neither do you.   So, let's stop basing individual team rankings on something so vague.   I do not want to hear, "How can Oklahoma be No. 2?   The Big 12 sucks!"   Remember, three weeks ago everyone thought the Big East was great.  Whoops.   

Analysis added. As always, final BlogPoll is posted at MGoBlog weekly and all individual ballots are available for viewing.
 

Rank	Team	Delta	Comments
1	California	--	I honestly think they would beat LSU on a neutral field.  At this moment, their skilled players are the best in the country.
2	LSU	--	Wake up folks, that offense is average.  The defense is spectacular, but Matt Flynn and Jacob Hester are exciting me
3	Ohio State	1	Has Ohio State played anyone?  We may not know until January.  But they certainly look the part at the moment.
4	Boston College	2	They keep winning ... easily.  They need to blow out a "resurgent" ND team this weekend.
5	Arizona State	2	I cannot wait for 10/27 v. California.
6	Oregon	3	Same weekend v. USC.
7	Oklahoma	1	I really thought they would beat Texas by a larger margin.  Here comes a confident Mizzou
8	Missouri	5	That Illinois win looks a lot better now and they have  a chance to make a statement this weekend.
9	Florida	1	There is little shame in losing to LSU and this ranking reflects that.  But they are having a hard time finishing games defensively.
10	South Carolina	5	The defense is fine but the offense needs to get a lot better to move any higher.
11	Kansas	7	Everything was pointing to a big Jayhawks loss in Manhattan.  Yet, KUpassed that test with flying colors.
12	South Florida	1	If you play a close game against Florida Atlantic you do not deserve to be in the Top 10.
13	Southern Cal	10	They were bound to lose this season, but to Stanford?!  Would you bet on USC against Oregon, ASU, or Cal?
14	Illinois	12	They have played well in each game including that loss to Missouri.  Now, will they pull a Michigan State and collapse after experiencing some success?
15	West Virginia	1	Pat White is dinged up and they still play sloppily in their biggest games.  I do not trust this program.
16	Wisconsin	11	The Badgers are upside down.  Passing well, running poorly.  I do not see this season ending well.
17	Cincinnati	3	This is high enough.
18	Virginia Tech	3	This offense is miserable.  How many special teams touchdowns can you count on each game?  Not enough.
19	Florida State	6	I cannot figure out if FSU is about to explode or implode.  We have seen this before.  A couple of well played games and then ... splat.
20	Auburn	6	The loss to Mississippi State bothers me ... a lot.  But they have been impressive these last two weeks.
21	Texas	4	I was tempted to drop them from the rankings but they hung with Oklahoma and that has to count for something.  Injuries are killing them.
22	Colorado	4	I know, I know.  They lost to Florida State.  Did you watch it?  They played well and killed themselves with turnovers and untimely penalties.  Plus, Hugh Charles did not play.
23	Tennessee	3	They deserve this ranking on the Georgia win alone.  Believe it or not, this team may finish 9-3.
24	Purdue	5	What happen to the offense?  Ohio State may have the nation's best defense so we will give them a pass if they turn it back on this weekend.
25	Kentucky	13	They have not really beaten anyone.  A nice performance this weekend would move them up.  A blow out loss precludes them from reentering the poll again.

(Note: Sorry about the formatting. I didn't have enough time to work out the html table issues. Click on Read More to get Massey's ranking comments. - Keith)

First, someone has to be ranked in each spot.  There are no ties.  I know there are vagaries that make it difficult to determine who is truly better than whom but remember, these rankings are subjective.  
 
Second, the teams are ranked based on how good I believe them to be at this moment, not two weeks ago and not how I think they will finish.  The test is whether I believe a team would defeat the team immediately ahead of them on a neutral field this weekend.   

Finally, this is a fluid situation.  Teams may jump five or ten spots in one week, or may drop even when they win.  Likewise, teams may rise when they lose.  This poll will not reward teams simply for winning. Remember, these rankings are subjective.

Rank	Team	Delta
1	California	5
2	LSU	1
3	Southern Cal	1
4	Ohio State	3
5	Wisconsin	7
6	Boston College	2
7	Arizona State	7
8	Oklahoma	5
9	Oregon	--
10	Florida	6
11	South Florida	2
12	Kentucky	3
13	Missouri	7
14	Georgia	3
15	South Carolina	1
16	West Virginia	11
17	Texas	7
18	Kansas	8
19	Purdue	3
20	Cincinnati	4
21	Virginia Tech	2
22	Kansas State	4
23	Nebraska	2
24	Michigan	2
25	Florida State	1

Read More...

We have had five games this month and thus, have learned a great deal.  Here is what we know and don't know about the Buckeyes, the Big Ten and rest of the national scene.
 
WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE BUCKEYES:
 
They listen.  The Buckeyes improved their play in the second half of their first three games and in each game of the season.  It stands to reason that the coaches are preaching a good sermon in the locker room.  The Buckeyes have outscored their opponents by a cumulative 77-17 in the second halves (an average of 19-4) and the defense has given up one touchdown in garbage time to Washington. 

Ginn, who?  Through 4 games Brian Robiskie has 20 receptions for 431 yards and 5 TDs.  Ted Ginn, Jr. in 2006 in the same span had 16 receptions for 268 yards.  Now, I know what you are thinking, "Teddy had to share the ball with Gonzalez."  So, add in Gonzalez's 19 receptions for 296 yards and you get a total of 35 catches for 564 yards.  That means Robiskie is accounting for 75% of Gonzo's and Ginn's production.  And, if you add in Hartline's 16 catches for 175 yards and you have a more productive duo than last year.  Hard to believe, huh?  

The defense works: Every year the Ohio State defense seems to produce and this season is no different.  Currently, the Buckeyes are ranked first or second in every major defensive statistical category in the Big 10.  Meanwhile, they reside in the top 10 in the nation in those same categories. 



Category	National Rank	OSU Avg.	National Leader	Avg.	Conf. Rank	Conf. Leader	Avg.
Rush Def	7	57.50	LSU	26.75	2	Penn State	54.75
Pass Def.	3	79.95	LSU	67.69	1	Ohio State	79.95
Total Def.	2	177.75	LSU	161.50	1	Ohio State	177.75
Scoring Def.	3	7.25	Kansas	5.75	1	Ohio State	7.25
Net Punting	9	39.17	Georgia Tech	44.09	1	Ohio State	39.17

WHAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE BUCKEYES:  
 
Depth:  Chris Wells has been prone to some injuries in the past so what happens if he is nicked up for a couple of games.  In my opinion but Brandon Saine is the second best running back on the roster. With Saine down right now that leaves only Maurice Wells to carry the load, something I have yet to see.  I hope I never know the answer to this question.  

Can Ohio State Stop a capable passing attack: Here are the national rankings for Ohio State's opponent's passing offenses: 

Akron	110th
Washington	88th
Northwestern	47th

Those rankings are terrible so, naturally, Ohio State's corresponding defensive statistics should be stellar.  And, I recognize the other side of this logic, i.e. , their numbers are so bad because they played the Ohio State defense.  So, like we said at the outset, we don't know how good the Ohio State pass defense is yet. We will get a true sense of their prowess on October 6th, when they play at Purdue.  The Boilermakers are averaging 325 ypg and Curtis Painter has thrown 16 touchdowns and only 1 interception. 

Additionally, I know there are no transitive properties in college football, but we will get a better sense of Ohio State's defense when Washington hosts USC and Northwestern plays Michigan this Saturday.

Around the nation: Looks like Tim Beckman should assert some of his former head coach's cool upon Mike Gundy and the Oklahoma State program.  I think it is fair to say that Jim Tressel would never have had a moment like Mike Gundy did last weekend.  Gundy lost his temper in the most unprofessional manner possible - an unprepared, emotional tirade.  Not only are his Cowboys struggling mightily, but he cannot even handle the local press ... in Oklahoma City.  He is clearly not ready for prime time.

I think most of you are familiar with the BlogPoll? Well, we're back to casting our ballot. BC took a hiatus to focus on other things but we've rounded back and here we are:

Rank	Team	Delta
1	LSU	25
2	Southern Cal	24
3	Oklahoma	23
4	Florida	22
5	West Virginia	21
6	California	20
7	Ohio State	19
8	Boston College	18
9	Oregon	17
10	Texas	16
11	Clemson	15
12	Wisconsin	14
13	South Florida	13
14	Arizona State	12
15	Kentucky	11
16	South Carolina	10
17	Georgia	9
18	Alabama	8
19	Rutgers	7
20	Missouri	6
21	Penn State	5
22	Purdue	4
23	Virginia Tech	3
24	Cincinnati	2
25	Nebraska	1

With one-fourth of the season completed and the Buckeyes sitting at 3-0, I think we are all breathing a sigh of relief. There were questions about Chris Wells being able to carry the ball 25 times and whether Boeckman was the answer at QB. Admittedly, it did not look good in the first two weeks, but Ohio State played their best game in the toughest environment to date. Perhaps they were complacent at home or tremendously motivated on the road. Either way, it is encouraging to see them rise to the occasion.

Immediately ahead is Northwestern. You will have to indulge me for a few sentences and bandwidth. Northwestern lost to Duke last weekend. I repeat, they lost to Duke. And, the worst part of that loss? (I know what you are thinking, “It can get worse?") is that loss cost them an opportunity to be removed from the Dubious Records Register. As you may or may not know, Northwestern owns the longest losing streak in the Division I history (now called Football Bowl Subdivision). They lost 34 games from 1979-1982. Well, Duke showed up on Saturday nursing a 25-game losing with virtually no winnable games ahead (maybe Navy, but they are a 10.5-point underdog this weekend). Therefore, Duke was sure to lose its last ten games, thus running its record losing streak to 35 games. Alas! But I digress.

So, with the shame of the loss and the weight of a giant missed opportunity burdening their psyches you would figure to give the Wildcats very little chance. You would be right. Ohio State is a 22.5-point favorite at home this weekend but I think that speaks to a potential hangover by the Buckeyes and not to what Northwestern brings.

Here is the tale of the tape: Ohio State is 30-2 against Northwestern over the last 40 years. The average score of those games is 39-11. Northwestern’s last win in Ohio Stadium was November 13, 1971, a 14-10 victory. Overall, the Wildcats last win was October 2, 2004 in Evanston.

NU’s National Offensive Rankings

	Avg.	Rank
Rushing Yards	168.3	48th
Passing Yards	283	27th
Total Yards	451	29th
Scoring	25.7ppg	69th

Translation: Northwestern is gaining a lot of yards but having trouble turning those yards into points. Why? If you guessed turnovers you would be wrong. The Wildcats have a plus one turnover margin and have only given up 2 all year. They are one of the most penalized teams in the country with approximately 70 yards per game, but a lot of those are from last week when they had 13 penalties for 125 yards. The most basic assessment one can glean from these numbers is that Northwestern simply has trouble executing (ie: they were stopped on 4th down four times v. Duke all deep in Duke territory). Whether it is penalties or missed assignments they keep hurting themselves.

NU’s National Defensive Rankings

	Avg.	Rank
Rushing Yards	125.3	50th
Passing Yards	245	79th
Total Yards	370	68th
Scoring Def.	17.0ppg	22nd

Translation: Again, these numbers yield strange results. The averages are terrible. Giving up 245 passing yards to Northeastern, Nevada, and Duke is criminal. Yet, they only give up 17 ppg. How? Again, not turnovers. Three only have three takeaways. Perhaps it is a great bend but don’t break defense. Perhaps, it is terrible opponents failing to execute in the red zone. Perhaps, it is luck. No matter what it is look for the Buckeyes to score more than 17 points … in the first half.

What To Look For: For starters, the return of Northwestern RB Tyrell Sutton who has been out with an ankle injury. In theory, that should help. The Wildcats are going to dink it down the field and Bacher can run a little bit, but it will be very difficult for Northwestern to sustain long drives. Ohio State should be able to move the ball with ease. Wells should have his third straight 100-yard game and the Buckeyes will hit 40 points for the first time this season.
Ohio State 40, Northwestern 12

You may be a little nervous about Todd Boeckman's first start on the road this weekend.  And, you have good reason to feel that way.  Here is a quick run through of the road starts for the past five Buckeyes' (long-term) starting quarterbacks:

• Joe Germaine - September 5, 1998, at West Virginia:   After sharing quarterback duties in 1997 with Stanley Jackson, Joe Germaine got the reins full-time in 1998.  His first game was on the road at Morgantown and no one was disappointed except for Mountaineer fans.  Germaine was very sharp, throwing for 301 yards on 18-32 with 2 touchdowns.  Germaine went on to set 11 passing records that fall.  A nice start to a great season.
   
  
• Steve Bellisari - October 16, 1999, at Penn State:  This was Steve Bellisari's first road start.  He did not start against Miami in the Kickoff Classic (he was 1-1 for -5 yards) as Austin Moherman was the man that week.  On the third Saturday in October Bellisari, and the Buckeyes, struggled badly.  They were outgained 422–143, with Bellisari completing 7 in 21 attempts for 78 yards (ick).  He rushed 20 times for 38 yards as well. 
  
  
• Craig Krenzel - November 24, 2001, at Michigan:  You may remember this one – Tressel's first Michigan game when Krenzel was thrown to the Wolves because Bellisari got his drink on the week before.  Basically, Jonathan Wells went nuts in the first half and then cramped up for the second.  By the time Michigan knew what hit them it was too late. In the end, Krenzel was 11–18 for 118 yards and an interception.  It wasn't pretty, but he got the win.
  
  
• Justin Zwick - September 18, 2004, at North Carolina State: Justin Zwick traveled to Raleigh, North Carolina to play North Carolina State in Zwick's first road start. Justin was 10-21, for 73 yards.  Oh yeah, he rushed for 2 yards on 9 carries.  Nevertheless, the Buckeyes prevailed 22-14.  As you may recall, the Ohio State defense was dominant that day and the Buckeyes did not have a scoring drive longer than 34 yards, yet Zwick was victorious. 
  
  
• Troy Smith - November 6, 2004, at Michigan State:  Better known as the Ted Ginn, Jr. Coming-Out-Party, this was Troy Smith's first start on the road.  He had a serviceable stat line: 13-21 for 138 yards and 1 TD. While 58 of his passing yards came on Ginn, Jr.'s catch and run, Troy did also rushed for 34 yards that afternoon. The Buckeyes won 32-19 in a roller coaster game that was much closer than the score indicates (remember Maurice Hall's last minute TD run?).

So, the average first road start for OSU quarterbacks has not been glorious (12-23, 144 yards, with less than one touchdown), but they have gone 4-1.  The stat lines have not been pretty, but in the end the winning percentage is all the matters.  Will the Washington game hold form with Brandon Saine blowing up, or will the defense totally dominate ala Raleigh 2004?  Perhaps Boeckman will go off like Joe Germaine?   Who knows?  I am sure you will all tune in to find out. 
Kickoff: ESPN - 3:30 EDT. Game Thread below.

Let’s start with the basics: This weekend is the culmination of a six-game series, which began in 1986. Ohio State and Washington have played 10 times with the first game played in 1957 (two years before the Pac-10 was formed). Ohio State has won 7 of 10 by an average score of 23.5 – 19.3. [Author’s note: isn’t it amazing that this weekend’s line reflects the historical cumulative score of the series? Coincidence? I have no idea.] For the series, Ohio State is 4-1 at home and 3-2 on the road. The Buckeyes have not played in Seattle since 1994 (a 25-16 loss) and have not won in Seattle since 1969 (41-14).

With that backdrop, let’s take a closer look at the Ohio State team that comes into this game. The Buckeyes’ offense has looked rough these first two weeks. Here is a breakdown of the Ohio State drives over the first two games:

The implication of this breakdown is obvious: do not turnover the ball over and you will score. The Buckeyes scored on 10 of the their 16 drives when that drive did not end in a turnover or the expiration of the half.

So, naturally your next question is: what is causing these turnovers? Experience. Of the three fumbles by Ohio State, one by Boeckman, Torrence, and Schoenhoft apiece, each was by a player who only had a handful of snaps under his belt before that play. Chris Wells has the same problem last year. After extended reps, he appears to be much better at holding onto the ball. It is safe to assume that the players learned from their first live action and that the coaches will emphasize ball security even more now.

When the players hang onto the ball the offense appears quite capable of scoring. Now, they just have to do it.

The Punt is the most important play … this weekend? And, if that vague analysis does not make you feel better, take some solace in A.J. Trapasso’s punting (46.2 yards per punt) and Ohio State’s coverage (44.3 net yards per punt). Trapasso is in the Top 10 punting average, although does not currently qualify for lack of attempts. And, the overall punt coverage? It is ranked #3 in the country.

Washington’s punt return ranks 91st in the country, mostly based on a lack of attempts – actually only one attempt. Their lone punt return went for 5 yards. But Washington has had opportunities to return punts. Syracuse punted 6 times with zero being returned. Three punts were resulted in touchbacks, while a fair catch was called for on two others. The sixth rolled dead without a return. Boise State punted 5 times with Washington’s 5-yard return occurring as a result of one. To be sure, the Bronco’s punting was poor: 33.2-yard average. Still, Washington called for a fair catch twice and let two roll dead.

If Washington is going to let the ball roll dead or call for a fair catch, the Buckeyes are going to have a serious field position advantage. Start waiving that hand Huskies.

(After being a long time reader, Massey has joined Buckeye Commentary as a contributing writer. You may remember the poll breakdown last week? He wrote that and his newest piece today fits in nicely after a Dispatch article highlighting former Buckeye assistant coach- now UW asst - Randy Hart.)

Former Ohio State coaches are thriving these days.  Mark Dantonio resurrected a Cincinnati program that bombed Oregon State last Thursday and he now appears to have Michigan State heading in a better direction.  Meanwhile,   Mark Snyder's Thundering Herd put up a fight against West Virginia last weekend.  

Even Tim Beckman is getting into the act.  So far, Beckman has improved the Oklahoma State defense considerably over two games.  In 2006, the Cowboys were 89th in total defense and 82 in scoring in a league not known for its offenses.  So far in 2007?  Oklahoma State is ranked 41st in total defense and 47th in scoring defense.  Of course, it is still early and they have the meat of the schedule ahead of them but if the Buckeye coaching tree performs as usual look for a marked improvement at the end of the season.  

What is the point of this?  I know what you are saying, "These coaches are good and they left.  How can that be a good thing?"  It should give you an idea of the coaching prowess that has patrolled the sidelines for the Buckeyes since Tressel arrived and should give you continuing confidence in Tressel's ability to recruit great coaches as well as great athletes.  So, if you are more than a little concerned that the Ohio State offense is struggling and are looking to blame someone, don't look to the coaching staff.  The genealogy tells you otherwise.