By: Doug Harris (Journal-News.com) -- I just saw a story in these pages where Ohio State’s recruiting in football has taken an uncharacteristic dip. Accustomed to locking up top-10 classes almost every year, the Buckeyes’ current group is rated only 22nd nationally by Rivals.com, behind Big Ten arch-nemeses Michigan (19th) and Penn State (9th) and other programs with much lower profiles such as Stanford (18th), Missouri (14th) and Texas A&M (10th). That won’t matter next season — OSU is expected to go into ... Read More

By: Doug Lesmerises (Cleveland Plain Dealer) -- COLUMBUS, Ohio -- In the last three years, a Heisman Trophy winner, seven first-team All-Americans, 15 first-team All-Big Ten players and 18 NFL draft picks have all ended their Ohio State careers the same way. From Troy Smith to Vernon Gholston to James Laurinaitis, Buckeyes who spent their entire careers winning departed school with a bowl loss as the last thing on their minds. "I've been around a great bunch of seniors, from Troy to James, and ... Read More

By: Doug Dilillo (TheLantern.com) -- When the Ohio State Buckeyes and Penn State Nittany Lions meet on Saturday in Beaver Stadium, there will be more on the line then just Big Ten title implications. In a matchup that has recently become fierce, the winner will stay alive in the Big Ten race while the loser is left in the dust. The Big Ten title is ultimately what’s most important, but this game between rivals has story lines that go deeper then trophies and championship rings. Pryor ... Read More

By: Doug Lesmerises (Cleveland Plain Dealer) -- Columbus -- When 13 years later you remember and regret the shutouts that should have been as much as the ones that happened, you were part of a great defense. Though Ohio State's 1996 defense did shut out three opponents in 12 games, former linebacker Greg Bellisari recalls the one that got away, a 38-7 win over Penn State when the Nittany Lions were dominated before scoring on Ohio State's second team in the fourth quarter. "A ... Read More

By: MATT MARKEY (ToledoBlade.com) -- COLUMBUS - Ohio State had a mini galaxy of stars on its defense last year, but when five starters departed from that group and landed in NFL training camps, it appeared that a somewhat major rebuild might be in order. But four games into the 2009 season, the Buckeyes don't look much like a reconstructed unit. Ohio State's defense has hung a couple of goose eggs on the scoreboard with recent shutout wins over Illinois and Toledo ... Read More

By: Bill Blanton (BuckeyeCountry.net) -- At the start of the 2009 season, all eyes were on Terrelle Pryor and how his freakish, athletic talent would be the gun Ohio State coach Jim Tressel would use to fire the bullets in a dynamic OSU offense. So far this season, the only thing that has been firing bullets is the Ohio State defense, and they’re shooting “Silver Bullets” everywhere. This “no name” group that is lacking the front line starter that we have seen in seasons past ... Read More

By: RUSTY MILLER (AP via DaytonDailyNews.com) -- COLUMBUS, Ohio — Jim Tressel has always wanted to see an Army-Navy game. "That's on my sports 'bucket list' to someday see that game," he said. "I've never been to it, but I've heard it's breathtaking." Seeing the Midshipmen shift gears on that lethal running attack against Army in a stadium full of dress uniforms is one thing. Tressel has no desire to see Navy put on a show on Saturday when they take on his sixth-ranked ... Read More

By: Doug Lesmerises (Cleveland Plain Dealer) -- COLUMBUS, Ohio -- For three years, Ohio State's Austin Spitler rode the bench behind one of his best friends on the team, James Laurinaitis, who just happened to be a three-time All-American. Now, when his chance came, he was switched from the middle linebacker spot he'd been waiting to fill to strongside linebacker, then felt a pop in his leg during the preseason. "It all started with my knee, and then it moved to the ... Read More

By: Tim Bielik (BleacherReport.com) -- Well it's been a long summer, but at last it's finally here. College football finally kicks off the 2009 season this week. It's been an offseason full of questions and unsolved mysteries for a team that has been to the BCS for the past four seasons. Ohio State welcomes the Navy Midshipmen to the Horseshoe on Saturday, a truly unorthodox opponent before the non-conference game of the year against the USC Trojans. After crushing losses, the Buckeyes have been the subject ... Read More

By: Craig Handel (News-Press.com) -- He's one of the no-names at Ohio State University looking to make a name. That chance will come soon enough. Brian Rolle is one of the up-and-comers with the Buckeyes. The junior from Immokalee High School is making a strong push to be a starting linebacker. With former stars A.J. Hawk, Bobby Carpenter and James Laurinaitis in the NFL, it'll be up to Rolle and others to continue the high standards in Columbus. "We speak of no brain, no name, no worries," ... Read More

By: Bill Blanton (Examiner.com) -- The Brutus Notes are small paragraphs that provide a range of news on a variety of subject matter from Ohio State programs, coaches, players and alumni. Canton native and Buckeye alumnus Dustin Fox was waived by the Buffalo Bills on Wednesday. For the Past two seasons, Fox has appeared in 11 games primarily as a special team player. The Canton Repository reported last Saturday that Fox believes if he isn’t on a roster this year, his NFL dream could ... Read More

By: Kevin McGuire (Examiner.com) -- As can be expected from here until the end of the year from many outlets, as the end of the decade creeps closer and closer many outlets will be announcing their all-decade teams. CBSSports.com has unveiled their all-decade college football team and for Penn State fans there is one area of interest that should be addressed. Of the three linebackers selected to the all-decade team, zero are in blue and white. Instead Oklahoma's Rocky Calmus and Ohio State's A.J. ... Read More

By: RUSTY MILLER (AP via Dayton Daily News) -- COLUMBUS, Ohio —Ohio State being the preseason pick to win the Big Ten for the fifth year in a row may not have much to do with anyone currently on the roster. "The reason why we're No. 1 is because of A.J. Hawk, Troy Smith, James Laurinaitis — guys who set that foundation and made sure Ohio State is as prominent as it is for the last few years," defensive lineman Doug Worthington said, referring ... Read More