By: Doug Lesmerises (Cleveland.com) -- College football's game of the week Saturday will be No. 1 vs No. 5. After trailing into the fourth quarter in a 26-14 victory over Ohio on Saturday, Ohio State dropped from No. 3 to No. 5 in the AP poll and coaches poll released today. The Buckeyes did maintain a single No. 1 vote in each of the polls, though that is quite a tumble from their 21 first-place votes and No. 2 ranking in the AP ... Read More

By: AP via Washington Post -- COLUMBUS, Ohio, Sept. 6 -- After barely beating Ohio University, No. 3 Ohio State was not a happy football team. In fact, the sluggish win felt more like a loss. "That was pathetic. It was a pathetic performance," Buckeyes wide receiver Brian Hartline said after the Buckeyes rallied in the fourth quarter for 26-14 win over plucky Ohio. "OU should've won the game. I don't know how we came out with it." Maybe Ohio State (2-0) had next ... Read More

By Gary Klein and David Wharton (Los Angeles Times) -- Ohio State's lackluster performance Saturday against Ohio will no doubt make the topics list when USC reconvenes for a team meeting tonight. And the starting point, among players anyway, could very well be Buckeyes wide receiver Ray Small. Small caught five passes and returned a punt for a touchdown, but it was his post-game comments that are sure to incite the Trojans. Small, a junior from Cleveland, told ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg that he visited Ohio ... Read More

By David Wharton (Los Angeles Times) -- COLUMBUS, Ohio -- This time around, the Ohio State players aren't talking redemption. "We can't focus on the past," quarterback Todd Boeckman said. This time around, the coaches aren't using motivational tricks or fancy speeches or signs on the locker room wall. After two straight trips to the national championship game and two losses, after frustration and embarrassment of national proportions, the Buckeyes want to start with a blank slate. But if you think they have forgotten about those ... Read More

By David Wharton (Los Angeles Times) -- COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The old football coach flashes a look of incredulity, wincing, like you just don't understood. So you try again: Is the USC game really that important to Ohio State fans? "What are you talking about?" Earle Bruce says. "We know what this game means." The former Buckeyes coach still lives in Columbus and hears the buzz around town, the talk that started months ago. The early schedule -- Youngstown State last week and Ohio today ... Read More

By RUSTY MILLER (The Associated Press) -- COLUMBUS, Ohio — Beanie Wells didn't play. The Ohio Bobcats sure did. Lightly regarded even in the Mid-American Conference, Ohio put a scare into No. 3 Ohio State before the Buckeyes righted things in the fourth quarter and went on to win 26-14 Saturday. With star tailback Chris Wells sidelined by a foot injury, the Buckeyes (2-0) struggled to move the ball until Brandon Saine's short plunge on the third play of the final quarter finally put ... Read More

The Buckeyes could alternate Todd Boeckman and Terrelle Pryor, two quarterbacks with contrasting styles, when they meet the Trojans on Sept. 13. By David Wharton (LATimes) -- USC coaches and players will watch Ohio State's game against cross-state rival Ohio University today with an eye on the quarterback situation. Fifth-year senior Todd Boeckman starts for the Buckeyes but, if last week is any indication, he will be spelled by freshman Terrelle Pryor. Boeckman is a classic drop-back passer, while Pryor is more mobile. "When Pryor's in, ... Read More

By Rusty Miller via Springfield News-Sun -- What's brewing today with the 2008 Ohio State Buckeyes ... Buckeyes buzz With a win on Saturday, Ohio State can become only the fifth major college program with 800 wins. The Buckeyes come into their tilt with Ohio with a record of 799-304-55 in their 119 seasons. The others? Michigan with 869, Notre Dame 824, Texas 821 and Nebraska with 818. Penn State has 791, Alabama 788, Oklahoma 771 and USC 754. "We're pretty proud of the fact there's ... Read More

By: The AP via Internal Herald Tribune -- COLUMBUS, Ohio: Even though the injured Chris "Beanie" Wells will not play for No. 3 Ohio State against Ohio on Saturday, the Buckeyes have plenty of other options. Really. They do. For instance, Maurice Wells is more than just those droopy dreadlocks that hang out the back of his helmet. Brandon Saine and Dan Herron are both scatbacks who can turn a slit of an opening into a long touchdown. "Any time a player goes down, especially ... Read More