By: Doug Harris (Middletown Journal) -- In the discourse over whether Ohio State should go with senior Todd Boeckman or freshman Terrelle Pryor at quarterback, one writer suggested coach Jim Tressel needs to be cautious about making a switch because benching Boeckman could upset the other 40-some fourth- and fifth-year players on the team. Oh, really? I know Tressel is facing some dilemmas — Chris "Beanie" Wells' health, a shaky offensive line and a defense that can't pressure the QB without blitzing — ... Read More

By: AP via International Herald Tribune -- The guy in charge of Ohio State's program recognizes the nation is looking down on his squad because of the way it has played in recent marquee games. The Buckeyes were beaten by Florida 41-14 and by LSU 38-24 in the last two Bowl Championship Series title games. Last Saturday night, the fifth-ranked Buckeyes played at No. 1 Southern California and were steamrolled 35-3. Ohio State coach Jim Tressel was asked during his news conference this ... Read More

By: Howie Beardsley (The Grand Rapids Press) -- Don't be surprised to see heralded Ohio State freshman Terrelle Pryor making his first college start Saturday, when the 13th-ranked, humbled Buckeyes host Troy. Coach Jim Tressel said during Tuesday's Big Ten coaches conference call that how Pryor and fifth-year starting senior Todd Boeckman perform this week in practice will determine Saturday's starter. At last week's loss to No. 1 USC, Boeckman was 14-of-21 passing for 84 yards and had two interceptions, and eight carries for ... Read More

By: ESPN.com new services -- COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Three games into the season, there's no question Ohio State is searching for answers. A 35-3 loss to top-ranked USC -- in addition to ongoing questions (that word again) about Chris "Beanie" Wells' tender right foot and a percolating quarterback controversy -- have created doubts in and around the Buckeyes heading into Saturday's game against Troy. "I think that's fair to say that there's a lot of questions about this team," punter A.J. Trapasso said. ESPN's Adam ... Read More

By: Justin Hearn (BleacherReport.com) -- By now, Ohio State fans have learned to be embarrassed along with their football team in marquee games. In fact, embarrassment seems to be the norm for Ohio State these days. That happens when a team repeatedly loses in grand fashion on the big stage. A 41-14 loss to Florida in the 2007 BCS Championship, followed by another championship loss to LSU in 2008 and a 35-3 pounding from USC on Sept. 13, have made Ohio State a national ... Read More

By: Adam Rittenberg (ESPN.com) -- For years, the sweater vest was made out of Teflon. Like any coach, Jim Tressel received his share of criticism, but he could always point to his sparkling record at Ohio State, the 11 first-round NFL draft picks he helped produce and his dominance in Big Ten play (45-11). The calls for Ohio State to modernize its schemes and bring in more creative coaches usually went away after another season of 10 or more wins. But after Saturday's 35-3 ... Read More

By: Gerald Ball (BleacherReport.com) -- Right now, everyone wants to take Jim Tressel and the Ohio State Buckeyes and throw them away because of their recent poor performances in big games. These criticisms are simply unfair. 1. The USC, Florida, and LSU teams that beat Ohio State did so because they not only had better players, but the superior athletes were at the very positions that give Ohio State the most trouble. USC, Florida, and LSU weren't 30 points better than Ohio ... Read More

By: Jim Naveau (LimaOhio.com) -- COLUMBUS - Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel and some of the Buckeyes players will face the media today to give their version of what went wrong in a 35-3 loss at Southern California on Saturday night and to talk about what happens next. As a veteran of more than a few post-mortems like this, I can predict with a fair amount of certainty what will happen. There will be a lot of talk about stepping up, taking it ... Read More

By: Dennis Brackin (StarTribune.com) -- Glen Mason will be a Big Ten Network television analyst for a Gophers football game for the first time when Minnesota plays at Ohio State on Sept. 27. The former Gophers coach will celebrate a more significant milestone before the game when he serves as an honorary captain for Ohio State, the school where he played and worked as an assistant coach. Awkward? "I don't think so," Mason said Monday after learning he'd be working the game. "Even when ... Read More

BY Herb Gould (Chicago Sun-Times) -- So much for all of those Ohio State veterans returning to get it right after those disappointments in the last two BCS championship games. Humiliated 35-3 by USC on Saturday night, the Buckeyes need to pick up the pieces. Returning to this season's title game is the last of their concerns after they were exposed by the Trojans, who look like they'll be a difficult team to stop. ''I can't believe we screwed up so badly,'' left tackle ... Read More

By: Norman Vergara (AllHeadlineNews.com) -- Columbus, Ohio (AHN) - The young Ohio State Buckeyes kick off their 2008-09 season November 20 at home against Delaware State in the new college basketball schedule released Monday. The Buckeyes will parade only one holdover from the starting five last season-David Lighty-with the rest of the fold either first-year players or sophomores. After the home opener, the Buckeyes get to see non-conference teams Bowling Green, West Virginia, Samford, Butler, Jacksonville, Iona and UNC-Asheville. Ohio State also will get to ... Read More

By Brian Kollars (DaytonDailyNews.com) -- Cleaning up some loose ends from Saturday night’s not-so special performance by THE Ohio State Buckeyes: — My first question after the game: When was the last time the Buckeyes were held without a touchdown? The answer: Nov. 23,1996, in a 13-9 loss to Michigan. The TD streak was snapped at 141 games. — I’ve never seen Jim Tressel visibly upset and rattled. He was both in the first half as USC all but delivered a technical knockout by ... Read More

By: Dennis Dodd (CBSSports.com) -- LOS ANGELES -- Go ahead, write them off, cuss them, swear you'll never be caught wearing a sweater vest in mixed company again. You aren't alone. Just imagine what folks who aren't fans of Ohio State are saying right now. What, you expected some kind of big game Buckeyes to show up on Saturday at the Coliseum? Maybe in 2009. That's when quarterback Terrelle Pryor could be juking the Buckeyes back to national title contention. That's when the ... Read More