By: Dan Boss (Analyst - BleacherReport.com) -- The most anticipated college football game of the season has finally arrived. The recent play of Ohio State has diminished the game a little. However, it will prove to be a very good game between two programs that have some of college football's best fans and traditions. The two teams are very evenly matched on paper. The game could be decided by a number of factors. Here are some factors that may provide ... Read More

By David Wharton (Los Angeles Times) -- The Buckeye who questioned USC's character got a taste of Trojan style as a recruit. Pete Carroll has said his team's 'primitive' pregame pump-up is unifying and stimulating. In all the Sturm und Drang over comments made by Ohio State receiver Ray Small, comments that questioned the character of the USC football program, a key element has been missing. What, exactly, was Small talking about? Describing a recruiting visit to USC, he said: "Before the game, they're all ... Read More

Courtesy: OhioStateBuckeyes.com -- Carroll coached under Earle Bruce in 1979 and helped the Buckeyes to a Big Ten title and Rose Bowl berth Q. What do you remember from your days at Ohio State, that one year? COACH CARROLL: I remember a lot. It was an extraordinary experience. We had come from Iowa State with Coach Bruce. He got the job after Coach Woody Hayes took off. We went in there with really high hopes and expectations, and felt like we had kind ... Read More

Trojans' blockers shined in opener against Virginia, a 52-7 win in which the team rushed for 218 yards and Mark Sanchez wasn't sacked. But the No. 5 Buckeyes will provide a much sterner test. By Gary Klein (Los Angeles Times) -- Mark Sanchez had all the time in the world. When USC's quarterback dropped back to pass in the season opener, Virginia defenders barely touched him. Several times Sanchez stood leisurely in the pocket, double- or triple-pumping before finding receivers. "It was like we were ... Read More

By Gary Klein and David Wharton (Los Angeles Times) -- t's the toughest ticket in town, with prices ranging from $100 to $5,000 on one leading marketplace website. But fans are not the only ones scrambling for tickets to Saturday's showdown between top-ranked USC and fifth-ranked Ohio State at the Coliseum. USC players are allocated four tickets to each home game. Several Trojans said Monday that their phones have been ringing and buzzing with requests from friends and family members. "It's crazy," senior receiver ... Read More

Suspense is still in the air, but Coach Jim Tressel says he's 'encouraged' by star running back's recovery from injury. By Chris Dufresne (Los Angeles Times) -- Beanie is a go for USC. The suspense is over. Well, sort of. Ohio State Coach Jim Tressel announced today that junior tailback Chris "Beanie" Wells would play against USC on Saturday, although how much he plays will depend on how he practices the rest of the week. Wells injured his right foot in Ohio State's season-opening win against ... Read More

By Gary Klein (Los Angeles Times) -- Some of them saw it. Others only heard about it. When USC players and coaches reconvened Sunday night for the first time in two days, the topic among many was Ohio State's narrow victory over Ohio. But before the top-ranked Trojans split up into position groups to watch film of the Buckeyes, Coach Pete Carroll addressed his players about the hype that has been simmering for months and will ratchet into overdrive leading up to Saturday's game ... Read More

By: Chris Dufresne (Los Angeles Times) -- USC and UCLA had the weekend off, but it was all work and no play Saturday for the schools the Trojans and Bruins play next. In Columbus, Ohio State got the Freddy Krueger treatment from The Ohio University of Athens before pulling out a 26-14 win that set off Dom Perignon corks at ABC headquarters, which very much did not want to televise next week a game featuring No. 1 USC versus a 1-1 team coming ... Read More

By: AP via SportingNews.com -- COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Ohio State coach Jim Tressel would never admit that having his team barely eke out a win against a lesser opponent might make his job a little easier this week. Rest assured he'll have his embarrassed players' full attention this week. And they'll be steaming mad that everyone is against them, that nobody thinks they're any good and that the world believes No. 1 Southern California will stomp them on Saturday. The Buckeyes ... Read More