On return from the trip up to Champaign, Illinois, which resulted in a 30-20 victory over the Fighting Illini, the Buckeyes find themselves, once again, not in control of their own post-season destiny. There are many possibilities of where the Buckeyes will be playing come the first week of January, and the only place you [...]

It's Wednesday of Illinois week, and while Buckeye Nation has revenge on it's mind from last year's 28-21 loss in The 'Shoe, there is some news from the recruiting world floating around.

Dublin Scioto defensive back, Bradley McDougald, will no longer be a member of the 2009 Ohio State recruiting class. McDougald seems to either have [...]

Breaking News: Sources tell us Ray Small has been suspended indefinitely and is likely leaving the team after violating team rules.

Small, a former Cleveland Glenville standout, was in Jim Tressel's doghouse earlier this summer for a similar charge, and had his number 4 jersey stripped from him, replaced with the 82 he wore this season. [...]

As everyone raced to the polls today and is awaiting the election results, here are some "tid-bits" going around the blog universe:

Rumor has it "Dick Rod" is losing another highly regarded player in "star" running back, Sam McGuffie. Interestingly enough, this rumor was found on a pro-Michigan blog, so there may actually be some validity [...]

No Buckeye fans, not the Heisman Trophy, awarded to the best player in college football. Not the Biletnikoff Trophy, awarded to the best wide receiver in college football. Not even a little trophy recognizing him as the best wide receiver on the Ohio State team.

Brian Robiskie is aiming for the 2008 Draddy Trophy, recognizing him [...]

Although it doesn't seem Dave is over Saturday's debacle yet, my 3-day hangover has finally ended and I'm ready to discuss some things on my mind:

-First off, 9 out of 10 times Terrelle Pryor does not fumble that ball and breaks that run for a huge gain, if not for a game-sealing touchdown. I love [...]

As I walked by the "Shoe today and saw the lights being set up for Saturday night's match up against #3 Penn State, I could not help, but get pumped up for this game. I have been a student here at OSU since fall quarter 2005 and the only games I can recall that have [...]

Saturday will be the Shoe's first night game since "The Ryan Hamby Mishap" when Vince Young and the Longhorns narrowly defeated Ohio State on the way to a Texas' National Championship.

The matchup (#2 Texas vs. #4 Ohio State), not the outcome, resembled much of the year's USC outing.A However, the winner of both Texas and [...]

Coming back from a surprising whooping in East Lansing (DTI was in attendance), here are some initial thoughts on the game against the Spartans, the upcoming game against #3 Penn State, and the first release of the BCS Standings:

A Red Zone Efficiency was at a season-best- Although the Buckeyes were 18-20 in the red zone this [...]

For the second consecutive year, #2 Ohio State will take on their 71-North opponent Youngstown State to open up the 2008 college football season. In 2007, the Buckeyes handed the Penguins their first season-opening loss in 11 years when they defeated them 38-6 in front of 105,000 scarlet and gray fans at Ohio Stadium. For many top-25 teams not named Michigan, the first game usually plays out as follows: A somewhat competitive 30 minutes of football followed by another two quarters of second-team work. This is due to the fact that many upper level division 1A schools elect to schedule FCS opponents as preparation for the more difficult non-conference opponents and corresponding conference games. OSU has YSU, Georgia will play Georgia Southern, Oklahoma takes on Chattanooga and West Virginia tackles Villanova. No offense meant to the highly gifted championship subdivision teams but they simply do not match up talent wise and after this first few quarters their fate is almost inevitable. With that being said, look for an exciting game as the first one always is, full of scoring, nice defensive plays, plenty of Buckeyes off the roster and a 30-point win. More specifically, below are some of the exciting elements to look for during Saturday's game on both sides of the football.

Offense-

Look for the Buckeyes to employ three quarter-back, back, backs- While Todd Boeckman will see the major majority of snaps this season, the first two games will be an opportunity for OSU to showcase their talent waiting in the wings. Second-team member Joe Bauserman and high school star Terrelle Pryor will see plenty of action against the Penguins as noted by coach Jim Tressel during Tuesday's media luncheon. You might even get a glimpse at points during the first half!!! Look for Ohio State to throw the football 60 times between the three in what should prove to be a true aerial assault in Columbus.

Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom- While all eyes will be on RB Chris Wells' for the first game of what could be a Heisman Trophy Award season, OSU's primary backup situation is also a high topic of discussion going into this Saturday's game. With Brandon Saine dinged up and mostly being limited to kick-return duties, freshman Daniel "Boom" Herron has jumped the depth chart and will receive plenty of carries throughout the game. He might lack the luster of a Wells or Saine, however, his nickname is well warranted. The Warren G. Harding graduate had a great spring game and has made his presence felt throughout fall camp. Watch out for no. 1 to find the endzone and rack up some big time yardage in his first game in the "Shoe".

Redemption Song- The first game of the season is a chance to turn over a new leaf for many Buckeyes who would rather but the 2007 behind them. For wide receiver Ray Small, his first two seasons in the scarlet and gray attire have been anything but storybook. While he has shown flashes of brilliance which drew comparisons to former OSU receiver and Glenville high school star Teddy Ginn Jr., his off the field issues and inability to play consistent football has all but quieted those discussions. For Small, 2008 could not come fast enough and it has shown. Sporting a new number (no. 82 from 4) and a refreshed attitude, the speedster has put together a tremendous fall workout and is close to earning back his spot as the third wide receiver on this talented football team. If he can put the pieces together, Todd Boeckman will have the true deep threat he was lacking for most of last season.

Whose that Freshman in the window?- Terrelle Pryor aside, the Youngstown State game will give fans the opportunity to catch a glimpse of some of Ohio State's other top-ranked freshman talent. Wide receivers DeVier Posey and Lamaar "flash" Thomas, offensive lineman Mike Adams, Mike Brewster and J.B. Shugarts and full back Jermil Martin may all get time at various points throughout the game.

Special Teams 0.8a€²- If there was one glaring weakness in OSU's squad during the 07a€² season, it was their truly awful kick return game. The Buckeyes ranked 117th out of 119 D1A teams, kind of mind blowing for a school with so many offensive playmakers. With this being said, OSU coaches have tweaked many of the assignments and believe this will pay large dividends this year. Running backs Brandon Saine and Daniel Herron will handle the return duties in place of last season's unit of Maurice Wells and fill ins such as Brian Robiskie and Ray Small.

Defense-

Lawrence and order- Losing Big Ten Lineman of the Year Vernon Gholston will without a doubt affect the Buckeyes at points this year, how much will depend on the play of returning defensive end Lawrence Wilson. Pegged as an up and coming star by defensive coordinator Jim Heacock, the former St. Vincent-St. Mary two-way star suffered a devastating leg injury which sidelined him for the entire season. Healthy and ready to contribute, no.87 will be a key to OSU's success on defense this season and watching him back on the field should stir the defense up something fierce.

Secondary measures- With starting cornerback Donal Washington and reserve safety Jamario O'Neal on the bench for the first two games, it is, no pun intended, open season for the Buckeye secondary. At CB, Chimdi Chekwa will get the nod aside All- American Malcolm Jenkins with Andre Amos, Shaun Lane and Devon Torrence all seeing extended playing time. This could be a crucial element to the success of OSU's last line of defense later on in the season when they see four and five wide out sets. At S, converted linebacker Jermale Hines and Aaron Gant will spend large portions in the game with Nick Patterson also getting a look.

Homan sweet Homan- The next star in the making, Ross Homan finally gets his shot to prove he can fill the spot once occupied by OSU LB great A.J. Hawk. He has the size and speed to be a true run stuffer and the third piece to possible the nation's best linebacker unit. His downfall has always been the inability to stay healthy but he says those days are well behind him. In the house of pain that players like Speilman and Katzenmoyer built, it is time for no.51 to get him some, tackles of course. If he improves as he should and starts 10 games this season, he will be an All- Big Ten selection and get national recognition, no question.

Whose that Freshman in the window?- Similar to the offensive category, many Buckeye Freshman should see playing time against YSU depending on the severity of the game. LB Etienne Sabino and Andrew Sweat could step between the lines and make their first career tackles on Saturday. On the line, Solomon Thomas (red-shirt) Keith Wells and potentially Nathan Williams will get their feet wet with the immediate size and skill set they bring to OSU's end position. In the secondary, Nate Oliver (red-shirt), Rocco Pentello (red-shirt) and Zach Domicone likely will take off the practice jerseys and become members of the official game day active rosters.

Keep the roster "OH" so close- It is almost unfair how many quality athletes OSU can trot onto the field at any given moment. Too bad you can only put 11 on at any given time because you know there are some MAC teams whom would kill for those hanging around on the sidelines. However, defensive coordinators Jim Heacock and Luke Fickell have found a way to combat this fortunate dilemma: Call them athletes and play them at numerous positions. LB's Curtis Terry, Tyler Moeller and hybrid LB/DE Thaddeus Gibson will see time at numerous positions and in different formations throughout the season. On Saturday, keep your eye on Moeller during nickel formations as he could head to safety and for Terry in 4-3 base defenses on passing downs. Gibson should be down all season as a blitzing defensive end and could be a huge contributor.

OSU will finally end the long ban on replaying controversial calls out of fear that showing the plays could make fans rowdier and possibly violent toward referees and players.

Maybe the OSU-Illinois game last year played a factor in the decision or the departure of Karen Hollbrook as president or just maybe the cries of OSU fans were finally heard. Instead of the elementary artwork animations, OSU will actually replay close controversial calls to give fans a chance to react to the play and more importantly, it will give head coach Jim Tressel and the rest of his staff another look at close plays on the massive video board in the south stands just in case he needs to make an important decision such as challenging a call on the field.

The Big Ten lets each individual school make decisions on whether or not to replay close calls but if it wants to, it must replay the video just once and no slower the 75 percent of the real time speed.

I have been frustrated in the past while watching games in the Horseshoe and not being able to get another glance at close plays so I'm glad that OSU has finally come to this logical decision.

The best part it I won't have to put up with those embarassing amateur graphics and animations any longer. I would think OSU has some department in the university with the technology to come up with something better than they have had in the past, but I guess not.

Georgia gets the top spot despite the rash of off field problems and injuries. Looks like a AP #2 vs. #3 match up on September 13th. AP rankings below with 1st place votes in parenthesis and total points next to that.

1. Georgia (22) 1528

2. Ohio State (21) 1506

3. USC (12)--90

4. Oklahoma (4)--44

5. Florida (6)--15

6. Missouri 1266

7. LSU 1135

8. West Virginia 1116

9. Clemson 1105

10. Auburn 968

FOLLOW ORIGINAL LINK BELOW FOR THE REST OF THE TOP 25 AND OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES:

While having your starting cornerback ( Donald Washington) and top reserve safety suspended for the first two games of the 08a€² season ( Jamario O'Neal) is never an auspicious way to start the season, providing two vacant openings for games against Youngstown State and Ohio University does have its advantages. The fact of the matter is, in a typical college football season, matters such as injury and suspension are part of reality. This unfortunate circumstance allows for several players in the secondary rotation to see significant game time and this experience/in-game work could pay large dividends in the long run. Coach Jim Tressel made it a point to say the two athletes in question will need to "Earn their car keys back," DTI takes a look at the Buckeyes who will help drive the BCS bus in their steada€¦

Cornerbacks-



(#5) Chimdi Chekwa- (So. 6a€²0 188lbs.)- A true "diamond in the rough" for OSU last season, Chekwa saw plenty of action as the fifth-man in nickel back coverage, player match-up situations and in late-game affairs last season. The Florida native registered 30 tackles and an interception in 07a€², while leading the team with nine pass breakups. His knack for finding the football in the open field and playing mistake free football has gone a long way with defensive coordinator Jim Heacock. With Washington out for two weeks, Chekwa will slide into the open spot across the field from Malcolm Jenkins to complete the cornerback pairing. For the sophomore, this will be his first real shot to prove he is worthy of "starter" status. If he can continue to elevate his game and plays well verus the Penguins and Bobcats, he could potentially challenge D-Wash for time at USC in week three as well as throughout the season.

(#13) Andre Amos- (Jr. 6a€²1 183lbs.)- An unfamiliar face for the first half of last season, Amos spent a great deal of time from March to October off the field and in the weight room rehabbing his left knee after surgery. However, the former wide receiver worked tirelessly and made his way back onto the field at Purdue as a member of the special teams unit. On the year, he picked up three tackles in eight games and solidified himself as a valuable member of the kickoff and cornerback units. With Chekwa moving to a role as a starter, the junior will enter the opening game as a top reserve in the two-deep rotation and should see plenty of action. How effective he can be will determine his usage from there on out. His ceiling is high and if he can show consistency, he just might convince the coaching staff to use him against teams with four and five wide receiver sets such as Southern California, Michigan State and Illinois.

(#29) Shaun Lane- (Sr. 5a€²10 175lbs.)- A seasoned veteran for the Buckeyes over his four years in Columbus, Lane is a leader on and off the field. He saw time during 07a€² in the nickel and dime packages while also making significant contributions as a member of the special teams where he was a four-time unit player of the week. There is nothing exceptional about the cornerback but he is simply a very solid football player, illustrated by his 13 tackles last year. Similar to both Chekwa and Amos, the senior will see the field early and often for OSU in the first two games and becomes the second member of the scarlet and gray two-deep set at cornerback. A blue collar worker, his play and status on the team will have him on the gridiron throughout the season where you get the feeling he could make a play or two to help the Buckeyes win a ball game.

**(#11) James Scott- (So. 5a€²10 170lbs.)- The mystery man of the group. After seeing the field in eight games during his freshman season (5 tackles, fumble recovery), Scott was not a member of Ohio State's 105-man fall camp. He should be a top reserve along with Chekwa in 08a€² but now there is the question of whether or not he will be on the field for game one of the season? If the undisclosed matter allows him to be ready for Youngstown State, he could potentially be an extra defensive back in certain formations and make key tackles on special teams as well as playing in the third and fourth quarters against teams such as Troy and Minnesota. We will have to hold our collective breaths on this one and hope it all works out because he looked like an up and coming competitor for OSU.

Safeties-

(#8) Aaron Gant- (Jr. 6a€²0 194lbs.)- One of the "unsung heroes" from a prior article written about players who give their all to little media attention, Gant should continue to bring the effort with a little more recognition in 2008. It seems almost comical but no. 8 will move up the reserve list and could be the next line of defense after Russell and Coleman at safety. He played through a foot injury as a sophomore but should be back to 100% this g around. He could match his last seasons' tackle total of six within those first two games as he goes in on the opening kickoff and returns soon after to replace the starters on select plays and defensive situations. If he stays healthy, the Michigan high school star could make a nice impact throughout the year.

(#23) Nick Patterson- (Sr. 6a€²1 209lbs.)- One of the best examples of a player who fans believe can reach a higher level of play but has yet to get there. In his senior season, maybe Patterson can finally shake this classification and add another element to the Buckeyes' safety core. His six tackles were nothing special last season but his 34-yard interception against Northwestern proves he can be a playmaker. His counterpart, Jamario O'Neal, has proven one thing at his time at Ohio State: he will never be the man to count on in Columbus. Therefore, the reserve spot alongside Gant is up for grabs and if Patterson plays well, he might cajole his way into staying there for the long term. The fight for a backup position might not be the most heavily covered topic at fall camp but on a team looking to contend for a third straight national title appearance, it is more important than most people realize.

(#14) Nate Oliver- (Fr. 6a€²0 215lbs.)- Although he did not see the field in 07a€², the safety's high school credentials and recruiting service ranking of 11th nationally sheds a little light into his potential in Buckeye garment. He might be situated between two quality players in Gant and Patterson but as OSU has shown in the past, the best athletes find their way into games when they are ready. His first assignment will be in special teams coverage but he will definitely see the field in the first two games. His ability to make plays and stick with opposing offenses will be the litmus test as to how often he will step between the lines in non-clean up duty. Oliver, a St. Edwards product, has the potential to be all-over in 08a€². OSU has lacked a deep safety unit but it appears they might have finally find the depth they were looking for.

Alright, so the new haircuts weren't efforts to close in on that SEC speed, but The Cleveland Plain Dealer's Doug Lesmerises divulges into the real reason behind the new hairdos. It started with Alex Boone and his gracious idea of shaving freshman OL Michael Brewster's locks but instead, ended with Vanilla Ice'esque lightning bolts in the side of Boone and Jim Cordles' heads. Brewster hasn't been caught yet, but I can't imagine him escaping the clippers for long.

We learned this week that incoming freshman Willie Mobley will be out for the year due to a pre-existing shoulder injury that occured while he was in high school. The 6a€²3a€³ 265 lb frosh defensive end from Eden Prairie, Minnesota will be out all year and will look to redshirt while rehabbing his shoulder according to defensive coordinator Jim Heacock.

Mobley's injury will not affect the team greatly because he didn't look to garner much playing time as a true freshman. Looking to fill the void of Vernon Gholston, defensive ends Lawrence Wilson and Cameron Heyward will start, and during passing situations look for Thaddeus Gibson to come in and Heyward to slide down to defensive tackle.