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Ohio State Has Winning Formula

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By JOEY JOHNSTON, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 15, 2007

The Ohio State Buckeyes are No. 1.

•In their home state. The Buckeyes have completed their barnstorming tour against Youngstown State, Akron and Kent State. (Cincinnati, regrettably, wasn't on the schedule).

•In the Big Ten Conference. Only Michigan - the same Michigan that was left for dead after losing to Appalachian State - is also unbeaten in the league.

•And yes, amid the growing controversy, even in the initial BCS standings released Sunday.

'If we win, we'll be up there somewhere,' Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said. 'If we don't, we'll be elsewhere.'

So much for elsewhere.

Ohio State (7-0) is not a lightweight, having been ranked No. 11 in The Associated Press preseason poll. But another run at a national title? Who expected that?

Especially after losing quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith and wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr.

'We didn't expect to be ranked this high at this point of the year,' Buckeyes receiver Brian Hartline said.

Ah, but if you don't allow many points (46 in seven games and four touchdowns from scrimmage), no one notices the absence of a flashy offense. The new quarterback, Todd Boeckman, appears to be an efficient game manager, and the Buckeyes have a worthy ground game.

Then there's the defense.

'Nobody is going to score 30 points on this team,' Kent State coach Doug Martin said following Saturday's 48-3 loss to the Buckeyes. 'Anybody that beats them is going to have to win in a close, physical game that comes down to the wire. This team is as good as any I've seen.'

The Buckeyes have won 25 consecutive regular-season games. By capturing their final five games - Michigan State, at Penn State, Wisconsin, Illinois, at Michigan - the Buckeyes could be headed to another BCS Championship Game.

'We know full well that what's really critical begins next Saturday,' Tressel said.

The landscape will get much tougher. And as this season has proven, it's a bumpy ride for anyone with a top-five ranking.

Reporter Joey Johnston can be reached at (813) 259-7353

or jjohnston@tampatrib.com.

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