Well, look who’s on top of the AP, BCS and USA TODAY polls again. “Surprise” No. 1 Ohio State (7-0, 3-0 Big Ten) is king of the college football world once again following the defeats of the two top-ranked teams (LSU and California) last week. After toppling Kent State with their second-tier team playing the majority of the game, the Buckeyes find themselves in familiar territory.
If Ohio State can win the remaining games on its regular-season schedule, it will play in its second consecutive national championship.
Even though the Buckeyes have accomplished this feat before, coach Jim Tressel believes the task of going undefeated will be just as difficult as it was for his 2006 squad that went an astounding 12-0 before losing to Florida in the national championship game.
“It’s extremely hard (to go undefeated). You have so many tough tests,” Tressel said. “Sometimes you play your best and sometimes you don’t. Sometimes the balls bounce the right way, other times they don’t. It’s the most difficult thing there is in this sport.”
The Buckeyes will look to continue their pursuit of perfection this weekend as they play host to a fast and furious Michigan State team. Led by coach Mark Dantonio, a former assistant to Tressel at Youngstown State, the Spartans (5-2, 2-2) bring a lightning combo of kick returners and a confident quarterback into the fray.
“I’ve known Coach Dantonio for years and years. And (the coaching staff) knows that his team and his quarterback are going to be ready Saturday, ” Tressel said. “They have one of the top-ranked kickoff return units the nation. So it’s a special group we are about to face.”
“Hoeppner’s Hoosiers” Still hopeful
The Hoosiers couldn’t find a way to procure the Old Brass Spittoon last week after being trounced by Michigan State, 52-27. So what? Indiana (5-2, 2-2) is still off to a phenomenal start in conference play and are in the process of closing in on bowl eligibility for the first time since 1993.
All of Bloomington, Ind., is bound to be itching at the team’s chances of playing its first post-season game in more than a decade. Despite this lingering enthusiasm, and even after last week’s loss, coach Bill Lynch maintains that his players are knuckling down on a week-by-week basis while refusing to ponder their bowl possibilities.
“I think the kids have done a good job of focusing on each week’s opponent. I know everybody from the outside, even people here, are talking to our kids about it,” Lynch said. “I think last week, the kids were putting too much pressure on themselves too early. It’s a long season, but we feel that the big picture will take care of itself.”
The Hoosiers will host Penn State (5-2, 2-2) at Memorial Staidum on Saturday in what has already been deemed a fairly-matched game.
Yet, it appears that Indiana will once more have a distinctive advantage in at least one category: the intangibles. The Hoosiers, as they do for every game, will be adhering to former coach Terry Hoeppner’s lasting command to “play 13.” Lynch spoke to his promise to stick to the program and the message of the team’s recently deceased leader.
“It hasn’t been hard to maintain (the message). The foundation of this program was laid down by him,” Lynch said. “We believe in the system that he brought to us. He’d want us to continue to improve. And we will continue to play for him.”
Reach Matthew Murray at [email protected].
