Ohio State game thread

[James]

I think Ohio State could have a year much like USCw had this year. Big expectations and not exactly the desired results. Everyone thought that USCw was going to steamroll the competition because of how strong they ended the season last year. I would say it runs a lot of parallels with Ohio State this year and what will likely be a top 5 preseason ranking in 2013. Entering with big expectations coming of a probation season doesn't seem to have the results that people think they will have. Playing games when they don't really matter or don't have any real consequence is a lot different than playing knowing that if you lose, especially in the Big 10, you're going to drop a lot further than teams in the conferences that have been a lot stronger in years past. I would almost say the writing is on the wall for Ohio State next year when you look at some of the "closer" games from this year.

Ohio State had really close games against:
Cal (35-28)
MSU (17-16)
Indiana (52-49)
Purdue (29-22 OT)

Now I am not saying those are anything other than close wins, but those are some close wins against some pretty mediocre teams. The only team that they played this year that ended the season in the top 25 was Michigan, and we all saw what happened to those clowns in Dallas at the start of the season, in fact, Ohio State fans should be pretty familiar with the score "41-14," from that game you would probably like to forget from 2006.

Teams that win championships against what will most likely be an SEC team (until the playoff era begins) are going to have to bring a lot more than OT wins against Purdue. I don't see how a team like Notre Dame puts up much more than 7 points against Alabama and I think this years BCS is going to be one of those games that really shows how far (not that this hasn't been shown over the past 6 years) behind most teams outside the SEC are.

I guess the gist of this is that I would be very cautious in putting the "BCS Championship bound" label on this team quite yet, because I think they are a little behind even a middle of the road SEC team like Texas A&M.

["Boobie" Gibson]

One thing really bothering me... what does the w stand for in USC

[James]

East and West

USCw (Southern Cal)
USCe (South Carolina)

Wouldnt want anyone even having the notion that South Carolina is anything close to a BCS team.

[cavsfan1985]

I think Ohio State could have a year much like USCw had this year. Big expectations and not exactly the desired results. Everyone thought that USCw was going to steamroll the competition because of how strong they ended the season last year. I would say it runs a lot of parallels with Ohio State this year and what will likely be a top 5 preseason ranking in 2013. Entering with big expectations coming of a probation season doesn't seem to have the results that people think they will have. Playing games when they don't really matter or don't have any real consequence is a lot different than playing knowing that if you lose, especially in the Big 10, you're going to drop a lot further than teams in the conferences that have been a lot stronger in years past. I would almost say the writing is on the wall for Ohio State next year when you look at some of the "closer" games from this year.

Ohio State had really close games against:
Cal (35-28)
MSU (17-16)
Indiana (52-49)
Purdue (29-22 OT)

Now I am not saying those are anything other than close wins, but those are some close wins against some pretty mediocre teams. The only team that they played this year that ended the season in the top 25 was Michigan, and we all saw what happened to those clowns in Dallas at the start of the season, in fact, Ohio State fans should be pretty familiar with the score "41-14," from that game you would probably like to forget from 2006.

Teams that win championships against what will most likely be an SEC team (until the playoff era begins) are going to have to bring a lot more than OT wins against Purdue. I don't see how a team like Notre Dame puts up much more than 7 points against Alabama and I think this years BCS is going to be one of those games that really shows how far (not that this hasn't been shown over the past 6 years) behind most teams outside the SEC are.

I guess the gist of this is that I would be very cautious in putting the "BCS Championship bound" label on this team quite yet, because I think they are a little behind even a middle of the road SEC team like Texas A&M.

The only difference is we have a great coach. That USC team is filled with NFL talent, I mean on offense alone QB, WR,WR, RB. Just bad coaching.

[NorthCoastKid]

I think Ohio State could have a year much like USCw had this year. Big expectations and not exactly the desired results. Everyone thought that USCw was going to steamroll the competition because of how strong they ended the season last year. I would say it runs a lot of parallels with Ohio State this year and what will likely be a top 5 preseason ranking in 2013. Entering with big expectations coming of a probation season doesn't seem to have the results that people think they will have. Playing games when they don't really matter or don't have any real consequence is a lot different than playing knowing that if you lose, especially in the Big 10, you're going to drop a lot further than teams in the conferences that have been a lot stronger in years past. I would almost say the writing is on the wall for Ohio State next year when you look at some of the "closer" games from this year.

Ohio State had really close games against:
Cal (35-28)
MSU (17-16)
Indiana (52-49)
Purdue (29-22 OT)

Now I am not saying those are anything other than close wins, but those are some close wins against some pretty mediocre teams. The only team that they played this year that ended the season in the top 25 was Michigan, and we all saw what happened to those clowns in Dallas at the start of the season, in fact, Ohio State fans should be pretty familiar with the score "41-14," from that game you would probably like to forget from 2006.

Teams that win championships against what will most likely be an SEC team (until the playoff era begins) are going to have to bring a lot more than OT wins against Purdue. I don't see how a team like Notre Dame puts up much more than 7 points against Alabama and I think this years BCS is going to be one of those games that really shows how far (not that this hasn't been shown over the past 6 years) behind most teams outside the SEC are.

I guess the gist of this is that I would be very cautious in putting the "BCS Championship bound" label on this team quite yet, because I think they are a little behind even a middle of the road SEC team like Texas A&M.

[Chris]

So sick of the SEC slobber fest. I've heard plenty of good arguments as to why the greatness of the SEC is a mirage, but I'm too lazy to regurgitate it here. Just know that the SEC is not some undefeatable, untouchable, Lord-Conference of football. They can be beaten. I will be watching this title game very, very closely...

[Tlyons]

A&M was a middle of the road Big 12 Team. They came to the SEC and barely lost to the upper tier teams and beat the best team the SEC had to offer. Get off the SEC's nutsack please.

[RappSoda]

The Heisman invites stop when there is a significant gap between one guy and the next. I don't think they'll bring less than three to NY, but there must've been a significant gap between Klein (my guess) and Miller. Don't worry though, he'll be there next year.

[MGMT]

Cant remember the last time I wanted ND to win so badly, if ever.

[Huber.]

Would have liked to see Braxton become a Heisman finalist.

[James]

A&M was a middle of the road Big 12 Team. They came to the SEC and barely lost to the upper tier teams and beat the best team the SEC had to offer. Get off the SEC's nutsack please.

They were a middle of the road team last year with a pretty mediocre QB who had changed his position from WR to QB. Tannehill didnt have anywhere near the impact that Manziel had and youre crazy if you think that A&M wouldnt have won the Big 12 had they played there this year. Manziel is a once in a generation player who also has two guys on his offensive line that will be 1st round picks this year.

[MGMT]

No, Vince Young was a once-in-a-generation player. Manziel isn't.

[Tlyons]

They were a middle of the road team last year with a pretty mediocre QB who had changed his position from WR to QB. Tannehill didnt have anywhere near the impact that Manziel had and youre crazy if you think that A&M wouldnt have won the Big 12 had they played there this year. Manziel is a once in a generation player who also has two guys on his offensive line that will be 1st round picks this year.

Winning the heisman as a freshman doesn't make you a once in a generation player. He's had a fantastic year but the heisman list is weak this year.

[b00bie]

He may well be one of the greatest college players of all time if he continues his numbers and they find adequate replacements at LT/RT.

That said, his NFL prospects are probably non existant being 5'11 with a fringy arm.

[Tlyons]

He broke tebow and newton's total yards record. He's setting the bar high for himself.