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A recent article caught my attention regarding how Ohio State should not be in this year's BCS Championship Game. One of the key points that the article made was how Ohio State's loss to LSU ...

Ohio State Vs. the SEC: A Closer Look at 0-9

by Chip Minnich (Scribe)

78

3821 reads

Opinion

July 20, 2008


A recent article caught my attention regarding how Ohio State should not be in this year's BCS Championship Game.  One of the key points that the article made was how Ohio State's loss to LSU last year in the BCS Championship Game dropped Ohio State's overall bowl record to 0-9 against teams in the SEC.

While nobody can dispute the historical fact that Ohio State is 0-9 against SEC opponents in bowl games, I believe a couple of things should be pointed out for the sake of balance.

 

1. The majority of the bowl losses to the SEC occurred under John Cooper's tenure as Ohio State's head coach.

If you read below, you will see which SEC team defeated Ohio State, in which bowl game and year, and what the score was.  While it is convenient for people around the country to bash Ohio State or Jim Tressel as ill-prepared to handle the mighty SEC, you can see Jim Tressel is only responsible for three of the nine losses.

Two of Coach Tressel's losses came in the BCS Championship Game.  As an Ohio State fan, I completely believe I would rather be losing in the BCS Championship Game than not be in the game at all.

Another thing: No matter how bad Ohio State was defeated the last two seasons, neither game was as bad as what Oklahoma suffered to USC (55-19) in 2005 (a 36-point differential, compared to Ohio State's 27-point loss to Florida or 14-point loss to LSU).

Last time I checked, Oklahoma had lost their last four BCS Bowl Games—yet I fail to see too many articles supporting a ban of Oklahoma from BCS consideration.

1978 Sugar Bowl: Alabama 35, Ohio State 6 - Woody Hayes

1990 Hall Of Fame Bowl: Auburn 31, Ohio State 14 - John Cooper

1993 Citrus Bowl: Georgia 21, Ohio State 14 - John Cooper

1995 Citrus Bowl: Alabama 24, Ohio State 14 - John Cooper

1996 Citrus Bowl: Tennessee 20, Ohio State 14 - John Cooper

2001 Outback Bowl: South Carolina 24, Ohio State 7 - John Cooper

2002 Outback Bowl: South Carolina 31, Ohio State 28 - Jim Tressel

2007 BCS Championship: Florida 41, Ohio State 14 - Jim Tressel

2008 BCS Championship: LSU 38, Ohio State 24 - Jim Tressel

 

2. Florida fans should get on their hands and knees and thank the gods for UCLA in 2006.

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78 comments Last one added 10 months ago — Leave a Comment

  1. David Wunderlich 11 months ago

    I find it fascinating the negative tone you use in reference to John Cooper here, when your profile says that you got your start in scouting at Ohio State while Cooper was there. I'd think you might go a little easier on the guy, but I guess not.

    Also, the whole site thing goes both ways. I've been to Columbus in the summer, and it's nothing compared to Florida in the summer. Plus, you can't complain about the 2007 BCS title game when the OSU had previously cleaned up in Arizona and the majority of the fans were wearing red.

    Don't let some people get to you. Anyone who thinks rationally would not try to ban anyone from BCS consideration, Oklahoma included. Every year is it's own thing, and the best teams from each season, as determined solely by that season, belong in the big games at the end.

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    • Ryan Staab 11 months ago

      Cooper is generally regarded by many Buckeye fans as an excellent recruiter, but his play calling and his players' off the field antics (not to mention academics) were often questionable, especially in his final seasons. No one player better exemplified that than Steve Bellisari (who if I'm not mistaken, was benched by Tressel before the Michigan game for a pending DUI or drunken disorderly or whatever, enabling Craig Krenzel to face the Wolverines in 2001)

      Cooper's all-time coaching record is (arguably) commendable, but his record against Michigan (he'd been rumored to say that Michigan was "just another team" and had little regard for the rivalry) not to mention his bowl record, were dismal.

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    • Jeff Allen 11 months ago

      Bellisari got benched prior to the Illinois game, which we had no chance in anyway. McMullen started, and I think Krenzel might have finished it. Then Krenzel started at Michigan, I think.

      Columbus in the summer "doesn't compare" to Florida in the summer? What on earth does that even mean? All I know is, yesterday it was 94 degrees and humid. I can't imagine Florida is significantly different. Or does it reach the 130's down there in the summertime? Regardless of whatever answer you give, I don't think the difference between Florida & Columbus in summertime is as vast as the difference between Florida & Columbus in December.

      What does your statement even mean, David?

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    • Chip Minnich 11 months ago

      Thanks for your comments. Let me address a few points:

      1. My comments regarding Coach Cooper were primarily from the perspective that this whole "0-9" record should be looked at for what it is: Coach Hayes had a loss, Coach Tressel has had three, and Coach Cooper had the others. I am truly grateful to Coach Cooper and Coach Conley for giving me the opportunity to be a volunteer scouting assistant - I am merely pointing out that to pin an 0-9 record on what seems to be Coach Tressel seems very narrow-minded.

      2. I have also been to Florida and other southern states in the summer and I agree that the heat and humidity down there is a completely different discussion than Columbus, OH. I merely am making the argument that Ohio State (like when it played Texas, or this year when it plays USC) is willing to travel to places to play quality opponents. I merely wish the SEC teams would do likewise, even if it meant coming north of the Mason-Dixon line.

      3. Nobody got to me. I just merely wanted to point out what I believe are areas that are either ignored, overlooked, or unknown when it comes to Ohio State, the SEC, and the BCS arguments of validity.

      Again, thanks for your comments.

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  2. Brian Hood 11 months ago

    For the sake of balance? what does that mean? They haven't won one game. There is no balance whatsoever. Also, your supposed 'big game coach" Jim Tressel is 0-3. He wins all the other big games it seems. I do think the location of the bowls have a pretty big impact but not 0-9 type impact. Interesting read though.

    The SEC championship game should be the NC game(kidding). If there was a playoff, I truly believe the SEC would have even more championships than the four since '98.

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    • Dan Boss 11 months ago

      I wouldn't say 0-9 type impact, but many times teams in the SEC have home bowl games because they are so close to the "neutral" site. Unfortunately for teams in the north, bowl games are purposely set in the south or in domes because of the weather. I agree that the SEC doesn't know much about playing in the cold and snow and that does make a difference, but then again there is nothing you can really do about it. You can't really schedule a OOC game later in the year in the north because it would interfere with conference schedules. Whether or not the SEC would have more NC's because of a playoff, I don't know because there wasn't one. I do agree there needs to be a playoff system though.

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    • Chip Minnich 11 months ago

      Thanks for your comments. Let me reply to some of your questions...

      1. For the sake of balance - to even out, or consider some other points of view. That is what I meant with that statement.

      2. Coach Tressel is 0-3 in bowl games against the SEC, but has won 4 others (over Miami, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, and Notre Dame).

      Thanks again for your comments.

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  3. Edmon 11 months ago

    I agree that Ohio State or any team shouldn't be held out because of their past. Every season is a new one, most rational fans understand this.

    As for #2. Every year can be traced back to something. Florida can also get down on their hands and knees and thank Mr and Mrs Moss for having a son that was 6'6" instead of 6'5". to pin point one game late in the season is obsurd. You have to wait until the end of the season and take one good long look. That's why LSU belonged over Georgia and USC last year.

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    • Chip Minnich 11 months ago

      Thanks for your comments.

      Regarding point # 2, we can discuss and debate Florida's merits for getting into the BCS Championship. I agree that the whole year needs to be taken into account, but the reality is Florida would NEVER have had a title shot if USC had defeated UCLA.

      Thanks again for your comments.

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    • Edmon 11 months ago

      Well, if they wouldn't have lost to Auburn, the would have been undefeated. But they did lose.

      The "what ifs" are sprinkled throughout a season.
      Last year for example
      ...what if Georgia would have won against Tennessee
      ...what if Kansas beats Missouri
      ...what if VT beats LSU
      ...what if Dennis Dixon doesn' go down
      ...what if West Virginia doesn't choke against Pitt
      I could keep going.

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  4. BabyTate 11 months ago

    Are you folks kidding? Ohio State has ONE victory over an SEC team since 1935, the year before Jesse Owens dominated Adolph Hitler's Olympics.

    One win in the past 73 years is not enough wins to have an article about. Appalachian State has that man.

    Let's move on to a more relevant subject, something about teams that play competitive football.

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    • Chip Minnich 11 months ago

      Thanks for your comments. Maybe Ohio State will finally get a victory over an SEC team, either this year in the BCS Championship or maybe one of the other New Year's Day bowls. Or they will have to wait until Tennessee ventures north of the Mason-Dixon line in 2018 and 2019...

      Thanks again for your comments.

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  5. Nick The Only 11 months ago

    You are downplaying Tressel's failures and point to several irrelevant factors.

    1. Tressel has only coached Ohio State in 7 total bowl games. He has 4 wins and 3 losses. All 3 losses are to SEC teams. Thus, Tressel has been given AMPLE opportunity to beat an SEC team in a bowl and he has failed.

    2. Florida was obviously deserving of being in that game, even more so than tOSU. How they got there does not change the fact that they still EMBARASSED tOSU.

    3. In point 3, you COUNTER your OWN argument in point 2. You say that the Buckeyes were not even supposed to be in the title game as an excuse for them losing to LSU. Yet you basically say that Florida should not even have been in their title game. Why didn't Florida lose too?

    4. I didn't know that Arizona was any closer to Florida than Ohio. IN FACT, OSU KNEW THEY WOULD BE IN THE TITLE GAME FAR BEFORE FLORIDA AND OSU's FANS BOUGHT THE MAJORITY OF THE TICKETS. 60-75% of the fans in that stadium were OSU fans.

    All of you "arguments" hold no water. OSU plays in an inferior conference that does not prepare them well enough to beat the more battled tested teams from the SEC.

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    • Chip Minnich 11 months ago

      Thanks for your comments. Allow me to respond to some of your points...

      Point 2: "Florida was obviously deserving of being in that game" - Agree completely. They deserved to be there instead of Ohio State. They also NEVER would have been there if USC had won over UCLA, which was my general point.

      Point 3: "you COUNTER your OWN argument in point 2" - Disagree completely. I was merely pointing out that almost every Ohio State fan last year at this time would have bet that just getting to one of the New Year's Day bowl games was the likely result. Nobody thought Ohio State had a shot at playing for the title.

      "OSU plays in an inferior conference that does not prepare them well enough to beat the more battled tested teams from the SEC" - It's a good thing that Ohio State helped to battle test Michigan last season then before they played and defeated Florida in their bowl game.

      Thanks again for your comments.

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    • Nick The Only 11 months ago

      Michigan was title favorite and Florida was in a rebuilding year.

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    • Art Vandelay 11 months ago

      SEC fans act as if the SEC completely and utterly dominates the Big Ten at every opportunity. OSU has had its troubles with the SEC. It's true. No one will debate that. But the Big Ten as a whole does fine against the SEC while usually being UNDERDOGS. Look at Wisconsin's dismantling of Auburn a few years ago, how UofM DOMINATES the SEC, how Iowa and MSU consistently hold their own against them. In the last 15 games between the two conferences in bowl games, I think the SEC leads 8-7, despite having home field advantage most of the time and playing as the favorites. There is more disparity in the SEC (i.e. 2 or 3 teams capable of winning the conference as opposed to only 1 or 2 in the Big Ten), so when two Big Ten teams get BCS bids, the third place team is usually playing underdog to an SEC potential champion. Florida DID NOT belong in the National Championship in '06 and would have lost to both Michigan and USC. OSU never should have lost. They completely overlooked UF and remarkably couldn't handle their defensive speed while in a spread. They should have changed things up by running more of a pro set and muscling it, but were caught off guard.

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  6. Bob Zen 11 months ago

    A few points to consider as you ramble on about things that don't have anything to do with OSU's choking against the SEC, ala, how Florida should thank UCLA. It isn't just that OSU is 0 fer against the SEC, but that OSU plays a WEAK schedule then expects to be granted entrance into the BCS championship game just because you're tOSU. My beef and others as well, is that our current system allows teams to use a weak SOS to get them into a BCS game over other teams who either by virtue of their conference, ACC, SEC, Big12 having Championship games, or by their desire to play harder schedules, end up more dinged up and with more chances to stumble.

    I give tOSU props for scheduling USC this year. Make it past that game and the rest of your pansy schedule and be 1 or 2 and I'll grant that you played your way into the MNC game. Just don't come wining back here if an SEC team takes it to you again.

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    • Chip Minnich 11 months ago

      Thanks for your comments. Let me respond to some of your points...

      "OSU plays a WEAK schedule then expects to be granted entrance into the BCS championship game just because you're tOSU." - Uh, NO. Ohio State does not expect to be in the BCS championship game just by virtue of its name.

      "I give tOSU props for scheduling USC this year. Make it past that game and the rest of your pansy schedule and be 1 or 2 and I'll grant that you played your way into the MNC game." - Ohio State is not only playing USC this year, they also play them next year. In years to come, Ohio State plays Miami (FL), Virginia Tech, Oklahoma, and Tennessee, among others. Perhaps if Ohio State wants a tougher schedule, Ohio State can swap out its game against Michigan on November 22nd with Florida's game against The Citadel.

      Thanks again for your comments.

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  7. Dan Boss 11 months ago

    How many OSU fans have said, we shouldn't have been in the game last year but two other teams choked and put us there? Many of us OSU fans dont "expect to be granted entrance into the BCS championship game" just because we are OSU and neither does the team or coaching staff. Everyone involved expects OSU to win every game and have the chance to play for a championship. Every single team in the world in every sport tries to accomplish that every year. OSU didn't develop the current system because they "expect to be granted entrance into the BCS championship game" because they are OSU. They don't control the Big 10's choice to not have a championship game, control how good the other teams in the conference are, or control the team rankings. They do control who they schedule OOC and they schedule big opponents with the exception of last year. They know they are down right now and are scheduling OOC games against other BCS teams with the exception of SEC teams for the most part. The SEC's excuse? Our conference schedule is too tough. Well years down the road when the Big 10 is back up and the SEC is down, and the Big 10 is still playing those tough OOC games, what will be their excuse then?

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  8. Ryan Staab 11 months ago

    Interesting read for the most part, Chip. The only thing I disagree with is #4. Ohio State clearly had a home crowd for the 2007 BCS Championship as evidenced by the sea of scarlet and gray seen around Phoenix that weekend (as was the case in 2003, 2004 and 2006).

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    • Chip Minnich 11 months ago

      Thanks for your comments. Regarding point # 4, my primary point is every other game EXCEPT the Tempe loss to Florida was that Ohio State (and every other Big 10 team) is essentially playing a road game against an SEC opponent. I will certainly concede Ohio State was the home team in its shellacking by Florida in 2007.

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  9. steve overstreet 11 months ago

    you were at that florida osu game i saw you crying in the south endzone!
    OSU MIGHT DESERVE TO GO TO THE GAME A THIRD TIME , I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT
    BUT YOU SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO GO OR WATCH ON TV YOU CRYBABY.

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    • Chip Minnich 11 months ago

      Thanks for your comments.

      Unfortunately, I have a face perfect for radio; you must have me mistaken for someone else. I don't make the same kind of money you do, I guess.

      Thanks again for your comments.

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  10. James McPhate 11 months ago

    Didn't Vanderbilt play at Michigan in 2006?

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    • Chip Minnich 11 months ago

      When I am wrong, I admit that I am wrong. And I am wrong. Thank you so much for pointing that out to me. I truly stand corrected.

      I do believe I am right when I wrote that Florida has NOT traveled north of the Mason-Dixon line since that 1991 game versus Syracuse though.

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  11. john brewer 11 months ago

    hey chip if you don't want to look at 0-9 then do a little research for us. how many times has ohio state beaten an SEC since 1931?

    report back soon. bowls and regular season.

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    • D B 11 months ago

      Ohio State has a record of 3-8-1 against SEC teams since 1931. Their all-time record against the SEC is 7-10-2. This is according to Stassen.com and College Football Data Warehouse.

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    • Chip Minnich 11 months ago

      Thanks for your question, and D, thanks for your answers.

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  12. McLeod Neale 11 months ago

    1. I think that point #2 is really dumb. You can make that argument about any team that ever made it to the national championship game with at least one loss. Somebody else had to lose to get them into that game. And Florida had the toughest schedule in the country that year, so USC should not have even been ranked ahead of Florida in the first place.

    2. There is no excuse for losing to South Carolina. I do not care who the coach is. That is two of the nine losses.

    3. How do you justify two lopsided losses to SEC teams in the national championship, when the SEC has proven that there is so much parity within its own conference?

    4. I think you should have hinged your argument about playing spread offenses. That is why Ohio State lost to Illinois, Florida, and LSU. You could easily argue that Ohio State would have a better chance against SEC teams like Auburn, Tennessee, and Georgia, who play more traditionally run based offenses that are seen more often in the Big10.

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  13. Chip Minnich 11 months ago

    Thanks for your comments. I agree on losing to South Carolina, especially in that 2001 game - that is what proved to be Coach Cooper's undoing.

    As for your 4th point, Ohio State has done well against other spread teams in the past. Coach Heacock and the other defensive coaches have definitely been hearing the complaints and criticism regarding the past two BCS losses.

    Thanks again for your comments.

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  14. steve conn 11 months ago

    I apologize for the ohio state buckeyes. They are simply ruining football. Sorry that Tressel has lost three games in the last two years. Let's all blame Ohio state for having a good record. It must be the coaches fault that they keep returning to the national championship game. They have recently finished number two to two teams that were clearly better from the start. They are hopeless. They will never ever beat anyone from the SEC ever becuase they are no good and they shouldn't be alowed to participate in the BCS. From now on let's make a rule that if you win %90 of your games you are disqualified from compition and it becomes fashionable to mock you. In fact, the entire big ten is withdrawing from the sport of football to focus on water polo, I hope that makes the rest of you guys sleep better at night.

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  15. Ryan Shilts 11 months ago

    You know what....all you buckeye haters are just upset because everybody knows that The Ohio State University will be back in the Championship game again this year. They are clearly the most talented team in the nation. Bring on the SEC. Nobody is stopping the bucks this year.

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  1. Ryan Shilts 11 months ago

    Everybody says there is no excuse for the loss to florida. COME ON PEOPLE!!!! Their best player got hurt on the opening kickoff talk about a mental drain. Last year is way differnet. They had no business being there. The loss to illinois clearly showed they werent ready, and LSU give me a break. Yeah lets vote LSU in the Championship game in their home state. Playing Favorites?????? HMMM

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  2. Steve 11 months ago

    You know what I think is amazing, is that you never heard much in the 90's about how much more dominant the Big Ten was than the SEC or any other conference. The fact is the Big Ten has ruled college football for the first 120 years it has been played. Besides Alabama and every once in a while Georgia who from the SEC was even relevant before 1995. The SEC has about another 100 years to go before they can even catch the Big Ten.

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    • Edmon 11 months ago

      Seriously, 120 years ago? How old are you 140?
      The 90's were dominated by Nebraska. Last time I checked, they were in the Big 12. FSU, Miami and UF all won 'ships in the 90s. Penn State and Michigan both shared in partner'ships. Hardly dominant.

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    • Chip Minnich 11 months ago

      Steve and Edmon: Thank you both for your comments.

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    • McLeod Neale 11 months ago

      Actually a team from the state of Florida has won the national championship every three years since 1980. That is domination.

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    • Art Vandelay 11 months ago

      Hey McLeod, if Florida's so great, why can't they beat anyone from Michigan? If the SEC's so great, why can't they dominate the lowly Big Ten? It's nice that at least one team from Florida has won a championship every three years on average over the last 27 years, but that's still spread over three conferences.

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  3. Mark Rupert 11 months ago

    If Fla looses the next two MNCG's the way OS has, it won't take any time for everyone to start thinking the SEC has slipped backward and they won't want the Gators the next year either. It isn't a WE against OS thing. Your team has been given every opportunity and failed, this perception is a natural result of a teams failure when given the opportunity.

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  4. Brian Brodie 11 months ago

    Good work Chip... the National guys never bring up the fact that most Big 10 teams play Pac 10 teams on the West Coast, Big 12 teams in Texas & SEC teams in the South during the bowl season. That being said, OSU has to start getting it done because they are making the whole league look weak when really it is not. In the last 10 years over half of the other Big 10 teams have gotten it done... UM, Wisconsin, Iowa, MSU, Minnesota & Penn St have all won bowl games over SEC teams played in the South.

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    • Chip Minnich 11 months ago

      Thanks for your comments. Believe me, I completely agree that Ohio State needs to get it done on the field - Coach Tressel said the same thing on ESPN College Football Live. I was merely pointing out a number of areas that are either overlooked, such as the whole record. If you want to say Coach Tressel is 0-3 against the SEC in bowl games, that is fine.

      Thanks again for your comments.

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  5. KHRIS JOHNSON 11 months ago

    i would harldy call a 12-1 and a 11-2 season a failure..maybe disappointing ends but not failure...and some PLZ. EXPLAIN TO ME WHY THERE ARE NO BCS GAMES IN THE NORTH....I SEE SOME SEC BIAS

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    • Ryan Staab 11 months ago

      BCS bowls generate a lot of money for the host city, which is helped when said city is in a warm weather location in the winter time. Part of the experience isn't just the game, but the festivities surrounding it (The Rose Bowl and Fiesta Bowl parades, for example). How many people would want to go to someplace like Detroit or Minneapolis in the dead of winter (since both have domed stadiums), and would cities like Detroit or Minneapolis even want people there in the winter time when the only thing to do was sit inside a stadium and watch a bowl game? The host cities' tourism boards get as much revenue out of the spectacle as the teams participating in the bowl, if not more.

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    • Chip Minnich 11 months ago

      Thanks for your comments. Maybe if the NCAA ever develops a playoff system like Division I-AA or the other levels have, we'll see playoff games in northern areas.

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    • Dan Boss 11 months ago

      Ryan, wasn't the Super Bowl played in Detroit a few years back? I agree with the festivities, you can't change the Rose Bowl for example. However, the newly added BCS NC game rotates between the four bowls. Why can't it rotate to a dome in the north? The BCS game isn't about festivities because it isnt one of the traditional bowls, its a new one. There is no reason why it can't be rotated to multiple venues like the Super Bowl is.

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  6. Ed H 11 months ago

    I wonder myself Why Oklahoma is given a free pass. They lost 4 BCS games in a row and got their buts kicked in the Championship game. I just don't get it. Atleast Ohio State lost to great SEC teams. Oklahoma lost to WVU and Boise State. I again ask you SEC fans why no hate for Oklahoma??

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    • Chip Minnich 11 months ago

      Thanks for your comments. I have a lot of respect for Oklahoma, but I agree that they have seemingly been given a pass by the national media and fans when it comes to their recent bowl performances, unlike Ohio State.

      Thanks again for your comments.

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    • McLeod Neale 11 months ago

      They aren't. Both teams have an O for a reason, and that is b/c it stands for overrated.

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    • Art Vandelay 11 months ago

      FlOrida also has an 'O' in it, and you guessed it McLeod. It's because they are consistently overrated, just like last year.

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  7. Angel Cielo 11 months ago

    The problem, which has been previously illuminated, is that Ohio State lost badly in the National Championship 2 years in a row to an SEC team. This in a system where only 2 teams get a chance to be national champion (as opposed to NCAA Basketball where 65 teams (64 for women) get a shot).

    The actual conference v. conference bowl record, however, indicates that both conferences are pretty much even. The Big10 has won 13 match-ups in the past 10 years, and the SEC has won 13 match-ups in the past 10 years. In the past 5 years, the SEC is up 7 wins to 6 wins, and over the last 2 years (when most Big10 detractors are claiming superiority), the two conferences are even at 3 wins each.

    With respect to strength of schedule, Ohio State did have a relatively easy schedule last year only playing 5 teams ranked in the top 25, and besides LSU, none higher than #19. But it seems that people have forgotten that both previous years Ohio State played #2 Texas (a home and home), and in 2006-2007, Ohio State played 3 teams ranked #2 (to my knowledge never done before) only losing in the National Championship.

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    • hey angel you're a retard retard 11 months ago

      LOL...you're a fucking RETARD

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    • Tom Grant 11 months ago

      very well put, Buckeye fans need apologize for nothing. The SEC plays great football, but so does OSU. Coming into this stretch OSU dominated the post-season, so it was justified to place them in National Championship contention. There was no discussion about OSU's worthiness going into the 2006 National Championship game and a bunch of 18-21 year old kids locked up and melted away when the pressure ramped up. Someone had to loose that game and it was sure OSU.
      Last year everyone bitched and moaned about OSU shouldn't be there and how they can't win big games. I find that funny because they won the games that mattered to be there! They didn't loose to Michigan when it counted, a Michigan team that went on to make the mighty gators look slow. WVU, Georgia, USC and OU blame the system and OSU for their snubs, but really you only have yourselves to blame for losing to inferior teams when it mattered. LSU even got a kiss from the championship game setup and got a layup in the Tenn Vols to boost their ranking. Last year was a weak year for NCAA football and the best team in the game was LSU and even they did everything they could to fumble it away.
      So as an Ohio State fan i refuse to apologize for anything, our OOC teams were weak? Sry, we were fresh out of recent national champions (Texas and USC). The Big 10 sucks? Ok, should we give up recruits so they can catch up? You can't win a BCS National Title, so you shouldn't be there! 2002 was the BSC system right?
      So lets just forget this infatuation the country has with pointing the finger at OSU when the problems are really their own and enjoy what looks to be an outstanding year of college football. Georgia, OSU, Flordia, USC, OU, Mizz U all should have outstanding teams and i'm sure i forgot some. This will be an excellent year to watch college football.

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    • Angel Cielo 11 months ago

      The LOL comment was a brilliant argument. Thanks for enlightening us all. Idiot.

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    • McLeod Neale 11 months ago

      "Ohio State did have a relatively easy schedule last year only playing 5 teams ranked in the top 25, and besides LSU, none higher than #19."

      You may want to check your facts again. Just look at the final top 25. I know for a fact that Florida and Tennessee were both ranked higher than #19 at the end of the year.

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  8. Chip Minnich 11 months ago

    Thank you all for your comments.

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  9. ryan gruebel 11 months ago

    Well lets look at who OSU played in 2003. Washington, with two heisman contenders. 2004-2005 NC ST. 2006-2007 Texas and Washington again last year, when they were supposedly good! 2-0 and national attention. Plus we are nice and play at least 1 mac team a year, so they get their big check at the end of the day.

    This year we got at USC, at Wisconson at Illinois, and Penn State at home. Also Michigan comes and I think I remeber what happened when Bo became the coach (1969) :( So this is no walk in the park, but this team is still the best in the nation with all its depth and talent.

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  10. ryan gruebel 11 months ago

    Sorry correction OSU played Washington and NC State in 2003, so NC State 2003-2004, Texas 2005-2006 and 2007 Washington

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    • BabyTate 11 months ago

      You know, those NC State teams were dangerous. Remember that running back and quarterback they had? They really put on a show. What was that guy's name something like TA McClenden or something, whatever happened to him?

      The comparison with Bo in '69 probably won't come true. This Rodriguez will have a hard time making it to the Rose Bowl this season like Bo did in '69. Ohio State is much stronger than Michigan this season.

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    • Dan Boss 11 months ago

      They had T.A. McClendon, Philip Rivers, and Jerricho Cotchery. Obviously we know where Rivers and Cotchery are. McClendon was undrafted in the 04 draft and tried out for several teams. Last I could find is that he was arrested in 07 for drug possession.

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  11. Art Vandelay 11 months ago

    McLeod - You stated "You may want to check your facts again. Just look at the final top 25. I know for a fact that Florida and Tennessee were both ranked higher than #19 at the end of the year."

    That's true, but Ohio State didn't play Florida or Tennessee last year. And tell me that Florida wasn't ranked too high when they were ranked above Michigan who beat them head-to-head in their home state and the two teams finished with identical records.

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  12. ryan gruebel 11 months ago

    im pretty sure it wont happen but i was just throwing it out that michigan is still good even when they get new coaches. every year it is a tough game (with few execptions) and it always boosts the winners strengh of schedule. Plus not to whine but in one of the sec bowl games osu played, i think against tennessee, they used to long of spikes that were illegal. I would like an advantage like that!

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  13. Brett Edgerton 11 months ago

    I'm glad someone corrected you on your Mason-Dixon claim. I can also recall Tennessee opening its '98 national-title season by beating Donovan McNabb and Syracuse in the Carrier Dome. Even if it had been true, it's such a lame argument anyway. How many major programs are technically even north of the Mason-Dixon line? Five? Six? That's not a cheapshot...just geography. And how far over does this line extend? Does it cut off right around Columbus. Because I seem to recall UT winning in South Bend a couple times since then as well. Vandy has also played there recently. So with that argument out of the way, I have a question for you...when exactly was the last time Ohio State played in an SEC stadium? HINT: It was before 1991. What about mighty Michigan, the other Big Ten power? Since Bo took over in 1969, the Wolverines have played exactly one regular-season game in the entire South...a 1985 game at South Carolina, which wasn't even an SEC member at the time. Michigan has never played at an SEC stadium against an SEC school. I'll repeat that...NEVER. Your Buckeyes have played in exactly one. Look it up. These are facts. Facts that basically lay waste to at least one of your arguments.

    You've been good about responding to people's questions and comments, and I respect that. Hopefully it continues with this entry.

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  14. Chip Minnich 11 months ago

    Thanks for your comments. Regarding the Mason-Dixon line, I think you may be missing the point. The point about the Mason-Dixon line is this: It was more directed about how SEC teams do not venture north of the Mason-Dixon line to play games against opponents in inclement weather. While I understand the SEC teams are in the midst of their conference games (as are the Big Ten or other conferences), I am making the point that SEC fans talk about a speed advantage over Big Ten teams, but I wonder how fast they would look if they played in Columbus, Ann Arbor, or Madison in November when it is about 40 degrees, muddy, and raining. I even said that Tennessee who plays OSU in 2018 and 2019 gets to play OSU in Columbus in September, where it can be just as hot and muggy as any SEC location at that time.

    As for your second question, I believe you are referring to when Ohio State played LSU back in 1987. That game ended in a tie. The following year, LSU came up to Ohio State and Ohio State won in the last seconds.

    Ohio State has taken an approach of playing at least one big non-conference game. Some of these opponents are North Carolina State (2003 and 2004), Texas (2005 and 2006), Washington (2003 and 2007 - Washington was better when that one was signed), USC (this year and next), and upcoming games against Miami FL, Oklahoma, Virginia Tech, California, Tennessee, and I'm sure I have forgotten someone. I would encourage Ohio State to schedule an SEC team or teams if they could. I would also encourage SEC teams to play schedules comparable to what Tennessee or Georgia are doing this year (TN plays UCLA, GA plays Arizona State).

    Again, thanks for your comments.

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  15. Joe Petro 11 months ago

    McLeod, go read your argument again, he's stating that OSU didn't play anyone ranked higher than #19 with LSU being the exception. Keep hating on the buckeyes though, they'll make you eat your words.

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  1. hey you 11 months ago

    Hey Bleacher just admitt the SUCKEYES WERE SHOWN UP not once but twice.. by 2 different SEC TEAMS! If they play a SEC this year it will be 3 times! THE SUCKEYES ARE HORRIBLE!

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  2. Andy Gill 11 months ago

    Full disclosure. I am a Tennessee/SEC guy. Very anti Big Ten and anything northern for that matter.
    But to defend the buckeyes record vs the SEC I would use this argument:
    Most of these losses occurred in bowl games (like the citrus bowl) that meant less to OSU than the SEC team. Most OSU seniors were probably more focused on the NFL than a lame bowl game, especially after being soured by Michigan.
    Really for that matter, I believe that when picking winners in bowl games, one must consider first and foremost which team actually cares.
    Now as far as the BCS championship game is concerned, the winner is the best team. I hate it for OSU fans that they have to listen to how they got dominated 2 years in a row by the SEC. But that is fair game as far as I am concerned.

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  3. Chip Minnich 10 months ago

    Thanks for your comments. I certainly believe several of the bowl losses to SEC teams during Coach Cooper's tenure were both areas of 1) not caring about being there, and 2) being concerned with potential injuries before declaring for the NFL Draft.

    Thanks again for your comments.

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  4. SickofOSUfans makingexcuses 10 months ago

    "I am making the point that SEC fans talk about a speed advantage over Big Ten teams, but I wonder how fast they would look if they played in Columbus, Ann Arbor, or Madison in November when it is about 40 degrees, muddy, and raining."
    What I am getting from this comment is that the colder weather that the Big Ten teams play in slows the speed of the players down. My question to you then, is how come OSU never caught up to Florida or LSU's speed once they were in the warmer weather?

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  5. Chip Minnich 10 months ago

    Thanks for your comments. And I know from your title that you are sick of OSU fans, but here is a point that you need to understand - Ohio State did NOT lose to both Florida and LSU because of speed. I will concede Florida was faster than Ohio State in their game, but Ohio State's loss to LSU had to do with turnovers, penalties, and a loss of poise more than any speed issues. Case in point - Chris Wells ran by LSU on the first series for 60+ yards and was not caught from behind, and he's 240 lbs.

    Actually, it's not that colder weather slows Ohio State or any Big Ten team down. It's more that the teams are built to play in colder and rougher weather, where running the ball and controlling the clock are paramount. I would like to see how good ANY SEC team would do if they had to come up north and play in weather like that, and we'd see how good the SEC teams would look then.

    Anyway, thanks for your comments. Thank God that college football has resumed!

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  6. MaybeOSUfansarenotsobad 10 months ago

    FINALLY, an Ohio State fan that can actually admit that their team was slower than Florida. I agree with you that the loss to LSU did not have much to do with speed. My thing is that I listen to these national sports radio shows or anytime I talk with one of the fans and everytime the OSU fan makes excuses for losing to an SEC team. Never have I heard a buckeye fan say that the other team was just better. Losses happen and I know that there is alot of traditional pride in Buckeye nation but come on. Anyways, you have somewhat refreshed my outlook on Buckeye fans which has prompted me to change my name. AND I am just as pumped as you are college football has finally started.

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  7. Chip Minnich 10 months ago

    Thanks for your comments. As someone with a modest scouting background in a previous career, I truly subscribe to the Bill Parcells maxim that you are what you are ~ meaning, you go by what it is, and not as you think it could have been. Case in point, Florida's defensive ends were running around Ohio State's offensive linemen in that 2007 game. It's right there on the film; you cannot dispute that.

    Ohio State did themselves no favors in that game when they came back with the running game, and Antonio Pittman ran it in to get back into the game. Inexplicably, Ohio State then went back to passing and were never in the game again due to the tremendous defensive pressure Florida exhibited. Florida was the better team that night, and Ohio State's game plan both offensively and defensively was just horrendous.

    Good luck this year for whichever team(s) you root for, and please post to my articles whenever you are able to do so.

    Thanks again.

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