Here we are, one month from the opening kickoff of the 2008-'09 College Football season. The preseason magazines are being released, camps are about to open, and everybody has their own opinion about the upcoming year. Heisman contenders, conference champs, and hypothetical BCS bids are being tossed around.
But through it all, there seems to be one consensus among all College Football fans: The Game of the Year (capitalized for extra effect) is Ohio State going out west to play USC on September 13.
In what will surely be a battle of two top five (possibly top three or top two, if the voters really get excited) teams, the big bad Buckeyes play longtime Pac-10 foe USC in a game of the two most prolific programs of the past decade.
Though these two teams haven't played each other in 18 years, they do have a nice little rivalry through the years, with USC leading the series 11-9-1. Both teams are loaded for the '08 season, and whoever wins will surely have the inside track to the National Championship.
Any way you look at it (and trust me, there are many different angles from which to digest this matchup), this is College Football's most important game of the year. As for the reigning Pac-10 champs, who have Oregon and Arizona State at home (though in back-to-back weeks), it can be said with confidence that this is the Trojans' most important game of the year.
But, despite all that is at stake (in addition to the aforementioned "inside track" at the BCS Title game, Ohio State is fighting years of pent-up anger and frustration from fans and pundits across the country for scandals, high rankings, and a couple games against teams from the SEC), the USC game is not Ohio State's most important game this season.
Am I out of my mind? If Ohio State loses to USC, even if it's close, their already shrinking reputation will take another crippling blow. If Ohio State beats USC, yes, they will be a virtually undisputed No. 1; the critics will back down, etc. But then what? Win or lose, they still have to play nine more games.
In beating USC (hypothetically), all Ohio State will do is basically save face for a little bit. What they need to do to make sure they don't lose anything they gained from the USC game is to win at Wisconsin and to win at Illinois.
As long as Ohio State doesn't embarrass themselves in L.A., they can still make it to the National Championship game. Ohio State cannot make it to the title game without beating both Illinois and Wisconsin.
Even if you think the Big Ten is weak (and it may be true that there's not a whole bunch of depth this year), you have to acknowledge the legitimacy of Wisconsin and Illinois.
Like Ohio State, Illinois was "a year away" last year, and they made it to the Rose Bowl (forget the actual outcome of the game, making it to the game was Illinois' victory). Juice Williams is a year more mature, Ron Zook has another great recruiting class, the program is clearly headed up.
Two years ago they nearly stunned Ohio State, and of course last year they did pull off the upset. The Illibuck trophy (I'm not kidding) has never had more significance, and going to Champaign and winning what will probably end up being a night game (translation: sucks to be the visiting team) will put Ohio State (even a one-loss Ohio State) in great position to return to the National Championship.
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4 months ago
I think the NCAA is kind of gunning for them....if they lose to USC they're out of it...if they lose at all they're out of it because no one wants to see them become the Buffalo Bills of the NCAA
And don't forget that in our wild world of sports that your NEXT game is your most important regardless of whether or not it's Duke or LSU
4 months ago
I don't think there is a consensus that OSU-USC is the game of the year. The game of the year, to me, is Florida-Georgia. They are rivals. They are both are ranked #1 in various publications. Their is the celebration back story. The SEC east title will likely be on the line. They both are likely to come in undefeated and it will be later in the season.
USC-OSU should be OSU's game to win. I don't think USC will be as good as people think. A new QB, a new offensive line and no receivers who have displayed game breaking ability. I think that USC will lose to OSU. Georgia-Florida just has more appeal because of last year, because it is a rivalry, because the SEC title winner is likely to go the national title, because there will be several Heisman contenders playing (Tebow, Harvin, Moreno, maybe Stafford), etc.
I think your premise is wrong, too. If OSU loses to USC (especially if they lose big), they will NOT get a BCS championship invite unless USC goes on to lose at least 2 games and there is no SEC or BIG 12 team with a 0 or 1 loss record.
from 4 months ago
The point about USC receivers: Apart from Vidal Hazleton and Joe McKnight, of course - who can play everywhere. Both of which are scary good (on their day)
Florida-Georgia is one of the biggest games of the year. But USC- Ohio State is bigger.
4 months ago
i disagreed. osu needs to beat usc to have any chance at national championship. if they lose that game, there is no way that they can outjump any 1-loss SEC teams or maybe even OU with one loss to USC. September 13th IS the game of the year for them.
4 months ago
In the scope of the BCS National Title Game, the USC game IS the most important game on their schedule because if they lose that game there is no way they will be even considered for the BCS Title Game because of the OVERALL weskness of the Big Ten.
Your points are valid that the Wisconsin and Illinois games are not gimmies, but in the grand scheme fo things, the USC game is the most important.
Playing at night in Camp Randall or Champagne is not a fun proposition at all.
Nice, alternative take in things.
4 months ago
If USCw and OhSt both play their A game, USCw will beat the Buckeyes going away. This is from an LSU guy, who has no love for the Trojans.
The game OhSt had better worry about is Mich. No I haven't been sniffing anything. I'll give at least 3 reasons:
1. Talent wise UM is the only Big 10+1 team with the depth of talent even close o the Buckeyes. They may not have the obvious star because so many graduated. Think about the stars OhSt lost off the 2006 team only to go back to the BCSCG the next year. Don't belive me, compare the Wolverines recruiting to other Big 10+1 teams over the past 5 years. Only OhSt has done better.
2. Rodriguez is a quantitative improvement over Carr. The team can only be fitter, tougher and more focused. If he finds a QB, who can do a reasonable job running his offense, UM will be very dangerous. Don't forget, Pat White had committed to LSU to play DB before Rodriuez recruited him to WVU to play QB.
3. By seasons end the Wolverines will be very experienced running Ridriguez's system. They may lose some games earlier in the season while learning a new system to teams they'd probably beat at seasons end.
from 4 months ago
I'm sorry but you sound like an absolute idiot right now.... I may be a Buckeye fan and everything but I have been paying close attention to everything up in Ann Arbor for the last few months. You saying that Michigan is the only team that has the depth or talent in the Big 10 to beat Ohio State is quite ridiculous. Maybe they have had better recruiting classes according to Rivals or "experts" but you never know how any recruit will work in a system. Wisconsin had Ohio State right where they wanted them last year until Beanie exploded... Wisconsin could very easily beat the Buckeyes and playing at Camp Randall... could really hand it to the Buckeyes real good. Illinois is no gimme... and in all honesty this year Michigan St. will be better than Michigan.
In the long run Michigan will be good with RR coaching there... but not this year... they will be lucky to win more than 6 games.
from 4 months ago
To add to that... I do agree that Michigan is the most important game for Ohio State this year..... simply because it always is.
from 4 months ago
Adam my man, let's not start name calling. I'm not a fan of Mich or the Choke-eyes. I just argued that people are writing the Wolverines off too soon. The talent base is there and Rodriguez will have a more immediate effect on what happens to Mich than Tressel did at OhSt when he arrived. Carr had gone from being a coach/father to a coach/grandfather. We all know the difference in the relationship young men have with their fathers and grandfathers.
If Oh St and UM played in Sept, OhSt would be a prohibative favorite. By the end of Nov I think the game will be much closer than anyone anticipates.
from 4 months ago
Paul I'm not name calling... I'm just saying you sound idiotic. Yes you make valid points about RR at Michigan.. but nothing will take any effect this year at all... I'm not sure who your a fan of or what part of the country you live in... but sadly I'm right underneath that junk state... I hear everything that goes on up there with RR and his new Michigan team... and you saying that 11 new starters on offense are going to have a good season.... come on man think about it a little more than that... Michigan is not the 2nd best team in the Big 10... they are not the 3rd best team in the Big 10... I'd put them somewhere around 5th or 6th in the Big 10 this year... talent may be there but every ounce of it is unproven and inexperienced.
4 months ago
Most years I would agree with this article's assessment. But, for the next couple of years at least, Ohio State and other Big Ten leaders must win their non-conference games, especially against powerhouse teams and in bowl games.
The conference has a weak perception and for teams like Illinois and Ohio State, should they be one-loss teams at the end, it would be better for that loss to be in conference. Beating USC and Missouri will carry far more weight than sweeping the Big Ten.
4 months ago
I'm sorry, but I totally disagree with this article on 98% of the points. USC is by far the toughest game the Bucks will play this year. If they can get through that, I don't see a Wisconsin or (especially) Illinois beating them (not twice). USC is by far the most important game of the year, unless of course, you're counting the National Championship ;).
"In beating USC (hypothetically), all Ohio State will do is basically save face for a little bit. What they need to do to make sure they don't lose anything they gained from the USC game is to win at Wisconsin and to win at Illinois..."
Are you kidding me? IF they win at USC, in the Trojan's own backyard, that would equate to a little more than just "saving face". I get what you're trying to say, but you're drastically overstating the importance of the Wisconsin and Illinois games. Do you really think there will be doubts about OSU until they beat Wisconsin and Illinois, like those are the games that are going to solidify the skeptics? The only game that matters after the USC is the National Championship - period.
"Ohio State cannot make it to the title game without beating both Illinois and Wisconsin...."
Of course, that goes for 99% of the other teams in the NCAA as well. IF you lose two games, it's quite difficult to earn a spot in the NC. I don't get your point here.
"For some reason, like an annoying younger brother, Wisconsin always gives Ohio State fits. It's easy to forget that Ohio State was losing to Wisconsin in the third quarter last year..."
Yea, until Tressel actually realized who to give the damn ball to. If they'd given the ball to Beanie from the beginning, that game would've been a debacle. I can say that for a couple more games last year as well.
"Bret Bielema is 21-5 in his two years at Wisconsin, and he's looking at another top 15 team this year. Wisconsin would love nothing more than to throw the anchor down on Ohio State's BCS Bandwagon, and on October 4 they just might..."
Oh please. Wisconsin has nowhere near the depth and talent OSU has on BOTH sides of the ball (especially defense). PJ is a force to be reckoned and they do have an experienced O line (not particularly spectacular), as well as some good receivers in Jefferson, Gilreath, and Beckum - but where it all starts to fall apart is their third starting quarterback in the last 3 years.
If Wisconsin can't run the ball, game over. The D-line for OSU this year is extremely talented with sufficient experience. Notably Heyward and Wilson (high expectations for both), along with the experience in the middle with returners Todd Denlinger and Nader Abdallah, with plenty of depth behind that to rotate in and out.
Not to mention perhaps what might be arguably the top linebacking corp in the nation led by both James Laurinaitis and Marcus Freeman, and backed up by upcoming AJ-hawk-like standout Ross Homan (injured most of last year).
Long story short, running the ball may prove to be a volatile task even for PJ and Brown. Well, that leaves passing. Four ingredients: Jenkins, Washington, Coleman, Russell. With any amount of unsteadiness displayed at quarterback, it's a recipe for disaster. The theme of depth continues at Dback with contributors Chimdi Chekwa, Jamario O'Neal, and Aaron Gant.
Now do you want me to get into an talent-laden OSU offense against a less than spectacular Wisconsin defense? Badgers lost one of their most solid contributors in the defensive backfield in Jack Ikegwuonu. Allen Langford and Aaron Henry (sophomore) are solid at the CB spots, but literally no match for the likes of Robiskie, Hartline, and upcoming Teddy-Ginn-like, Ray Small (although inconsistent). And I'm not even to go into the depth in the O-line and backfield for OSU, against an injury-prone Badger D-line, and a less than stellar middle linebacker situation.
But the point, I'm really trying to get at here is, simply, Wisconsin can only beat OSU if OSU beats itself. And with the disappointment of the last two years, you better bet you ass that OSU will not let one game go by where they are not thinking of embarrassment they felt. Translation = Wisconsin and the rest of the Big 10 are in for a hell of a ride.
So in conclusion, yes, USC is BY FAR the most important game of the season - BY FAR.
from 4 months ago
Bryan.. you are a Buckeye fan which is awesome.. and I absolutely see where your coming from in your article and absolutely loved the Nader Abdullah name drop hahaha.
The USC game will be hard.... will be tough and will be fun to watch. But if for one second you sit there and try to say that Wisconsin can't beat Ohio State, primetime in Camp Randall... your badly mistaken my friend. I understand that Ohio State by far has more talent and depth but maybe you are forgetting the game against Wisconsin last year. Ball game was tied going into the 4th quarter and if it weren't for Beanie absolutely going off we could have lost that game. With that being said no way in hell that Illinois beats Ohio State two years in a row and Penn State will get reamed. A game that Ohio State needs to prepare well for other than Wisconsin (in big 10 play) is Michigan State........ very underrated squad!... and of course even as bad as Michigan may be.... can't take that game lightly at all.
Again totally understand where your coming from with every part of your statement.. Ohio State has potentially the most talented team this year in college football and quite possibly in the history of Ohio State football. But don't think for one second that just because of that fact, a team like Wisconsin or Michigan State can't get an upset victory. You are right though... the only way they lose to either one of those teams is if they beat themselves.. but that is part of the game to not do that.. and potentially both of those teams can cause the Buckeyes trouble. USC may or may not be the best team they play all year... in my opinion Wisconsin is the much better team AT HOME than USC... hope field advantage in Southern Cal is nothing compared to Camp Randall in cold weather at night...
4 months ago
Enjoyed the article, it had a good, valid alternate view on things. I agree that if OSU loses only to USC and wins the rest of their schedule, they could still be in the BCS title game.
They would be unlikely to make it into the title game if it would be a rematch with USC, particularly if there's another team with similar credentials that could get in instead. OSU could make it in over a one-loss Big East or ACC team, but probably wouldn't get the nod if there were a Big 12 or SEC team with just one loss.
4 months ago
Great read! But I disagree. Unfortunately, the polls have become a popularity contest. And if OSU loses, they may go to the Rose Bowl, but there's no way they will be in Miami on Jan 8th. After the last two losses, OSU unfortunately, will take a hit in the cred department.
Illinois will not be as good this year- Mendenhall was their stud. Michigan has a new coach, new offense and a muddled QB situation. They will not be contenders either. Which leaves Wisky and Penn State. While both could surprise this year, I don't see them as top ten teams, thus leaving OSU's SOS ranking low.
What does that mean? The Buckeyes HAVE to beat SC. If we could wipe out the past two years, then you would have a great argument. But the stigma of the OSU teams not being able to handle speed well is there, and voters will not want to put a one-loss Buckeye team in the BCS. Again. They'll take their chances on a one loss Mizzou, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Florida or Georgia.
If they put OSU in the big game with one loss when there were other one loss teams out there, well, there would be chaos.
There would be mutiny. Locust invasions. Pestilence. The world as we know it would end.
Great article by the way...five stars. And your grammar, syntax, and content are superb. One of the best articles I have read here on B/R.
4 months ago
i like the alternative POV presented here. i also like the writing style. i'm not sure what to think about the arguments. OSU vs. USC will be an excellent (hopefully) game. the florida vs. georgia sounds good too. i just hope that the college football season ends with a true champion that everyone can agree on--fat chance of that EVER happening. oh well. good luck to all teams, go iowa.
from 4 months ago
Everyone is over estimating USC, they might be lucky to put up ten points against Ohio State (just like any other team, Big Ten or not)! The buckeyes will make a statement against USC this year and not look back.
I am a Scarlet and Grey fan, and you may think I am being rediculous, just don't forget I sai it!
from 4 months ago
usc does have a lot to replace, but they always seem to do it. ohio state's D is stacked so i don't think usc is going to steam roll them by any means. i definitely have more interest in ohio st. vs. usc than any other non-iowa, non-national championship game, that's mostly from my big ten, anti-usc background. this may be the one game i root for the buckeyes. and for everyone saying the buckeyes shouldn't have been in the NC game last year, they wouldn't have been in WVU had been able to beat pitt. osu may have backed in, but everyone lost to put them there. don't blame the computers
4 months ago
I agree that anything can happen in college football and that the Buckeye's could make it back to the NC game if they lose to USC...but it would be a long shot and many strange things would have to happen as they did in last year. I also agree with one of the post above that Michigan is the game they have to watch out for. I can visualize an undefeated Buckeye team getting upset by their rival. This would be the sweetest thing the team up north has tasted in many years. The vest better keep his team focused on winning the B-10 or the suicide rate in Ohio will spike in late November.
4 months ago
Good article. While I agree with the importance of Ohio State defeating Wisconsin and Illinois, the painful reality is for Ohio State to play for the national championship, they HAVE to beat USC. The ONLY way Ohio State can play for the national championship is to not only defeat USC, Wisconsin, and Illinois, but every team on their schedule - Ohio State needs to be undefeated to get a title shot.
I wrote about this in another article a while ago: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/33499-for-ohio-state-to-spell-bcs-it-must-defeat-usc
I agree about the schedule points you brought up - and don't forget having to go to Michigan State in mid-October. Michigan State has usually been a tough place for Ohio State to play in seasons past.
4 months ago
This article is interesting, but I still believe that if OSU defeats USC, they will still have a chance, though a small chance, to reach the Nat'l Title game. Not to mention to boost of confindence this team will get out of winning such a big game to start the season.
In the past I would say that going undefeated in the Big 10 was pretty impressive, but not so much now.
Still a great alternative viewpoint!
from 4 months ago
If Ohio State wins, I'm curious to see what excuses the pundits will make for USC, if any.
That said, I don't think the Buckeyes will go into one of the most hostile environments in college football and pull out a win. USC's offense is better than most people think. The Buckeyes might be able to keep it close, but unless they have a lot of fancy offensive schemes that the Trojans can't figure out, there's no way Ohio State walks out of the coliseum with a win.
4 months ago
They shouldn't look at it as the most important game because it is automatic loss for the Buckeyes.
from 4 months ago
Did you watch college football last year?
4 months ago
Couldnt agree more, they can still easily be in the NC with a loss to USC
4 months ago
Even if OSU losses to USC they will still have a shot at the NC. How can anyone say they wont? However, if they lose 2 games you might as well knock them out of the equation. Any teams most important game is always a conference game. You almost have to win your conference to play for the NC. If OSU beats USC and then drops 2 games then it doesn't really matter.
I don't understand these people saying they have to go undefeated to reach the NC game. Did they go undefeated last year? NO.
Im not an OSU fan but i think they will beat USC, mainly because it's played so early in the season. OSU brings a veteran team into California to play a good but young USC team. OSU has a great shot in this game.
4 months ago
People keep forgetting that computers are what puts a team in the NC game... if Ohio State loses that early in the season... it's crazy to say they are out of the running for the NC.
from 4 months ago
And who's to say that teams like Georgia, USC, Florida and Oklahoma won't lose 3 games? It can certainly happen. There is an entire season ahead of us.
Adam is right...the computers are mindless. They don't have memories. They see OSU as just another team. They view OSU the same as they view Tulane, Buffalo and Utah State. They don't seem them as back-to-back runners up.
4 months ago
I could not disagree more. Ohio State can make it to the NC by dropping one game against a Big10 foe (especially if it is earlier in the season), but voters will not let me them in if they lose to USC. Even I (a diehard buckeye fan) would not like to see them play in NC if they lose to USC.
Ohio State has been dominating Big10 for a couple of years and for well documented reasons people don't see it as a great achievement.
Ohio State has credibility crisis and a win over USC will go a long way to alleviate that crisis. On the other hand, wins over Big10 teams won't do anything to change the perception people has about tOSU.
4 months ago
Like others have said, the reputation/perception of the Ohio State football program, as viewed by most "experts" and pundits, depends entirely on the outcome of the USC game. National reputation isn't the end all/be all in determining Ohio State's worth, but it goes a long way with people tired of seeing them "never playing anybody significant" (2005-06 Texas?), "beating up on Big Ten patsies" (Wisky? Illinois? PSU? scUM?) or "losing to bigger, better teams" (They shouldn't have been in the 2008 title game, and wouldn't have been if Mizzou and West Virginia won games they were supposed to). Buckeye fans know better than to buy into those arguments, but unfortunately, college football fans (especially those outside the Big Ten) have a short attention span in this regard.
4 months ago
haha you guys who think USC is 'overrated' are sooo LOST !!
The national pundits are all on the EASE COAST and ALWAYS MINIMIZE the talen at USC.
If they were on the east coast, there would be talk of MLB Maualuga being a Heisman conender,,
and of Safety Taylor Mays being one of the best Safeties in HISTORY.
We are ALWAYS UNDERESTIMATED.
Outside of the Texas game - we have no lost ONE game to a non-conference opponent,,
no one else even comes CLOSE to that.
Take a look at a reply of the Oklahoma - USC national championship game a few years back to get an idea of what's going to happen to Ohion State at OUR HOUSE.
fyi- EVERY national pundit picked Oklahoma to BEAT USC and most to DESTROY USC.
BRING IT ON you boneheads !
from 4 months ago
Ya nobody likes the West Coast.... that must be why you've had 3 Heisman winners (one of them non deserving) and have been ranked in the preseason top 5 the last like 5 years huh.... there is no east coast bias... get over yourself.
4 months ago
No reason OSU should think the year is over if they lose to USC.
My opinion, OSU loses to USC but by the end of the season is still very much in the hunt for a berth in the title game.
A rematch is not all that crazy to think.
4 months ago
GREAT article. What scares me about the Wisky game is camp randle at night, and their D. I dont worry about their offense. Yes, they have a great pair of running backs. But i do not think any of their qb's will be able to have a first year like Tyler Donovan. If it werent for his ability under center, both throwing and improvising, Bucks would have blown them out last year. A running game alone, and I dont care who is running the ball, is not enough to beat OSU's defense.
GREAT article though. Keep writing.
4 months ago
I dont think U$C is the most important game this year because OSU is significantly better than the rest of Big 10 conference this year. IF Michigan was as strong as past years, then yes, U$C would be huge. OSU could not afford to lose to both and make a BCS appearance. This year, Michigan will not be very strong, so U$C could be your only loss, and you still would make a BCS game maybe even Championship again.
I think your worrying too much about the Illini. Yes Juice is there, but he benefited from having Mendenahall in the backfield. Now defenses will wait on him to rush the ball himself unless he proves they have an effective passing game.
4 months ago
I disagree with the comment about USC Offensive line, QB & receivers. The talk is about USC's defense. I think USC's offensive will take the lime lite again this year. Sanchez has been around long enough and will be a marked improvement from John David Booty. The offensive line in not inexsperienced at all. The line cemented at the end of last year after a number of players were thrown into the fire after injuries. Those lineman are back. The receivers are going to be the biggest surprise for USC this year. Spring ball saw a marked difference in the play by a number of players vs last spring. Last year after USC's embelishment as a #1 team, I told everyone who would listen USC was going to have a tuff situation w/the W.R.'s.. Not bragging, But not only was I right but it was even worth than I thought it would be. I spent quite a few days at spring practice this year and the W.R.'s are night and day improved. The offensive will be much better than advertized.
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