Make no mistake about it, this is a do-or-die game for the No. 5 Buckeyes. Win and they have at least saved some face from the embarrassment of two consecutive National Championship blowouts. In addition, they keep their hopes alive for a third appearance in the title game.
Lose and the Buckeyes stop here. There will not be a third consecutive appearance in College Football's premier event even if they go on to win the Big Ten. But worse, should they lose big to the No. 1 Trojans, pundits will question whether they are really one of College Football's premier teams like the Buckeyes of old.
Both of these teams take on the personalities of their head coaches. Nowhere is this more clearly contrasted than in their response to recent key injuries.
When USC's quarterback Mark Sanchez dislocated his knee a few weeks ago, head coach Pete Carroll immediately called in his backups but openly expressed hope that Sanchez would return and kept the media up-to-date on his quarterback's progress.
When the team doctor finally cleared Sanchez, Carroll at once announced that Sanchez would start the opener against Virginia even though Sanchez had not had any contact work in nearly a month.
Contrast, on the other hand, Jim Tressel's handling of the Chris "Beanie" Wells injury. It has been nine days now since the Heisman candidate incurred the injury against Youngstown State, and Tressel still has not announced the exact nature of the injury or its extent. In fact, he has forbidden Wells from speaking with the media.
This is the sign of man who keeps everything close to the sweater vest. It is also a sign of man who feels he needs to get every possible leg up that he can. Whether it's Beanie Wells' leg or his own.
On the gridiron, the contrast between the two is just as evident.
Pete Carroll runs open practices, not concerned that scouts will unravel USC's tendencies. He even has his own website, Pete Carroll.com , that gives an insightful look into Trojan practices and game preparations.
His theme throughout each and every season is competition. At USC, you are only as good as your last practice. Let up and you are liable to sit down come game day. His entire scheme has been built on turnovers - protecting the ball on offense and taking it away on defense.
Unlike Carroll, Tressel's philosophy is all about field position. His schemes combine a conservative offense with a tough defense and execution on special teams. The punt is Tressel's idea of the most important play in football, whereas Carroll's is the interception or fumble recovery.
How have the teams done so far this season? Ohio State beat Youngstown State 43-0 in its opener. Then last week they plodded their way to a 26-14 win over Ohio University. Both games were at the Horseshoe.
How good were their opponents? Last last week Youngstown State lost to South Dakota State 40-7, and Ohio University lost their opener to Wyoming 21-20.
In contrast, USC traveled across the country to Charlottesville, where they routed Virginia, 52-7. The Trojans had a bye last weekend while Virginia bounced back to shutout Richmond 16-0.
DEFENSE:
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