Ohio State Buckeyes: Why 2009 Gives Hope for 2010 BCS Title Shot

After debacles in the 2006 and 2007 National Championship games, most college football fans might not want to see Ohio State playing for a BCS title ever again.

But with the maturation the team has developed and a 180 degree shift in mentality, the Buckeyes could end 2009 as high as sixth in the final polls, and primed for a BCS run in 2010.

How can this happen with a quarterback that has passing problems and an inconsistent offensive line?

Most people figured early on that 2009 was more of a growing year for the Buckeyes, who lost a lot of senior leaders including James Laurinaitis and Malcolm Jenkins, and superstar RB Beanie Wells.

There were numerous holes to fill, and the loss of stud junior LB Tyler Moeller for the season, due to a head injury in August, didn't help matters much.

But as the season went on, the Buckeyes began to develop an identity as a hard-hitting, run-stuffing defense that flies to the football and racks up interceptions and turnovers like few teams in the country.

Offensively, the Buckeyes went back to their bread and butter in running the football, though the usually-conservative Jim Tressel did call for some wrinkles, such as some Wildcat runs.

New playmakers emerged on the defensive side of the ball in LB Brian Rolle, surprise freshman DT John Simon, and S Jermale Hines.

When it came to the offense, progress was slow behind an offensive line starting two to three true sophomores and breaking in multiple new starting WRs.

Over time, and heading into the November gauntlet, RBs Brandon Saine and Daniel "Boom" Herron turned the corner and have become solid playmakers. Saine is the big play threat out of the backfield, ripping defenses in both the running and passing games, and Herron has been the running workhorse.

And give credit to the Ohio State coaching staff for trying to make Terrelle Pryor more efficient, and more careful with the football.

After being a turnover machine in the first half of the season, Pryor was reeled in and put in more controlled environments to make him make safer decisions. As a result, Pryor had only two turnovers in the final five games of 2009.

Many felt that 2009 was the year Pryor would be unleashed, but he clearly was not ready to be the guy.

So what happened? Ohio State took pressure off of him and established a running mentality that culminated with three OSU players, Saine, Herron, and Pryor, each running for over 70 yards against Michigan.

And the good news for Ohio State fans: All of these players should be coming back for 2010, a year more experienced and primed for a title shot.

The year will begin with an exciting September test against a very talented Miami Hurricanes squad hungry for revenge after losing the 2002 title game.

The question in 2010 will continue to be if Pryor is truly, finally ready to take the Vince Young-esque final step towards football superstardom.

But as long as the defensive cogs, especially in the line like Thaddeus Gibson and Cameron Heyward, return, there is no reason why the Buckeyes won't have one of the more exciting and fast defenses in the country.

Expect the Buckeyes to have another high preseason ranking in 2010 as usual, and with Tim Tebow and Colt McCoy, among others, graduating, a new crop of stars are ready to shine.

But first things first as Ohio State prepares for the Rose Bowl against the winner of the Civil War in Eugene, Oregon.

How the Buckeyes perform in that game will show whether this group is ready to return to the elites of college football.

A win on the national stage outside of the conference will do wonders not only for perception, but for confidence and maturity.

And as 2006 and 2007 showed, the respect has to be earned with big wins against teams not named Penn State and Michigan.

It has to be earned by beating powerhouses and talented teams in the big games, and there's no bigger bowl stage than in the Granddaddy of Them All.

A win will go a long way, but this young group has to be ready to put in the work to be great.

The talent's there, but now it's time for them to take the next step and win an elusive BCS game. If they do, Buckeye Nation will embrace this season and be ready for what hopes to be a title chase in 2010.