"OSU Who?": Ohio State Struggles With Weak In-State Rival Ohio

Ohio State...fraud or fluke?  This is a question many Ohio State, Penn State, and Michigan fans are asking.  Was their game against Ohio a fluke?  Did they struggle because Beanie Wells was on the sideline?  Or are they an overrated team?

Ohio State beat Ohio University last Saturday by a score of 26-14.  At the end of the first half, Ohio led Ohio State 14-6, and at the end of the third quarter Ohio was still winning, 14-12.  In the fourth quarter, Ohio's punt returner muffed a punt, which led to an easy Ohio State touchdown.  Ohio was driving and was almost at the 50, threatening on this drive to retake the lead when their quarterback threw an interception.  Ohio State then secured the game and won 26-14.  In this game, Ohio had 5 turnovers, while Ohio State only had 1.  Looking at the turnover differential, Ohio State should have crushed Ohio, but they hung in there until the end.  That brings up the question, "Is Ohio the better team?"  Seriously, if it weren't for the muffed punt return and the four other turnovers, Ohio would've won that game.

After the game, Ohio State wide receiver said that their performance was pathetic.  He also said that they should have lost and that he didn't know how they came out of that game with a win.

Was Hartline right?  Was it a pathetic performance?  Or is Ohio State a bad team?  Or is it a little bit of both?  After watching most of the Ohio State game, I am beginning to believe that Ohio State is a fraud.  Even though they were able to massacre Youngstown State, they could not beat the most mediocre of Division 1 teams.  Penn State, on the other hand, massacred an average Oregon State team last Saturday.  Maybe it is Beanie Wells on the sideline that made the difference between a close game and a blowout win.  Possible...but unlikely.  Ohio State was picked by many experts to make a run at the National Championship.  They were said to have such a talented and stacked team that they would run over their conference and easily win a BCS bowl bid.  If their team is so full of talent, then why couldn't they finish off an undermatched Ohio team?  I also believe that Ohio State has one of the most talented teams in the nation, second only to USC.  Their talent just seemed as if they were not to be able to perform against any team.

Maybe it is the coaching that causes them to struggle, but maybe it is the players.  Once again, it could also be both factors contributing.  For the answer to the main question asked here...Ohio State is a fraud!  The game was not a fluke!  Even though Beanie Wells was on the sideline, it doesn't mean that they have an excuse to almost lose that game.  Penn State has lost over half of its starting defense and a lot of second stringers due to injury and suspension, but they were still able to crush Oregon State and get pressure on their quarterback with their third string defensive line.  Penn State has lost offensive and defensive player and they still dominate against teams that are better than Ohio.  Unless Ohio State bounces back and kills every team except for Penn State, Wisconsin, and Illinois, since they are good teams, they are a fraud.

Ohio State is overrated and I don't expect them to do well this season.  This gives Penn State an even greater opportunity to make it to the National Championship by the way, for all you Penn State fans out there.