Ohio State Football: Why the Buckeyes Might Not Continue Big Ten Dynasty in 2011

In the past few days, Ohio State football has been knocked down several notches with the allegations and suspension of coach Jim Tressel for at least the first two games of the 2011 season.

The major problem for this team is finding a way to shake off the distractions which are putting the program in a hole that is growing deeper and deeper by the day.

Three years ago when the Big Ten was at an extreme low as far as depth, this might not have been a worry.

But with Nebraska joining the conference and the format for the title changing, getting over the problems of the last few days and months seems like a much more difficult challenge.

There will be no more shared titles, which OSU has done in 2005, 2008 and 2010.

Because of this and with the strength of the Big Ten shifting, particularly in the Legends Division to which the Buckeyes are a part of, there may not be another dynasty like this.

Ohio State has known nothing but playing in the BCS in the last six seasons, one shy of the record held by USC from 2003-2009.

To get back will be a challenge every year for Ohio State, especially in odd-numbered years where Ohio State will have to travel to both Camp Randall and Happy Valley, along with potential road trips to Nebraska sprinkled in as well at some point.

This road slate fits into the realm of an SEC-esque gauntlet in the future for Ohio State.

Playing on the road against Wisconsin and Penn State is hard enough for any team to handle, let alone doing twice in the same season.

2011, given the situation of the Suspended Five and Tressel plus seven new starting spots to fill defensively, will be possibly the toughest season of them all.

The difference with this team rests in its young, inexperienced players bursting at the seams with potential, ranging from freshman QB Braxton Miller who might start opening day for the Buckeyes to fourth-year junior LB Etienne Sabino who might finally get his turn at starting LB.

If there is anything going for this team right now, it's that based on the Sugar Bowl, the team galvanizes when the world is against them.

And for the Brew Crew, the nickname of OSU's spectacular 2008 recruiting class, this is the last chance for most of them to get into the national championship discussion.

Luckily for Ohio State, all their suspensions will likely end just one game into the 2011 Big Ten season after Michigan State.

The only thing they really need to do is win their division and with their two toughest division opponents, Wisconsin and Penn State, both at home, it's likely that the Bucks will be in Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship Game.

Odds are pretty good that the dynasty will end in 2012 with Terrelle Pryor and the majority of the Brew Crew graduating.

This group seems to be much more mature although they are now paying for their mistakes from their early years as Buckeyes.

But if they can get past the distractions that Tattoo-gate has sprung up, they can certainly be the first to hoist the Big Ten trophy in Indianapolis.

However, the cards are more stacked against this team than it has been in a long time.

Either way, know that the Buckeyes reign as kings of the Big Ten may not last too much longer.

All good things must come to an end, but it has been a phenomenal run to say the least.

Six years is hard to match, but Ohio State may be in the best situation of anyone to do it again.

For more college football news and updates, follow me on Twitter @bielik_tim and visit The BCS Blitz.