Without Jim Tressel, How Will Ohio State Football Fare?

The five-game suspension of Ohio State's Terrelle Pryor was saddening. Then it was quieted by the incoming freshman savior Braxton Miller.

Even though Miller's position as the starting quarterback in Pryor's absence isn't concrete, most people think that will be the case just from watching him play in high school.

Other players that have been suspended for the games in the start of the season—Devier Posey, Dan Herron, Mike Adams, Solomon Thomas and Jordan Whiting (who will only be suspended for one game)—were big reasons why Ohio State was able to win in the Allstate Sugar Bowl against NFL Draft prospect Ryan Mallett and the Arkansas Razorbacks. 

Now, the team takes another blow in losing their man in the vest for the first five games. Originally, Jim Tressel was only suspended by the school for two games after withholding information he knew of player wrongdoing for at least nine months.

Now, whether it was smart of the coach or not to exceed expectations of his punishment, it will have an obvious effect on how the team will play at the season's start.

Braxton Miller will need all the leadership necessary to conform to college play and the defenses he will be matched against. Without Tressel to adjust and mold his performance, we could all be witness to a considerable collapse in the rankings for OSU football.