Ohio State Football: Why the Buckeyes Can Win the B1G's Leaders Division in 2011

Despite much adversity surrounding the Ohio State football program, the Buckeyes still have an outstanding opportunity to win the Big Ten's Leaders division in 2011.

Sure, they no longer have Jim Tressel, who recorded 94 victories to just 22 losses during his 10-year tenure as a head coach (not including OSU's 12 vacated wins from 2010). But Luke Fickell worked under Tressel since 2002, meaning he knows the system very well.

And they might not have Terrelle Pryor, who threw for a career 6,177 yards and 57 touchdowns while rushing for 2,164 yards and 17 scores. But he would have perhaps been suspended the entire season for his antics anyways, and was a poison to the campus.

Also, four starters are suspended for the first five games of the year. This includes standout wide receiver DeVier Posey, NFL prospect tailback Daniel "Boom" Herron, All-Big Ten offensive tackle Mike Adams and solid backup defensive end Solomon Thomas. But Ohio State will counter this bump in the road with players who can step up and prove they are just as good.

Besides, the Buckeyes don't rebuild, they reload.

Anxiety is kicking in, and anticipation is beginning to overwhelm the sports world. There are plenty of reasons to be excited for the 2011 season, fellow Ohio State fans.

And here's why.

The Leaders Division

Let's face it—we got lucky.

The Big Ten's (or B1G, as I prefer) Leaders division consists of the Purdue Boilermakers, Indiana Hoosiers, Illinois Fighting Illini, Penn State Nittany Lions, Wisconsin Badgers and, of course, the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Not to sound disrespectful,—each and every program has its own upsides—but the Buckeyes got off easy here.

Indiana hasn't had a winning record since 2007, which is its only one in the past 17 years.

Purdue is a combined 41-45 since 2004.

The highest Illinois has finished in the conference during the last nine years is second (2007).

Penn State, a powerhouse football team in the 1990s, has seen better days. It has only won two B1G titles since 2000, appearing in just two BCS bowls throughout that span. And in addition, Ohio State has beaten the Nittany Lions in four of the last five opportunities.

And then there's Wisconsin; the real test. The Badgers are ranked No. 10 in the USA Today poll, returning seven starters on offense—not including North Carolina State QB transfer Russell Wilson—and six on defense.

They're the ones who stripped the No. 1 overall ranking from the Buckeyes in 2010.

Ohio State gets a week off before taking on the Badgers in Columbus. By then, the four suspended starters will have two games under their belts, ready to challenge for yet another conference championship.

There's no reason OSU can't stay atop the Leaders division this season.

Defense Wins Championships

It's cliche, overused and sometimes inaccurate. But in this case, it's 100 percent true—defense does win championships.

Ohio State hasn't allowed more than 15 points per game since 2005 (15.3) and has given up seven or less in a matchup 31 times in the last six years.

Nathan Williams and John "The Sandman" Simon are ready to lead an Ohio State defense that returns five starters. The defensive line is inexperienced, like much of this side of the ball, but is loaded with talent (as usual).

It will have a lot of new faces, but will be anything but short-handed.

Besides, Luke Fickell was an Ohio State nose guard and had a brief stint in the NFL. He has spent time coaching the Bucks' linebackers and was the co-defensive coordinator before taking on the lofty interim position.

In other words, he'll have his troops ready for some Fickell-ball.

Timing Is Everything

Taking a look at the upcoming schedule, Ohio State seems to carry plenty of favorable matchups.

Considering their, uh, reputations, let's assume Akron, Toledo, Colorado and Indiana are all Buckeye victories.

There's a home game against Penn State later in the year, and two road blocks against Purdue and Illinois. These are still friendly-looking encounters, but could still provide intriguing situations.

And then you have the big-timers: at Miami (Fla.), at Nebraska, at Michigan, versus Michigan State and Wisconsin.

Phew.

Contesting with the Hurricanes will undoubtedly be a test of pure mindset. The Buckeyes will not win this battle by talent; it will have to be taken from the grasp of quarterback Jacory Harris—literally—by the hands of the defense. Whoever is the starting QB for OSU at this time (can you say Braxton Miller?) will be given the strenuous task of just doing enough to get by.

The home game against Michigan State will be won by coaching and ball movement. If the offense can keep Kirk Cousins off the field, it will have an excellent chance to come out on top. This strategy hasn't let them down yet, as the Spartans have scored a total of 31 points in their last three vies against OSU.

Nebraska will be the first appearance made by the infamous suspended four. If Posey, Herron and Adams can begin their season strong and healthy, expect a rejuvenated offense and reliable defense to overpower the Cornhuskers.

The game against Wisconsin will most likely decide the fate of Ohio State's championship aspirations. If the Buckeyes can pull out a victory in the Horseshoe against what could be an undefeated Badger team, the Top 25 would be shaken up, along with the Big Ten standings.

Finally, in the regular season's final week, OSU meets Michigan head-to-head in "The Game."

Brady Hoke is implementing a new pass-first spread offense from his San Diego State era, which could spell out disaster in so many ways for QB Denard Robinson. This game will be highly contested,—as it should be—but the Wolverines just don't have the firepower and are a complete mismatch for a Buckeye squad that has won the rivalry seven times in a row.

The Bucks will have to find their new identity week-by-week, but can do so by seizing each and every contingency. With everything said, it's apparent Ohio State has a great opportunity to continue its reign over the B1G.

And that's what the newly-rennovated Buckeyes intend on doing.