Ohio State Football: Will Buckeyes Thrive in Underdog Role?

For the first time in a very long time, Ohio State is in an unfamiliar role: they are not clear-cut favorites.

Unlike most seasons, due to the NCAA ruling that is looming and the departures of Jim Tressel and Terrelle Pryor, the Buckeyes are not picked by many to win the Big Ten this season.

But Ohio State's players feel that they are on a mission to shock the world and win the Big Ten and possibly the national championship unless the NCAA forbids them from postseason play regardless of their record.

They have as much talent as any team in the country, but the problem is that most of that talent is unproven as of now.

With all of that said, here's what has pushed Ohio State back in the Big Ten pecking order for the moment.

Tattoogate and the Coverup

For the past 9 months, the tattoo issue at Ohio State has been beaten like a dead horse into the subconscious of college football fans everywhere, though the Miami scandal has pushed that to the backburner.

Jim Tressel was later found to have covered up the information of his players trading memorabilia for tattoos, and it cost him his job on Memorial Day.

Terrelle Pryor soon left the school and now is on the Oakland Raiders with a five-game suspension to serve before he makes his NFL debut.

The NCAA will make the final judgment on the program within 2-3 months, and without lack of institutional control or failure to monitor, the case for a postseason ban is very soft.

It's still possible though considering the major lack of consistency when it comes to the NCAA's punishment system.

Nebraska: The New Kid on the Block

The addition of Nebraska which has been rising in stock for the past two seasons under Bo Pelini might be as good a team as they had in the past several years, provided QB Taylor Martinez can stay healthy.

The Blackshirts are back and powered by a pair of stars in DT Jared Crick and LB Lavonte David.

Ohio State's biggest game away from Columbus without a doubt is Nebraska's home Big Ten opener on October 8 in primetime. That is when three suspended senior offensive starters in Dan Herron, DeVier Posey and Mike Adams will all be eligible to play again.

With a new starting QB at Ohio State, it seems very unlikely that the Buckeyes can go into Lincoln and defeat the Huskers on the road.

Wisconsin and Their New Arm

The defending Big Ten champions may have lost two first round picks up front in Gabe Carimi and J.J. Watt as well as John Clay, but what they added may have almost negated those losses.

Russell Wilson is in Madison and is the biggest reason why the Badgers are  the favorites in the Leaders Division after transferring from North Carolina State.

Wilson, along with star LB Chris Borland who missed the 2010 season due to injury, will be the focal points of a Wisconsin team that suddenly goes from being the hunter to the hunted in the Big Ten.

But his dual-threat ability only makes James White and Montee Ball that much better because of the attention that will be taken away from them by Wilson.

The Buckeyes do get Wisconsin coming off another primetime game the week before their trip to Columbus as they travel again to Michigan State, the only Big Ten team to beat them.

Why Shouldn't Ohio State Be Overlooked?

We just looked at why Ohio State is in the position that they are in, where not much of the college football world is expecting the Buckeyes to win an unprecedented seventh straight Big Ten championship.

But is it better for Ohio State not to have the pressure of being expected to extend the streak?

Well it doesn't hurt, so here's why Ohio State can thrive on being the underdog this season and why they shouldn't be counted out.

The First Few Games Set Up Well

Three of Ohio State's first four games are essentially cupcakes, with Akron and Toledo coming to Columbus in the first two games of the season, and Colorado coming down in Week 4.

The September 17 game at Miami seemed like a toss-up until a couple of weeks ago when Yahoo! Sports' story about Nevin Shapiro allegedly providing illegal benefits to dozens of current and former 'Canes players rocked the college sports landscape.

Now suddenly, Ohio State seems to have the major upper hand as 8 Hurricanes, including QB Jacory Harris, DT Marcus Forston and LB Sean Spence are currently ineligible unless the NCAA rules otherwise.

Fast-forward then to Week 5 and Ohio State's Big Ten opener against Michigan State, the last game before the four suspended seniors can return.

That game is obviously much tougher to call than the other four, especially considering how dangerous the Spartans offense is.

But Ohio State can certainly go 5-0 to start the season before the road trip to Lincoln on October 8, which seems like a likely defeat for Ohio State.

Wisconsin Gets to Experience the Horseshoe Under the Lights

Ohio State has seemingly had to play night games at Camp Randall Stadium for the longest time while Wisconsin has always played afternoon games in Columbus.

Well this year, that's all about to change.

The Badgers will come to Columbus on October 29 for an 8 p.m. showdown with the Buckeyes, who could be 6-1 when the defending Big Ten champions arrive.

This matchup really does have many of the classic intangibles favoring Ohio State.

Wisconsin will play this game after another primetime game at Michigan State the week before. Ohio State is coming off a bye with two weeks to prepare and get healthy for the bruising nature of Badger football.

And the biggest intangible is the motivation for the players to put Wisconsin in their place after the 31-18 defeat they suffered a year ago.

Ohio State has all the reason in the world to go into the 'Shoe and defeat Russell Wilson and the Badgers under the lights.

No Lack of Motivation

Like the fans, the Buckeye players have probably heard all of the talk about why they can't do well and seeing their school being trashed by every major media outlet since January.

When kickoff rolls around on September 3, it's impossible to imagine them not being ready to play every single game with passion and intensity.

Some players have taken these negative quotes personally, making it their mission to want to silence their critics and go as far as possible, depending of course on what the NCAA will allow them to do.

If they can go play in a bowl game, the incentive to go back to the BCS and win another big bowl game or possibly a national championship would go a long way to healing the wounds left behind by the tattoo scandal.

A national title, though, is extremely unlikely.

A Big Ten title and another Rose Bowl victory, however, is certainly within the cards.

But they certainly have more to play for than almost anyone in college football: pride. And when someone's pride is at stake, that usually brings out the best in them.

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