Ohio State or Miami: Which Troubled Program Will Win Its Next National Title?

The Ohio State Buckeyes and the Miami Hurricane square off tonight in what could be dubbed the “Bad Behavior Bowl.” Both programs had some significant off-the-field troubles this offseason.

There is no need to rehash the respective scandals here. But just in case you have just emerged from a cave with no access to the college football media, here are some quick links to get you up to speed:

Buckeyes Being Investigated for Possible NCAA Violations

University of Miami Scandal

So, which program will be able to get back on track and have a shot at a National Championship sooner?

Read on for the lowdown on Ohio State and Miami and who will ultimately return to greatness first.

The Lowdown on Ohio State

The Bad News

Ohio State lost its head coach to “resignation” and its star quarterback, Terrelle Prior, to the NFL Supplemental Draft. Also, Ohio State is missing several of their best play makers for the first five games of the 2011 season.

Losing players hurts, but not nearly as much as having to replace the caliber of head coach that was Jim Tressel. This scandal is going to hurt OSU recruiting for at least a couple of years.

First of all, it’s uncertain if Fickell will even have his contracted extended or if he is just holding a placeholder for this season. If he does stay, Fickell is not going to have nearly the recruiting pull that Tressel did.

If OSU does shop for a new coach, it doesn’t appear they will announce it until after the season. That would leave the new head coach way behind on recruiting, and OSU will be set back at least a year with recruits.

The Good News

Ohio State has done their best to get on top of NCAA sanctions by imposing their own sanctions, releasing Jim Tressel, vacating the 2010 season and suspending multiple players for the first five games of the season.

The NCAA could impose more penalties, but it probably won’t be much worse than the Buckeyes’ self-imposed punishment, especially now that the NCAA has to decide with Miami, but more on that later.

Also, Ohio State probably won’t face more than a two-year bowl ban. Therefore, OSU may become an attractive option for some recruits that feel they can come in and play right away.

The Lowdown on Miami

The Bad News

It all seems bad for the U right now. The program is really in a state of limbo with no real indication of what their sanctions may be.

Whatever they are, expect them to be severe. This is the worst accusations I can remember against a program. If the allegations of a booster supplying prostitutes to recruits and then taking care of subsequent abortions are proven true, the NCAA sanctions could cripple Miami’s program for years to come.

There is almost sure to be a lengthy bowl ban for the Hurricanes coming and significant losses of scholarships.

Also, with the constant talk of conference realignment, it’s possible Miami could get downgraded to a worse conference if severe sanctions are imposed.

The Good News

Not much.

For now, the do still have a steady, proven coach who will be a stabilizing factor for Miami recruiting. Even still, it will be interesting to see how much Golden can do with severe sanctions hanging over the program and the fierce recruiting battles in the State of Florida.

The Final Verdict

When push comes to shove, it seems that Ohio State has an easier road back to greatness and a possible National Championship.

While the coaching situation is tenuous at Ohio State, it is still a premiere program that should draw a top-notch coach, should the Buckeyes target one. Recruiting may suffer for a year or two, but should get back on track soon.

Also, with the addition of a Big 10 Championship Game, the Buckeyes will have more shots at a National Championship Game berth with that one last big game at the end of the season to push them over the hump.

As far as Miami, Ohio State could be back on track and in the National Championship game before the Hurricanes are even off of a NCAA post-season ban.

The most telling factor on this issue, what the sanctions will be for both programs, is still unknown. Still, expect the NCAA to really drop the hammer on Miami, and who knows how long that could take to recover from.