Ohio State Football: Why October Will Be a Long Month for the Buckeyes

Ohio State's season has already been a little rocky with the Tat 4 suspensions and the Charity 3, as well as the debacle in Miami on September 17.

But unfortunately, that was the easy part of the schedule for Luke Fickell, Braxton Miller and the Buckeyes.

Starting Saturday against Michigan State, Ohio State will face four power teams in the Big Ten, all of whom are ranked.

After this Saturday, OSU has consecutive road games against Nebraska and Illinois, followed by a bye week and then the October 29 showdown at home against Wisconsin in prime time.

With an Ohio State team that is unranked and lacking experience and confidence, this month seems like it could be a recurring nightmare that a year ago at this time seemed unfathomable.

At this time last year, Ohio State fans believed their team could play for a national championship and would run through most of the Big Ten like a buzzsaw, with the exception of Nebraska.

But seven suspensions, one coaching change and an NCAA investigation later, Ohio State is just looking to survive.

And the whole thing is new to Ohio State fans.

Most times, they are used to seeing Ohio State show up and win football games.

That is not going to happen this year, at least not during October.

Ohio State's starting QB Braxton Miller has completed just seven passes in the last two games, and Nebraska and Wisconsin are much, much better than Miami.

That means all of these defenses can load the box and force Miller to beat them with his arm, and they have enough speed to neutralize his running attack.

Unless Miller has a passing breakout in only his second or third career start in the next two weeks, Ohio State is going to have a long October.

And for a team that appeared to be ready to shock the world, that is a buzzkill of epic proportions.

Things may get better when the NCAA finally reveals what sanctions Ohio State will be saddled with this month, even if they include a ban on bowl eligibility for this year.

While it's not what most fans want, they would prefer no postseason at all than the Little Caesar's Pizza Bowl or the Ticketcity Bowl when you had a team go to six straight BCS bowl games.

The fact that all the questions will finally be answered soon should be enough to put an end to a long nightmare that is now 10 months long.

Unfortunately, this team just seems too young to remedy all the pain right now, unless they rally together and pull off one of the most stunning turnarounds in recent memory.

The schedule is very unfavorable, almost SEC-like, and the team is just too raw right now.

It will hurt now Buckeye fans, but the night is always darkest before dawn.

Welcome to the darkness. Just hope that it only lasts a few minutes instead of a month.

The month of darkness seems unlikely, but it is very possible.

Follow me on Twitter @bielik_tim for more college football updates.