Ohio State Football: 7 Reasons Buckeyes Will Be Atop the Big Ten in 2012

The Ohio State Buckeyes can rebound from a rough 2011 and win the Big Ten in 2012.  While the recent spat of NCAA violations do not bode well for the immediate future of the program, the Buckeyes still have a lot of positives to build on for 2012.

Speculation surrounding the possibility of Ohio State hiring former Florida Gators head coach and Ohio State alumnus, Urban Meyer, has captivated the Buckeye faithful in recent days.  Meyer, if he were to be offered the job and chooses to accept, is just what the doctor ordered for the ailing 2011 Buckeyes.

Would it be enough?

Despite the challenges that lay ahead for the Buckeyes, the light at the end of the tunnel is bright and shining on the "horse shoe."

Scandal Is in the Past

By the time 2012's opening day is upon us, the brunt of the NCAA sanctions will have already been inflicted on the Ohio State Buckeyes and their psyche.

The Buckeyes' self-imposed punishments, including vacating all wins (including the Sugar Bowl) from the  2010-11 season and the sacrifice of five scholarships over the next three seasons may not satisfy the NCAA when all is said and done.

Currently, the NCAA is deliberating further sanctions in light of a recent "failure to monitor" charge imposed on the Buckeyes.

As seen with the turnaround USC Trojans in 2012, the effect of sanctions and NCAA penalties is not a death sentence. The Trojans and Buckeyes are very similar—both schools will recruit players due to the prestige surrounding their programs.

Sanctions or not.

Braxton Miller

Ohio State Buckeyes freshman Braxton Miller is leaps and bounds better than advertised.  

His ability to make plays and extend a broken play is invaluable—as the Buckeyes know—after losing Terrelle Pryor amid the summer scandal leading up to the season.

Miller is leading the Buckeyes in rushing with 598 yards and six touchdowns after Week 12 of the 2011 season.

His ability to make plays—as a true freshman—sets the stage for a great career as the Ohio State Buckeyes' signal-caller.

Young Bucks Played in 2011

Suspensions to key Ohio State Buckeyes players such as DeVier Posey and Daniel "Boom" Herron left the Buckeyes with question marks heading into the 2011 season.

Who would carry the ball?

Who would score points?

What will the offensive scheme be?

Junior tight end Jake Stoneburner emerged as an elite tight end in 2011.  His exposure was limited in 2010 given the presence of multiple other playmakers on the Buckeyes offense.

Stoneburner and running back Carlos Hyde answered many of those preseason questions.

In 2012, if the young Bucks who fought through the 2011 season remain at OSU for their senior and junior seasons, the Buckeyes will have an invaluable advantage—an experienced and unified team.

Urban Meyer?

Urban Meyer may be a candidate for the Ohio State coaching position, presuming the university parts ways with caretaker head coach Luke Fickell.

Meyer brings an excellent resume to the table.  

He is an Ohio State alumnus, two-time NCAA champion head coach and excellent against the Big Ten.  

His style of offense is also perfect for freshman quarterback Braxton Miller.

If Meyer is the Bucks' head coach in 2012, he could infuse the young Buckeyes and mobile quarterback Miller with a taste of his former South Eastern Conference offense.  

Under Meyer's leadership, they would take the Big Ten by storm in 2012.

Returning Starters

The Ohio State Buckeyes have a good chance of returning 10 of 11 starters on defense as well as seven of 10 on the offensive side of the ball.

Junior tight end Jake Stoneburner has desirable NFL skills but has not declared whether or not he will enter the draft next April.

If the Buckeyes can keep their juniors in school and playing football for the Buckeyes in 2012, the Buckeyes' experience and chances for a return atop the Big Ten standings increases tremendously.

Either way, whether Stoneburner returns or not, the experienced Buckeye underclassmen will carry the torch into 2012.

Recruiting

In 2011, the Ohio State Buckeyes fielded the seventh-best freshman recruiting class (ESPN) in the nation despite the turmoil and uncertainty in Columbus.  

2012 looks to be a different story for the Buckeyes.  

They are not currently being ranked in the Top 25 of any major sporting news outlet in the recruitment department.

Blue chip prospect offensive tackle Kyle Kalis, who withdrew his commitment to Ohio State and chose the Michigan Wolverines as his destination, signals some concern for the rest of this class.

However, the Bucks have inked a solid duo of running backs and several defensive backs.  They are also still in the hunt for several high-tier prospects such as defensive end Ifeadi Odenigbo.

If Urban Meyer were to come on board soon, the pendulum of some recruits' decision-making just may tilt in the Buckeyes' favor rather than that of the Bucks conference and geographic rivals.

Disappointment and Pride

The Ohio State Buckeyes were perennial winners of the Big Ten up until the 2011 season.

That is no secret.

2011 has been a mightily humbling year for the players, coaches and fans of the Buckeyes.

The players and coaches, most of all, cannot be happy with the results of their 2011 campaign.  Infused with new sets of youth—all believing in the Buckeye tradition—the Ohio State University will not come out and play as badly in 2012 as they did in 2011.

No, they will rise again to the top with the same pride and expectation that comes from wearing the scarlet and grey.