To some extent, that criticism of the Ohio State schedule is valid. Complaints from other Ohio state-supported universities that they should get first-shot at Ohio Stadium gate revenues has resulted in $350,000 pay days for schools like Kent State and the University of Akron. But those dates haven't made the Buckeyes more credible to the average college football fan around the country.
On top of that, fewer people have seen the 2007 Buckeyes' dominant defense or its wide-open offense than saw the shellacking administered to last year's squad its BCS Championship Game against Florida's Gators.
Although Ohio State's 7-0 record includes convincing victories over Washington and Purdue, both then ranked, at home, OSU hasn't had as tough a schedule so far as South Florida, Kentucky, or Cincinnati.
That changes today, as the Buckeyes enter what will be the toughest part of their 2007 campaign. Michigan State, though still inconsistent, is a talented football, with the kind of great defense you'd expect from a Mark Dantonio-coached team.
And the rest of the schedule will only get tougher. Next week, the Buckeyes go to Penn State for a night game. That last sentence will send chills down the spines of Ohio State fans, remembering how, not so long ago, an OSU team with hopes for a national championship were clobbered at Penn State in a night game. Although Paterno's 2007 team has suffered from its own inconsistencies in 2007, this is a terrific team.
After that, will come games with Wisconsin and Illinois, in Columbus. Both of those teams are very good, despite losses. (In fact, I'm beginning to think that the reason so many good teams are losing to supposedly bad teams in the Big Ten this year isn't, as I thought, that the conference is down this year, but up!)
As usual, on the final game of the season, the Buckeyes travel to Ann Arbor for a showdown with the Team from Up North. Don't be lulled into underestimating the Wolverines because of their opening losses to Appalachian State and Oregon. Those are both good teams, for one thing. And for another, Michigan is a much-improved team, with some impressive wins to their credit since those humiliations.
Starting today then, Ohio State will begin to answer some of the questions football fans have about them. If they win all five, a tall order, there will be no doubt that they deserve to play in the national championship game. Even if they lose one--depending on when and to whom the loss comes, they may still be in the hunt.
But as a Buckeye fan, I have to say again what I've said several times before: The fact that we can even speak of Ohio State as number one this year or talk about the team playing for the national title is incredible! I never would have expected it. This was, as I've also said before, supposed to be a rebuilding year in Columbus. The fact that it's become more than that is tribute not only to the talent of this team and their dedication and to Jim Tressel's skill as a recruiter, but also to his skill as a coach, both between games and during games.
See ESPN's article on Ohio State's challenge in what has become the year of the upset.
Dispatch: Not Buckeyes' fault everybody else has lost
Go, Buckeyes!
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