With one win, Ohio State will become the fifth program in NCAA history to record 800 victories, however, this monumental achievement will have to come without arguable the most important number to the Buckeyes’ this season: 28. Running back Chris Wells will sit-out this week as OSU plays host to instate foe Ohio University (12PM ESPN) at Ohio Stadium. The final test before the Bucks head out to Southern California to take on the Trojans, Jim Tressel expects every other starter to play early and often vs. the Bobcats while keeping to a more conservative nature on both sides of the football.

The sixth meeting all-time and first since 1999 between the schools (40-16 OSU win), will pit two of the better coaches in football against one another in Jim Tressel and OU’s Frank Solich. The Buckeyes (1-0) are coming off an impressive 43-0 victory against the Youngstown State Penguins, while Ohio University (0-1) will enter the game winless after losing a nail-biter 21-20 at Wyoming. The Bobcats will have the daunting task of not only facing the no. 3 team in the nation but also a school who has not lost to an Ohio opponent since 1921.

THE X’s and O’s: Ohio State vs. Ohio University-

Ohio offense vs. Buckeyes defense- For OU, their quest this season will be to find an offensive identity without the services of former running back stud Kalvin McRae. In game one of the 08′ football season, it was junior quarterback Theo Scott (26-35 224yards 1TD 1INT) who took the reigns and led by example in a hostile environment. The Long Beach, CA native uses his dual-threat abilities to confuse opposing defenses and open holes in which his team can capatalize on the ground or through the air. A somewhat simple offensive which features several I and Shotgun formations, it is the skill players and not the gimmicky plays who determine the success of the offense on this football team. With an open spot in the backfield to start the campaign, offensive coordinators Tim Albin and Gerry Gdowski settled on junior Chris Garrett (12 carries for 30 yards) to take the majority of carries. Although small in stature at 5′8 178lbs, he has great burst and is a good runner on sweeps and pitches to the outside parts of the field. OU’s best weapons on Saturday however, will be their receiving targets. Wide outs, Taylor Price, who had 139 yards on a school-record 14 receptions and LaVon Brazill (5 receptions for 48 yards) provide Scott with great options on either side of the football field as the X and Z receivers. Against Wyoming the pair got into a nice flow early and seemed efficent in their route running and ability to catch the football. Tight end Andrew Mooney (3 receptions for 10 yards 1TD) is also a highly asset in the Bobcats passing game. The senior from Texas has shown get progression over his time in the green and white and will be a key in their offensive passing sets. One area where Ohio has had a bit of trouble is up front on the offensive line, where they average 292 lbs. However, with three juniors and two seniors, the veterans find a way to make up for this with size, technique and physicality.

Ohio State defensively has continued where they left off last season. In their shutout win against the Penguins, the Buckeyes allowed only 74 total yards and this includes a -11 yard accumulation in the run department. With only two players removed from last season’s top defense and a healthy Lawrence Wilson back in the mix, the sky is the limit for the d-squad. Last week, Jermale Hines made his first career start at strong safety for the injured Kurt Coleman and was extremely impressive as was Chimdi Chekwa in for Donald Washington. This week Coleman returns from an injured ankle and is slated to start with Chekwa, who for the second straight week is filling in for D-Wash. With this being the last week before USC, expect coordinators Jim Heacock and Luke Fickell to rotate in players early to keep them fresh for the following week and to avoid injury. Backups, especially in the secondary, will be at a premium in this game. Progression is an important theme for this season and fans should be paying attention to the DT, LB and secondary positions as they look to continue to strive for success and a premiere status as the conference’s best defensive unit.

The Game- Ohio will throw everything they have at the Buckeyes in this game. For them, playing in front of 105,000 against one of the nation’s best is more or less their bowl game this season. Theo Scott will try and keep OSU on the edge of their seat with a combination of running and passing plays designed to obtain one on one coverage with their key skill players. Frank Solich will throw some wrinkles in the game early and although flash is not his style, there might be a reverse or two up his sleeve as he looks for an opportunity to possible catch the opposition out of place for a big play. The OSU defense looks to play a more traditional 4-3 defense against the Bobcats. There will be an emphasis on the passing attack, especially locking up the three wide receivers mentioned above in Price, Brazill and Mooney. There will without a doubt be an extra attacker on second and third downs when Scott is believed to be going through the air but anything possible set into play on Sept. 13th will not see the light of day on Saturday. The two-deep on the d-line will play plenty on Saturday, including Doug Worthington, who will see twice as many snaps this week as he did last. The battle in the trenches will play a significant factor in the outcome of this game. Can OU provide time for their playmakers to create opportunities or will they fall victim to constant pressure and a lack of necessary time? On the ends, Wilson and Heyward should see more action on the outside this week and might draw single blockers on several occasions when OSU shows more of a 5-2 front on running downs, a goal for helping to get attackers in the backfield. Their objective will be to apply pressure and force long conversations all afternoon while staying 100% healthy for week three. Against this MAC attack, coaches will preach avoiding the “big play”and continue to make adjustments as the competition only gets tougher from here on out.

Buckeyes offense vs. Bobcats defense- Excluding the somewhat potentially significant injury to Chris Wells, the offense had a highly successful four quarters against YSU to the tune of 495 total yards. Jim Tressel kept his promise of playing three quarterbacks in the first half, with each showing positive signs during their time on the field. Todd Boeckman (14-19 187 yards 2TD), Terrelle Pryor (4-6 35 yards) and Joe Bauserman (3-6 22 yards) give Ohio State great depth at the sport’s most influential position and should provide a wide array of options for the team throughout the season. While Boeckman looked a bit rusty in game one, he did connect on two touchdown passes and used his check-down options efficiently. Pryor, who entered the game to a standing ovation, should great poise and was successful in the air and on the ground, where he ran in a 21-yard touchdown score to put an exclamation point on the game. OSU’s passing game was helped by the services of several highly capable WRs in Brian Robiskie, Brian Hartline, Ray Small, Dane Sanzenbacher and DeVier Posey. The “Brians” combined for 100 yards and a touchdown while Posey busted onto the scene with four receptions for 47 yards and a score. Small and Sanzenbacher were solid contributors in the slot as third and fourth options. On the ground, Wells, Saine, Herron and Wells seemed to be a combination ready for stardom and racked up over 200 yards in the game. Four running backs is a liberty few schools outside of Wisconsin have and OSU will milk this for all it is worth. An offensive line returning four of five players from one year ago looked the part and allowed only one sack in the football game.

Ohio is coming off a week in which they allowed 21 points and 271 total yards while forcing two turnovers; an impressive feat for a team which features some significant changes to the depth chart from the previous season. The Bobcats strength comes the middle of the field in their linebacking core. Noah Keller and Chris Hall combined for 24 tackles in the loss to the Cowboys and have shown great leadership in their time at OU. Defensive coordinator Jimmy Burrow speaks highly of his secondary unit as well which grabbed two interceptions in the opening game. Cornerbacks Idris Lawrence and Julian Posey, brother of DeVier, are ball hawks and very consistent tacklers in the secondary. The two last lines of defense, Neil Jereb and Michael Mitchell are the team’s most accomplished safeties and will need to continue to elevate their game against stiffer competition this weekend. On the defensive line, defensive tackle Jameson Hartke and end Curtis Meyers anchor a young but effective unit whom like the offensive line, is a bit undersized but very athletic.

The Game- Similar to the opening game of the season, OSU will use this game against the Bobcats as a rough outline for the showdown with the Trojans one week from Saturday. Expect a heavy dosage of first, second and third stringers and the latter two early in the second half. With Chris Wells out, the Buckeyes will continue to hold open auditions for the backup tailback position and should split carries equally between Saine, Wells and Herron. Establishing the ground game will be a key for Ohio State in this game as they go against a veteran secondary in OU who will do their damnedest to stymie the passing game. With a tremendously difficult schedule ahead, Boeckman should see close to three quarters of play while giving way to Pryor at various points in the game where mobility is an added plus. There will be little creativity to Jim Bo llman’s attack on Saturday. Simply, look for some smashmouth, overpowering football, with Ohio State using their size on the line and at receiever and running back to tire the smaller and less deep Bobcats. Running the football should be an early task for the scarlet and gray offense as they trot out the power I on the majority of non-throwing situations and when inside the oppositions 40-yard line. When the Buckeyes have had success there, look for some three and four wide out sets and a lot of shotgun out of OSU. Ohio University will show a lot of blitzing sets as they look to use their speed as a way to lock up the Bucks and force turnovers to stay close. They show a traditional 4-3 base defense but will be throwing bodies around like no tomorrow and coming from every possible angle. Whether they can get constant pressure will determine if or how long they will stay in the football game on Saturday.

Buckeyes and Bobcats Special Teams- * Players to Watch Saturday

**Ohio University-

-Donte Harden- 100-yard KR for touchdown vs. Wyoming

-Barrett Way- 2/2 FG with a long of 34-yards

-Chris Garnett- 94-yard KR for touchdown vs. Wyoming in 2007

**Ohio State-

-Ray Small- 4PR for 79 yards, with a long of 45 yards

-Ryan Pretorious- 4/4 FG with a long of 50 yards

-Brandon Saine- 1 KR for 28 yards

Prediction- **OSU 47- OU 10**