The Front Row

Ohio State 35 ND 21
Ohio State 35 K State 31
Ohio State 10 Alabama 35
Ohio State 45 Oregon 52

i think we would beat ND and K-State and I think we would have a shot against Oregon but there is no chance in hell we would beat Bama. Those boys are a different breed.

I agree with the consensus so far. Oregon is not a good match up for us. Neither is Bama, but for different reasons than Oregon. With that said, if we played Oregon and Bama each ten times, we would win a couple of those games. Same can be said for the match ups with ND and K-St. We would win the majority of those match ups as well.

Not convinced Urban Meyer's offense could overcome the issues of our defense and special team lapses vs top teams..I believe the top team would "crowd the LOS" and force Milller to beat them through the air.

Seems solid. Though I think we beat ND by at least another touchdown and Oregon would hang over 50 on us. Not that we're that bad but that offensive is that good.

If Miller's passing game came around they could put up more than 27. But as of now being almost one dimensional, I agree.

The question isn't if we can score enough points on people to beat them, in my opinion. Its how our defense will keep them from lighting us up. The offense is good enough to compete at any level due to how sick Miller is. The thing with Alabama that would kill us is their ability to just grind games down to nothing, limit opponants possesions, and shorten games thus giving you less opportunities to score. They play Tressel ball. And with that smaller margin for error due to a smaller amount of possessions, it makes them tough to beat. They can just pound you untill you quit while playing back on their defense making you force the issue and thus giving them more opportunities to beat you when you screw up. Its the formula Tressel has used for years and it works.

HOWEVER, Alabama does not have a playmaker on the offensive side of the ball the caliber of Braxton Miller. That would be the edge. The determining factor in my opinion would be how we stop them when we are on defense. Doesn't matter if you scored 35 points when you give up 42 and that would be the issue.

I think our defensive front matches up well. Its the secondary I'm concerned about. Bama doesn't spread it out.

Personally? I think this buckeye team would beat Alabama and LSU. Oregon would be the team to give us problems.

I also agree, I think we would split the games, maybe even beat Oregon if we played a little D.

And MAYBE, JUST MAYBE wear down Bama's D like LSU did last week... If we have Hyde, and Smith healthy together.