Ohio State Football Gears Up for 2008

As the Buckeyes prepare to defend their Big Ten title in football, lets look at what Buckeye Nation can expect out of their team this year.

In what has been traditional fashion for the Buckeyes, two mid-major conference teams will be coming into Ohio Stadium in what has historically been more of a warm-up for the Buckeyes. After losing last year 38 to 6, the Penguins of Youngstown State will come to Columbus on August 30 to get the season started.

The following week will feature another in-state matchup, as Ohio University makes their way to the 'Shoe with recently resigned head coach Frank Solich. According to the Ohio State website, this is scheduled to be a noon matchup on ESPN, most likely regional coverage for those in the Midwest.

September 13 will be a crucial day for Ohio State football this season. It features the first year of the home-home series with the USC Trojans, with this year's game being in Los Angeles, with kickoff scheduled for 8pm eastern time. If Ohio State can get past USC, that will put them in good shape for their Big Ten schedule and should put them near the top of both the AP and USA Today polls, a place that Ohio State football fans are used to seeing their team.

Troy University will be a game that Ohio State will need to focus on. People may be expecting it for be an easy game, but after coming back from USC, Ohio State needs to make sure to focus on beating these Trojans. A win over USC could cause Ohio State to get too confident and face a first half scare against the Troy Trojans, while a loss in the previous week to USC could cause poor preparation in the week preceding the Troy game.

Once the Big Ten schedule rolls around, the Buckeyes simply need to focus on each game, one game at a time. Ohio State doesn't have to worry about seeing a night 'White-Out' at Penn State this year, as the Nittany Lions travel to Columbus this year, along with Minnesota, Purdue and Michigan. The Buckeyes will head on the road this season to Wisconsin, Michigan State and a pair of back-to-back visits to the state of Illinois, once to face the Illini and another visit for Northwestern.

Players to watch this season:

Todd Boeckman, senior Quarterback. Boeckman will be returning for his final season with the Buckeyes as a starter. While he may get a few snaps off in certain situations for Jim Tressel to utilize Terrelle Pryor, the future of the Buckeyes, Boeckman will be the person that the Ohio State offense revolves around.

Brandon Saine, sophomore Running Back. While it is expected that Chris 'Beanie' Wells will start in the backfield with Boeckman, Saine could be the difference maker sporadically throughout the season. In addition, look for Saine and Wells to be used simultaneously in two-back offensive sets in an attempt to spread out the defense.

James Laurinaitis, senior Linebacker. Laurinaitis easily could have left the Buckeyes a year early and been drafted quite high in the NFL draft, but instead chose to come back for his senior year. Expect to see Laurinaitis doing what he does best- serving as a hard-hitting linebacker and one of the team's strongest motivators. Expect to see lots of '33' jerseys in the stands this year, as Laurinaitis' decision to return has only increased his popularity.

Terrelle Pryor, freshman Quarterback. Pryor will be a player to watch this season, not so much for his immediate impact on the team, but for everyone, including the coaching staff, to see how Pryor responds to the large crowds at Ohio Stadium and the collegiate level of football as well. Pryor will most likely seem limited time, in certain offensive sets, and should some of the mid-major games (Youngstown State, Troy, Ohio) get put away early on in the game, expect to see Tressel give Pryor a few snaps in each of those games.

What to expect at the end of the season:

With most of the key players from the 2007 season returning, expect Ohio State to make it to Miami on January 8 for the BCS Championship. As long as Ohio State gets past USC, another run at the championship should be within reach. The only problem with Ohio State's schedule is that since it features teams such as Youngstown State and Troy, it leaves no room for error because of the weaker strength of schedule. A loss to USC could in fact eliminate any chance at a trip to Miami for the BCS Championship.