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In 2006, they lost 41-14. In 2007, they lost 38-24. Neither was as close as the score indicated. Now, heading into the 2008 season, the Ohio State Buckeyes are, again, ranked high in the pre-season polls, and one of the favorites for the BCS Championship Game in Miami, Fla. This cannot, and should not be allowed, regardless of their record.
Enough with the Buckeye hype. They’ve proven that they don’t deserve it. They don’t belong. They are overrated, and a waste of perfectly good BCS space. It doesn’t matter that they return 45 starters on offense, and 62 starters on defense (okay, 9 and 9). Said starters have proven that they can’t cut it on a national scale, and Buckeye head coach Jim Tressel is overwhelmed and underprepared.
After getting spanked by a one-loss Florida team in 2006 (War Eagle!), and then getting run out of the building for three quarters, after LSU sleep-walked through the first quarter in 2007, Ohio State, and the Big 10+1 as a whole, has proven that they barely deserve an automatic bid in the Bureaucratic Crap System (BCS), much less a cruise card to the Championship Game. They don’t play anyone (38th highest strength of schedule in 2007 according to the NCAA) and they can’t compete with the big boys (0-9 all-time in bowls vs. the SEC). They have robbed the public of intriguing and competitive BCS Championship Game’s for two straight years, and they can’t be allowed to make it three.
Sure, Ohio State stepped up a bit. Six years after SEC teams started scheduling Southern Cal, the Buckeyes followed suit. On September 13, the Buckeyes will travel to the City of Angels, to receive an early-season beatdown at the hands of the Trojans. And, the rest of the world will be relieved that they can forget about the Buckeyes for 12 months. With one loss, they are done. Not even a season as screwy as 2007, where a two-loss team made the title game, will be able to save their National Title chances.
Should Ohio State fall into a victory on the left coast, I will hereby propose a bill to the Democratic Congress forbidding Ohio State from playing in the BCS Championship Game (lord knows they have plenty of time on their hands). It shouldn’t be allowed. The rest of the country shouldn’t be subjected to Mr. Herbstreit’s alma mater polluting Monday night television in mid-January for a third straight year.
Enough With The Buckeyes!!!, July 16
SEC Coaches: How Many Is Too Many?, July 7
New Coordinators No Problem For Auburn, July 1