# 7 Ohio State University

What a time of year to live in Columbus! As great as things have been for the University of Florida, they have been just as bad in Buckeye land. What could be worse than losing back to back major team sport national titles than to lose them to the same team! It’s been a rough 365 days for OSU, and don’t expect the future to be any brighter.

After losing a large majority of last year’s team, the only reason Ohio State made the top 10 relies on their rather weak regular season schedule and a rather experienced offensive line (3 returning starters) The big uglies upfront anchor a team that lost key players at the skill positions, including Heisman winner Troy Smith, All Big 10 performers Antonio Pittman (RB), Ted Ginn Jr., and Anthony Gonzales (WR). In their stead will likely step Todd Boekman, a junior QB with limited collegiate experience, two receivers with 46 catches between them last year, and a running back by committee, anchored by Chris Wells, who was the Buckeyes bruising 3rd down back in 2006.

The defense also lost 6 starters, but return the top linebacker in the nation with James Laurinaitis and a plethora of talented young players. Remember, this is a team many expected to slip last year with a defense lacking experience and depth, but they were able to prove the naysayers wrong with a more than sufficient defensive attack

Why the high ranking? Like many other big time programs, Ohio State has stepped into the “we don’t rebuild, we reload” mode. . With a top five recruiting class in 3 of the last 5 years, Ohio State should have no shortcoming when it comes to athletes on the field. What they lack in experience, Jim Tressell has always been able to make up for in overloaded talent. Expect an early season slip up, against perhaps Washington on the road, before two key showdowns with Wisconsin and Michigan. Like their Wolverine counterparts, OSU will likely slip up in one of those games, keeping them from the national championship. Of course, if Florida finds it’s way to New Orleans for the BCS Championship, that might be just what the doctor ordered for the Buckeye nation.