A composite of pre-season football polls has two Big Ten teams in the top ten: Ohio State at No. 2 and Iowa at No. 7. Future conference member Nebraska is sixth. Also, Jaamal Berry, Terrelle Pryor vs. Vince Young, and more.
Ohio State's Buckeyes and coach Jim Tressel run on to the field before their 26-17 win over Oregon in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1.(Updated at 2:52 with correct date for season opener)
Cleveland, Ohio -- Ohio State begins its 2010 football season on Thursday night, Sept. 2, against Marshall at Ohio Stadium.
And though the sport's first big Saturday is 72 days away, it's not too early for publications and websites to predict what teams will be the season's best.
Steve Helwagen of Bucknuts.com gathered several polls and came up with a consensus pre-season top 40.
Here's the top 10, with the large number representing the composite point system Helwagen devised:
(First-Place votes; last year’s record in parentheses) 1. Alabama (11 first-place votes; 14-0), 346 points; 2. Ohio State (1 first-place vote; 11-2), 329; 3. Boise State (1 first-place vote; 14-0), 320; 4. Texas (13-1), 276; 5. Florida (13-1), 269; 6. Nebraska (10-4), 253; 7. Iowa (11-2), 238; 8. TCU (12-1), 236; 9. Virginia Tech (10-3), 232; 10. Oregon (10-3), 228
Thad says
Plain Dealer Ohio State beat writer Doug Lesmerises reports men's basketball coach Thad Matta's thoughts on LeBron James in the Buckeyes Men's Basketball Insider.
On the run
Ohio State's running game last season fell short of its lofty standards. Jeff Svoboda of Scout.com looks at the Buckeyes running backs going into this season. Among them is red-shirt freshman Jaamal Berry, of whom Svoboda writes, in part:
Outlook: Berry was a highly touted four-star back coming out of Miami in the class of 2009 and runs with skill and tenacity. Perhaps the most talented back of the group, Berry will get carries in 2010, but just how many will be up to his play in fall camp. Like Hall, Berry is a breakout candidate if everything shakes out right for him.
Coach Comment: “What you’re seeing out of Jaamal Berry right now is the ability to have a little burst and a little juice, but he hasn’t played. He still has to go through a learning curve. You’re seeing the talent but you’re seeing a guy progressing through a learning curve.” – Running backs coach Dick “Doc” Tressel
Pryor and Young
Scroll well down the Big Ten Blog page on ESPN.com to see how Adam Rittenberg thinks Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor's progress might compare to that of former Texas great Vince Young.
Rittenberg writes:
One major connection between Pryor and Young is their performances in the final games of their sophomore seasons, the midpoint of most players' college careers. Both quarterbacks shined in Rose Bowl victories, Young against Michigan on Jan. 1, 2005 and Pryor against Oregon nearly seven months ago.
Tough task
Stewart Mandel writes about the Buckeyes, and a lot more, in his "Mailbag" for Sports Illustrated's SI.com. Comments Mandel:
But mostly, I think we're going to see a lot more competitive conference races. When I look at Ohio State, I see a team, on paper, that's talented and experienced across the board and an obvious national-title contender. But the Buckeyes will also be facing at least two other very good teams (Wisconsin and Iowa) on the road during conference play. They may still win the Big Ten, but I don't see them running away with it.
So-so
Curious about the prospects for that school up north? Pete Fiutak previews Michigan's Wolverines for Scout.com, writing, in part:
There’s a ton of experience returning on both sides of the ball, but is there any talent? Michigan has about 20 players who could be on the list of the team’s ten best players, but none, with the possible exception of guard Stephen Schilling and center David Molk (if healthy), appear to be certain preseason all-stars. There isn’t a sure-thing star of the defense, but there are plenty of decent veterans and promising risers, and there isn’t a sure-thing signature playmaker for the offense (at least until the quarterback situation is settled).