Ohio State has no plans to change its strategy of scheduling a major nonconference game each season, so showdowns like next Saturday's game with Miami will continue to shape the Buckeyes' reputation.
Ohio State running back Brandon Saine and the Buckeyes are used to the intensity that comes with playing a big-name opponent at night in the Horseshoe. While there is always a risk involved when playing highly ranked teams, the Buckeyes say they will continue to schedule big-name schools. COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State dealt with its postseason issues by beating Oregon in the Rose Bowl in January and ending a three-game bowl losing streak. What's next on the agenda?
The Buckeyes are facing their recent failures in their national nonconference games.
Consecutive losses to USC in 2008 and 2009 are what the OSU players want to erase. So when Miami (Fla.) comes to Ohio Stadium next Saturday, the game will be about current national title hopes and making up for some recent history.
"We're going to prepare, like, I don't know, like it's the national championship game," OSU junior receiver DeVier Posey said after Thursday night's 45-7 win over Marshall. "We really want this, a game in the Shoe at night, and the last time we had a big game like this, we came up short."
Two seasons ago, the Buckeyes were blown out at USC, 35-3, but last season's loss, 18-15, at home to the Trojans is the one Ohio State players felt got away.
"I think about the USC game all the time," Posey said. "It's in the past, but I feel like the guys who were on the field are going to be on the field Saturday. So they're going to remember that, and they're definitely going to think about that going into Saturday."
These Miami-type games are one of three components contributing to Ohio State's reputation in the BCS era.
One facet is bowl performance, the Buckeyes are 5-4 under Jim Tressel in the postseason, with a 4-3 record in BCS bowls. Another is conference record, with the Buckeyes aiming for their sixth straight Big Ten title. And the third is this big-name nonconference opponent, which came to the forefront with home-and-home series against Texas and USC in the past five years. Ohio State went 1-3 in those games, with the opponent ranked in the top three in each game.
Right now, Ohio State is No. 2 in the Associated Press poll and Miami No. 13, though the Hurricanes could move up after their 45-0 win over Florida A&M on Thursday. Yes, every game matters in a title chase, but a game like this is different.
"I wouldn't be too happy yet," OSU quarterback Terrelle Pryor said. "Let's see what we do next week. I'm looking forward to that chance to play Miami, because I want to see how good we really are."
Quarterback Jacory Harris and the Miami Hurricanes are this year's marquee nonconference matchup on the Ohio State schedule. OSU plays Miami next Saturday in the Horseshoe and hopes to do better than it did in last year's big game, an 18-15 loss to USC in Columbus.While some coaches question whether national games of this magnitude are worth it, Ohio State isn't backing away from this part of its scheduling philosophy. After a return visit to Miami next season, the Buckeyes have series with Cal, Virginia Tech, Oklahoma and Tennessee already scheduled out to 2019.
Ohio State Athletic Director Gene Smith said even if the Big Ten goes to a nine-game conference schedule starting in 2015, which Ohio State doesn't favor though it seems like it will happen, the Buckeyes will continue to schedule these types of games.
"I wouldn't change that at all," Smith said, noting that, for instance, the Oklahoma series is something he's excited about. In fact, there has been a shift in Ohio State's nonconference scheduling philosophy, and it's to make it more difficult. The addition of Colorado to the 2011 schedule is a sign of things to come.
Whereas, for instance, Ohio State's 2007 schedule included lower-division Youngstown State and two MAC schools in Akron and Kent State, as well as a trip to Washington, the future should include a second midlevel BCS opponent on every schedule. Cincinnati is already on the schedule for 2012 and 2014.
"Our program is there," Smith said. "If we're fortunate enough to stay there, then we can take a Colorado risk. So we will look at some of these things down the road, a middle of the road Big 12 or middle of the road Pac-10 and maybe do a couple more of those."
That's good news for the schedule depth. But there's that one part of the nonconference schedule that will always matter most, and this season it's Miami.
"It's a major statement for both us and them," Pryor said. "It's a big confidence builder. I think they'll come in fired up, we'll be fired up, coach Tressel will have us ready. I'll have the offense ready and I know the defensive guys will make sure the defense is ready.
"We're going to be ready to go, I promise you that."
BIG GAMES ON OSU'S SCHEDULE
2010: Miami, Sept. 11
2011: at Miami, Sept. 17
2011: Colorado, Sept. 24
2012: Cincinnati, Sept. 8
2012: California, Sept. 15
2013: at California, Sept. 14
2014: Cincinnati, Sept. 6
2014: Virginia Tech, Sept. 20
2015: at Virginia Tech, Sept. 19
2016: at Oklahoma, Sept. 17
2017: Oklahoma, Sept. 16
2018: at Tennessee, Sept. 1
2019: Tennessee, Sept. 7