If tOSU was in the SEC...

[BuckTwenty]

Thing is, you'd play at least three spread type offenses. While you would be in the top tier of SEC teams (don't get me wrong, not saying you'd destroy the SEC is not saying you suck), given your recent history you are going to have to show me better success against that type of offense before I could ever jump on a "run the table" prognosis.

We play against a LOT of spread offenses year in and year out... just not one of Florida caliber often enough. Something like 8 of the 11 Big Ten members run some variation of the spread and a great deal of the MAC teams that we play against run it as well. It has gotten to the point where our "base" defense the last couple years is more nickle package than our more traditional 4-3.

Georgia, Florida, or Auburn (Tennessee & LSU deserve mention as well) would be awfully tough games and we would split games with those guys just as we have over the past few years with some teams inside our own conference (Illinois, Penn State, etc). No one is saying we'd be gunning for our 4th consecutive (3rd outright) conference title, but we would finally gain some much deserved respect for how we would do against that schedule... plus we would FINALLY have a win against an SEC team.

Hell, if we could lose one or TWO games a year and STILL make the BCS title game, just think of how many years straight we could be playing in that bowl game...

 

[powerlifter]

That schedule is easier than OSU's. The OOC games are an absolute joke. The only teams that would actually compete with the Buckeyes are Auburn, Florida, and Georgia. I would say that playing USC, Wisconsin, Michigan St., Illinois, and Penn St. is tougher. If we had to play the entire SEC sched, including LSU and Tenn, it might be tougher than our real sched, but not by all that much. Georgia is getting an unbelievable ammount of credit for putting together a good half-season, the Gators D is a joke, and Auburn is Auburn. The SEC is lavishing in self-praise over a couple of good years, but time will tell whether they can sustain the success.

You are giving way too much credit to the rest of the big ten...Saying "the only teams that would actually compete with the buckeyes" is a bull[censored] statement. So will you guarantee they will go undefeated and win a national title as well? So there should be no competition with any big ten team this year period based on your statement.There is no way in hell you are going to convince anyone that the big ten is a tougher conference then the sec.. "actually compete" that probably means a win by what 20? Maybe put up your house right now,and take the money to vegas and you'll be rich too..BtW i'd take OSU' schedule all day long rather then them be playing GA/FLA/AUB..That's just my opinion..Just like that one's your's.Playing in the sec week in and week out beats up GREAT TEAMS. It's way to easy for some people to blink their eyes and act like the past two national games didn't happen,but they did. In the same way people tend to overreact to what the sec is...Some people act like they don't deserve to be called the best conference in divison 1 football..

 

[WyoBuckeye]

I would say they would be competing at the top of the conference for a title. So, yes, I think the Buckeyes are good enough to win the SEC. However, I think they have a much lower chance of winning the SEC than they do the B10. It is a more competitive league to be sure (although not to the extent that is portrayed in the media or exists in the minds of many SEC fans), not to mention having to play a conference championship.

 

[Muck]

True, true.....no bowl games listed at all.

There would be no need for a bowl. The AP would vote Ohio State the greatest team of all time after running the table in a schedule that the Patriots would struggle with.

 

[Gatorubet]

We play against a LOT of spread offenses year in and year out... just not one of Florida caliber often enough. Something like 8 of the 11 Big Ten members run some variation of the spread and a great deal of the MAC teams that we play against run it as well.

No kidding? See - you edjuimificated me on the Big-10. Down here I do get to watch The Game every year, but that's about it.:(

It has gotten to the point where our "base" defense the last couple years is more nickle package than our more traditional 4-3.

Then why the hell are you guys using a zone defense so much? You have to go man coverage and crowd the box to defeat a good spread team.

 

[Gatorubet]

There would be no need for a bowl. The AP would vote Ohio State the greatest team of all time after running the table in a schedule that the Patriots would struggle with.

You do make a good point!

 

[osubucksfan2]

9-3

L @ FLA
L vs. Georgia
Upset vs. somebody

 

[BuckTwenty]

I would say they would be competing at the top of the conference for a title. So, yes, I think the Buckeyes are good enough to win the SEC. However, I think they have a much lower chance of winning the SEC than they do the B10. It is a more competitive league to be sure (although not to the extent that is portrayed in the media or exists in the minds of many SEC fans), not to mention having to play a conference championship.

Agree. SEC is tougher for sure, but the Big Ten will likely be the 3rd hardest this year. Just this year preseason, the SEC has arguably 3 of the top 10 teams in the nation. In the Big Ten... just us. It would be nice to see scUM, PSU, the Illini, Wiscy, MSU challenging to be in the top 10 again.

To answer your question reagdog, though its still the preseason, I think it's almost impossible to rank us below 2nd in the SEC if we were to play in that conference this year, based on us returning more players than anybody in the nation, the motivation these guys have this year, and the amount of depth and experience (26 seniors) this team has. So Cal, Georgia, and OSU are pretty much interchangeable at this point based on how everybody is ranking teams preseason anyways.

 

[powerlifter]

We play against a LOT of spread offenses year in and year out... just not one of Florida caliber often enough. Something like 8 of the 11 Big Ten members run some variation of the spread and a great deal of the MAC teams that we play against run it as well. It has gotten to the point where our "base" defense the last couple years is more nickle package than our more traditional 4-3.

In no way am I trying to knock you,because you obviously are trying to make a valid point,but I can only stress the words "just not one of florida caliber"...Mac offenses don't have the overall athletes that a huge percentage of the sec teams do(even the low end).That's not just with a mobile qb,but with olinemen and any other offensive position that would impact an individual play on the spread.

 

[BuckTwenty]

Then why the hell are you guys using a zone defense so much? You have to go man coverage and crowd the box to defeat a good spread team.

Thats a good point and I know it has been brought up within the team. Malcolm Jenkins and company have told the coaches they want to play more man-to-man, and I think the coaches have enough confidence in them to grant them their wish this year. I'm crossing my fingers hoping we'll see that man coverage again (finally... a couple years too late...)

 

[Buckeneye]

so you'll have to tell me some other good spread teams that you've had success with.

Even though we lost against them, Texas in 05 ( a game we very much should have won) and again @ Penn St. Both very close games;

Texas 2006 not so much; but Minny runs the spread, Purdue as well... plenty of solid teams inside the Big 10. Does that make them Florida? Nope, but at least we get a taste of their abilties (Tebow notwithstanding)

 

[reagdog]

What's 2009 going to be like for tOSU if you guys are losing 26 seniors? I know you guys get good recruits, but is 2009 projected to be a down year due to all the younger guys that will have to step up?

 

[jwinslow]

It will undoubtedly be a rebuilding year. One thing that will help is the backups have been getting good experience over the past few years, and this year that trend could continue. In fact, certain guys like Pryor and others may see time in their own package during contested games, which will help even more than 2nd string blowout reps.

That was a huge problem in 2004. Besides a lousy 01 recruiting class and a weak 03 one as well, OSU played in so many nailbiters in 02 & 03 that their backups were extremely green.

I think it will be undoubtedly a rebuilding year of sorts, and SC should be favored in Cbus. Illinois will have their greatest shot ever imo that season, with UM still young in the RR era and OSU completely overhauled.

 

[Gatorubet]

Even though we lost against them, Texas in 05 ( a game we very much should have won) and again @ Penn St. Both very close games;

Texas 2006 not so much; but Minny runs the spread, Purdue as well... plenty of solid teams inside the Big 10. Does that make them Florida? Nope, but at least we get a taste of their abilties (Tebow notwithstanding)

I'm embarrassed to say I did not know that. I've seen the Juice Illinoize game and both BCS games in person, and The Game the last two years. I guess I'm gonna hafta switch to Dish. I've always been able to see most UF games on Jefferson Pilot and CBS, so I never got Dish.

 

[jwinslow]

What's 2009 going to be like for tOSU if you guys are losing 26 seniors? I know you guys get good recruits, but is 2009 projected to be a down year due to all the younger guys that will have to step up?

I'm embarrassed to say I did not know that. I've seen the Juice Illinoize game and both BCS games in person, and The Game the last two years. I guess I'm gonna hafta switch to Dish. I've always been able to see most UF games on Jefferson Pilot and CBS, so I never get Dish.