How About An Ohio State Rematch With USC?

COLUMBUS, Ohio—What’s brewing today with the 2009 Ohio State Buckeyes ...

BUCKEYES BUZZ: Alabama is No. 1 and therefore the top seed in Sports Illustrated’s weekly college rankings. The magazine rates the top 16 teams in the nation as if there were a tournament to determine the national champion.

This week’s bracket (it changes each week) would pit Alabama against Nebraska, Florida vs. Oklahoma State, Texas vs. Auburn, LSU vs. Oregon, Virginia Tech vs. Iowa, Boise State vs. Miami, Cincinnati vs. TCU and - No. 7 Southern California vs. No. 10 Ohio State.

Haven’t we already been down that road?

SI says the winner of the Trojans-Buckeyes game would take on the Florida-Oklahoma State winner in the semifinals.

COACHES’ PICKS: Each week Ohio State’s coaches spotlight players for the preceding game. Here are this week’s selections:

S Anderson Russell was the defensive player of the week, with six tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery. P Jon Thoma, who downed three punts inside the 20, was the player of the week on the special units. TB Brandon Saine was the offensive players of the week, rushing for 113 yards.

The top defensive player on the back seven was LB Austin Spitler. Bryant Browning was the top OL.

Honorees on the scout team were: RB James Georgiades on offense; DB Jamie Wood on defense; and WR Ryan Schuck on special teams.

BIG TEN HONOREES: This week’s Big Ten award winners: Wisconsin RB John Clay (career high 184 yards, 3 TDs, on 32 carries in a road win at Minnesota); Wisconsin DE O’Brien Schofield (six tackles, 3.5 for loss, two sacks and a pass breakup); and on special teams, Northwestern P/PK Stefan Demos (4 FGs, 1 EP, 4Ps in win at Purdue); and Penn State P Jeremy Boone (4Ps, 49.5 yards per punt).

No Buckeye has won a Big Ten award this season.

ONE MAN’S OPINION: AP voter Doug Lesmerises votes for teams based only on results on the field, treating every squad as Team X. Here’s his top 10 for this week: Alabama, Boise State, Florida, Cincinnati, LSU, Texas, Auburn, Virginia Tech, Miami and Iowa. He has Ohio State at No. 13, Wisconsin 18 and Penn State 22.

He did drop Iowa from No. 5 to No. 10, while the rest of the voters somehow moved the Hawkeyes up a spot to No. 12 despite a lackluster effort in a narrow win over Arkansas State.

He also has all 13 unbeaten FBS teams in his top 25, something the AP poll does not, and he does not include two-loss Oklahoma, which is now No. 19 in the poll.