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Home > Blogs > Buckeyes Beat > Archives > 2008 > January > 16 > Entry
2008 schedule much tougher
If THE OSU makes it to next year’s BCS title game, the Buckeyes won’t be accused of taking the easy road. In addition to eight Big Ten games (and the Big Ten HAS to be better next season, right?), here’s who the Buckeyes play in nonconference tilts:
Youngstown State. Ohio University. Southern California. Troy.
OK, so Youngstown State is a gimme and Ohio University could only beat the Buckeyes if the two schools squared off in a keg-emptying contest. But those other two games …
Southern Cal speaks for itself. If OSU goes to Los Angeles in September and knocks off the Trojans, that would give the Bucks an inside track on a trip to Miami in January 2009. No doubt Ohio State will be an underdog, but will nearly the entire defense returning and a season of starting under Todd Boeckman’s belt, who knows?
Troy is an interesting game. The Trojans went 8-4 this season, 6-1 in the Sun Belt. Like the Buckeyes, they have trouble against the SEC, going 0-3 (although a 44-34 loss to Georgia is impressive).
Troy’s biggest win in 2007: A 41-23 pasting of the Oklahoma State “I’m A Man!” Cowboys. I seem to recall Troy pasting Missouri a couple years ago, too.
So anyway, Troy’s a step up from Akron.
Here’s the 2008 dates (all Saturday games, times tba):
Aug. 30 — Youngstown State, home Sept. 6 — Ohio University, home Sept. 13 — at USC (probably on ABC, prime time) Sept. 20 — Troy University, home Sept. 27 — Minnesota, home Oct. 4 — at Wisconsin Oct. 11 — Purdue, home Oct. 18 — at Michigan State Oct. 25 — Penn State, home Nov. 8 — at Northwestern Nov. 15 — at Illinois Nov. 22 — Michigan, home
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Comments
By XPLOD
January 17, 2008 2:38 AM | Link to this
Ohio State is highly over rated period! “Top 25 teams should play other top 25 teams and four or five conference games. what about the famed Michigan game? is it really a game when we beat them every year? move on! Play real teams and then maybe we can get some respect.By Jim Tressel, Coach
January 17, 2008 8:12 AM | Link to this
I, being Jim Tressel, and very excited for this season. I know we had a cake schedule in 07-08, but we will prove this coming season that we are the best football program in the land by returning to the big game and taking home the crystal football. Third time’s a charm, right?! -Jim TresselBy Jim Tressel, Coach
January 17, 2008 8:12 AM | Link to this
I, being Jim Tressel, and very excited for this season. I know we had a cake schedule in 07-08, but we will prove this coming season that we are the best football program in the land by returning to the big game and taking home the crystal football. Third time’s a charm, right?! -Jim TresselBy Jim Tressel, Coach
January 17, 2008 8:12 AM | Link to this
I, being Jim Tressel, and very excited for this season. I know we had a cake schedule in 07-08, but we will prove this coming season that we are the best football program in the land by returning to the big game and taking home the crystal football. Third time’s a charm, right?! -Jim TresselBy Jim Tressel, Coach
January 17, 2008 8:12 AM | Link to this
I, being Jim Tressel, and very excited for this season. I know we had a cake schedule in 07-08, but we will prove this coming season that we are the best football program in the land by returning to the big game and taking home the crystal football. Third time’s a charm, right?! -Jim TresselBy MK
January 17, 2008 10:45 AM | Link to this
Troy? Troy High School? So as opposed to playing no nationally tough teams this year (until January) OSU is playing one? What a vast improvement! Look for OU to knock that bird dung off the buckeye helmets AND empty the keg!!By Mike W
January 17, 2008 11:50 AM | Link to this
Pretty uninformed comments. Most every team in the SEC plays a cupcake non-conference schedule except for one “legit” non-conference game. Last year, LSU played Va.Tech and three cream puffs. OSU played Texas in back-to-back years, has USC on the schedule this year and next and Miami (Fla), Va.Tech, Oklahoma coming up. The Buckeyes can’t help the Big Ten hasn’t been as strong recently. Although I can’t understand why Michigan’s win over Florida means nothing, Wisky’s near miss against UT means nothing and OSU’s loss to LSU means everything! And the Big Ten went 2-1 against the SEC in bowl games the previous year, but the only game that mattered was that one loss, OSU to Florida. This year’s OSU squad could be one of the best ever.By Richard
January 17, 2008 12:42 PM | Link to this
Sorry, Mike W, but the cupcakes the Big 10 plays are much easier than the cupcakes the SEC plays. Regardless, it’s a good thing OSU lost the title game…had they won, it would have encouraged every team in a major conference to play nothing but cupcakes. Strength of schedule will get you TO a big game, but it will also cause you to be embarrassed IN the big game, as OSU has found out again earlier this year.By Richard
January 17, 2008 12:43 PM | Link to this
Sorry, Mike W, but the cupcakes the Big 10 plays are much easier than the cupcakes the SEC plays. Regardless, it’s a good thing OSU lost the title game…had they won, it would have encouraged every team in a major conference to play nothing but cupcakes. Strength of schedule will get you TO a big game, but it will also cause you to be embarrassed IN the big game, as OSU has found out again earlier this year.By OU
January 17, 2008 1:17 PM | Link to this
The Luckeyes are done. Go BOBCATS.By OU
January 17, 2008 1:17 PM | Link to this
The Luckeyes are done. Go BOBCATS.By Jeff
January 17, 2008 5:51 PM | Link to this
People who comment about the schdele strength have no idea about college football. 95% of these games are set 5-10 years in advance. That is set per the NCAA. If you are going to yell at the buckeyes then yell at the NCAA. For example, Washington was scheduled in 1997 when at the time they were a perrenial top 10 team. So since we just scheduled our next 10 years if Oklahoma sucks in ten years is that OSU’s fault. Plus instead of taking a bye week they play games even if it is Akron. You still have to win. And honestly did a Cincy Bearcats fan really write luckeyes. Go read some more Dodd on sportsline and when your team can sell out without giving away free tickets call the OHSAA and UC might have a chance. PS. I take BCS bowls 6 out of 7 years any time. OSU has nothing to be ashamed of.By Jeff
January 17, 2008 5:51 PM | Link to this
People who comment about the schdele strength have no idea about college football. 95% of these games are set 5-10 years in advance. That is set per the NCAA. If you are going to yell at the buckeyes then yell at the NCAA. For example, Washington was scheduled in 1997 when at the time they were a perrenial top 10 team. So since we just scheduled our next 10 years if Oklahoma sucks in ten years is that OSU’s fault. Plus instead of taking a bye week they play games even if it is Akron. You still have to win. And honestly did a Cincy Bearcats fan really write luckeyes. Go read some more Dodd on sportsline and when your team can sell out without giving away free tickets call the OHSAA and UC might have a chance. PS. I take BCS bowls 6 out of 7 years any time. OSU has nothing to be ashamed of.By TL
January 17, 2008 7:28 PM | Link to this
The national media were way too harsh on this Ohio State team. This was a young team that played their way into the NC game just as LSU did, given all the upsets of this crazy season. They way it played out, they were not severely tested during the regular season. This was not their fault but just the luck of the draw due to advanced scheduling everyone has. It just so happened that they were matched with solid team that played a tougher schedule and was laden with next level talent. The two triple OT losses by LSU can be explained by the loss of key players during a brutal run in the SEC. The fully healthy LSU team the Bucks saw at the BCSC game could have defeated any team in the country, provided they didn’t shoot themselves in the foot by foolish penalties. LSU had a lot of those during the regular season. This LSU squad showed their mettle during the preparation time by elimination of mistakes and showcasing the number superior skill player that they had. This game, however, was won in the trenches of the offensive and defensive line play and it was evident that OSU had not faced as formidable opponent all year, except perhaps the Michigan team. Again, not their fault. If OSU had played a perfect game it would have been close but these Louisiana Tigers would not have been denied victory on that night. OSU is a quality football team that just happen to face a better opponent on Jan 07, 08. Good luck to the Bucks next year; they certainly will have a chance to prove their mettle having played in this game and along with a tougher schedule will give themselves a better chance to get that crystal in O8.By NoMoreOSU
January 24, 2008 4:56 PM | Link to this
Wow… I can’t beleive that this idiot thinks that playing Troy means that OSU’s schedule is tough? I certainly hope that the voters don’t feel this way, or we’re in for another disappointing National Championship Game! If OSU can go undefeated, and UGA, UF, USC, and LSU each lose 3 games, then, and only then should OSU get another shot at the Nataional Championship game.By NoMoreOSU
January 24, 2008 4:57 PM | Link to this
Wow… I can’t beleive that this idiot thinks that playing Troy means that OSU’s schedule is tough? I certainly hope that the voters don’t feel this way, or we’re in for another disappointing National Championship Game! If OSU can go undefeated, and UGA, UF, USC, and LSU each lose 3 games, then, and only then should OSU get another shot at the Nataional Championship game.