The Vest hasn’t shied away from playing a tough, non-conference opponent each season.
(File Photo)

First of all, one thing college football fans really need to remember is that a team’s non-conference portion of the schedule is generally made out years in advance. Of course, the NCAA made it even more difficult for athletic directors and head coaches five years ago when they instituted a 12th game starting with the 2006 season.

Since Jim Tressel took over as head coach in 2001, the Buckeyes have faced a ranked non-conference opponent seven out of the last nine years.

During Tressel’s tenure, Ohio State has taken on No. 12 UCLA (2001), No. 10 Washington State (2002), No. 17 Washington (2003), No. 24 North Carolina State (2003), No. 2 Texas (2005 & 2006), No. 1 USC (2008), and No. 3 USC (2009).

Click here to read more >>

Tags: Football by Matt Barker, Publisher & Editor of BuckeyeBanter.com
View Comments

Jack Tatum (far right) was the honorary captain at last year’s USC game.
(Photo courtesy of The Lantern)

Yesterday, Buckeye Nation lost one of its greats when it was reported that former Ohio State defensive back Jack Tatum died of a heart attack at the age of 61.

Nicknamed “The Assassin,” Tatum was fiery competitor and was considered as one of the hardest hitters ever to play the game.

Tatum came to Columbus in 1967 from Passaic, New Jersey. He didn’t play football until his sophomore year at Passaic High, but eventually became a high school All-American during his senior season. In 1999, the Newark Star-Ledger named Tatum as one of New Jersey’s top ten defensive players of the century.

Since freshman were ineligible to play back in 1967, Tatum had to sit out with the rest of the players in his recruiting class that included quarterback Rex Kern, running back John Brockington, and middle guard Jim Stillwagon, among others.

Click here to read more >>

Tags: Football by Matt Barker, Publisher & Editor of BuckeyeBanter.com
View Comments

Alabama’s junior running back Mark Ingram returns, looking to win his second Heisman Trophy and back-to-back national titles.
(AP Photo)

For more info, check out NCAA Football Odds.

With the college football season just over a month away, it’s time for our preseason top 25 college football poll as we take a look at the who could be hoisting the crystal BCS National Championship trophy at the end of the year.

1. Alabama - They are the defending national champions and return nine starters on offense which includes Heisman Trophy-winning running back, junior Mark Ingram. They also just might have the best one-two punch at the tailback position with sophomore Trent Richardson. The two of them combined for 416 carries, 2,409 yards and 25 touchdowns last fall.

At quarterback, senior quarterback Greg McElroy returns after throwing for 2,508 yards while completing 60.9 percent of his passes with 17 touchdowns and four interceptions.

McElroy has two quality receivers to throw the ball to with juniors Julio Jones and Marquis Maze. Combined, the duo hauled in 74 passes for 919 yards and six scores.

The one problem Alabama has is on the defensive side of the ball as the Crimson Tide returns just two starters from last year’s team. In fact, only one of the top seven tacklers from the national champion team are back, and that’s junior strong safety Mark Barron.

Click here to read more >>

Tags: Football, Preview by Matt Barker, Publisher & Editor of BuckeyeBanter.com
View Comments