Ohio State 2004 Season | Team Page	Select Conference ACC Big East Big 10 Big 12 Conference USA Independents MAC Mountain West Pac-10 SEC Sun Belt WAC Select Team

Special Athlon offer for SI.com readers

Ted Ginn Jr. Robert Caplin/SI

The Lowdown 2005 Schedule Coach: Jim Tressel (5th season, 40-11) 2004 record: 8-4 (Beat Oklahoma State in Alamo Bowl) Big Ten finish: 4-4 (t-5th) 2004 I-A offensive rankings: Rushing: 70th (145.4 ypg) Passing: 97th (175.4 ypg) 2004 I-A defensive rankings: Rushing: 35th (130.4 ypg) Passing: 41st (201.6 ypg) Date Opponent Sept. 3 Miami (OH) Sept. 10 Texas Sept. 17 San Diego State Sept. 24 Iowa Oct. 8 at Penn State Oct. 15 Michigan State Oct. 22 at Indiana Oct. 29 at Minnesota Nov. 5 Illinois Nov. 12 Northwestern Nov. 19 at Michigan Depth Chart: Offense 8 returning starters in red Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr. FL 4 Santonio Holmes Jr. 11 Anthony Gonzalez So. SE 7 Ted Ginn Jr. So. 8 Roy Hall Jr. LT 77 Rob Sims Sr. 71 Steve Rehring So. LG 72 T.J. Downing Jr. 69 Andree Tyree Jr. C 55 Nick Mangold Sr. 73 Steve Winner Sr. RG 50 Doug Datish Jr. 59 John Conroy Sr. RT 74 Kirk Barton So. 68 Tim Schafer Jr. TE 80 Ryan Hamby Sr. 81 Marcel Frost So. QB 10 Troy Smith Jr. 12 Justin Zwick Jr. FB 43 Brandon Schnittker Sr. 49 Dionte Johnson So. TB 25 Antonio Pittman So. 2 Erik Haw Fr. Depth Chart: Defense 10 returning starters in red Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr. DE 99 Jay Richardson Jr. 78 Alex Barrow Fr. DT 94 Marcus Green Sr. 97 David Patterson Jr. DT 90 Quinn Pitcock Jr. 98 Joel Penton Jr. DE 57 Mike Kudla Sr. 50 Vernon Gholston So. SLB 42 Bobby Carpenter Sr. 17 Marcus Freeman So. MLB 51 Anthony Schlegel Sr. 5 Mike D’Andrea Sr. WLB 47 A.J. Hawk Sr. 44 Curtis Terry So. CB 26 Ashton Youboty Jr. 29 Shaun Lane Fr. CB 30 Sirjo Welch So. 2 E.J. Underwood Sr. SS 9 Donte Whitner Jr. 6 Tyler Everett Sr. FS 21 Nate Salley Sr. 32 Brandon Mitche   Special Teams Ps. No. Player Yr. K 23 Josh Huston Sr. P 15 A.J. Trapasso Fr. KR 7 Ted Ginn Jr. So. PR 7 Ted Ginn Jr. So.

To order your 2005 Athlon Sports annual and receive $1 off plus free shipping courtesy of SI.com, click here.

You have to forgive Ohio State fans for noticing the similarities. The Buckeyes entered what would be a fantasy-like 2002 season appearing loaded on defense, having concerns about special teams, returning several key figures on offense and hoping to enjoy the benefit of a forgiving schedule filled with early home games. Also, there was a big question at quarterback: Could someone emerge to lead a very talented Buckeyes team to glory?

The answer, as we now know, was a resounding "yes" as signal-caller Craig Krenzel made all the right plays and the Buckeyes plucked every team on the ledger en route to the national championship.

Three years later, Troy Smith and Justin Zwick -- who were wide-eyed redshirts on that 14-0 team of 2002 -- will head into the fateful fall with hopes of being the point man. Smith appeared to end the controversy last year when he put together a banner day with 386 total yards in the surprise blowout of Rose Bowl-bound Michigan. However, he re-opened the door days later when he accepted money from a booster and was suspended from the Alamo Bowl. Zwick gutted out a damaged hamstring and led OSU to a drubbing of Oklahoma State.

Smith's suspension carries into the season opener with Miami of Ohio. That means intense speculation is ahead, especially since Smith returns just in time for a key brouhaha with Texas.

So who will emerge?

"It doesn't matter to me," superstar wideout Ted Ginn Jr. said. "We proved we could win with both of them, so I don't think it really matters."

OFFENSE

An evolution could be afoot for the Ohio State offense, which was plodding at best during the first half of last season yet grew into the unit that destroyed Michigan and Oklahoma State to close the 2004 campaign. Coach Jim Tressel wants to continue to put pressure on opposing defenses with spread formations that create space for tailbacks Antonio Pittman and Erik Haw and create matchup problems on wideouts Santonio Holmes, Anthony Gonzalez and Ginn, who could have a breakout season in an expanded offensive role. Tight ends Ryan Hamby and Marcel Frost will also be involved in the passing game.

Expect Smith to reprise his role as a playmaker after serving a suspension for the season-opener. Zwick will be at the ready if Smith struggles to shake off rust or the coaches opt for a quarterback shuffle.

The offensive line returns four starters, led by left tackle Rob Sims and center Nick Mangold, a pair of battle-tested seniors.

DEFENSE

The strength of the Ohio State defense will be a trio of savvy senior linebackers who will form one of the nation's top units. Anthony Schlegel missed almost all of spring practice after having a knee scoped, but he should be ready to man the middle. Bobby Carpenter reclaims his role on the strong side, where he is as adept at handling tight ends in pass patterns as he is shedding blocks and disrupting run plays. Meanwhile, A.J. Hawk could be as effective a defender as there is in college football.

The Buckeyes also boast experience at safety while Ashton Youboty appears to be a rising star at cornerback. The other spot could be up in the air, but don't discount at least a part-time appearance there by Ginn.

The effectiveness of the front four could be a huge key as Jay Richardson, Marcus Green, Quinn Pitcock and Mike Kudla bring experience but are coming off a season in which they combined for just nine sacks. Richardson could become a presence with some sustained intensity.

SPECIALISTS

The Buckeyes' season very well may rest on the kicking game. No one expects Josh Huston to make people forget about last year's Lou Groza Award winner, Mike Nugent, but the sixth-year senior will have a prominent role just the same considering all the close games in which the Buckeyes often find themselves. Also, A.J. Trapasso will need to be a capable punter in his first year on the job, as Tressel loves to play the field-position game.

The return teams should sparkle with both Ginn and Holmes set in deep return mode on kickoffs and punts.

FINAL ANALYSIS

Even with an expected dropoff at placekicker and running backs who have yet to prove they are up to the lofty standard, it's hard to look at the Buckeyes (and their schedule) and not think they are a serious threat to win the Big Ten.

Talent drips at the skill positions and in the linebacking corps, the defense is stacked with veterans and the offensive line looks as sturdy as it was when OSU won the 2002 national title. Still, the offense needs to find another gear, the defensive line needs to be more forceful and this team has to prove it has the cohesiveness to flirt with greatness.

A shot at the Rose Bowl will depend on how well the Bucks fare in a late-September showdown with Iowa and a trip to Ann Arbor in November.