The Three Factors

The answers to these questions will determine the outcome of the biggest nonconference game of the year

1. How's Beanie's wheel?
The Buckeyes had a week to draw up an attack that did not include star running back Beanie Wells, who was hobbled by a jammed big toe and right foot. The results last Saturday were not promising: 272 yards of total offense and 5 for 15 on third-down conversions in a 26--14 win over Ohio (a 33 1/2-point underdog). Wells is almost certain to play against the Trojans. If he's not near the top of his game, Ohio State will be hard-pressed to keep it close.

2. Whither Terrelle?
Ohio State's dual-threat freshman quarterback Terrelle Pryor was expected to play about 20 snaps against Ohio, in relief of starter Todd Boeckman. With the game so tight—the Buckeyes trailed 14--12 early in the fourth—Pryor got in for only eight plays, meaning he'll be less prepared to mix it up against a USC defensive scheme that has a history of yielding big yards to mobile quarterbacks. Remember Vince Young?

3. Is Sanchez that good?
Before anyone declares quarterback Mark Sanchez an upgrade over John David Booty—and he sure looked like it while picking apart Virginia in USC's opener—let's see how he fares against an Ohio State defense that has nine starters back from 2007 and intercepted four passes against Ohio. Trojans receivers will have less space this week, and Sanchez will have less time to find them.