A team usually knows when everything has come together. The stars line up, as the adage goes.
But it’s a tricky proposition in college football, a team needing the perfect blend of experience and talent to have everything lined up to challenge for a national championship.
On March 19, 2008, when quarterback Terrelle Pryor opted for the cap sporting the giant, red “O,” the Buckeyes envisioned his junior season as that defining peak of opportunity.
After all, with the talent he possessed, there was no guarantee he would remain in scarlet and gray for a fourth year.
Last season, Pryor and Ohio State fought through adversity in falling short against USC and Purdue before rebounding to reach and win the Rose Bowl. Next season, OSU will lack the crop of veterans that currently anchor the defense.
That leaves this year as the best shot for the Buckeyes to squeeze the most success out of the talent they have accumulated.
Along the offensive line, OSU will start three juniors and two seniors. All five started games last season.
“This is probably one of the better offensive lines I’ve seen since I’ve been here,” said senior defensive tackle Dexter Larimore. “Usually, one or two guys are a little bit weak. But this year, across the board, we have a very good offensive line.”
Seven seniors will lead what has the potential to be a stifling defense, defensive tackle John Simon said.
“Everyone on our unit is talented and has been stepping up and working hard,” the sophomore said. “We are all motivated to get out on to the field and contribute and we’re all capable of doing so.”
With talent and experience along both lines, a deep stable of running backs and a battle-tested defense, might the Buckeyes’ success come down to their Heisman candidate quarterback? OSU might be one of the championship favorites, but Pryor prefers to ignore the buildup.
“We don’t need none of the hype,” Pryor said. “There’s always going to be the roundup of the top teams. We don’t need to read any of that stuff. We just need to focus and to take care of the business we need to take care of.”
OSU is set up to win in 2010, and the nation has taken notice. Jim Tressel’s crew is ranked No. 2 in both the AP and coaches’ poll.
“When we came here and got together and said we were going to go to Ohio State, that’s where we want to be is national champs,” junior center Michael Brewster said. “And we’ve set ourselves up to be No. 2 in the country this year and we need to just go out and not beat ourselves and prepare as hard as we can.
“Anything less [than a championship] won’t be where we want to be at the end of the year.”
On paper, everything is lined up for the Buckeyes. But focusing on the big picture instead of the task at hand can derail a dream season, Brewster said.
“I know we have the talent to beat everyone on our schedule,” he said. “We just have to take it one game at a time.”
