1. Can Ohio State crack the 50-point barrier?

After coming close in their opener against Marshall with 45 points, OSU was a few better-executed red zone plays away from hanging half a hundred on Miami last week. They’ll get a great shot to cross the 50-point threshold Saturday against the Ohio Bobcats.

Look for the defense to get involved in the scoring, as Ohio is No. 111 in the nation in passing yards and No. 79 in rushing yards. That adds up to a very aggressive Scarlet and Gray defense.

The Buckeyes haven’t scored 50 points in a game since Sept. 22, 2007, at home against Northwestern, when they pummeled the Wildcats 58-7 behind Todd Boeckman’s four touchdown passes.

2. After two shaky performances to start the season, can the kick and punt coverage teams get their mojo back?

A 63-yard kick return allowed against Marshall. An 88-yard kick return touchdown and a 79-yard punt return touchdown allowed against Miami.

The kick and punt return coverage teams’ problems actually date back to the Rose Bowl victory against Oregon, when the Ducks’ return men broke off a number of long returns. The special teams’ setbacks haven’t gone unnoticed.

“The difficulty of special teams is the field is so large,” coach Jim Tressel said. “If you err on the line as a kickoff coverage guy, there’s a 10-yard issue, and if there’s a fast guy running through that 10-yard issue, everyone else is in trouble.”

Tressel said the coverage men need to be more disciplined in their assigned running lanes to the ball, and furthermore, not overrun the ball. Don’t anticipate the special teams’ issues to linger as the season moves forward.

3. Will the Barnett-to-Johnson transition be seamless?

Tressel said Tuesday that starting strong safety C.J. Barnett will miss the rest of the season following knee surgery. Sophomore Orhian Johnson, who was the original starter before missing most of preseason practice with an injury, will step into the starting position.

Barnett had played well in his first two starts. He had five tackles, a pass break-up and pass deflection, which defensive lineman Nathan Williams intercepted. He was awarded the team’s Jack Tatum Hit of the Week after his crushing blow on Miami wide receiver Leonard Hankerson.

Still, Johnson should have no problem stepping in. OSU has four relatively easy games against Ohio, Eastern Michigan, Illinois and Indiana before traveling to Wisconsin on Oct. 16.

4. Is Saturday’s contest the breakout game the defensive line has been waiting for?

Criticizing the OSU defensive line is probably nitpicking at this point in the season. Although it has only recorded two sacks on the season, one each by sophomore John Simon and senior Dexter Larimore, they’ve provided good pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

Miami quarterback Jacory Harris had ages to throw at some points in the game, but he was flushed from the pocket many times and forced to run or check-down to his receivers.

Additionally, junior Nathan Williams was coming back from injury last week. In games against pass-oriented teams like Miami, OSU relies on the front four to get pressure and drops the other seven defenders into coverage.

5. Will Saturday be the day OU snaps OSU impressive in-state winning streak?

In 2008, the Bobcats took a lead into the fourth quarter at Ohio Stadium before a Ray Small punt return touchdown sealed the win for OSU. Entering Saturday’s contest, the Buckeyes haven’t lost to another Ohio opponent since 1921, when they fell to Oberlin, 7-6.

In their six all-time meetings, OSU hasn’t been kind to their counterparts from an hour away in Athens. The Buckeyes have won each of the meetings by an average score of 27-5.

While many of the players from the 2008 team are still on the 2010 squad, including Ohio quarterback Boo Jackson, don’t expect a second round of heroics from the Bobcats.