Tressel's Record vs. Ranked Opponents

As every Buckeye fan well knows, the Buckeyes will travel to Los Angeles to face the #1 ranked USC Trojans on September 13th. This post will look at Tressel's record vs. top-ranked oponents and ranked opponents in general.

Jim Tressel's overall record (2001-present): 74-16 (.822 winning percentage)
Record vs. (AP) ranked opponents: 29-9 (.763 winning percentage - not far off the total!)
Record vs. Top 10 Opponents: 8-4
Record vs. Top 5 Opponents: 3-4
Record vs. #2 Ranked Opponents: 2-3
Record vs. #1 Ranked Opponents: 1-0 (2002 BCS NC Game vs. Miami-Fla.)

Of course, in the last two national championship games, the Buckeyes have been the #1 ranked team facing two separate #2 ranked teams in Florida (2006) and LSU (2007), both ending up in losses.

Just as Ohio State went in as underdogs vs. Miami-Fla. in the 2002 National Championship game, so the Buckeyes will likely be underdogs when they face USC in the LA Coliseum on Sept. 13th. USC look like a well-oiled machine in their 52-7 victory over Virginia.

Tressel's games against top 5 opponents:
1/3/03: OSU 31, Miami 24 (20T - BCS)

After getting waxed in two consecutive national championship games, Buckeye fans need to feel very reatful and slightly amazed at the performance of the 2002 Buckeyes in that game against the Hurricanes. Coming out of that game, I think both Imyself and other fans just thought, "We'll win every game like this, as long as we can get to it." Not so, as we have seen. And if we are honest, it was amazing that we even beat Miami on that fateful January day. Miamii turnover the ball 5 times, and still forced the game to go to two overtimes. If Miami and Ohio State plaeyd a seven game series, Miami probably would have won in six. But they only play one. And because of that, the Buckeyes won the 2002 national championship.

11/22/03: #5 Michigan 35, #4 Ohio State 21 (in Ann Arbor)

A little revenge for the Wolverinese after Ohio State defeated Michigan 14-9 in 2002, a game in which Michigan dominated in the first half, but only lead by a scoreof 9-7. Less Maurice Clarett in 2003, the Buckeyes simply did not have the offense to win against the elite teams.

9/10/05: #2 Texas 25, #4 Ohio State 22 (in Columbus)

Oh, what might have been. In the year that Vince Young led his Longhorns to the national championship, the Buckeyes had a near miss. Had Ryan Hamby caught a endzone pass from Justin Zwick, the game probably would have ended up in a Buckeye victory. It was not to be.

9/9/06: #1 Ohio State 24, #2 Texas 7 (in Austin)

Revenge and simply a better team helped the Buckeyes dominate the Longhorns, who were honestly overrated, especially since Colt McCoy had very little experience at quarterback, and it showed.

11/18/06: #1 Ohio State 42, #2 Michigan 39 (in Columbus)

A game that Ohio State easily could have lost, especially without the help of a late hit on Troy Smith. A classic win by the Buckeyes. However ... in hindsight, any team that gives up 39 points in a game ...

1/8/06: #2 Florida 41, #1 Ohio State 14 (BCS NC Game, Glendale, AZ)

.... can easily give up 41 to a team that is just as good, oh wait, even better than the team it played a couple months previously. Was the defense simply overrated by shutting down a #2 Texas and giving up only 7 points in the beginning of the season? Troy Smith and company on offense seemed unprepared for the Florida defense, and it was easily Jim Tressel's worst loss.

1/7/2008: #2 LSU 38, #1 Ohio State 24 (BCS NC Game - New Orleans)

One bad quarter can ruin a whole four quarters. The Buckeyes keeled over and died in the second quarter, giving up 21 points, and it was all over but the crying. LSU was the most complete team last season when it was healthy, and it showed in this game, that was closer than the score. But the best team won, and that wasn't the Buckeyes.

Can the Buckeyes beat USC on Sept. 13th? Yes, but they will have to put together a complete game, with key players coming up with big plays, and keeping mistakes to a minimum. USC's ego going through the roof before the game and thinking they will crush Ohio State couldn't hurt either. My preaseason prediction was USC 38, Ohio State 35. I will stick to that for now, especially considering Beanie's injury. Interestingly enough, College Football News, who I greatly respect, has the Buckeyes winning against the Trojans. It will be interesting to see their reasoning next week in their preview of the game. Terrelle Pryor could definitely be the X factor. It will be a great game.