Buckeyes weren't too good

Ohio State would have been in serious trouble yesterday against the Ohio Bobcats if not for five OU turnovers and two big plays on special teams, one of which overlaps both categories. OU, a 33 1/2-point underdog, was leading 14-6 going late in the third quarter before the Buckeyes finally remembered they're supposedly the third-best team in the nation.

In the words of Brian Hartline: "That was pathetic. It was a pathetic performance. OU should have won the game. I don't know how we came out with it."

Todd Boeckman wasn't very good, but in his defense, the running game wasn't taking much pressure off him. OSU really missed Beanie Wells, who is expected to be back next week for USC, and thank goodness. I would have liked to see more of Terrelle Pryor, who only played one series while the game was still in doubt. He got some garbage time at the end, but only threw two passes in the game, both of which were incompletions. He did some nice work with his legs, though, rushing for 37 yards on five carries.

The Buckeyes outgained the Bobcats for the game, 272-254. Any Big Ten team that puts up numbers like that against any MAC team should be deeply disappointed, whether they're ranked third in the nation or not.