Jim Tressel – Ohio State Buckeyes Beat Michigan State Spartans 48-7

Coming into today’s Ohio State-Michigan State game the major storyline was how Michigan State running back Javon Ringer would fare against the school he wanted to play for, but did not have the grades to attend. Coming into the game, Javon Ringer had proven to be one of the most durable and explosive backs in the country. After the game, a 48-7 demolition of Michigan State by Jim Tressel and the Buckeyes, asking whether Javon Ringer was even one of the two best runners on the field was reasonable.

The Ohio State backfield tandem of quarterback Terrelle Pryor and running back Chris “Beanie” Wells outrushed Ringer 212-67. Terrelle Pryor finished with 72 yards on 12 carries and a touchdown while Beanie Wells finished with 140 yards on 31 carries and a touchdown of his own. It was exactly the kind of dominant performance that Jim Tressel and the Buckeyes needed to further distance themselves from their USC loss and announce their presence in the BCS picture should more of the currently undefeated teams go down.

The 48-7 win by Ohio State sets up a huge showdown next week in Columbus between the Jim Tressel and the Buckeyes and Joe Paterno’s undefeated, #3 ranked Penn State Nittany Lions. Penn State has been blowing teams out all year, and is doing it again tonight, leading Michigan 46-17 as I write this. Ohio State seemed to lose their rhythm after the USC loss and subsequent switch to freshman QB Terrell Pryor, but today’s win over the 20th ranked Spartans suggests that the lofty preseason opinions of the Jim Tressel-led Buckeyes may not have been all that far off.

The winner of the Ohio State-Penn State game obviously has the inside track to the Big Ten crown, and the potential to claim a spot in the national championship game; for sure for Penn State, and a possibility for the Buckeyes a few teams above them lose (like last year).

Either way, today’s win proves that the stores of the demise of Jim Tressel and Ohio State in 2008 were way too premature. As Beanie Wells gets healthy and back in rhythm, and as Terrelle Pryor gets comfortable under center, this Ohio State team continues to improve. Even though the game is in Columbus, next week’s battle with Penn State with grueling and possibly epic. If today’s win is any indication, Jim Tressel and the Buckeyes will be up to the challenge; possibly enough to overcome it.

(Photo Art by Midwest Sports Fans — click image to enlarge)

[tags]ohio state buckeyes, college football, jim tressel[/tags]

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