Looking back: Analyzing OSU's midseason ranking

There they sit, just where most Ohio State fans expect their Buckeyes to be at all times. A consensus top five pick in the national polls, Jim Tressel has his team in perfect position in college football's national landscape.

But is Ohio State really that good?

A look at the teams behind the Buckeyes doesn't exactly reveal a boatload of overlooked schools. Georgia, Oregon and Notre Dame are also undefeated but each has just as many questions as Ohio State.

The Bulldogs have squeaked out two close wins, 31-28 over Clemson and 13-7 over South Carolina, a game in doubt until the Gamecocks fumbled inside the Georgia three in the final seconds.

Oregon might have the best coach in the country in Mike Bellotti, but the Ducks weren't exactly impressive in slipping past Fresno State 28-24 earlier this season.

Notre Dame has shown that divine intervention is alive and well in South Bend. The Irish have authored two miraculous finishes in victories over a pair of middling Big Ten teams, Purdue and Michigan State. One has to think that luck will turn at some point.

Which brings us back to the Buckeyes.

Just looking at the numbers, one may ask how a team that finished out of the national polls three straight seasons can travel so far up the rankings so fast. After all, this program lost five games in 2001 and is ranked No. 5 in 2002.

The simple answer is Ohio State has sniffed at very good the past two seasons. Granted, the 1999 campaign was a 6-6 disaster. But in 2000, OSU was ranked No. 5 at 5-0 before losing four of seven down the stretch and costing John Cooper his job.

Last year Ohio State couldn't find a break, and we won't even talk about playing a safety at quarterback for the third straight campaign.

Tressel's first team lost to Penn State (29-27) and Wisconsin (20-17) by blowing three-score leads. The Bucks fell 13-6 at UCLA when the special teams couldn't convert an extra point, let alone two field goals, and dropped the Outback Bowl to South Carolina on a trey that crawled over the crossbar on the final play of the season (31-28).

In 2001, four losses were by seven points or less. The campaign revealed a team with solid players but not difference-makers at the offensive skill positions -- and a horrendous kicking game.

This year's unit is exactly the opposite, with underclassmen dominating the skill positions and kicker Mike Nugent perfect every time he's swung his leg.

Freshman running back Maurice Clarett is a Heisman candidate and will be in New York in December provided he stays healthy.

Sophomore receiver Chris Gamble is a big play waiting to happen. He showed his versatility at Cincinnati, taking a kickoff back for a touchdown (although it was negated by a dubious holding penalty 20 yards behind the play) and making a key interception as a cornerback. On Saturday, Gamble scored on a 43-yard reverse.

Yes, Ohio State was flat lucky to beat Cincinnati 23-19 on Sept. 21. OSU was outplayed. The Bearcats deserved a better fate.

Yet maybe the worm has finally turned. It sure looked that way in Ann Arbor last season when a Michigan quarterback, for a change, turned inside out and the Buckeyes capitalized.

Tressel's squad has been hammered by the national press for its off-field escapades. Redgie Arden Jr., Quinn Pitcock, Brandon Joe and Angelo Chattams have all run afoul of the law. Chris Vance received a two-game suspension for violating team rules. Yet the Buckeyes overcame each of those alleged distractions with little or no impact.

Clarett was hurt and missed the Cincinnati game. Defensive tackle Tim Anderson was injured and didn't play against Indiana. Cornerback Richard McNutt has been gimpy all season with a bad ankle. The result? Ohio State barely survived Cincinnati, the depth along the defensive line covered nicely for Anderson and the pass defense is still a work in progress.

Still, Ohio State has beat everyone in its path.

Are they a top five team?

I haven't seen anyone below them in the polls that is better.

Originally published Tuesday, January 28, 2003