COLUMBUS -- Many of Ohio State's players say they're not paying any attention to the Big Ten standings, the BCS rankings or the polls.

Most aren't being entirely truthful.

Like college fans everywhere, the No. 8-ranked Buckeyes watch TV, check out the Internet and know precisely what lies ahead after Saturday's game at Penn State (2-6). They try not to think ahead, but it's hard not to when all that stands between you and a possible defense of your national title is a page on the calendar.

"Right now, our main concern is Penn State. We've got to focus on winning this game," offensive lineman Adrien Clarke said earlier this week.

Clarke then immediately looked beyond the Nittany Lions. It's human nature, particularly for a 22-year-old college senior.

"Obviously, we feel that if we win out in November, we pretty much write our own ticket," he said. "All the teams who are undefeated or have one loss in the Big Ten, we still play. So we're pretty fortunate."

Ohio State (7-1, 3-1) is tied for third in the Big Ten with No. 18 Purdue (6-2, 3-1). The Buckeyes and Boilermakers meet in Ohio Stadium on Nov. 15. No. 9 Michigan State (7-1, 4-0) leads the conference, with No. 11 Michigan (7-2, 4-1) right behind, heading into their showdown Saturday at Spartan Stadium.

The Buckeyes play Michigan State at home on Nov. 8 and then travel to Michigan on Nov. 22, providing a mammoth test on the season's final three Saturdays.

Ohio State coach Jim Tressel never speaks of opponents beyond the next one. But even he has addressed what the Buckeyes can accomplish with a strong stretch run.

"Coach Tressel put up (on a bulletin board) that all the outright Big Ten champions were unbeaten in November and the national champions as well," cornerback Dustin Fox said. "I remember last year at this time talking about how we have to do well in the month of November.

"You can't lose a game in November or pretty much your season is wasted."

Before going 4-0 in November 2002, the Buckeyes had experienced more than their share of heartbreak near the end of a season.

In 1995, 1996, and 1998, Ohio State was perfect until November rolled around. The Buckeyes ended up No. 2 in the polls in '96 and again in '98 after being upset.

Those setbacks came with John Cooper as head coach. He was fired after the Buckeyes lost their final two games of the 2000 season. Tressel was hired out of Youngstown State soon after that, and at his first news conference he promised that his teams would build to a strong finish instead of playing well and then wilting at the end.

Tressel's first team lost two of its last three games -- the lone victory being the most important one for the fans, a win over archrival Michigan. A year ago, the Buckeyes won their last three games by seven or fewer points before they outlasted No. 1 Miami 31-24 in double-overtime at the Fiesta Bowl to win their first national title in 34 years.

Like a boxer measuring punches to steal a round in the final seconds, the Buckeyes know what they have left.

"We're going into the next four games kind of in control of our own destiny," quarterback Craig Krenzel said. "If we win out, we win ourselves at least a share of the Big Ten title if not the outright title, which is our goal."

Krenzel then hesitated, realizing he was looking beyond Saturday afternoon's game in State College. That's taboo in the Tressel era at Ohio State.

"We have to take it one step at a time and have to go out and play well and continue to execute," he said carefully, sounding for all the world like his deliberate head coach.

Originally published Friday, October 31, 2003