OHIO STATE vs. OKLAHOMA STATE
WHEN: 8 p.m.
WHERE: 65,000-seat Alamodome, San Antonio
TV: ESPN
LINE: Oklahoma State by 3.5
RANKINGS: OSU is 22 and 24 in the USA Today/ESPN and AP polls, respectively
RECORDS
Both teams are 7-4 and finished with a fifth-place 4-4 record in their respective conferences
LAST MEETING
In their only other encounter, the Buckeyes beat the Cowboys 37-13 in the 1989 season opener in Columbus
BACK-UP ARMS
Wide receivers Bam Childress and Ted Ginn Jr. have taken practice snaps at quarterback in the event that starter Justin Zwick has to leave the game for a play or two. The Buckeyes would like to avoid using freshman Todd Boeckman and burning his redshirt season. Another option is freshman quarterback Ben Kacsandi, a walk-on from Wooster. "Our desire is for our seniors to have the best opportunity to succeed," coach Jim Tressel said. "If that means Todd Boeckman playing quarterback, that will happen."
WHO'S NO. 1?
Zwick, starting in place of suspended Troy Smith, was 3-3 as a starter before a separated throwing shoulder sent him to the sidelines. Smith went 4-1 in Zwick's absence. So what happens if Zwick lights it up against the Cowboys?
"Gosh, I'd have to say I've given that zero thought," Tressel said. "The last thing Troy said to me was `Coach, I know I'm at the bottom of the totem pole, and I'll be just fine.' "
BRAGGING RIGHTS
Ohio State is 26-3-1 against Big 12 competition, including a 4-0 mark in bowl games. By comparison, the Buckeyes have post-season records of 6-7 against the PAC-10 and 0-7 against the SEC. Oklahoma State has a 10-5 bowl record, but lost the 1997 Alamo to Purdue 33-20 in its only other meeting with a Big Ten school.
Originally published Wednesday, December 29, 2004
