By: Clinton Reed Jr.  | BuckeyesGameday Correspondent

It is that time of year when the weather turns cold, the leaves begin to fall from the trees and we all as a collective planet make the turn into the winter months. For some it means snow chains and long drives to work down icy highways, for others it means an influx of bad driving mid-westerners who would like a cold pop instead of soda. Yet no matter where you are from or what your interests are, the winter is officially knocking on the door.

For The Ohio State Buckeyes it is that time of the year where the Big Ten race has wittled it’s way down to a few teams contending for the Big Ten title, and a potential bid to the BCS. At the very minimum the opprotunity to smell the Californian roses arises in these last few weeks that make up the season, and the Bucks have been fortunate in years past to be among the top teams in the conference every year. So who would be the competition this year? The Kitty Cats from PA?…. The Gooolden Gooophs from the twin cities?… The girlscouts from that school from the north?…..

Not even close.

It is the biggest event for the state of Iowa since anyone there can really remember. Bigger than any county fair. Bigger than any new tractor on the market. Even bigger than the game against the highly touted team of Northwestern. It is not only the season for this Hawkeye team, but might just be the decade.

So what’s the catch?

Quarterback Ricky Stanzi will not be able to start against the Buckeyes in Columbus on Saturday after suffering an ankle injury in the game against Northwestern last weekend. In his place James Vandenberg. It is said that Mr. Vandenberg is not afraid coming into this game against Ohio State. He is believed to have nerves of steel for a backup. He has a big time arm for a backup. Good footwork for a backup. And most importantly, good decision making for a backup. As a matter of fact if he wasnt so dominate at being number two (no pun intended, well.. a little) on the depth chart then he may have challenged Stanzi for the starting position earlier in the season.

So what to do?

Here is the good news. The number of players on Ohio State that will transfer to Iowa to be apart of their dynasty when all is said and done this year will be…… zero. The good news now has always been the good news. We are still THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY. The most dominate team that resides within the Big Ten. The defense should look no farther than its own shoulders to know what needs to take place on Saturday in front of the 100,000+ faithful. They will dot the i, scream O H….I O upon kickoff, and hear Carmen Ohio when the dust has finally settled for the last time this season within the hallowed cement walls that comprise The Horseshoe. It is their last opprotunity this season to let the people of Ohio and across the nation that they appreciate all the support they recieve upon running onto the field of play wearing the scarlet topped jerseys

It is the biggest game of the year… fact. Yet the mathematics are simple. Faster, more complex, better athletes, stronger lineman, more vicious linebackers, eyes that are more keen in the secondary. It is not a matter of the contest that is to be won. It is a matter of everyone being responsible for just that… their responsibilities.

There is no need for heroism on Saturday, for when you walk down the tunnel and run out on the the gladiators stage  lead by the sweater vest donning the Scarlet and Gray… A Hero You Already Have Become.

By: Clinton Reed Jr.  | Buckeyes Gameday Correspondent

Long before The Ohio State Buckeyes had taken the field of play, before any part of the story that is the 2009 season had yet to be written, everyone who looked at what was to come was in agreement of one thing.. the last three games of the season will tell the tale. No matter what had happened prior (no pun intended) to that, had they beat USC, been able to stave off Purdue, or even lost to someone else along the way.. these games that are now upon us would be the most important no matter which path it took to reach them.

Not to say that at the begining of the year that anyone would have thought that Iowa would be in the position that they are in, not even Nostradamus was that good. The last three games of the season take place in Happy Valley, the last game in the Horseshoe this season against Iowa, then a trip up north . Every game is now, not only a tremendous challenge, but will be the majority share of how this season will be remembered.

It has been a season in which we have seen what the definition of growing pains truely means. Terrelle Pryor, at times, a glimpse into the future as to what a truely gifted athelete he is. Yet if he does not want a severe case of RBS (reggie bush syndrome) when he gets to the professional level where everyone has outstanding atheletic ability then he needs to be able to know how to win games one piece at a time. The defense has played far beyond what they were originally thought capable of becoming. Making huge plays all over the field, interceptions, fumbles, goaline stands. They have been put in compromising positions time and time again and have out played other teams offenses. Purdue not withstading of course..

First on the agenda: Penn St.

With Joe Paterno coaching in his 43rd season the Nittany Lions come into Saturday’s matchup with a season not to much unlike its couterpart, The Ohio State. Both teams were projected to finish first and second in the Big Ten, and both teams now are looking up at Iowa.

Truth be told Ohio State and Penn St. has always been a competitive matchup, and with the events that had transpired in last years game Ohio State needs to prove that they are the superior force in the Big Ten. This will not be an easy task by any means. Penn St’s offense was the reason that they were projected to be any kind of competitor for a Big Ten title, but live by the sword and so on.. and so went they’re chances. When they play well on offense they are dangerous, yet if they come out slow they have a hard time getting the offense moving.

The end result of this matchup can be found in its title.. We ARE Penn St is the chant that the Nittany Lion faithful chant with pride, and the truth is.. that’s the best news possible for Ohio State. Just remember: They ARE Penn St. and it is exactly why the number one recruit in the nation from Pennsylvania would choose to go elsewhere. It’s because we ARE not…

Inside OSU Athletics – Coach Jim Tressel previews the Ohio State football game against Wisconsin. Original Air Date – October 4, 2009.

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All Ohio State football games are broadcast by the Ohio State Buckeyes Radio Sports Network with WBNS Radio serving as the flagship station for the 70-station statewide network. Paul Keels handles the play-by-play responsibilities, former Ohio State All-American Jim Lachey serves as the expert analyst and Marty Bannister provides updates from the sideline.

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From SI.com:

Ohio State tailback Chris “Beanie” Wells is giving up his final year of eligibility to enter the NFL draft.

Wells, one of seven Ohio State juniors who were considering making the early jump, issued a statement Thursday saying the move is in the best interest of his family.

“I want to thank my teammates, my coaches, my teachers and the academic advisors for all they have done, and I definitely want to thank the Buckeye fans for all their support,” Wells said. “Ohio State has become like a family to me, and it will always be that way.”

Wells fought nagging injuries much of his career at Ohio State. He was considered a Heisman Trophy candidate before missing three full games this past season with a right foot injury, but still managed to run for 1,197 yards.

He saw limited action in the second half of Monday’s Fiesta Bowl due to symptoms of a concussion, finishing with 106 yards on 16 carries in the Buckeyes’ 24-21 loss to Texas.

Great points brought up by Pete Fiutak on College Football News about the senior class at Ohio State:

After getting blasted in the last two national title games, and dealing with the embarrassment that followed, the defense was one stop away from all but closing things out with a brilliant statement that would’ve all but forgiven the other big January losses. Instead, the Buckeyes got their hearts ripped out knowing they were just two minutes, and a few inches on a key fourth down play, from finishing off one of the greatest eras in school history.

Over the last four years, Ohio State has gone 43-8 with four straight trips to the BCS. Two of the losses were in national championships (which is far more forgivable than this group ever got credit for), one was to a Texas team that probably belonged in the national championship, one was to a USC team that would probably win the national championship if there was some sort of a playoff, one was to a Penn State team that won the Big Ten title and played in the Rose Bowl, one was to an Illinois team that played in the 2008 Rose Bowl, one was to a 2005 Penn State team that went 11-1, won the Big Ten title, and won the Orange Bowl, and the other was to the Vince Young-led 2005 national champion Texas team.

The eight losses came to teams teams that went a combined 93-12 (that’s an 89% winning percentage) and finished their seasons in the BCS. Let that sink in for a moment. In the end, this year’s Ohio State senior class didn’t lose to a dud team, had big wins over Notre Dame in the 2006 Fiesta Bowl, at Texas in 2006, and beat Michigan four straight times (five straight if you count a redshirt year of 2004) including the 2006 powerhouse. This will be remembered as an extremely great group that showed tremendous resiliency, but it simply wasn’t good enough to be at the top of the mountain. However, these seniors came very, very close.