Akron @ Ohio State preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 8, 2007 ) Akron 2, Ohio State 20

THE STORY: After maybe the most tumultuous off-season in school history, a new-look Ohio State will open the season at home against Akron.
With a new head coach and a new quarterback and suspensions to four key players, expectations have been subdued for the perennially dominant Buckeyes. Even so, 16th-ranked Ohio State should have an easy tune-up against the Zips, who mustered just one win last year.

TV: ESPN, ESPN3.com LINE: -33.5

ABOUT OHIO STATE (12-1, 7-1 Big 10): New head coach Luke Fickell, who was the defensive coordinator from 2004-2010, had not named a starter at quarterback a week before the opener. Joe Bauserman, a 25-year-old former minor league baseball player, is expected to start, with freshman Braxton Miller also likely to see playing time. Fickell said he is not opposed to running a two-quarterback system, if it is the best fit for the team. Regardless of the who is under center, the offense will look decidedly different to start this season, with leading rusher Daniel Herron, leading receiver DeVier Posey and top offensive lineman Mike Adams suspended for the first five games of the season. With new contributors at key positions, expect some growing pains early from this unit.

Despite returning only four starters, the defense should be the same swarming unit fans and opponents have come to expect. Ohio State has not allowed more than 15 points per game since 2004. Senior defensive end Nathan Williams and linebacker Andrew Sweat have the experience necessary to anchor the unit.

ABOUT AKRON (1-11, 1-7 MAC): Rob Ianello's first season as Akron's head coach did not go according to plan. The Zips can only hope improve on a disastrous season in which the team ranked in the bottom 20 nationally in multiple offensive and defensive categories. The offense could be rejuvenated by junior college transfer Clayton Moore, who won the battle for quarterback. The sophomore led Gulf Coast Community College to the JUCO state championship last year and brings a new look to an offense that averaged just over 15 points per game last season.

The Zips defense returns seven starters that hope to see less of the field this season. The offense's inability to establish drives last season left the defense at a disadvantage and contributed to such a poor statistical season.

EXTRA POINTS
1. Fickell's first college coaching job was defensive line coach at Akron from 2001-2002.

2. “I don’t know that we’re ready to truly say, ‘Hey, this is yours.’ We want them both to compete and want both of those guys who are taking the ones and twos to understand we need them.” - Fickell on the team's quarterback situation.

3. Ohio State has not lost to a school from the Buckeye state since dropping a 7-6 contest to Oberlin College in 1921.

PREDICTION: Ohio State 41, Akron 3 -- No matter who takes the majority of the snaps for the Buckeyes, this one will not be close.