The Ohio State Buckeyes were a magnificent football machine both offensively and defensively while running to a 12-0 record, a Big-10 championship and a berth in the BCS National Championship game to be played Jan. 8 in Glendale, Arizona.
Ohio State began the season ranked No. 1 in both the “USA-Today” Coaches and the Associated Press preseason polls. The Buckeyes also topped the first Harris Interactive poll and were No. 1 in the initial Bowl Championship Series rankings.
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The 2006 Buckeyes are attempting to become the first OSU squad ever to go wire-to-wire as No. 1. This is the seventh Buckeye squad to open the season No. 1.
This is the fourth Ohio State team to reach 10 or more wins under sixth-year head coach Jim Tressel. The 2002 team won the national championship with a 14-0 record, while his 2003 team finished 11-2. Last year’s team was 10-2. The Buckeyes have played in a BCS bowl each year they have won at least 10 games under Tressel.
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The Ohio State offense is averaging 36.3 points and 409.8 yards per game, while the defense is allowing 10.4 points and 273.0 yards each time out. The Buckeyes lead the Big Ten in scoring offense and scoring defense and are second nationally in the latter category. They lead the Big Ten and are fourth nationally in passing efficiency at 165.93.
Ohio State scored 35 or more points in nine of its 12 games and 40 or more in four of the last five. OSU has converted 51 percent of its third down opportunities and is 44-of-52 in the red zone.
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The Buckeye “Fun Bunch” of quarterback Troy Smith, wide receivers Ted Ginn Jr. and Anthony Gonzalez and tailback Antonio Pittman have put up impressive numbers for the Ohio State offense in 2006. Smith has completed 67.0 percent of his passes for 2,507 yards and 30 touchdowns. The 6-foot- 1-inch senior also has rushed for 233 yards and a touchdown. Ginn has a team-high nine touchdown grabs on 59 receptions and is averaging 13.2 yards per catch, while Gonzalez has 49 receptions, is averaging 14.8 yards per catch and has eight touchdown receptions.
