The Ohio State Buckeyes football team landed another prized recruit today when Keith Wells out of Gainesville, Ga. committed to the team.

Wells is a 6-foot-5-inch defensive end who weighs about 207 pounds. Apparently current Buckeye Cameron Heyward helped him to feel comfortable during his officila visit here. OSU beat out Notre Dame among others with this pick up.

Currently the Buckeyes have 18 players in its fall class after jettisoning DeVoe Torrance last week. Scout.com currently has them ranked as having the 17th best class in the country. Rivals.com has them ranked seventh. All of that changes in a major way if Terrelle Pryor should choose the Buckeyes Wednesday.

The experts in the national media are already beginning to jack their jaws about whether the Ohio State Buckeyes deserve to be in the BCS National Championship Game in January when they haven't even moved into the No. 2 slot in the BCS polls yet.

For anyone who listens to Colin Cowherd on KNR2 or streams him via the Internet (I do), the ESPN Radio sports talker's theme yesterday was "I don't want to work; I just want to bang on the Bucks all day." Cowherd said more than once that he doesn't think it's fair for OSU to get into the championship game.

Right now, the only way they get in is if either West Virginia loses against Pitt (unlikely) or Missouri gets bounced by Oklahoma (more likely considering the Sooners beat up on the Tigers earlier this year).

In one respect, Cowherd has a point in that the Buckeyes non-conference schedule this year could have been played by a high school football team and they may have actually have been competitive. Youngstown State (they're back on the schedule next year)? The Akron Zips? The Kent State Golden Flashes? And when you can claim this year's version of the Washington Huskies, that's not much to brag about. For that the Buckeyes can only blame themselves for scheduling those teams. In any given year when does Athletic Director Gene Smith and Coach Jim Tressel believe the Penguins, Zips and Golden Flashes will offer any competition?

Looking at the way this junior-laden team is built it's clear that Tressel constructed it to win it all next year. This was supposed to be a down season and I can buy into the notion that they schedule was set up with that belief in mind. However, you are only as good as your competition and what the heck was wrong with schedule another decent opponent outside of the state of Ohio?

But when you look at Cowherd's rant, it falls apart. First of all, the Buckeyes haven't backed into anything yet. Secondly, they clearly thought they were done after an inexcusable loss against the Illinois Fighting Illini. There was one simple way to keep the Ohio State Buckeyes out of the national championship spotlight - all the teams ahead of them when they fell to No. 7 had to do was keep winning.

Well, guess what? They didn't. And the consistency of teams ranked in the top two spots in college football this year has been akin to the U.S. stock market. It's a topsy turvy kind of thing. So with with a dominating win over Michigan (again) they sneaked back into the picture. Once again there is a simple way to keep OSU out of the game Jan. 7 in New Orleans.

If West Virginia loses to a Dave Wannstedt coached Pitt team Saturday, they have no one else to blame but themselves. If Missouri loses to Oklahoma, they can pin the stupidity on the Big 12 Conference which, in an effort to make more cash, went to a two-division conference so they could have a Big 12 Championship Game.

If one of them loses I see no reason why the Buckeyes shouldn't sneak in there - they, after all, are playing by the rules as they stand now. What this all really means is that there should be some sort of playoff system, but the NCAA wouldn't want to look greedy, right?

Kent State University Coach Doug Martin could have allowed sportswriters to have some hopes and dreams that we'd have a competitive game today. Then he had to open his mouth.

For the record Martin told reporters earlier this week that he wouldn't be playing his front line players because he wants to save them for the final games in the MAC. Oh that's just ducky. So instead of a Waterloo, we get to witness a Little Big Horn. How do I contain my enthusiasm?

Nevermind that this "game" comes in the middle of the conference schedule, but it's against the Kent State Golden Flashes. That in itself assures that I will need mega doses of stimulants to stay awake.

In reply to Martin resting his players, OSU Coach Tressel adopted the philosophy that if "you rest, you rust." That means his front line players will be in the game until KSU is suitably beat into submission.

For anyone sitting and watching this, it could be a long afternoon. Of course, the broadcast will have one saving grace - it's on the Big Ten Network. Not many folks will see it.

Far be it for me to second guess a coach that's already won one national championship and played for two, but I'm a sportswriter. That's why they pay me the chump change.

But I don't get some moves Jim Tressel made while up in the second quarter. There's some serious inconsistencies. For example, after recovering a fumble on a kickoff return at the Purdue 33 and going a mere eight yards on the drive, Tressel elected to go for it on fourth and two instead of kicking a field goal. Beanie Wells promptly lost three yards and they turned the ball over on downs.

Yet when the Buckeyes got the ball back with 1:47 left on their 36 with plenty of time to mount some kind of drive and essentially put the game way, they come out running and that drive eventually stalled. Gambler or conservate cleric? A little consistency please. They may have missed an opportunity to go up by at least 20.

Call it a weekly rant or rave, your choice.

I'm sitting here in Cleveland Browns Stadium with the Browns up by three TDs - wait I just jinxed them, make that two TDs - against the Ravens.

You see something in this team you haven't in Coach Romeo Crennel's last squads, they actually seem to be enjoying playing and save one ridiculous run by Ravens running back Willis Magahee on what should have been a loss for a couple of yards, they've been fairly solid.

The record may be 1-2, but with the exception of that opening day disaster against the Steelers, they've been competitive. The could just as easily be 2-1 now, as opposed to 1-2. There are still huge problems here, primarily on the defensive side of the ball. The bend-and-bend-some-more defenise sometimes look like a sieve - especially on the line and you can beat this team passing. Still, I'll take competitive any day.

On a completey different note…

Courtesy of a ridiculous Saturday afternoon in college football the Ohio State Buckeyes, who were ranked outside the Top Ten in many pre-season polls - find themselves sitting at No. 4 because four teams ahead of them - Texas, Florida, Oklahoma and West Virginia - all went down in defeat over the weekend.

Do the Buckeyes deserve it? Probably not given the Eazy-Bake schedule they faced in non-conference play. But they don't make the rules. They could find themselves 6-0 by the time they get what could be a test against the Michigan State Spartans. But recall listening to all the college football pundits (are you out there Mark May) who said they didn't deserve it in 2002. This year is starting to remind me somewhat of that one.

You've got a QB some are still unsure of. The offense is proficient, not explosive and the defense is plain out vicious. Running the table is conceivable, but like most I am leary of the Penn State Nittany Lions and this year's surprise team, Illinois.

See there, it wasn't two weeks for another post.

I didn't want to post just following the U of A-Bucks game yesterday because…well…I was tired as all get out. Last time I ever drive down there the day of the game. Plus I wanted to have a clear head when ripping the offense. Although I'm not really sure that's what was required given the debacle that was yesterday's game.

A 3-2 halftime score? C'mon. How pathetic was the Bucks' offense? They gave up more points than the D…that says it all. There are serious problems on that unit and Coach Jim Tressel and one of his captains - Kirk Barton - realize it.

I have never ever seen an athlete as ticked off as Barton was after yesterday's game. Lips pursed into a plastery, immovable scowl, he didn't even want to give opening comments it seems. And he was right. The Buckeyes looked out of sync and out of sorts. Receivers ran the wrong routes, they dropped balls and quarterback Todd Boeckman's decision making proved questionable. Had this been any team other than a MAC opponent, the Buckeyes would be 1-1 today.

To their credit they showed some signs of life after the half. Akron native Chris "Beanie" Wells played like he wanted to be there, eventually racking up 143 yards, but this kind of play will eventually come back to bite them in their hind parts. No doubt about that and they know it.

If the offense doesn't get its act together that could come this week. Why? Because Ty Willingham has the Washington Huskies ready to bite and they are looking to build on a 24-10 over the Boise St. Broncos from yesterday.

They can't rely on the defense to keep Jake Locker in lockdown the entire game. The Huskies QB is speedy, mobile, strong and the real deal.

Been catching up on what was happening before I started on the Buckeyes. Therefore, many apologies.

Larry and Alan, you guys remind me of the infamous hecklers on The Muppet Show - only less funny.

Whether you can believe it or not, adjust to different sports cultures can be a bit different. Not being a regular in the Buckeyes media circle, I had little idea what to expect. Now I do. Now I can breathe.

So what of the Buckeyes? Eh…if you read the paper you saw my Big Ten preview. I fully expect the Michigan Wolverines to win the conference - even moreso now. Why? They've really got nothing else to play for. Do you really believe that with a loss against Appalachian Community College on the 2007 resume they have a shot at the national championship? Doubtful.

But I won't be sold on the Buckeyes as a conference or national power until several key games - a week from this Saturday in Washington and Oct. 27th at Penn State. Until then this is a team that is relatively young on both sides of the ball and they may have growing pains.

Now About Michigan

Gee, is Buckeye Nation still grinning about the Wolverines? Don't. Do NOT. Stop it now.

Why? Remember way back when B.T. (that's Before Tressel) when grins plastered Wolverines fans' faces permanently? Yeah. Now they have their own personal John Cooper and it ain't a purty sight for them is it? Not at all.

Rest assured, Lloyd Carr will pack it in or be sent packing some time soon and when he's gone do you really think the Wolverines will be content to hire someone from within the program to restore it to past glory? I think not.

Better the devil you know folks.