There will be some out there in Buckeye Nation who downplay the Rich Rodriguez's arrival at the University of Michigan. Do so at your own peril.

I'll be honest, a week ago I would have put cash on Les Miles taking the job on Jan. 8 after the BCS National Championship Game. I was wrong. And I'm sorry I was wrong, because I thought had Miles come to Michigan, Jim Tressel might have spent the next decade rolling his teams.

Rodriguez is a different story. With him comes an offense that should scare the bejesus out of every Buckeye fan. That spread offense with an athletic quarterback beat them this season when Illinois shocked them in the Horseshoe and it got them in Glendale, Ariz. when the Florida Gators took a huge bite out of them.

To be honest, the Buckeyes defense in its current incarnation don't match well against it. That's a big reason that OSU fans should be relieved that they're not facing the West Virginia Mountaineers.

Additionally, Rodriguez could end up bringing the No. 1 prospect in Terrelle Pryor of Jeannette, Pa. to Ann Arbor as well. Pryor is a dual threat - he can pass, he can run. According to reports, the Buckeyes have told Pryor that they are willing to structure an offense around his skills. The difference between OSU and Michigan with Rodriguez? Rodriguez already has the offense that Pryor likes.

It will interesting to watch this one play out.

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.