The Fall Lineup -- Ohio State

OHIO STATE BUCKEYES

Division: Leaders

2012 record: 12-0 (8-0 Big Ten); banned from bowl action

Returning offensive starters (9): QB Braxton Miller, RB Carlos Hyde, WR Corey Brown WR Devin Smith, C Corey Linsley, G Marcus Hall, G Andrew Norwell, T Jack Mewhort, TE Jeff Heuerman

Projected starting offense: QB Braxton Miller, jr., 6-2, 215; RB Carlos Hyde,  sr., 6-0, 242; WR Corey Brown, sr., 6-0, 187; WR Devin Smith, jr., 6-1, 198; WR Chris Fields, sr., 6-0, 200; C Corey Linsley, sr., 6-3, 295; G Marcus Hall, sr., 6-6, 315; G Andrew Norwell, sr., 6-6, 319;  T Jack Mewhort, sr., 6-7, 308; TE Jeff Heuerman, jr., 6-6, 250

Returning defensive starters (7): LB Ryan Shazier, CB Bradley Roby, S C.J. Barnett, S Christian Bryant

Projected starting defense: DE Adolphus Washington, so., 6-3, 292; DT Michael Bennett, jr., 6-3, 285; NT Tommy Schutt, so., 6-2, 303; LB Noah Spence, so., 6-3, 247; LB Ryan Shazier, jr., 6-2, 222; LB Curtis Grant, jr., 6-3, 241; LB Joshua Perry, so., 6-4, 243; CB Doran Grant, Jr., 5-11, 191; CB Bradley Roby, jr., 5-11, 192; S C.J. Barnett, sr., 6-1, 202; S Christian Bryant, sr., 5-10, 192

Return specialists: (1): K Drew Basil, sr., 6-2, 210

Key losses: T Reid Fragel, TE Jake Stoneburner, LB Zach Boren, DT Johnathan Hankins, DE John Simon, DE Nathan Williams, LB Etienne Sabino

Key additions: WR Corey Smith, 6-1, 180; WR Jalin Marshall, 6-0, 190; DB Cam Burrows, 5-11, 200; LB Trey Johnson, 6-2, 220; DB Eli Apple, 6-0, 184

2012 review: There was nothing conventional about Ohio State in 2012. The Buckeyes hired two-time national champion coach Urban Meyer, who quickly shaped the team into an offensive juggernaut. Ohio State finished 12-0 but was not allowed to compete in a bowl game or the Big Ten championship game because of an improper benefits scandal that cost six-time Big Ten champion Jim Tressel his job in May 2011.

The Buckeyes scored 50 or more points five times and popped Legends Division champion Nebraska for 63. Ohio State played all of the Big Ten's prime contenders, except Northwestern, and won with both defense and offense. The Buckeyes eeked out a 17-16 league-opening win against Michigan State and stopped three-time champion Wisconsin 21-14 in overtime. Both victories were on the road.

While the record showed a perfect season, OSU's performances weren't always stellar against middle-of-the-road teams. Ohio State rallied from an eight-point deficit in the final seconds to tie perpetual nemesis Purdue, then win in overtime. The Buckeyes outlasted Indiana in a 52-49 shootout. OSU also barely kept 3-9 California at bay with a 35-28 home win in non-conference play.

But the Buckeyes did finish 12-0 and likely would have earned a shot at the national title had they been eligible. Although they were ranked below Alabama, the Buckeyes were out-of-sight, out-of-mind by AP voters because of their ineligible status. The Coaches' poll wasn't allowed to rank Ohio State. It's likely a Big Ten title game win would have sent Ohio State into a BCS title match-up against Notre Dame.

2013 schedule: A31 Buffalo; S7 San Diego State; S14 at California; S21 Florida A&M; S28 Wisconsin; O5 at Northwestern; O19 Iowa; O26 Penn State; N2 at Purdue; N16 at Illinois; N23 Indiana; N30 at Michigan

Key stretch: The Buckeyes couldn't have asked for a better Big Ten slate. They open at home against three-time Rose Bowl participant Wisconsin and follow with a road trip to Northwestern. After a week off, they play Iowa, Penn State and at Purdue, then get another week off. The Buckeyes finish with Illinois, Indiana and then at Michigan.

It's tempting to label the Wisconsin-Northwestern games as a key stretch, but the season will come down to only one game for the Buckeyes: at Michigan. So, I'd put the final three weeks consisting of a rivalry game at Illinois, then facing Indiana's high-powered offense before meeting archrival Michigan as the key stretch.

Trap game: There's two that fit the description, but a road trip to California has the makings of a struggle. The Golden Bears nearly upset Ohio State last year in a game where the Buckeyes gave up more than 500 yards. This year California has an offensive guru in Sonny Dykes, who likely will attack the Buckeyes' inexperienced defense. Ohio State does have an advantage few other Big Ten teams are afforded on the West Coast by playing a late afternoon game. Usually Big Ten teams are subjected to late-game starts and 6 a.m. Sunday returns.

The other trap game is Iowa. Yes, it comes after an off-week and the Hawkeyes were 4-8 last year. But will Ohio State look past Iowa and to its next game against Penn State? Iowa has a veteran offensive line and a power running game, and Ohio State gave up 5.2 yards a carry last year. None of the Buckeyes' projected front seven are seniors, although linebacker Ryan Shazier is a likely All-American. If Iowa can control the line of the scrimmage on offense, it's possible the Hawkeyes could scare Ohio State.

Glass half-full: Ohio State's front seven grows up quickly, and Braxton Miller leads a dynamic offense early in the season. Ohio State takes advantage of a coaching change at Wisconsin in the home Big Ten opener and then beats a spirited Northwestern squad in a road shootout. The Buckeyes' talent is enough to win the next five Big Ten games, and Miller's prowess leads to a tough win at Michigan to earn a spot in the Big Ten title game.

Ohio State then dispatches the Legends champion to give Miller the Heisman Trophy and finish the regular season undefeated for the second straight year. The Buckeyes meet the SEC champion in the final BCS championship game. They storylines are plentiful -- Urban Meyer facing a former conference foe, OSU getting a chance to atone for two recent BCS title drubbings by SEC opponents. Plus, the game is held at the Rose Bowl, which gives the Buckeyes at least a true neutral site. The Buckeyes win the national title and heals the Big Ten's image in the process.

Glass half-empty: The Buckeyes' defense fails to improve, and the team is battered by finesse attacks at Northwestern and California and pounded by power running teams Wisconsin, Iowa and Penn State. Although the Buckeyes still win most of those games, they don't show a national championship pedigree to voters. That costs them in the polls when a one-loss Ohio State team fails to outrank another league's one-loss team, and Ohio State settles for a BCS bowl bid instead of a BCS title shot.

The Iowa angle: After enjoying some mild success against the Buckeyes in the 1980s and early 1990s, Iowa has struggled to keep up with the league's flagship football program. Iowa is 1-12 against Ohio State since a road win in 1991.

But Iowa has competed in its last two meetings with the Buckeyes, losing both heartbreakers by three points in the final minute or overtime. The Hawkeyes' last visit to Columbus was in 2009. With the Big Ten title and a Rose Bowl berth at stake, the Buckeyes edged Iowa 27-24 on an overtime field goal. But that game was atypical of the teams' recent meetings in Columbus. Iowa has lost six in a row at the 'Shoe by an average of 17.3 points. The 2009 loss was the only game in that span where the final outcome was within one score.

This also is the last time the teams are guaranteed to meet until at least 2016. The league splits into Western/Eastern divisions in 2014, with Iowa (West) and Ohio State (East) into opposite locations. The Buckeyes provide every school in the league with a barometer, and Iowa is no different. That's an unfortunate byproduct of expansion.

Quotable: "Our leaders have to step up and take over the team when we aren't around our coaches. We need to build camaraderie." - Ohio State backup quarterback Kenny Guiton