Hey, Doug: If Ohio State loses to Texas in a close game, will the national media talk better about the Buckeyes than after the last two National Championship blowouts to SEC teams? -- Bill Verbi, Lakewood

Hey, Bill: Here's one positive about Ohio State's current situation -- I'm not sure the Buckeyes' national reputation can get any lower.

So I'm not of the opinion that a big loss to Texas, which might be as good as either the Florida or LSU national champions that beat Ohio State, will hurt the Buckeyes very much. I'd expect the nation to blow it off as more of the same with a "What did you expect?"

But a close loss I don't think will do much, either. Since this isn't the national title game, if the Buckeyes lose a close one, I'm not sure they'll face the derision they have previously, but they'll just be forgotten. The national debate will go on to whether Texas or USC or Utah is as good as the national title game winner, not how much Ohio State lost by.

The only answer to any of this is victory.

"I tell the guys this all the time, the only way you can change things is to win games," Ohio State linebacker James Lauriantis said. "You can't go out in the media and say it, you've just got to play football. And until you start to win games against teams like that, you're not going to change anyone else's minds."

The way this bowl season has gone, Ohio State is representing the Big Ten more than ever. So a loss won't have people saying that the Buckeyes lost their last three bowl games, they'll be saying that the Big Ten went 1-6 in bowl games this season.

To this point, the worst Big Ten bowl results followed seasons in 1975 (0-2), 1977 (0-3) and 1984 (1-5). That's the story line Ohio State could prevent.

"It's something that you're hoping for," Laurinaitis said. "But it might take more than one team to reverse a whole psychology about this Big Ten deal."

-- Doug

Terry Gilliam/Associated PressThe recruiting of freshman center Michael Brewster (50, leading Todd Boeckman in an early-season game) reflects Jim Tressel's willingness to pursue talent outside the state.

Hey, Chuck: They have. Let's look at two skill positions, tailback and receiver. In Jim Tressel's first seven full recruiting classes, he brought in 10 receivers, six from Ohio. And he brought in seven tailbacks, six from Ohio.

The current 24-man recruiting class of 2009 includes three receivers -- Florida's Duron Carter, Michigan's James Jackson and Chris Fields of Painesville. And the Buckeyes are still chasing Tennessee receiver Marlon Brown. The class also includes three running backs -- Carlos Hyde and Jaamal Berry of Florida and Jordan Hall of Pennsylvania.

Not that great skill players can't be found in Ohio, but this shows a much greater push to bring in some speed and talent from other states. That's five out of six from outside Ohio this class, compared to 12 of 17 from Ohio in the previous seven classes.

I think the change is being seen on the offensive line as well, where athleticism is starting to be valued over pure size and strength. Current freshmen Mike Brewster (Florida), J.B. Shugarts (Texas) and Mike Adams (Ohio) are signs of that. Jake Stoneburner, who red-shirted this season with an injury, should also emerge as an athletic pass-catching, tight end or H-back that hasn't been seen in this offense recently.

And the fact that Terrelle Pryor is here, and that Virginia quarterback Tajh Boyd is still in the mix for this recruiting class, shows how the Buckeyes have changed their recruiting model for the most important position on the field.

Got an Ohio State question? Send it in. Submit your question to cleveland.com/heydoug, and Plain Dealer Ohio State beat writer Doug Lesmerises will choose one or more to answer each Sunday here in the Sports section. All of Doug's answers are archived online.

Hey, Doug: When Ohio State was selected to the Fiesta Bowl, that gave the Big Ten two teams headed to the BCS. While that brings in lots of money for the conference, the downside is more unfavorable matchups. The only Big Ten team that is a favorite in its bowl game is Iowa. Had OSU gone instead to the Capital One Bowl against Georgia, with the rest of the Big Ten bowl teams being moved down, what would the matchups have been and how do you think the Big Ten would have fared overall? - Shaun Spence, Eastlake

Hey, Shaun: As it is, I think the Big Ten will win three of its seven bowl games, which is about two more than most predictions out there. In the BCS games, I'll take USC over Penn State (Rose) and Texas over Ohio State (Fiesta). Then I'll take Iowa over South Carolina (Outback) as the Big Ten's best shot at victory. Among the other four games --- Michigan State vs. Georgia in the Capital One, Northwestern vs. Missouri in the Alamo, Wisconsin vs. Florida State in the Champs Sports and Minnesota vs. Kansas in the Insight, I think two Big Ten teams will manage to spring upsets.

Georgia, the preseason No. 1 team now ending a disappointing season, will be less motivated than a Michigan State team trying to make the next leap in respectability. But I think the two most likely upset winners are Wisconsin and Minnesota.

If Ohio State had been bumped from the BCS to the Capital One, the Buckeyes still may have been an underdog to Georgia. And I'm not sure all that much would have changed --- would people be picking Iowa over Missouri? Or Wisconsin over Kansas? At least Minnesota would have been a favorite over Central Michigan in the Motor City Bowl --- right? The Big Ten still might have found it tough to emerge with its first winning record in a bowl season since going 5-2 after the 2002 season.

In the last five years, the Big Ten is 14-22 in bowl games. But I don't think the overall record is what people remember. No conference is going to build its reputation on Minnesota beating Kansas. Since 2000, the Big Ten is 4-9 in BCS bowls. People will base a lot of opinions off the USC-Penn State and Texas-Ohio State games. It they don't go well, at least the Big Ten will have an extra $18 million from the Fiesta Bowl to help drown its sorrows.

Got an Ohio State question? Send it in. Submit your question to cleveland.com/heydoug, and Plain Dealer Ohio State beat writer Doug Lesmerises will choose some to answer each Tuesday here in the sports section. All of Doug's answers are archived online.

Q: Hey, Doug: Would you rather see Ohio State play Georgia in a Jan. 1 bowl game that they might actually win and get a win over an SEC team? Or would you rather see them in a BCS game, receiving large revenue, against an Alabama or Texas-type team that many say would beat Ohio State badly, not helping the Buckeyes' national reputation? - Kurt Mews, East Peoria, Ill.

Got an Ohio State question? Send it in. Submit your question to cleveland.com/heydoug, and Plain Dealer Ohio State beat writer Doug Lesmerises will choose some to answer here in the sports section. All of Doug's answers are archived online.

Q: Hey, Doug: Who was redshirted for the Buckeyes this season? - Chris Bien, North Kingsville, Ohio

A: Hey, Chris: Unlike last season, when it happened to Ross Homan, Lawrence Wilson and Curtis Terry, there were no obvious redshirts among older players forced out by injury. In Ohio State's 19-player freshman class, 10 played: quarterback Terrelle Pryor, offensive linemen Mike Brewster, Mike Adams and J.B. Shugarts, receivers DeVier Posey and Lamaar Thomas, linebackers Etienne Sabino and Andrew Sweat, defensive lineman Keith Wells and defensive end Nathan Williams.

Hey, Doug: Who was redshirted for the Buckeyes this season? -- Chris Bien, North Kingsville

Hey, Chris: Unlike last season, when it happened to Ross Homan, Lawrence Wilson and Curtis Terry, there were no obvious redshirts among older players forced out by injury. In Ohio State's 19-player freshman class, nine played: quarterback Terrelle Pryor, offensive linemen Mike Brewster, Mike Adams and J.B. Shugarts, receivers DeVier Posey and Lamaar Thomas, linebackers Etienne Sabino and Andrew Sweat and defensive end Nathan Williams.

That left 10 players who redshirted, with defensive lineman Willie Mobley, receiver Jake Stoneburner and defensive back Travis Howard among those for whom injuries factored into the decision. Also saving a year of eligibility were tight end Nic DiLillo, fullback Jermil Martin, kicker Ben Buchanan, defensive backs Orhian Johnson and Zach Domicone and defensive linemen Garrett Goebel and Keith Wells did play in three games, according to Ohio State's participation chart, which is the most he could play and retain a redshirt.

Among those redshirts, Domicone and Goebel were names I heard coaches mention as players to watch for next season.

AP PhotoRay Small was suspended for the Northwestern game and may or may not be back this week or ever again.

Q: Hey, Doug: Coach Ted Ginn is a remarkable man and Glenville kids have done really well at OSU. But the latest Ray Small incident seems just the latest in a fairly long list of Glenville players (including Troy Smith) who have had disciplinary problems with the Buckeyes. If I am correct, do you have any guesses as to why? - David Smith, St. Petersburg, Fla.

Marvin Fong/The Plain DealerBeanie Wells may well be most appreciated by Ohio State fans when he's playing on Sundays in the NFL.

Hey, Jeff: The running back situation for next year should be wide open. The first question is whether Wells returns for a senior year. Though he claimed in the preseason he'd be back as a senior, I've always believed he'll leave, his draft status too good to pass up. But he'll have to determine if the pain he's playing through in his right foot would dramatically affect his draft position, and, if he would need surgery for some reason, which we have never heard is the case, would coming back for a senior season greatly enhance his chances of going in the top 10 or top five?

But let's plan for his departure. That would leave Dan Herron, Brandon Saine and incoming Florida freshmen Carlos Hyde and Jaamal Berry in the backfield.

Playing in Wells' absence early in the year, Herron showed himself a solid runner as a freshman but lacked Wells' abilities to break tackles and get away. Lots of backs lack that.

Marvin Fong/The Plain DealerIs Terrelle Pryor the next Craig Krenzel or the next Troy Smith?
• Submit your questions for Hey, Doug! here

I'm willing to chalk up the fumble as a freshman thing, but do you see hints of the 2002 recipe coming out right now which could lead into next year's potential? Teamwork, nothing flashy, win with defense and punting, and let the QB make some plays when necessary. I see TP as possibly shaping up to be the next Craig Krenzel with more pop, not the next Tim Tebow, Juice Williams or Troy Smith. Thoughts? -- David Marsalek, Charleston, W.Va.

Hey, David: Interesting theory. First on Pryor, the Buckeyes are banking on him being much more than steady. Let's remember, one of Smith's great qualities when he won the Heisman in 2006 was the way he took care of the ball -- 30 touchdown passes against just six interceptions. In 2002, Krenzel threw 12 touchdowns against seven interceptions. As a sophomore and junior, Pryor's numbers should be more like Smith. But it's his game-breaking speed as a runner that will separate him from anyone else who has played quarterback at Ohio State -- so yes, he's going to be flashy. With young talent on the offensive line and receiver, I think the 2009 and 2010 offense could be explosive and that Jim Tressel is playing conservative now primarily because Pryor is a true freshman.

As for the defensive line, I think it's better but still not great. If you're planning on a shutdown defense, like the 2002 team, you can't bank on that next year. Malcolm Jenkins, James Laurinaitis and Marcus Freeman will be big losses. Freshman linebacker Etienne Sabino looks like a future star, but it's a lot to ask Chimdi Chekwa and Donald Washington to play at the level of Jenkins, and that's if Washington doesn't go pro himself.

So I think the Buckeyes need Pryor to be more than Krenzel next year. And he will be.

Marvin Fong/The Plain DealerWhat's been up with Terrelle Pryor lately?

Q: Hey, Doug: Did we expect quarterback Terrelle Pryor to be something he isn't? Did we overestimate Pryor's skill? Also, where is the motivation? We have been flat both on offense and defense. - Bob Moore, Austin, Texas.

Hey, Doug: When you read about evaluating recruits, Ohio State has had exceptional talent in the offensive line. I believe the class of '07, '08 and now '09 are considered to be overflowing with top-notch talent. How come we have not seen that translate into performance on the field? This is especially evident in big games. Is this a coaching issue? Our guys seem to come out flat. -- Ross Terradas, Pittsford, NY

Hey, Ross: Up until the current freshman class, which includes three five-star offensive linemen in Mike Brewster, J.B. Shugarts and Mike Adams, I don't think I'd call the offensive line overflowing with talent. Between 2004 and 2007, Ohio State recruited 10 offensive linemen, and only two were ranked as five-star prospects by Scout.com.

Alex Boone first started as a freshman and has played the best of the crew this season, though not at the All-American level that fans would have hoped for. Connor Smith, a 2006 recruit, hasn't come close to cracking the lineup yet.

I think there are two primary issues, then. The linemen, on the whole, aren't as athletic as they could be, and their lack of quickness can be exploited. That has come through in the explanation for Brewster's insertion into the lineup -- he's inexperienced, but he is athletic.

Though offensive line coach Jim Bollman is a veteran and has very good relationships with his guys, I think the fact that Jim Tressel stepped in to yell at the linemen in practice this season said something. Boone said he's among the guys who play better with motivation through yelling, and maybe those fires aren't as stoked each week as hot as they could be.

Associated PressOSU's Terrelle Pryor is not a viable Heisman Trophy candidate - yet.
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Q: Hey, Doug: I wrote earlier in the year asking your thoughts on quarterback Terrelle Pryor winning the Heisman Trophy. You thought I was crazy. Who do you think has a better chance now, Pryor or running back Beanie Wells? Wells seems to think he still has a chance. Is he crazy? - Robert Driscoll, Parma

A: Hey, Robert: Your optimism on Pryor's performance this season was not as misplaced as I thought. You at least have to be a starter to win the Heisman, and maybe you were among the few who thought Pryor would earn the job by the fourth game. This season, Ohio State doesn't have a Heisman candidate. No one has ever won it after missing three games, so Wells is out. And Pryor isn't going to put up the passing numbers to compete with all those Big 12 Conference Heisman candidates. In his three starts, Pryor's average game is 10-of-16 passing for 118 yards.

Q: Hey, Doug: Following up on the coaching questions, any chance a Chris Spielman or Steve Tovar, currently at Kansas, would join the staff? Spielman showed more intensity on the sidelines during Ohio State games than any player.

-- Tony Stautberg, Cincinnati.

A: Hey, Tony: I'm all for hiring guys who played at the program and guys who bring some intensity. Tovar, currently the linebackers coach for the Jayhawks, is certainly an interesting name. But if I was adding a coach to this defense, it would be someone who specializes in defending the spread. When Tim Beckman came to Ohio State from Bowling Green before the 2005 season, the new cornerbacks coach was touted as a spread expert. When he left to become the defensive coordinator at Oklahoma State after two seasons, I'm not sure Ohio State replaced that supposed spread expertise.

Hey, Doug: The mark of a great coach is having your coaching staff in demand. Jim Tressel has had several defensive coaches become head coaches, such as Mark Dantonio at Cincinnati and now Michigan State, Mark Snyder at Marshall, and Mel Tucker, the current Browns defensive coordinator. My question is, why isn't Jim Bollman on anybody's short list? -- Chuck Ohl, Chardon

Hey, Chuck: Bollman, OSU's offensive coordinator, has spent 13 of his 32 years in coaching under Tressel, and I think we know that the way the coaching world works, there aren't a lot of coordinators in their mid-50s getting hired as first-time head coaches. But the guy did spend three seasons in the NFL. If you mean defensive coordinator Jim Heacock, he's in his 37th year in coaching and has already been a head coach, at Illinois State for eight years.

Luke Fickell and Darrel Hazell are the two coaches on the current staff with the brightest futures, in my opinion. I see both as head coaches someday.

I do think the defense might be well-served by the addition of an up-and-comer like Dantonio or Tucker.

Hey, Doug: I love Jim Tressel as the head coach, but isn't it time that he hired new-age offensive and defensive coordinators? Except for 2006, the offense has been hard to watch, and the last great defense we had that actually proved it against good teams was full of Cooper's players. With the level of talent that OSU can attract, shouldn't we see more production? Vanilla offense and soft zone defenses just don't work anymore in elite college football. -- Andy Pacyna, Bel Air, Md.

Hey, Andy: First let me say that nothing ups the quality of the questions like a decisive loss. My inbox is dripping with frustration. Keep 'em coming.

When it works, it's called staff continuity. When it doesn't, it's a staff getting stale. Four of Jim Tressel's nine coaches have been with him for all eight of his seasons in Columbus, and the others are in their seventh, fifth, fifth, fourth and second years.

In big games, it seems like opponents know what's coming. USC quarterback Mark Sanchez said as much after his four-touchdown game Saturday. What works with an overwhelming talent edge in Big Ten play hasn't worked against elite teams lately. I wrote a story last week about what the Buckeyes might have been hiding from the Trojans in the first two games. Other than Terrelle Pryor playing more, was there anything in the playcalling on either side of the ball that seemed like the unveiling of secrets?

I'm not calling for anyone's jobs, but these are legitimate questions for defensive coordinator Jim Heacock. But let's remember that Tressel is his own playcaller. "Offensive coordinator" Jim Bollman and the other staff members offer up ideas and suggestions, but in the end Tressel is the one making the decisions on the sideline about what to run.

This certainly looks like a team that could use some fresh input.