The Dispatch wrote
5 keys to victory for Ohio State
Monday, January 7, 2008
By Ken Gordon
Not to put any extra pressure on Ohio State tonight, but the result of the national championship game against Louisiana State could have a long-lasting effect on the perception of the Buckeyes’ program, the Big Ten and Midwestern football as a whole.
Of the nine national titles in the BCS era, eight have been won by southern or western teams: Tennessee, Florida State, Oklahoma, Miami (Fla.), Louisiana State, Southern California, Texas and Florida.
OSU’s 2002 victory is the lone exception, and that will fade further into history if the Buckeyes lose tonight. A loss could threaten to turn the Buckeyes into college football’s version of the Buffalo Bills. Like the Bills winning AFC titles, capturing Big Ten crowns could start to feel like a hollow accomplishment if the Buckeyes keep losing in the ultimate contest.
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