Buckeyes close to panic button

Let's hope the bye week for the Hoosiers was as productive as it could've been because this weekend the team travels to Columbus, Ohio, to face a troubled Buckeye squad. While the Hoosiers' season took a turn south after losing at Kentucky, they have a chance to right the ship with a victory over Ohio State this weekend.\nI know you're sitting there and saying to yourself, "Does IU really stand a chance against Ohio State this weekend?" and I'd like to respond with, "Did I stutter?" No. Maybe you haven't been paying much attention to the Buckeyes' performance this season so far, but I know I have, and it's been ugly.\nEarly in the season, the Buckeyes were able to win close games against Cincinnati, Marshall and N.C. State, echoing versions of recent Ohio State teams that won any close game they were in. But then, something funny happened. The Buckeyes paid a visit to Northwestern and watched in disbelief as the Wildcats rolled to a double overtime victory. \nBig deal, it was a road game, right? The following weekend, the punchless Buckeye offense managed to throw up only 13 points while allowing 24 to Wisconsin. It gets worse. The Buckeyes traveled to Iowa last weekend only to watch the Hawkeyes steamroll their way to a 33-7 victory in which the only Buckeye score came in garbage time against Iowa's second team. Things are bad in Columbus, to say the least.\nIn the meantime, the Hoosiers have had the benefit of the bye week to heal up, watch extra tape and practice more than they usually would. With a healthier and more rested team, there is no better time to surprise the Buckeyes in Columbus than this weekend. In the past, it would be almost inconceivable to think IU could defeat the Buckeyes in Ohio Stadium, but my, how the tables have turned.\nHow bad is Ohio State this season? Well, after losing a record 14 players from last year's team to the NFL Draft, the Buckeyes have not only managed to lose back-to-back games for the first time under the tenure of Jim Tressel, they also are off to their first 0-3 start in the Big Ten since Kirk Herbstreit was their quarterback. In fact, things are so bad in Columbus that many people are already questioning Tressel's coaching despite a giant National Championship trophy that is still sitting snug in the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.\nIn my most recent column, following the Northwestern game, I was uncharacteristically hard on the Hoosiers. I have since dumped the attitude because I know what this IU team is capable of, and I believe they will showcase it this weekend against the Buckeyes. The simple fact about the Buckeyes is that they're playing scared. It is a young team, afraid to make mistakes and if the Hoosiers are able to get it going early, I believe it will be a good weekend for IU.