COLUMBUS - After one of his first carries in Saturday's 25-7 victory over 10th-ranked Washington State, Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett came to the sideline and told a team doctor his right knee hurt but that he was OK and could continue playing.

        The freshman from Warren, Ohio, went on to rush for 230 yards and two touchdowns. But Clarett, who is gaining national attention for the way he has started his college career, may miss the No. 6 Buckeyes' game Saturday against the University of Cincinnati at Paul Brown Stadium.

        Clarett, the reigning Big Ten Conference offensive player of the week, suffered a meniscus tear, underwent arthroscopic surgery Tuesday morning and was on crutches later in the day, coach Jim Tressel said.

        Dr. Chris Kaeding, a team doctor, told the Associated Press it was “unlikely but not outside the realm of possibility” that Clarett could play this weekend.

        Clarett is not expected to practice today, either, and Tressel said the Buckeyes should know Clarett's status for the UC game by the end of Thursday's practice.

        “What the doctors always tell you about surgery is that everyone reacts differently,” Tressel said. “They say they've seen guys three days later (and) you never know they had surgery, and they've had guys that have taken seven days to get back to where they are.”

        Keep in mind: OSU has its Big Ten opener against Indiana on Sept. 28.

        The Buckeyes came into the season prepared to rotate three players at tailback until Clarett rushed for 175 yards and three TDs against Texas Tech in his first game. The 6-foot, 230-pounder has rushed for 471 yards - averaging 7.5 yards a carry - in three games. One newspaper columnist who watched the Washington State game was moved to write: “I swear I saw the 2002 Heisman Trophy winner.”

        Ohio State is not exactly hurting at running back. The Buckeyes have sophomores Lydell Ross (114 yards, 3.8 per carry) and Maurice Hall (111 yards, 5.8 per carry), who have played less only because of Clarett's emergence. Tressel said Ross, Hall and redshirt freshman JaJa Riley will share practice repetitions while Clarett is out.

        “This week's practice would determine which tailback would start the game,” Tressel said.

        Clarett, who had just 36 yards rushing in the first half against Washington State, ended up playing until the final seconds.

        After his second 44-yard run of the game, which came on OSU's final drive, associate athletics director Archie Griffin, the school's all-time leading rusher, sent word down to the sideline that Clarett was closing in on Griffin's single-game freshman rushing record of 239 yards.

        “The message I kinda got was: Get him back in there,” Tressel said.

        Clarett carried three more times for a total of 6 yards, leaving him 9 yards short.

        Now that his knee injury is known, it makes his 230-yard performance even more impressive.

        “He loves to play the game,” Tressel said. “There was enough adrenaline flowing through his body that it could've been a worse injury and he would've played.”

        Clarett's knee was swollen Sunday, and team doctors wanted to do an MRI.

        It was decided Monday night to perform surgery right away rather than risk the injury becoming worse. After surgery, doctors indicated Clarett might have aggravated an old injury Saturday, Tressel said. Clarett began his rehabilitation Tuesday.

        UC coach Rick Minter said the Bearcats won't alter their preparation for the Buckeyes.

        “We're not going to change our game plan. Jim (Tressel) is going to go power left and power right and put them in a position to be successful. We don't really care who plays.”

        Gary Estwick contributed to this report.

OSU sensation 'unlikely' for UC game

Bengals figure Patriots did, so can they
Bengals E-Mail Q&A
Falcons waive ex-Bengal Heath
Unitas remembered as mythic hero
Pepper spray use defended
Spurrier's NFL honeymoon ends abruptly
Pirates 11, Reds 3
Reds Box, Runs
Cinergy softball tickets available
Griffey wants to play on historic weekend
Sparky to throw out first pitch Sunday
Reds Notebook: Williamson looks like closer
Reese (5 RBI) enjoys beating Reds
Giants regain wild-card lead
Brewers 5, Astros 4
Cardinals 11, Rockies 4
Padres 3, Diamondbacks 2
Angels go back on top in AL West
Mariners 3, Rangers 2
NCAA upholds Kentucky's bowl ban
OSU's Sylvester recovering from gunshot
Xavier women's basketball schedule
St. X, Elder, Colerain hurting in Harbins
Ohio football computer rankings
Elder regains No. 1 in Cincinnati
Dixie still leads Northern Ky. poll
Kentucky statewide football polls
Madeira soccer team may be No. 1 in state
Hat trick boosts Boone Co.
Today's high school schedule
Boys cross country results
Boys golf results
Boys soccer results
Boys water polo results
Girls cross country results
Girls golf results
Girls soccer results
Girls tennis results
Girls volleyball results
Girls water polo results
Ohio statewide volleyball polls
Ohio statewide girls tennis polls