While it was love at first soundbite for Ohio State loyalists, coach Jim Tressel's arrival in Columbus hasn't generated the same enthusiasm from the preseason analysts.

        They know that while it's clearly Tressel's team (a good thing), it's still John Cooper's talent (potentially a bad thing, depending largely on the decision-making of enigmatic quarterback Steve Bellisari).

        The Buckeyes are not a top-25 team, according to CBSSportsline.com, CNNSI.com, CollegeFootballNews.com, FoxSports.com, The Sporting News and Lindy's.

        But Football Digest ranked the Buckeyes 15th, Athlon Sports lists them at No.16 and Pigskin Post.com puts them 24th.

        Not so long ago, anything less than a top-10 forecast was beneath the OSU program, which enjoyed four straight seasons of at least 10 victories, from 1995-98, and played in three straight BCS bowl games during that span.

        Some pollsters might be unimpressed with this year's team, but the Buckeyes are excited about their front seven on defense, es pecially senior tackle/co-captain Mike Collins and linebackers Courtland Bullard, Matt Wilhelm and All-American Joe Cooper.

        “Any good defense needs to be strong up the middle,” said former OSU linebacker/captain Jerry Rudzinski, an OSU radio and TV analyst. “With guys like Mike Collins in front of (middle linebacker) Wilhelm and (safeties) Mike Doss and Donnie Nickey behind him, this is a defense that should be able to hit opponents in the mouth.”

        But can the offense pack a similar wallop? Senior tailback Jonathan Wells has been wildly inconsistent, the receiving corps is unproven and Bellisari is ... well, Bellisari.

        Tressel, something of a quarterback guru in leading Youngstown State to four Division I-AA championships, will see his powers put to the test this fall.

        But even with Bellisari strug gling last season, the Buckeyes were in contention for a Big Ten title until three minutes remained in last year's regular-season finale with Michigan.

        “To be real honest, I think the Big Ten is a little down,” Rudzinski said. “Only two teams are among the consensus top 25, and one of them is Northwestern (The other is Michigan).

        “I see no reason the Buckeyes can't win the Big Ten.”

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