By Jason Strait
The Associated Press

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Cie Grant doesn't have to be reminded how close Ohio State is to playing for a national championship.

With victories over Illinois on Saturday and Michigan next week, the No. 2 Buckeyes will earn a trip to the Fiesta Bowl and a chance at the national title. Though few will admit it, it's on the minds of all the players and it's why Grant chose the Buckeyes.

"You're at a position right now that you dream of. This is the reason why you come to an Ohio State or any big-time major college, to have the opportunity to do this," the linebacker said.

It's been awhile since Ohio State (11-0, 6-0 Big Ten) has had that opportunity. The Buckeyes last won a national title in 1968, and three times since then they've started the season 11-0.

Each time, they lost the next game.

A scare last week against Purdue may help Ohio State from making it a fourth when they travel to Illinois (4-6, 3-3).

"We lose that game and it (BCS) doesn't mean anything at all. So we have to finish out these games and see where we are at the end of the season," receiver Michael Jenkins said. "We're where we want to be in both polls and the BCS."

Ohio State took over the top spot in the Bowl Championship Series standings after last week's 13-10 road win over Purdue.

Ohio State trailed late in that game and faced a fourth-and-1 when Jenkins caught a 37-yard touchdown pass for the winning score.

Troubles on the road weren't anything new for Ohio State. The Buckeyes have won their home games by an average of 27 points a game. On the road, the margin drops down to 6 points.

Tight end Ben Hartsock, who scored the winning touchdown against Wisconsin, said unlike previous years, the Buckeyes are winning the close calls on the road.

"I think we've been very fortunate, but I think good things happen to teams that do the small things," he said. "As poorly as the offense has been playing, never once has a defensive player or the defense as a whole ever gotten down on us or doubted that we'll come through when we need to."

There were plenty of doubts about Illinois after a bleak 1-5 start. But the Illini have played better of late and are actually in a position to qualify for a postseason bowl game with wins in their final two games against Ohio State and Northwestern.

Illinois has the top passing offense in the Big Ten despite swapping quarterbacks Dustin Ward and Jon Beutjer in and out of the lineup. Beutjer, who started the season on the bench, threw four touchdown passes in a 37-20 win over Wisconsin last week after Turner had named him the starter for the rest of the year.

Illinois should have receiver Brandon Lloyd back in the lineup. Lloyd, fourth in the league in receiving, was sidelined after three series against Wisconsin with a strained hip flexor.

The Illini also hinted earlier in the week they may take a few shots at two-way starter Chris Gamble, who plays receiver on offense and defensive back for the Buckeyes.

"I hope he does well in the future, but we'll have something in store for him this weekend," Walter Young said. "We'll be looking forward to that. If he plays both ways the whole game then in the fourth quarter we'll be looking to do some things."

Other teams have tried and failed.

Gamble returned an interception for a touchdown as a cornerback and made a touchdown-saving tackle as a wide receiver against Penn State. He has four interceptions on the season, including one last week against Purdue, and is tied for third in the Big Ten.

A trip to the Fiesta Bowl would give Ohio State the chance to win its fourth national championship. Only four schools, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Alabama and Miami, have ever won more.

"We still have a chance to be thought of as an extraordinary group," coach Jim Tressel said. "We'll see how it works out."