By Neil Schmidt
The Cincinnati Enquirer

COLUMBUS - Quarterback Craig Krenzel sprained a ligament and tendon in his right elbow during Ohio State's game last Saturday and is questionable for the Buckeyes' game Saturday against Bowling Green.

Krenzel was held out of practice Monday and Tuesday and will miss practice again today as he rests the elbow. He said the injury is such that if he didn't rest it, he would risk serious damage.

"It's obviously not worth it if you can take a week off and rest it and get it back to being healthy - even two weeks off, whatever it's going to take - and have the rest of the season," Krenzel said. "As opposed to throwing for three days and realizing you tore something and can't play the rest of the season."

Krenzel said his throwing arm was injured when his arm locked during his follow-through and a North Carolina State player hit his elbow, hyperextending it. An MRI Tuesday showed no tear, but he has sprains of the ulnar collateral ligament and of the flexor tendon.

The injury occurred in the second quarter Saturday. Krenzel said adrenaline carried him through the rest of the game, and he finished with career highs of 26 completions (in 36 attempts), 273 yards and four touchdown passes.

Yet the elbow tightened up Sunday and didn't improve Monday.

"I'll probably know better by Thursday," Krenzel said. "I'm approaching it as if I'll play, mentally preparing myself. . . . But if I don't feel good, (the medical staff) won't let me play."

Fifth-year senior Scott McMullen got all the snaps with the first-team offense Monday and Tuesday and will start if Krenzel can't. Freshmen Troy Smith and Justin Zwick will be available in relief.

McMullen has one career start, that coming in a loss two years ago at Illinois. Krenzel came on in relief that day after McMullen completed four of 13 passes for 42 yards.

"I'm treating it as if I'm starting," McMullen said. "I've got to get in game condition."

Krenzel is 18-0 in games he has started and finished. He was named co-Big Ten player of the week for his performance against N.C. State and is 43-of-86 for 552 yards, four TDs and four interceptions this season.

The key determination later this week will be if his elbow is stable.

"With that ligament, it's something that if I damage more - by throwing if it's not 100 percent stable - then that's ... sometimes career-ending to guys who throw, like quarterbacks. (But) we think if we don't do anything on it until it feels better, it's not going to be a serious concern."

Said coach Jim Tressel: "I don't think you ever allow yourself to hang so much on things that are out of your control, and injuries are out of our control. We've just got to go to work."

TIME SET: Game time for OSU's game Sept. 27 against Northwestern has been set for 12:10 p.m., telecast by ESPN2. Tickets ($49.50 each) can be purchased by phone at 1-800-GO-BUCKS or online at www.hangonsloopy.com.

REPLAY TONIGHT: The OSU-North Carolina State game will be replayed today on ESPN Classic at 7 and 11:30 p.m.

Ohio State vs. Bowling Green

When: 12:10 p.m.

TV: Ch. 12.

Radio: WBOB-AM (1160), WPFB-FM (910).

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E-mail nschmidt@enquirer.com