By Neil Schmidt
The Cincinnati Enquirer

COLUMBUS - Buckeye Nation is a demanding lot. So Ohio State's players weren't surprised when fans began lobbying to replace Craig Krenzel at quarterback.

"That's the way things go around here," tight end Ben Hartsock said. "Seven games after the guy was the offensive MVP in the national championship game, and they're ready to toss him."

OSU's offensive woes, including a ranking of No. 114 among 117 Division I-A teams in total offense (278.3 yards per game), have exposed everyone to criticism. Yet coach Jim Tressel downplayed talk that he might relieve Krenzel today when the eighth-ranked Buckeyes (6-1, 2-1 Big Ten) visit Indiana (1-6, 0-3).

Krenzel - co-MVP of the 2002 championship team, Academic All-American and molecular genetics whiz - is 19-1 in games he has started and finished, and has twice beaten Michigan. Yet he hasn't been as efficient as last season, especially after an elbow injury that kept him out of two games.

OSU's offense was booed at home last Saturday, despite leading a Top 10 team at the time. Fans have since voiced the previously unthinkable - inserting backup Scott McMullen - on talk shows and Internet message boards.

"I know it's going on out there," Krenzel said. "It doesn't bother me. ... I've seen it happen all over in big football towns."

Krenzel seemed shaky last Saturday against Iowa. He was 11-of-22 for 129 yards, missing some open receivers and failing to spot others. He also blew OSU's only chance for an offensive touchdown when he fumbled on a QB sneak at the goal line.

"I didn't think it would be best for the team to make any switches," Tressel said of the Iowa game. "... I thought the team needed Craig Krenzel to be in the game."

Krenzel has completed 54.2 percent of his passes this season for 883 yards, five TDs and five interceptions.

Last year, he completed 59.4 percent for 2,110 yards, 12 TDs and seven interceptions.

He's passing more this year, averaging 26.2 attempts per game to last year's 17.8 to make up for this season's woeful rushing attack.

"I was the quarterback last year when everything went well, and everyone said I was great," Krenzel said.

"This year, the offense hasn't done so well. We've dropped a game. And the first guy that's going to get blamed is the quarterback. That goes with the territory."

When Krenzel sat out with his injury, McMullen completed 63.4 percent of his passes for 284 yards, two TDs and two interceptions in two starts.

Against Northwestern, Tressel inserted third-string QB Justin Zwick for McMullen for a series in the first quarter, for a different look.

He has resisted any urge to similarly sub McMullen for Krenzel.

Several Buckeyes said they preferred to stick with Krenzel.

"I don't think anybody's looking over their shoulder wishing there was somebody else throwing the ball to them," Hartsock said.

Said wideout Michael Jenkins: "I don't think a quarterback change would solve what's wrong with our offense."

Today could be a get-well game for the offense. IU ranks 10th in the Big Ten in total defense (407.4 yards per game) and scoring defense (29.7 ppg).

Third-string tailback Ira Guilford, a converted safety, is expected to get more chances to supplant Maurice Hall and/or Lydell Ross, who have been ineffective.

"We need to get better in every area," Krenzel said.

No. 8 Ohio State at Indiana

Kickoff: 12:02 p.m. today, Memorial Stadium (52,180), Bloomington, Ind.

Records: OSU 6-1 (2-1 Big Ten), IU 1-6 (0-3).

TV: ESPN.

Radio: WBOB-AM (1160); WPFB-AM (910).

Series: OSU leads 61-12-5.

Line: OSU by 20 1/2.

What to watch: The Hoosiers haven't beaten OSU since 1988, when IU upset then-No. 1 OSU. IU's Matt LoVecchio has completed just 52.1 percent of his passes for 1,301 yards, two TDs and six interceptions. In its last game, IU rushed for 327 rushing yards against Northwestern.

OSU	Team stats	IU
278.3	Offense avg.	345.9
108.7	Avg. by rush	160.0
169.6	Avg. by pass	185.9
269.0	Defense avg.	407.4
60.6	Avg. by rush	161.6
208.4	Avg. by pass	245.9
23.0	Avg. pts. for	17.7
14.9	Avg. pts. against	29.7

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E-mail nschmidt@enquirer.com