By Neil Schmidt
The Cincinnati Enquirer

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The hard-luck Buckeye may have hit bottom Saturday.

Drew Carter, whose career was overshadowed by injury until a brilliant breakout season this year, suffered a knee injury that could end his OSU tenure.

"Your heart just aches for him," coach Jim Tressel said.

The fifth-year senior receiver caught a 17-yard pass midway through the second quarter that, at that moment, gave him the team lead in receiving yardage on the season. But on the tackle, his right knee twisted beneath him, and he turned over screaming in pain.

Carter was carried off the field. He returned to the sidelines on crutches in the third quarter.

Carter said doctors couldn't diagnose the knee because it was so swollen, but Tressel said he fears the results of an MRI test today.

"I don't think it's great news for us," he said.

Said Carter: "I don't know (what occurred). It just hurts. We'll see."

Carter had been the team's hottest player. He had three catches for 75 yards Saturday, giving him 12 receptions for 260 yards over a 2 1/2-game span. He has 25 catches for 410 yards on the season, a team-best 16.4 per-catch average.

Carter was the projected starter two years ago, but ankle and knee injuries wiped out that entire season. Last year, he played 11 games but totaled just 10 catches, suffering problems with drops.

"We're praying for him," quarterback Craig Krenzel said.

FAVORITE FIELD: Lydell Ross' father, Melvin, played at Indiana. So maybe there's something to Ross playing his best games here.

Ross had career highs of 167 yards and three touchdowns Saturday, reminiscent of his breakout day here in 2001. Just 17 at that time, Ross rushed for 124 yards to become the youngest 100-yard rusher in Big Ten history.

Ross, a junior, won't return. But he could have played here a lot more often.

"I was recruited here (at IU), and my dad was pushing it," Ross said.

Ross had some of his best rushes Saturday on cutbacks, but said the offensive line made things easy.

"I cut back one way, but I could have cut back the other way on those plays and still had as many yards," he said.

BCS RACE: With Wisconsin's loss Saturday, OSU now is assured of no worse than a Rose Bowl berth if it wins out. The Sugar Bowl is also in sight. OSU was ranked No. 6 in the BCS last week.

"We've got our fate in our hands," tight end Ben Hartsock said. "If a couple of things happen in the BCS race, we're in the running there, too."

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E-mail nschmidt@enquirer.com