By Neil Schmidt
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Two Ohio State football players might face team sanctions for their part in a fight outside a dorm near Ohio Stadium early Sunday.

The university said Tuesday that the players and two other men were investigated and cleared.

"Players will not be charged," athletic director Andy Geiger said in a statement.

OSU coach Jim Tressel said the players - whose names the university has declined to release - could be disciplined.

Four female students were assaulted about 4 a.m. Sunday, and a window of one woman's car was broken, according to a campus police report. The women had minor injuries.

"The students were trying to break up a fight between two groups of women," university spokesperson Elizabeth Conlisk said. "The students didn't instigate it."

Tressel indicated the lateness of the hour might figure into the team's discipline decision, though team spokesman Steve Snapp said there is no official curfew.

"The part I can address is that we had some guys out much later than I think they should be, and that we'll need to take care of things in house to handle that," Tressel said.

Tressel declined to say if a possible sanction might include the players missing the game Saturday at Michigan. Asked if the magnitude of Saturday's game would influence his decision, he said, "I would hope not."

NO LOVE LOST: What's the Buckeyes' collective feeling about Michigan?

"I almost want to say it's a hate," offensive lineman Adrien Clarke said. "It's a hate, I'm sure, coming from them as well."

Clarke said Tressel refrains from expressing such sentiment around the team. "But I think when he's at home, he's like, 'I hate Michigan,' " Clarke said. "... He's ready to get out there against them, too."

---E-mail nschmidt@enquirer.com