Bucking for redemption
After being embarrassed in the past two BCS  national title games, Ohio State gets a chance to repair its national reputation  against a Texas team many feel should be heading to Miami rather than the  Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.

Until a surprising blowout loss to Florida in the 2007 BCS title game,  Arizona had been very good to the Buckeyes, who won Fiesta Bowls in 2006, 2004  and 2003. To regain that desert dominance, Ohio State will need to play its best  game in all three facets.  Texas quarterback Colt McCoy has been virtually unstoppable this season,  and an Ohio State defense that performed well after the USC debacle Sept. 13  must find a way to slow him down. A secondary led by Malcolm Jenkins, arguably  the nation's best cornerback, needs to limit short passes and force McCoy to  take risks down the field. This is also a tremendous opportunity for Buckeyes  senior linebacker James Laurinaitis, who could use a big-game performance in the  national spotlight to solidify his legacy.  The run game has been Ohio State's calling card on offense, but  quarterback Terrelle Pryor and running back Chris "Beanie" Wells will be  challenged by a Texas squad ranked second nationally in rush defense (73.6 ypg).  Although Ohio State's offense was strong in November, it can be over-reliant on  big plays and needs to find ways to sustain drives.

Inspiration nation
After earning a share of the Big 12 South division  title, Texas believed it should have fared better than a berth in Glendale  before the BCS controversy played out. But that snub should serve as inspiration  for the Longhorns, who still harbor a slim chance at leading the AP media poll  with an impressive victory and a lackluster BCS title game.

The progress of Texas' defense was its biggest story down the stretch. It  allowed a combined 16 points to its last two opponents, limited seven opponents  to 14 points or fewer, ranked second in rush defense and led the nation in  sacks. In the Big 12 -- or anywhere else -- that's pretty good production.  Texas QB Colt McCoy has been the ringleader of an offense that has posted  big numbers without a featured running back. McCoy has been the Longhorns' top  rusher and has thrown to wide receivers Jordan Shipley and Quan Cosby, who rank  among the top 20 nationally in receptions per game.  That offense will be challenged by a typically stout Ohio State defense  that places in the top 10 nationally in total defense, scoring defense, turnover  margin and pass defense. And the Longhorns probably still have nightmares about  the way James Laurinaitis ripped through them during a 2006 loss in Austin.  Texas beat the Buckeyes in Columbus in the previous season, and the  rubber match between the two proud programs should be a good one. But the  Longhorns have the kind of across-the-board talent that teams such as Penn State  and USC used to beat the Buckeyes earlier this season.

WHO TO WATCH: Ohio State's 28 seniors finish a truly unique  career tonight, but the spotlight will be on junior running back Chris "Beanie" Wells, who likely plays his final  collegiate game. If Wells finds running room against Texas, Ohio State will  control the clock and keep the high-powered Longhorns offense off the field.  These are the types of games that bring out the best in Wells, but he'll need  his offensive line to play its top game of the season. If tonight's contest  looks anything like Ohio State's Oct. 25 loss to Penn State, in which Wells  rushed for only 55 yards, the Buckeyes will get blown out.

WHAT TO WATCH: The game will be won at the line of  scrimmage, particularly when Ohio State's offense and Texas' defense are on the  field. Longhorns All-American defensive end Brian Orakpo goes up against Ohio  State standout left tackle Alex Boone in one of the game's key matchups. Sacks  have been a problem at times for Ohio State this season, and Texas leads the  country in that category (3.67 per game). On the other side, Ohio State's  improved defensive line must put pressure on Texas star quarterback Colt McCoy, who completes 77.6 percent of his passes.

WHY TO WATCH: Both teams have something to prove, and that's  rare in bowl games. Texas is fueled by getting snubbed from the BCS title game  and could help its cause for a split national championship with a convincing win  against Ohio State. Should the Longhorns roll and Oklahoma scrapes past Florida,  there might be a split. Ohio State tries to restore its damaged national  reputation after back-to-back blowout losses in the championship game. The  Buckeyes unfairly take most of the blame for the Big Ten's downfall -- Michigan  has a lot to do with it, too -- but they can help themselves and the league with  an upset victory.

Who to watch: Texas quarterback Colt McCoy returns to action with a few points to prove. Monday's  game will be his first since he was nosed out by Sam Bradford for the Heisman Trophy last month. McCoy is one of  the nation's most valuable players after finishing third nationally in pass  efficiency, fifth in total offense and even leading his team in rushing this  season. The game against Ohio State also will provide him a chance  for revenge against the Buckeyes, who beat him in only his second start of his  career early in the 2006 season. Since then, McCoy has won 30 of his 36 career  starts to become the winningest starting quarterback in school history.

What to watch: The battle in the trenches likely will  determine this game. If the Longhorns' pass rush is productive, Texas should  have a big advantage. If Brian Orakpo, Sergio Kindle and Roy Miller are able to  pressure Ohio State freshman quarterback Terrelle Pryor, it could be a long night for the Buckeyes. But if  the Ohio State offensive line is keeping the pass rush away from their  quarterback, Pryor should have the ability to pick apart Texas' streaky  secondary.

Why to watch: The Longhorns are approaching this game with a  chip on their shoulders after they were nosed out of the Big 12 championship  game by Oklahoma, killing their national title hopes. But this game promises to  be an intriguing matchup between two traditional powers with contrasting styles.  Texas will match its varied offensive attack against Ohio State's more  conventional offense keyed by Chris "Beanie" Wells, who is finally healthy after  being hobbled for much of the season with injuries. The Longhorns are undefeated  in two previous BCS bowl appearances. However, Ohio State has been remarkably  successful against Big 12 teams, posting a 28-4 record in the school's football  history, including a 5-0 mark in bowl games. Something has to give.

Muschamp cracks me up

lol

UT needs to get it together and bring home that win

looks like that weak-ass Big 12 defense cant handle Beanie Wells, and whats worse is I even saw T. Pryor lower his shoulder on one of the safeties

What a shitty decision and throw by Colt. Either way, Texas is real lucky to only be down 3 cause they've been dominated most of the 1st half.

The Defense has made alot of big stops in the redzone, but Bonzie has made them his burnt orange bitches otherwise. The O-line of Texas is gonna have to get their shit together in pass protection and that lame running game isnt helping, when they try it, isnt working.

WTF????

Colt needs to wake up.

smh