By HOWIE McCORMICK
Tristatesportspage.com

September 11, 2008

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Buckeye coach Jim Tressel shared some tough news with the media Thursday. He said starting tailback Chris "Beanie" Wells is now listed as doubtful for Saturday's game against No. 1 USC.

Tressel also added that Wells was experiencing a lingering soreness in his right foot, the one he injured in Ohio State's season-opening thumping of Youngstown State. Wells re-aggravated the injury during Saturday's game against Ohio University.

The Buckeyes, who are already 10 1/2-point underdogs to the Trojans, will no have to mix things up a bit more than originally planned to keep USC on its collective heels. Expect to see much more action from freshman quarterback Terrell Pryor and a heavy dose of redshirt freshman Dan Herron, as well as contributions by backs Brandon Saine and Maurice Wells.

The Buckeyes backup backfield will have big shoes to fill as Wells rushed for 1,609 yards in 2007 with 15 touchdowns. Wells finished last week's game with 111 yards on 13 carries, including a 43-yard touchdown run before leaving with the injury.

Saturday's game will mark the first time the two teams have met in 18 years. The Trojans have won the last seven meetings against Big Ten schools by an average margin of just under 28 points.

On the other hand, this is not an average Buckeyes team.