Ok, the fluff games are over, and the first tests of the 2013 season are behind them. This much we know: the Buckeyes remain undefeated!

Starting 5-0 is an achievement that many in Columbus, OH thought possible and were even expecting, but everyone knows that there are no guaranteed victories. The 2013 Buckeyes are surprising fans in Ohio and across the country. This team, the second under Coach Urban Meyer, is definitely exceeding expectations. Though not everyone is convinced of their ability to play in the “big game.” Preliminary BCS rankings have the Buckeyes at # 6.

We’ll start with the good

Yeah, they’re undefeated, but this team could easily be 3-2 when you consider the players that have not played five games. Braxton Miller and Carlos Hyde each missed three games, considering that Miller left in the first quarter against SDSU. Without the play of “backups” Kenny Guiton and Jordan Hall, this could be an entirely different season. All Guiton did was shred several OSU passing records en route to back-to-back Big 10 Offensive Player of the Week awards. Guiton’s six touchdown passes against Florida A&M now stand as the new OSU record for most in a game and second-most in Big 10 history. His 90-yard strike to Devin Smith in Berkeley is now the longest play from scrimmage in Buckeyes’ history.

And let’s give credit where credit is due. Co-Defensive Coordinators Jim Heacock and Everett Withers have done an outstanding job getting the team’s young and inexperienced linemen and linebackers prepared for this season. After losing six of their starting front seven from last year, the Buckeyes have not lost a beat up front. The Bucks held the mighty Wisconsin running game to a mere 104 yards. Wisconsin was averaging 350 ypg coming into the contest, with Melvin Gordon averaging 156 ypg on his own. Sophomore Josh Perry and Junior Ryan Shazier have epitomized the tough Buckeye linebackers we have all come to know and love.

The NOT so good

No team is perfect, not even Alabama. But if OSU expects to be in the BCS Title Game, the defensive backs have to pick up the intensity. The secondary was exposed, you could even say exploited, against Cal and Wisconsin. In those two games, OSU allowed five receiving touchdowns averaging 35 ypc. You can bet Oregon is licking their chops!

This weekend poses another challenge for the Buckeyes. They play a top 25 Northwestern team on the road Saturday night. This will be another tough conference game for OSU. The Buckeyes should win, convincingly, but many college FB writers believe this game will be a close one. We know we’ll be watching and rooting on our Bucks! One more win and we’re halfway to Pasadena!