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Minus Smith, Ohio State takes on coach's former team in opener

Sep 1, 2007 - 12:08 PM Youngstown State at No. 11 Ohio State 12:00 pm EDT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (Ticker) -- Jim Tressel will have a new quarterback when Ohio State takes on his former team.

With the Heisman Trophy-winning Troy Smith off to the NFL, Todd Boeckman is expected to start at quarterback for the 11th-ranked Buckeyes on Saturday against intrastate Football Championship Subdivision foe Youngstown State.

Tressel won four Division I-AA national championships in 15 years at Youngstown State before being hired at Ohio State after the 2000 season.

Tressel has continued his success with the Buckeyes, winning the national title in his second season and reaching the championship game last year.

Guided by Smith, the top-ranked Buckeyes went undefeated in 12 regular-season games, including 8-0 in the Big Ten Conference, and were favored to defeat Southeastern Conference winner Florida in the Bowl Championship Series title matchup.

But Ohio State instead was throttled by the Gators, 41-14.

A 23-year-old junior, Boeckman is unproven, having thrown just three passes in mop-up duty for Smith last year and 10 in his career.

Boeckman also will not have the luxury of throwing to Ted Ginn Jr. and Anthony Gonzalez, who joined Smith in the NFL.

But Boeckman will be protected by a massive line and be able to hand off to bruising Chris "Beanie" Wells, plus the Buckeye defense should be typically nasty and hold opponents in check.

The Penguins went 11-3 last season, winning the Gateway Conference before losing to eventual FCS champion Appalachian State in the semifinals of the playoffs.

A former Tressel assistant, Jon Heacock is 43-27 at the program since Tressel moved to Ohio State.

The teams will be playing for the first time.