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Ohio State gears up for another set of Trojans

Sep 20, 2008 - 11:49 AM Troy (2-0) at No. 14 Ohio State (2-1), 12:00 pm EDT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (Ticker) -- The last thing Ohio State wants to do is face the Trojans again. Luckily, these Trojans are not the best team in the country.

With Chris "Beanie" Wells' sidelined for a third straight game, the 14th-ranked Buckeyes host Troy on Saturday in their final non-conference game of the season.

Ohio State (2-1) was embarrassed last Saturday by top-ranked Southern California in the most anticipated game of the college football season. The game did not live up to the hype, as the Trojans cruised to a 35-3 victory.

The Buckeyes missed Wells, as they managed just 2.1 yards per carry against USC's swarming defense.

Considered a top Heisman Trophy candidate before suffering a toe injury in the season opener, Wells has missed the last two games - and Ohio State's offense has struggled without him, scoring only one touchdown over that stretch.

Wells, who rushed for 111 yards in the season opener against Youngstown State, finished his 2007 campaign with 1,609 rushing yards and 15 scores.

Ohio State coach Jim Tressel announced Thursday that the junior will miss yet another contest despite practicing on consecutive days earlier this week, something Wells was unable to do leading up to the USC game. However, with an overmatched opponent, Tressel figures to save the tailback for upcoming games against Big Ten Conference foes.

Troy does not plan on being pushed over, though. The Trojans are coming off an eight-win season and a share of the Sun Belt Conference title.

In 2007, Troy defeated Oklahoma State and played three ranked SEC teams (Arkansas, Florida and Georgia) tough on the road. The Trojans are looking for more success this year after jumping out to a 2-0 start thanks to their contest against LSU being postponed.

DuJuan Harris rushed for 148 yards and a pair of scores in Troy's season-opening 31-17 triumph over Middle Tennessee State and Jamie Hampton tossed four TD passes during last Saturday's 65-0 rout of Alcorn State.