COLLEGE FOOTBALL Buckeyes face first 0-4 Big Ten start since 1922 season

OSU's 33-7 loss to Iowa Saturday was its third straight defeat.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Just how bad is the Ohio State offense?
Only six other Division I teams -- Arizona, Utah State, Mississippi State, New Mexico State, Marshall and Duke -- are averaging fewer yards than the Buckeyes' 285.
The first three-game losing streak in Jim Tressel's four seasons has the Buckeyes in territory they haven't visited in a while.
Saturday's 33-7 loss to Iowa has the Buckeyes (3-3, 0-3 Big Ten) tied with Indiana and Penn State for eighth place in the league standings. Only Illinois (0-4) has a worse league mark.
The Buckeyes haven't started out 0-3 in the league since John Cooper's first season (1988) as coach. The Buckeyes' last 0-4 start was in 1922.
"We've got a will to win, we've just got to find a way to do it," fullback Brandon Joe said.
Big problems
The Buckeyes' problems don't require a rocket scientist to decipher -- the offense can't pass or run with consistency and the defense isn't stopping anyone.
Iowa sophomore quarterback Drew Tate carved up the Buckeyes' secondary for 331 yards by completing 26-of-39 passes. Wideout Clinton Solomon had 131 yards on seven receptions with two touchdowns.
Saturday, the Buckeyes only crossed midfield twice, one on their final possession in the fourth quarter when backup quarterback Troy Smith capped the drive with a 23-yard touchdown pass to tight end Rory Nichol.
The Hawkeyes, on the other hand, crossed midfield on their first five possessions, but were limited to 10 first-half points. An interception and fumble by starting quarterback Justin Zwick turned the game into a blowout.
Out of BCS picture
The Buckeyes opened October with losses to Northwestern and Wisconsin that pretty much eliminated their hopes for a BCS bowl.
Today, Buckeye fans probably can rule out a trip to Florida on New Year's Day for either the Citrus or Outback bowls. Those berths go to teams that finish high in the Big Ten standings.
Ohio State is most likely vying for a trip to Texas the week after Christmas (San Antonio for the Alamo Bowl or El Paso for the Sun Bowl). That, of course, depends on the Buckeyes winning three of their final five games to become bowl eligible.
Home games against Indiana (2-4) and Penn State (2-4) are next.
Three road games
Road trips to Michigan State (4-3, 3-1) and Purdue (5-1, 2-1) will precede the regular season finale against Michigan (6-1, 4-0) on Nov. 20.
Ohio State went to Iowa averaging 306 yards on offense and ranked 97th in Division I-A (out of 117 schools). The Buckeyes missed their average by 130 yards.
"When you don't run the football well, it affects everything," Tressel said.
Tressel, to no one's surprise, kept mum after the game about whether he has a quarterback controversy on his hand.
Zwick was yanked, partly because of a shoulder injury and partly because Tressel wanted to see what Smith could do.
"In the first half, he was banged in the shoulder and it bothered him," Tressel said of Zwick. "At the same time, I felt we needed to find another way to move the football."
Initially, Smith's presence meant little as the Buckeyes went three-and-out on their next two drives.
"I was disappointed in myself -- I guess those are growing pains I have to deal with," Smith said. "I was happy to get this opportunity, but I should have done things to bring my team back. But it's a relief not to have been shut out.
Wants another chance
"Hopefully if I get another chance, I'll do a better job," Smith said.
Zwick completed 6-of-14 passes for 74 yards. Smith was 8-of-12 for 74 yards.
"He did a couple of good things, obviously on that last drive," Tressel said of Smith. "We moved the ball and had a little spark."
Even worse was the Buckeyes' rushing attack. Starter Lydell Ross had 9 yards on 10 carries. Antonio Pittman led the Buckeyes with 17 yards on seven tries and Smith had 16 yards on six runs.
Wide receiver Santonio Holmes said the Buckeyes have to "keep digging deep within ourselves. No matter who is at quarterback, we still have to win."
Or stay home for the holidays.
williams@vindy.com