Once in turmoil, Buckeyes starting to think 'Big' Ten

Jim Tressel has been preaching to not overlook 35-point underdog Illinois.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- In a darkened meeting room deep inside the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, coach Jim Tressel turned on an overhead projector and tried to illuminate his players.
The bright reflection on the wall said it all. Tressel listed the best teams in Ohio State history and what they had done in November. Team after team had an unblemished record.
"To be a great team, you have to be perfect in November, that was the point he was emphasizing," center Nick Mangold said.
Eye stretch run
Three weeks removed from turmoil, and three weeks away from at least a share of a Big Ten title, the 12th-ranked Buckeyes are primed to make a stretch run. Since a 17-10 loss at Penn State Oct. 8 -- which led to calls to change the quarterback and fire the offensive coordinator -- the Buckeyes have won three in a row and are in a virtual tie for the top spot in the conference,
Today they play Illinois -- winless in the Big Ten and stuck in a rut of six losses -- before playing host to Northwestern and hitting the road to take on rival Michigan.
It really could be a November to remember.
At the same time the Illini (2-6, 0-5) and Buckeyes (6-2, 4-1) kick off, Wisconsin (8-1, 5-1) takes on Penn State (8-1, 5-1) with the loser dropping back in the Big Ten standings. The Buckeyes, however, are trying to focus only on the task at hand and not the other games and other teams that still affect where they finish in the race.
Player's thoughts
"That's kind of a nothing game for us," wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez said of the Wisconsin-Penn State clash. "No matter what happens if we win out and take care of our business then we're Big Ten champs."
No one could blame the Buckeyes if their minds wander. The Illini have given up at least 35 points to each of their last six opponents, including 61 and 63 in home losses to Michigan State and Penn State, respectively.
"I've seen more big plays this year than ever," said Illinois coach Ron Zook, a former Ohio State assistant coach under John Cooper. "It says a lot for the league and the quality of big-time players that are in this league."
He's likely to see a few more. Ted Ginn Jr. has returned kicks for touchdowns the last two weeks for the Buckeyes. Tailback Antonio Pittman is coming off a career-best 186-yard rushing game and is inching close to hitting the 1,000-yard mark. Quarterback Troy Smith has completed 38-of-58 passes for an average of 236 yards and two scores during Ohio State's current three-game winning streak. And the defense has surrendered yards but little else while ranking among the top units in the country.
Careful
Tressel has been preaching to not overlook the Illini, who are 35-point underdogs.
"Yeah, it makes you uncomfortable because we're not 35 points better," Tressel said. "It's still going to be about what we do."
The Illini are trying to gauge where they are in a rebuilding plan.
"It's been a tough season so far," offensive tackle Ryan McDonald said. "To get a win against Ohio State would be amazing. It would do a lot of good things for us."