OHIO STATE Buckeyes talkin' Texas just like everyone else

The game has dominated sports talk in Columbus for weeks.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- Ohio State's Countdown to Texas has officially begun.
"Honestly, my thoughts have been on Texas for a long, long time," Buckeyes offensive lineman Rob Sims said. "I'm glad to finally get to it."
No. 6 Ohio State dispatched Miami of Ohio 34-14 Saturday, lifting a self-imposed ban against talking about the second-ranked Longhorns.
It didn't take long for a Buckeye to say something he might later regret.
Referring to Texas' star quarterback, Ohio State linebacker Bobby Carpenter said, "Our goal is when Vince Young leaves here he won't be a candidate for the Heisman."
Asked about that comment after he passed for three touchdowns and ran for another in Texas' 60-3 rout of Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday, Young said, "Let'em talk.
"I know if they focus on me, it's going to open up some opportunities for other players," Young said. "When the game time comes, let's see what they're saying then."
Strong start
The Buckeyes were steadfast in refusing to even utter the word "Texas" in the week leading up to the Miami game, trying to avoid looking past a team that they considered a threat to pull off an upset.
But that wasn't happening on a day when Ted Ginn Jr. caught a 42-yard touchdown pass and Donte Whitner returned an interception 26 yards for a score. Justin Zwick tossed a touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes and the defense harassed Miami quarterback Josh Betts all day while building a 34-0 lead.
Afterwards, the Buckeyes welcomed the chance to talk about the Texas game.
"A lot of people have been talking about it for a long time," safety Nate Salley said.
Defensive lineman Mike Kudla said, "That game is so built up, there's not much to say. Two of the best teams in country, a night game on national TV in Ohio Stadium -- it can't get much better than that."
Dominant topic
The Texas-Ohio State game has been the dominant topic among Buckeyes fans for weeks.
Tickets for the game in Columbus have been going for upward of $1,500 a pair.
"It'll be the game of the year -- well, at least for now," wide receiver Santonio Holmes said.
Miami fell behind early and never caught up as the Buckeyes hurried toward the showdown next week.
"It didn't seem like they were overlooking us at all," said Miami's Shane Montgomery, making his debut as a college head coach. "It didn't seem like they were holding anything back."
The Buckeyes defense -- led by linebackers A.J. Hawk, Anthony Schlegel and Bobby Carpenter -- didn't let the RedHawks inside the Ohio State 34 until Miami scored two late touchdowns against substitutes.
Ohio State harassed Betts all day, sacking him five times. The RedHawks netted just 48 yards on 30 rushes.
"I feel a little sorry for Josh Betts, he took so many good shots today," Carpenter said.
Whitner's TD came seconds after he made a major mistake. On a Miami punt from deep in the end zone with Ohio State ahead 13-0, Whitner knocked down punter Jacob Richardson to give the RedHawks a first down.
On the next play, Whitner jumped inside receiver Josh Williams and picked off Betts' throw to go untouched for the touchdown.
Ginn, with four punt-return touchdowns a year ago to set Ohio State and Big Ten records, broke free for a TD pass from Todd Boeckman late in the third quarter. His touchdown made it 34-0.