There are a few signs that Ohio State is ready to get back on track in a big way.

An 8-4 mark in 2004 that included a win over Michigan and a bowl victory over Oklahoma State was fairly palatable, especially when you consider where the Buckeyes were three weeks into the start of the Big Ten season.

At that point Jim Tressel's team had lost its first three conference games, and it seemed assured that this once-spectacular team was about to go into the dumper.

But then Tressel found an offensive fire-starter in QB Troy Smith, and the Buckeye defense started to meet expectations. The results were wins in four of their final five Big Ten games.

If the Buckeyes, who endured a spate of off-season legal problems, can win early-season home games over Texas and Iowa, this team should be in a great position when it travels to Ann Arbor for the season finale in late November. There are nine starters returning on each side of the ball.

The epic matchup with Texas is the kind of game hardcore college football fans have been dreaming about for quite some time. The defense needs to hold Vince Young in check and then do the same to Iowa's Drew Tate two weeks later. Ohio State has a very testing start to the schedule, but Tressel is itching to get this team back to the top of the college football world.

-- An Ohio State internal investigation found that Buckeye quarterback Troy Smith did not violate any NCAA rules when he attended a football camp sponsored by NFL signal-caller Steve McNair. Smith missed class to attend the camp, which appeared a potential violation of rules, but according to the school, because Smith was hired to attend the camp, it does not fall under NCAA purview.

-- Buckeyes have been showing up all over Ohio police blotters in recent weeks. Freshman kicker Jonathan Skeete was arrested on marijuana trafficking charges on May 11 and released on $10,000 bond. And running back Erik Haw was fined $100 for marijuana possession on May 18. Then on May 23, defensive lineman Tim Schafer was charged with disorderly conduct after getting into a bar fight. Coach Jim Tressel has declined direct comment on the respective situations.

-- Former OSU lineman Jim Houston was named to the College Football Hall of Fame. Houston started for Woody Hayes from 1957-59 and was twice named an All-American.

-- The Buckeyes hired former Bowling Green assistant head coach Tim Beckman to serve as their defensive coordinator. Beckman replaces Mark Snyder, who recently became the head coach at Marshall.

2006 DRAFT PROSPECTS: LB A.J. Hawk -- Can you "say first-round draft pick?" Hawk has been a star since his high school days and he is an extremely productive tackler and a big-time hitter.

C Nick Mangold -- The Big Ten is loaded at the center position and Mangold is a solid performer who can play guard or center. The scouts love his versatility.

OLT Rob Sims -- He's been rather unheralded, but he has great feet and has learned how to pass block.

LB Bobby Carpenter -- He does everything well and has tremendous size and speed. He is 6-3 and 255 pounds and runs a 4.5 40. Numbers like that will earn him a spot in the NFL.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I wouldn't look at it as I'm the starter. I think we both came into the spring as backups; there is no starter. (When) he worked hard, I needed to work harder, and vice versa. It's a good battle, and it's going to continue until the opener." -- Sophomore RB Antonio Pittman on his competition with Erik Haw.

OFFENSE: This is a tough group to figure. Based on the talent at hand and what happened last year, the Buckeye offense could be awesome, awful or somewhere in between.

WRs Ted Ginn Jr. and Santonio Holmes have freaky speed. Troy Smith was explosive in the 37-21 win over Michigan and could become a dominant player. Antonio Pittman and Erik Haw appear to be solid runners and the offensive line is very dependable. If all aspects come together, it should be fat city for the Buckeyes.

It may not work out that way. It certainly didn't last year for the majority of the season. That might have been the fault of QB Justin Zwick, who was highly regarded but not consistent for Ohio. Smith could wrest the job away from Zwick once again because of his signature performance against Michigan. If Zwick gets his job back, it's because of his arm strength and pedigree.

Pittman is determined to return the Buckeye running game to glory after averaging 5.3 yards per carry. He won't be able to relax because Haw is a very good runner on his own and will take the job if Pittman doesn't produce.

The Buckeyes have two of the most exciting players in the Big Ten in Holmes and Ginn. Holmes can go deep or take a short pass the distance. He caught 55 passes for 769 yards and 7 touchdowns a year ago.

Ginn was simply amazing as a punt returner last year with four touchdowns. He also caught 25 passes and turned two of those receptions into touchdowns. He looks completely unstoppable if he can stay healthy.

TE Ryan Hamby is not a huge weapon after catching 16 passes last year, but he can block and he appears to be improving.

The offensive line is a tough, veteran group. C Nick Mangold and OLT Rob Sims are the two best blockers and the two seniors among the starters. Tressel is hoping this group can provide the consistency that has been missing the last two years.

DEFENSE: This unit absorbed a blow when defensive coordinator Mark Snyder bolted during the spring to take the head coaching position at Marshall. Tressel went into the MAC to find Tim Beckman, who had been the assistant head coach at Bowling Green.

Beckman has to learn about the talent he has to work with, but he will be happy with his nine returning starters. The group at linebacker looks especially dangerous.

DE Mike Kudla is probably the best pass rusher on the defensive line. He had 28 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and 4 sacks a year ago. Kudla was slowed by a shoulder injury, but he understands how to beat a blocker and plays hard.

DTs Marcus Green and Quinn Pitcock are solid run defenders. Green had 32 tackles and three more behind the line last year, while Pitcock had 49 tackles and an interception and appears to be on the road All-Conference honors.

Hawk is a classic outside linebacker who will be highly sought after by the NFL next year. He is coming off a 146 tackle season and runs better than 4.5 in the 40.

Carpenter is also a sensational player with monstrous size. He is a very big hitter and also excels at pass coverage.

In the secondary, FS Nate Salley knows how to intimidate at 6-3 and 215 pounds. A few years ago, that would have been good size for a linebacker. He has improved significantly as a pass defender.