Any Ohio State player who either forgot or wasn't around for the football game three years ago against the University of Cincinnati has been reminded by now what happened.

        The Buckeyes won 34-20, but they got a little scare when the Bearcats jumped out to a 17-3 lead - in Ohio Stadium, of all places.

        “We were a little shocked,” OSU senior linebacker Cie Grant said. “We have the memory. We have the experience. If we're overlooking these guys, then stupid on us. ... We're giving Cincinnati the same respect that we gave Washington State (last week).”

        Said Buckeyes senior linebacker Matt Wilhelm: “I'm sure they're going to come out roaring and trying to pull an upset, as I would if I were playing for Cincinnati right now.”

        Sixth-ranked OSU meets the Bearcats today at Paul Brown Stadium, its first road game against an in-state team in 68 years and its first game in Cincinnati since 1911.

        A sellout crowd of 66,927 - which would be the largest to see a football game in Cincinnati - is expected. The game is being nationally televised on ESPN.

        “Everybody's juiced around the town,” UC senior linebacker Willis Edwards said. “Family members. Friends. Everybody's talking about it.”

        The last time Ohio State lost to an in-state team was Oberlin in 1921 (7-6). The Buckeyes haven't lost on the road to an Ohio school since Case Western Reserve in Cleveland in 1910 (14-10).

        UC's only two victories in 12 previous meetings with the Buckeyes came in 1896 and 1897.

        “This would be a big step for this program, there's no doubt about that,” Bearcats sophomore quarterback Gino Guidugli said.

        Cincinnati (1-1) is coming off a disappointing 35-32 loss to West Virginia in which Jonathan Ruffin's 49-yard field goal attempt as time expired hit the left upright. The Bearcats had rallied from an 18-point deficit.

        OSU is 3-0 after handling then-No.10 Washington State a week ago in Columbus (25-7). The Buckeyes have outscored their opponents 121-45, but their primary offensive weapon, freshman running back Maurice Clarett, will not start and probably won't play at all today. He had arthroscopic surgery Tuesday on his right knee.

        Still, the Buckeyes have Lydell Ross and Maurice Hall, two sophomores who went into the preseason on even ground, so to speak, with Clarett.

        “They're not chopped liver,” UC coach Rick Minter said.

        The onus is on the Bearcats' defense, which has allowed an average of 32 points and 436.5 yards a game. And that was against TCU and West Virginia.

        What UC would like is to get some points early, then slow down Ohio State's running game and make junior quarterback Craig Krenzel throw the ball. Krenzel, who earlier this season tied a school record with 12 consecutive completions, was just 4-of-10 passing last week for 71 yards. He was sacked four times.

        “If we score fast and it takes them using up all the clock to run the ball .... we might pull this off,” UC senior defensive end Antwan Peek said.

        The Bearcats feel they have enough offensive firepower with a senior running back (DeMarco McCleskey), three senior receivers (LaDaris Vann, Tye Keith and Jon Olinger) and, of course, Guidugli. The 2001 Conference USA freshman of the year is 38-of-68 passing for 562 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions this season.

        Vann actually had his breakout game as a freshman against the Buckeyes. Going into what was the fourth game of his college career, he had caught just seven passes for 38 yards.

        In the first quarter at OSU, Vann caught a 15-yard pass, then turned it into a 75-yard touchdown. He finished with five catches for 106 yards and went on to be named C-USA co-Freshman of the Year.

        “We've got another shot (at Ohio State),” Vann said. “We've got to make this one count. I'm just going in looking at it like it's any other game. Last week, I was hyped. The week before, I was hyped. If we go out and play our hearts out, people around the world will be noticing UC.”

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