Buckeyes’ Title Defense Starts With Huskies

No matter the opponent, the season can’t start soon enough for defending national champion Ohio State.

The No. 2 Buckeyes open at home against the Washington Huskies without standout tailback Maurice Clarett, suspended by the school for “multiple games” for filing an exaggerated police report about stolen property.

“Now we get to go find out on Saturday night just how far along we are,” Ohio State Coach Jim Tressel said.

No. 17 Washington has a new coach in Keith Gilbertson, who took over after Rick Neuheisel was fired last month for gambling on NCAA basketball tournaments and then lying to investigators about it.

Both teams are loaded with stars, beginning with Washington quarterback Cody Pickett and Ohio State’s two-way standout Chris Gamble.

While Clarett is out, the Buckeyes return all their starters on offense, including quarterback Craig Krenzel and receiver Michael Jenkins.

Maurice Hall will open at tailback, with Lydell Ross set to share the load.

“I think we have good running backs,” Tressel said. “I think Lydell Ross and Maurice Hall have shown they can do outstanding things.”

Clarett ran for 1,237 yards and 18 touchdowns last season. But Ross had 619 yards and six touchdowns, and Hall added 370 yards and four touchdowns, including the winning scores against Illinois and Michigan.

Clarett, who missed the team’s first 23 preseason workouts, practiced this week and spent his time on the scout team portraying Washington tailback Rich Alexis.

Gilbertson, the Huskies’ offensive coordinator before his promotion, believes the Buckeyes will try to run.

“They’ll pound it off tackle and then they pound it some more,” Gilbertson said. “And then just about the time you think they’re ready to throw one, they’re going to pound one in there again on you.”

Krenzel won’t be bashful about throwing, especially to Jenkins, who topped 1,000 yards receiving and caught six touchdown passes.

The Huskies’ hopes ride on the arm of Pickett, who became the first Pac-10 quarterback to top 4,000 yards passing last season. Also back is All-American receiver Reggie Williams, who caught 94 passes for 1,454 yards and 11 touchdowns.

*

With two new coordinators and four other first-year assistants, Nebraska Coach Frank Solich said he didn’t want to reveal much about new wrinkles in the offense and defense.

The wraps come off today against No. 24 Oklahoma State, but the Cowboys aren’t expressing any worry.

“They have a new offensive and defensive coordinator,” safety Elbert Craig said, “so I think this is the best time to catch them.”

What’s known about Nebraska’s offense is that offensive coordinator Barney Cotton plans to mix in more passing.

But Cowboy Coach Les Miles anticipates seeing the Nebraska power running game.

“They are very equipped right now to run the football,” he said. “We will concern ourselves with running first and then with the passing game.”

*

Colorado State enters its game against Colorado having won three of four in the series.

And momentum isn’t the only thing that has swung in Colorado State’s favor. The No. 23 Rams might have superior talent.

Colorado State has 15 starters returning from a 10-4 team. Colorado has replaced most of its offensive line and its quarterback, Joel Klatt, has thrown only three passes in his college career. The Buffaloes also have been slow starters under Coach Gary Barnett, losing their last four openers -- three to Colorado State -- and are two-point underdogs.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do,” Barnett said. “The kids know it and the coaches know it.”

*

Anwar Phillips returned to the Penn State team after his acquittal on sexual assault charges and could play as early as Sept. 6 against Boston College.

Phillips was not allowed to join the team until after Tuesday’s verdict, and NCAA rules require players to practice at least five days before they can play.

“I don’t see any reason not to have him on the team and see what he can do,” Coach Joe Paterno said.

“I’d like to put this behind everyone, but I don’t know if that’s possible.”

*

Former Alabama quarterback Michael Landrum was charged with murder in Linden, Ala., in the deaths of his 3-year-old daughter and her grandmother.

Landrum, 41, was jailed without bond in the deaths of Mikayla Little and Ida Little, 52. The woman was taking care of the child, whose mother was in Iraq with the National Guard.