Buckeyes get last shot at Mallett

Another year, another BCS bowl trip for the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Their record run will continue as the Buckeyes are headed back to where their BCS legend all started in 1999, the Sugar Bowl against Arkansas.

"The Buckeyes are excited to be going to the Sugar Bowl," coach Jim Tressel said. "The things I remember the most about the Sugar Bowl are the people [of New Orleans] and how excited they are to host the game, and the great pride they have in their city and in the history of the Sugar Bowl. When you think of the games that have been played in the Sugar Bowl, it's neat to be a part of this long history."

It will be only the Buckeyes second trip to the Sugar Bowl but the third time New Orleans has been their bowl destination since the BCS started.

While OSU won only its Sugar Bowl appearance in 1999 against Texas A&M, the Buckeyes beaten by LSU in the Superdome in the 2008 BCS National Championship game.

No championship will be on the line come January 4th but the Buckeyes can look at this game as a chance for redemption.

Beaten the last two times they have taken on the SEC in bowl games (both the 07’ and 08’ title games) one of the most famous stats used to insult the Buckeyes is 0-8.

Ohio State’s shocking record vs. SEC teams in bowl games.

It is something OSU definitely isn’t proud of and should be one of its biggest motivations heading into the contest.

For Arkansas, and more importantly its star quarterback, it is another shot to beat the Buckeyes.

In 2007 Ryan Mallett was getting reps in the Michigan offense behind fourth year starter Chad Henne. Henne was playing injured against OSU and Henne even got some snaps against the hated rival.

Since then, for Mallett and Michigan, things haven’t gone as planned.

A new coach and scheme lead the highly touted Mallett to transfer and he has never seen the Buckeyes again.

Even though he is no longer a Wolverine, their must still be some Buckeye hatred that Mallett has held inside over the years.

"It's going to be a fun game," Mallett said. "It's two great teams. Obviously, I had the traditional rivalry hatred (at Michigan). I've still got a little Michigan in me from that. I've never really been a big fan (of Ohio State)."

Mallett didn’t hold back, when asked how much he disliked OSU.

"I don't know if it's something you can say on air or in the paper," Mallett said.

You can be sure the Buckeyes will have some added incentive in sending their former rival QB to the NFL with a loss.

It should be an interesting matchup between two of the countries better quarterbacks.