AA- I am sure you've seen it already, but LeAnne Schreiber, the ESPN Ombudsman, had a good column today about cross promotion. She made some good points. I don't know if the OSU-USC hype applies, but some parallels can be drawn.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=schreiber_leanne&id=3580854

I don't know if this counts because it's not college football, but last year's Patriots-Colts "Super Bowl 41.5" game received a lot of hype from the leader.

In addition to the 2005 Heisman Presentation to Reggie Bush, will they also be showing a re-enactment of the agent handing over the keys to the rent-free house for Reggie Bush's parents? That would be lovely.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news?slug=ys-bushprobe

I thought the commercial that said "If you miss this football game your heart will explode" was a bit much.

Just a bit.

They hype Duke/Carolina to the Nth degree Every. Time. They. Play.

I have to give ESPN a pass here...the game has been hyped by EVERYBODY for months now. They did the same for OSU/Michigan in '06, Texas/OSU in '05, ND/USC in '05. I mean, look back to 1993 when ESPN did the first on-campus gameday for the FSU/ND battle.

I don't have a problem when ESPN goes overboard for a legimate big game, like this one. The problem is hyping crap like every UNC/Duke game or the X-Games.

Yeah, good point Sean O. They're just breaking out new things everyday for this game that I haven't seen before. The webpage has an item for each day this week.

Again, not a bad idea....just different.

It's inferior. This leads us nowhere nearer to a playoff. If the game actually meant something toward a real championship, then perhaps I'd watch. I'll watch Southern Methodist vs. Texas Tech because at least that will be a really exciting game. Screw you BCS.

I'll watch Southern Methodist vs. Texas Tech because at least that will be a really exciting game.

Especially since Beanie Wells is now "doubtful."

Also new. Cute girl...

http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/videopage?videoId=3581594&categoryId=3579993&brand=null

Beanie Wells doubtful = give the 10.5 points

Not quite sure the point in rebroadcasting the USC and Ohio State games from earlier this year.

This game's going to suck. It would've with Wells, it will without him. USC is just better, by a lot.

maybe its b/c Beanie Wells aint playing (as per Tressel 1 hour ago)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080911/ap_on_sp_co_ne/fbc_t25_ohio_st_wells_8

Its not just the WWL. The LA Times has been running stories all week about previous OSU-USC matchups... from the 70's!!! Its kind of silly. I think most college football fans are going to watch, but enough with the overkill. Unless overkill has changed her name to Erin Andrews.

USC is going to run a train on Ohio State, sorta like what has happened every time a Big 10 team has had a high profile game outside the conference the last two seasons.

Kyle, I agree USC will v likely win (and likely by double-digits w Beanie out) but let's not get carried away. OSU easily beat a #2 Texas team in a similar OOC game in 2006. Plus, the "mighty" Big 10 has sprinkled in some other wins (such as '07 UM over #9 Florida in Citrus Bowl, '06 PSU over Tenn in Outback Bowl) over the past two years. They're just clearly behind the SEC and Pac-10 overall, paired with UM having some epic gags early and OSU getting stomped late, which understandably stands out in everyone's mind.

You're absolutely right. I just like bashing the Big 10 whenever possible :)

Oh, and on that note: Fresno State over Wisconsin. Who's with me?!

the difference here is that if florida and georgia face each other ranked 1 and 2 on nov. 1st (definite possibility) there will be so much less coverage because the game will be on cbs.

USC and Ohio State didn't even play in the 1990 Rose Bowl. ESPN looks stupid if they are promoting it that way.