COLUMBUS, Ohio - We still don't know if No. 2 Ohio State is really good enough to warrant that ranking, or if the Buckeyes will eventually be good enough to play amongst the nation's elite.
We do know that the Buckeyes have a very capable backup quarterback, and that senior Kenny Guiton is smart enough, talented enough and always comes prepared when his number is called.
Guiton got that call early in Saturday's game vs. San Diego State when Braxton Miller was injured on the game's first drive. Ohio State scored on the next play -- and a whole bunch of plays after that.
Steady and efficient, Guiton kept the Buckeyes moving against a totally overmatched opponent and Ohio State won in a laugher, 42-7, after leading 35-0 at halftime. Guiton was 19-of-28 passing for 152 yards and a pair of scores and also ran for a 44-yard touchdown.
Before Saturday, Guiton had thrown 25 passes in his career.
"I really believe Kenny can do it," Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said. "What he did doesn't surprise me. (The scouting report) is that he's too slow, not strong enough arm and all that but all he does is lead, man.
"He has an incredible knowledge of the game and incredible leadership skills where our players really respond."
The initial diagnosis for Miller is a sprained MCL. Unofficially, that makes him questionable for at least next week's game at Cal. Meyer said that from what he knows now, "there's a chance" Miller can play next week.
Miller watched from the sideline, his knee in a brace. His job isn't in jeopardy as long as he returns to health, but Ohio State's offense still operated at a high level and Meyer's desired fast pace. Guiton was 10-of-13 in the first half with a touchdown and an interception. He was even better as a runner, not just going virtually untouched 44 yards for a touchdown but his knowing when to keep it and when to pitch it on option plays kept the Buckeyes moving in their intended direction.
He looked like he's been doing this for a long, long time and not like a guy who's never played this long in a college football game.
"He's a great distributor of the ball," Meyer said. "It's efficiency. He gets us in the right stuff at the right time. Getting us in the right play, that's a quarterback's responsibility. You don't always notice that...he does it very well."
Meyer once won a national championship with a team that had some guy named Tebow as the backup quarterback and situational player, so Meyer at first declined to get into comparisons. But he then said when it comes to making reads, staying ready and operating the offense, he's never had a backup he's trusted as much as he trusts Guiton.
Two weeks ago, Meyer named Guiton a team captain.
"He's a coach out there," Meyer said. "He has a really good mind and incredible leadership skills."
Guiton first delivered last season to keep Ohio State unbeaten, engineering a two-touchdown comeback against Purdue. Miller's penchant for taking punishment allowed Guiton to get in three games besides the Purdue comeback last year, and he played a cameo role last week that included a handful of snaps and two reads of the defensive alignment that led to two successful two-point conversions.
For a Buckeyes offense that's still developing weapons and still at least a week away from the return of last year's top running back, Carlos Hyde, there's nothing wrong with a secret weapon being at the ready.
"I take pride in the fact the offense almost does not skip a beat when I come in the game," Guiton said. "I just do my best to be a leader in that way.
"Getting on the scoreboard right away, that was a positive. I think I could have played a lot better in the second half, but that's what I will take away from this game and improve on. I just do my best to let my voice be heard and impact this team in a positive way."
Guiton led Ohio State on touchdown drives of 5 and 9 plays before Saturday's first quarter was over, and Guiton's 44-yard run out of a five-wide formation -- he simply made one read, then one cut and found the middle of the field wide open -- came with 5:33 left in the first half.
As much as anything besides a win is really necessary in Week Two, Ohio State wanted and needed a statement-type game Saturday after playing a mediocre final three quarters against Buffalo in last week's opener. The Buckeyes got both their desired result and a strong performance from Guiton.
Losing Miller isn't the way anyone envisioned starting this season of high expectations or Saturday's game. Knowing Guiton is in the bullpen and up to the task can help Meyer sleep a little better at night -- and help the Buckeyes keep those really big dreams in their sights.
