The final game in the 2011 college football season kicks off later tonight, capping a rather bland year for the sport. With the continued struggles of traditional powers, and a dominant run by LSU from the first game to the last, the regular season experienced little drama until the final weeks, when the debate between Alabama and Oklahoma State took center stage.

Alabama won the debate, clearly, and they will face LSU tonight in a rematch from their matchup November 5th. LSU won that game in overtime, on the road in Tuscaloosa, but it was about as even a contest as one could imagine. The Tigers outrushed Alabama, but the Crimson Tide had a more effective passing attack despite two interceptions thrown.

Earlier today, Grantland published Chris Brown's preview of the Alabama running game, which the Tide will need to establish if they stand to pull off the upset. Brown highlights the unique philosophy of Alabama offensive coordinator Jim McElwain, a philosophy that has angered some Alabama fans for being too simple. It's true that the Tide passing game is simple, perhaps painfully so, but the running game has a certain depth to it that Brown illuminates in the piece. McElwain combines single-back principles with multiple tight-end personnel groupings, and LSU is one of the few teams with the size and depth to match the Tide pound-for-pound, which makes it doubly interesting how McElwain adjusts for this second game.

I want LSU to win, purely for the sublimity that would come with Les Miles' second national championship. I have a sneaking suspicion that Nick Saban and his staff will scheme away an upset, though.

• Stadium Journey reviewed Everbank Field. Impressions? A fairly average stadium whose most distinguishing quality is the number of churches that litter the adjoining streets.
• Jake Stoneburner remains a game-time decision. Even if he plays, Fickell indicated that it would only be in certain packages and not as a starter. Stoneburner's absence would matter more if Ohio State ever threw to him, so as such, it's not a big deal.
• Tackle Matt Patchan was ruled out for the Gators earlier in the week, leaving redshirt freshman Chaz Green and Xavier Nixon as the starters. Nixon was benched earlier in the season for poor play.
  
• True freshman Steve Miller may figure into Ohio State's pressure packages. He's had strong bowl practices, and Ohio State has lacked edge pressure since Nathan Williams was lost for the year. With Florida's offensive line issues, we could have a Miller breaking out on each side of the ball.
• Prediction Time. Ben: Ohio State 33 - Florida 24. Chip: Ohio State 24 - Florida 14. Tyler: Florida 24 - Ohio State 17
  

24-23, Bucks lead at the half. Denard Robinson was hurt on Michigan's last drive. No word on his status.  Braxton Miller has been excellent and has matched Robinson play-for-play. The defense needs to limit Michigan's big plays; there were too many in the first half. Overall, it's a ballgame and we're in it. Take it home, Buckeyes.

Game Notes

• Mark Rea of Scout.com again made his annual visit to Woody's grave before the Michigan game. See what he had to say before The Game begins.
• Reserve Michigan linebacker Brennan Beyer will miss the game. He is Michigan's 4th man at the position, and a good blitzer, but they should be fine without him, although their pressure package takes a hit.
  
• MGoBlog characterizes Orhian Johnson, C.J. Barnett, and Christian Bryant as "crap tacklers and mediocre players," which isn't really accurate. Johnson is a solid tackler but just average in coverage, one McGloin screw up notwithstanding. Barnett is a fine tackler and strong in coverage; Bryant's an inconsistent tackler, excellent in man coverage, and sometimes lost in zone. Travis Howard and poor linebacker play have been the real defensive issues this season. I'm far more worried about Etienne Sabino and Storm Klein tracking Denard Robinson than I am the secondary.
• Brady Hoke is a big Johnny Simon fan. In his press conference last Wednesday, he noted how much he loves watching Simon play.
  
• Reading a Brady Hoke press conference transcript before The Game is exactly like reading a Jim Tressel transcript before The Game. Eerie.
  

Game Notes:

• As if there were any doubt, Mike McQueary remains on administrative leave and will not travel with the NIttany Lions to Columbus.
• Ryan Shazier will start in place of Andrew Sweat. The true freshman flies around and makes plays, but he also makes mistakes. It will be interesting to see how he holds up.
• J.B. Shugarts may play, but his status is still uncertain. One thing is clear, true freshman Antonio Underwood cannot start in his place again. Against Purdue's mediocre defensive line, Underwood was a sieve. Against Penn State's talented defensive line, the results will be worse.
• After leaving last weekend's game with an injury, defensive tackle Johnathon Hankins is back.
• DeVier Posey returns. Our passing game is rudimentary and ineffective, but Posey's presence can do nothing but improve it.

The interesting games are clustered around the 3:30 time slot this weekend.

Game Notes:

• J.B. Shugarts is out. It appears true freshman Antonio Underwood will replace him. Shugarts missed snaps in last weekend's game and Underwood stepped in then, as well. It's interesting to note that Underwood got the nod instead of Andrew Norwell, who began the season at left tackle and is now playing left guard.
• After sitting against Indiana, Jordan Hall will return to the running back mix. Carlos Hyde played well in Hall's absence, so there will be controversy about who receives the excess carries behind Boom Herron.
• If all goes right, Braxton Miller may not need to complete a single pass for the Buckeyes to win. Purdue has one of the worst, and lightest, defensive lines in the Big Ten, and Ohio State's offensive line should push them around.
• Likewise, Purdue's offensive line has struggled. While the Bucks lack a pure speed rusher, defensive end Johnny Simon will wreak havoc upon the porous Boilermaker line.
• Corey "Philly" Brown will not play after injuring his ankle in practice this week.
• 89% of AtO voters expect the Buckeyes to emerge victorious.