ESPN College Football

LOS ANGELES -- The 96th Rose Bowl Game presented by Citi is nearly upon us, and here are three keys for No. 8 Ohio State as it tries to end its BCS bowl slide against No. 7 Oregon on New Year's Day (ABC, 4:30 p.m. ET).

1. Allow Terrelle Pryor to make a difference with his feet: I know Pryor is a bit banged up, but he remains Ohio State's most dangerous offensive weapon. I've yet to see a defense consistently stop Pryor around the edges, and that includes Texas in the 2009 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, a game where Pryor easily could have had 50 more rush yards. If the Buckeyes can run between the tackles with Brandon Saine and Dan Herron and then go outside with Pryor, they'll be tough to stop. It's the last game. It's a must win. It's time to turn Pryor loose and let him be a difference maker.

2. Buckeyes linebackers must tackle well in the open field: Oregon knows Ohio State's defensive line is trouble, and it will try to run away from Cameron Heyward, Thaddeus Gibson and Co. LaMichael James is one of the fastest backs Ohio State has faced in some time, so there will be increased pressure on linebackers Ross Homan, Brian Rolle and Austin Spitler to be sound in their tackling. Ohio State tackles better than the Pac-10 defenses Oregon typically faces, but James, Jeremiah Masoli, Kenjon Barner and LeGarrette Blount all have the speed to take it the distance.

3. Win the special teams edge: This is usually a given for Ohio State, but the Buckeyes have some questions at kicker and with their punt and kick returners. They also allowed a long kickoff return for a touchdown Nov. 14 against Iowa. Ohio State can help its offense by winning the field-position battle, breaking off a big runback or two and keeping Oregon's dangerous return teams in check. Barner averages 24.3 yards on kickoff returns and has a 100-yard touchdown, and he's no slouch on punt returns (9.1 ypr average). If the game comes down to a field goal, Jim Tressel has two decent options in Devin Barclay and Aaron Pettrey.

What are three keys for Oregon in the Rose Bowl Game presented by Citi?

1. Play loose: Ohio State carries a heavy burden into the Rose Bowl: its recent futility in big games as well as the Big Ten's sagging national image (fair or unfair). Whatever the players -- and coaches -- say, that is part of their pregame mindset. Oregon? It carries unusual uniforms into the scenic stadium. It carries its fancy-pants swagger. At least it should. While the Ducks have been poised in big games all year, this is the biggest stage by far. How will the young players respond to the moment, particularly if things go wrong early? The Buckeyes' defense figures to be the best unit the Ducks have faced this season. Will that stiff resistance cause frustration? Or what if the Buckeyes' running game has its way against an undersized Ducks defense? Oregon must gear up for a 60-minute game. It can't tighten up or panic if things go wrong early.

2. Attack Pryor: Texas' Vince Young had his "hello world" moment in the 2005 Rose Bowl against Michigan, and it's not impossible to imagine Buckeyes' talented but inconsistent quarterback, Terrelle Pryor, posting his versus Oregon. The Ducks can't let Pryor gain early confidence, and they particularly can't let him run without paying a price. Pryor is banged-up -- he's playing with knee and ankle injuries -- so when he breaks contain on scrambles or takes off on designed run plays, the Ducks need to smack the heck out of him. Make him think. Make him want to slide or run out of bounds. And when Pryor and his powerful but often errant arm drop back to pass, the Ducks can't let him feel comfortable and set his feet. A skittish Pryor is the best kind of Pryor for an opposing defense.

3. Spread the wealth: For Oregon, it all starts with the spread option: quarterback Jeremiah Masoli and running back LaMichael James. Ohio State has to stop that first, and don't be surprised if the Buckeyes' rugged front seven is up to the task early. The key is variety and balance. Such as, the spread option becomes a play-action pass and becomes Masoli to tight end Ed Dickson downfield against man coverage. Or, Masoli takes off to the perimeter but then dumps the ball to receiver Jeff Maehl. A little LeGarrette Blount up the middle for some physical play. And, you know, Masoli throws a pretty good deep ball. Oregon can't let a good Ohio State defense get comfortable. The Ducks must use all of their playmakers and force Ohio State to account for all areas of the field.