As I'm sure you well know, one of the biggest college football games of the year happens in two weeks when USC and Ohio State meet up in LA. Whoever wins that game looks like they'll have a clear path to the BCS National Championship.

For reasons I can't understand, Ohio State is favored to win the match-up. Or maybe I should say was favored to win it.

That's because today against Youngstown State, Heisman candidate Beanie Wells went down in a heap during the third quarter after taking a handoff from Todd Boeckman and trying to make a cut.

Wells was helped off the field, and later returned to the bench in the fourth quarter wearing a boot on his right foot.

"I may have rolled it or planted wrong a play or two before," Wells said through Ohio State spokeswoman Shelly Poe. "Something just didn't feel right. Then I think I felt a pop. But the X-rays are OK, so we'll see how it feels in a day or two."

Just so you know, hearing a pop is never, ever a good thing.

As of right now, Jim Tressel confirmed that X-rays were negative, but he said he isn't sure if Wells will play next week against Ohio University. Also, supposedly teammate Ryan Pretorius said Wells told him the injury was to his right big toe, and an OSU source confirmed the injury was to the front of Wells’ foot.

Currently, Beanie's backup is Maurice Wells, a senior who's never averaged more than 3.7 yards-per-carry per season during his career. That's obviously a huge downgrade from Beanie.

What Ohio State does well - or should do well this year - is run the ball (with Beanie) and play great defense. But now one of those things will likely be less than 100% against USC. If this becomes a game where Boeckman has to throw all day, because Wells isn't full speed, it won't end well for Ohio State.

Plus, I'm not even sure why Ohio State was favored in the first place for the game against USC. USC may have an even better defense than Ohio State (there are some people that think 7 guys on USC's defense could go in the first two-rounds of the NFL Draft), they have an endless supply of top flight running backs, and a quarterback who's more athletic than John David Booty. And they're playing at the Colesium.

All I know is this. Ohio State really needs Wells to be 100% for this game, and I can't see that happening.

And hey, if Ohio State loses, it's really not that bad. At least we won't have to watch them lose a third consecutive national championship game.