After a second straight thumping in the BCS National Championship Game, Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said his football team won't be back in the title game next year.

"We owe it to our fans not to do that," said Tressel, whose Buckeyes lost 38-24 to LSU Monday night, after getting shellacked by Florida 41-14 in 2007. "Last year was embarrassing. This year, perhaps more so, since we thought we'd learned from last year's mistakes. Until I'm confident that my team can play with - and more importantly, beat - a team from the SEC, we won't be back."

When asked how the team could possibly refuse an invitation to play in the BCS National Championship Game, Tressel replied, "Well, first you have to get invited. And with any luck, we'll actually get beat by a few creampuffs on our schedule next season, a la Stanford beating USC."

Reporters noted that Ohio State actually plays USC next year, on the road, in the third game of the season.

"Well, there ya go. If we get our butts kicked in that game, bright and early in the season, hopefully we can save the good folks of Ohio from getting their hopes up for the third straight season," Tressel said.

Aside from USC, Ohio State plays three out-of-conference foes in 2008: Youngstown State, Ohio and Troy. They close the season at home against Big Ten arch rival Michigan and its new coach, Rich Rodriguez.

"If we lose to Michigan at home on November 22, we DEFINITELY won't be playing in the BCS Championship Game," Tressel said, adding quickly, "I hope."

No doubt many Ohio residents concur.