QUARTERBACK

Ohio State: Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith is the most dynamic player in the country, a threat to throw or run for a touchdown on any play. He is most feared for his ability to run out of the pocket, yet he was fourth in the nation in passing efficiency. He is 25-2 as a starter for the Buckeyes, including a 10-1 record against ranked teams. This season, he completed 199 of 297 passes for 2,507 yards and a school-record 30 touchdowns. He was intercepted just five times, and three of those were deflections. He also rushed for 233 yards and a touchdown.

Florida: Chris Leak is a four-year starter who has grown more comfortable in coach Urban Meyer's offense in his second season in the system. Leak, a second-team All-SEC selection, has thrown for 2,729 yards and 22 TDs this season with 13 interceptions. He holds the school record for passing yardage (11,000), completions (870) and attempts (1,422). The quarterback of the future also sees action in the present. Freshman Tim Tebow is often called on in red-zone and short-yardage situations and is the second-leading rusher on the club (430 yards), with a team-leading seven rushing TDs.

Advantage: OSU

RUNNING BACK

Ohio State: Junior TB Antonio Pittman, a 5-11, 195-pounder, is a strong inside runner but has the speed to go the distance. He ran for 1,171 yards this year, slightly less than the 1,331 he ran for last season. He's the fifth Ohio State back with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. He averaged five yards a carry and has 21 career rushing TDs. Backup TB Chris Wells, a freshman, can also break the long run. He had a 52-yarder against Michigan. In all, he gained 567 yards on 102 carries. He had 155 yards combined in his last two games - against Northwestern and Michigan.

Florida: Senior DeShawn Wynn led a balanced Gators rushing attack with 630 yards (5.1 a carry) and scored five TDs. Wynn has been hampered by a bone bruise in his right foot in recent weeks but says he is ready to go. Sophomore Kestahn Moore ran for 275 yards (5.3 a carry) and two TDs.

Advantage: OSU

RECEIVERS

Ohio State: Are juniors Ted Ginn Jr. and Anthony Gonzalez the best pair of wide receivers in the country? They'd get an argument from Southern California's Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith, but maybe no one else. Ginn, a 6-0, 180-pound speedster who is a second-team All-American, caught 59 passes for 781 yards and nine TDs. Gonzalez, a 6-0, 195-pounder, specializes in clutch catches. He caught 49 passes for 723 yards and eight TDs. Third receiver Brian Robiskie, a 6-3, 195-pound freshman, caught 29 passes for 383 yards and five TDs. Against Michigan, he caught seven passes for 89 yards.

Florida: Although SEC freshman of the year Percy Harvin often doesn't start, he can be a difference-maker in this game. An electrifying dual threat in Meyer's spread offense, Harvin caught 25 passes for 367 yards and rushed 36 times for 406 yards, averaging 12.7 yards a touch, the best for any freshman in the nation. The leading receiver is Dallas Baker (56 catches, 897 yards, nine TDs) with Andre Caldwell (55-571-5) close behind. Captain Jemalle Cornelius (16.3 yards a catch) and tight ends Cornelius Ingram and Tate Casey can all be counted on.

Advantage: OSU

OFFENSIVE LINE

Ohio State: An outstanding line is anchored by the "smallest" of the group, 6-5, 295-pound C Doug Datish, an All-American. The others are all over 300 pounds. RT Kirk Barton, a 310-pound junior, was All-Big Ten. So was RG T.J. Downing, a 305-pound senior. The left side of the line features two mammoth sophomores, 6-8, 329-pound G Steve Rehring and 6-8, 325-pound T Alex Boone. Behind this line, the Buckeyes put together per-game averages of 36.3 points, 409.8 yards and converted 51 percent of their third-down opportunities.

Florida: The Gators' starting linemen average 310 pounds a man and are all between 6-3 and 6-6. The quintet is anchored by All-SEC C Steve Rissler. LT Phil Trautwein and RG Drew Miller were named second-team all-conference. RT Carlton Medder and LG Jim Tartt, who missed the Vanderbilt game, round out the front five. T Jason Watkins and G Ronnie Wilson are keys off the bench.

Advantage: OSU

DEFENSIVE LINE

Ohio State: Senior DT Quinn Pitcock, a 6-3, 295-pounder, is an All-American who made 36 tackles (11 tackles for losses) and had eight sacks. Sophomore DE Vernon Gholston was an all-Big Ten selection who had 44 tackles (14 for losses) and 7.5 sacks. Senior DE Jay Richardson had four sacks. Behind this line, the Buckeyes were second nationally in scoring defense.

Florida: Florida's chances could come down to how well it can control and pressure Troy Smith and that starts up front. DE Derrick Harvey, a second-team All-SEC choice, tied for third in the league with eight sacks. DE Jarvis Moss led all UF linemen with 54 tackles and has 13 sacks over the past two seasons. DT Ray McDonald, an all-SEC choice, has also played end and has 33 tackles. DT Joe Cohen, who was a RB before 2004, was in on 26 stops. DT Steven Harris (14 tackles) figures to see plenty of time.

Advantage: OSU

LINEBACKERS

Ohio State: MLB James Laurinaitis, a 6-3, 244-pound sophomore, is the Nagurski Award winner as the nation's best defensive player. He had a team-high 100 tackles, including 13 against Texas, and had five interceptions. Strong-side LB Marcus Freeman, another sophomore, was third on the team with 56 tackles and broke up six passes. Weak-side starter John Kerr had 26 tackles.

Florida: Fast and loaded with play-making ability, Florida's LBs feature-all SEC weak-side man Earl Everett, who had 78 tackles; second-team all-conference pick Brandon Siler (73 tackles, 3 sacks), a Bednarik Award semifinalist, in the middle; and Brian Crum (30 tackles) on the strong side. A pair of freshmen, Brandon Spikes and Dustin Doe, figure to contribute off the bench.

Advantage: Equal.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Ohio State: The Buckeyes secondary is led by All-Big Ten senior SS Brandon Mitchell, who had 51 tackles and two interceptions; All-Big Ten CB Antonio Smith, who earned a scholarship after four years as a walk-on and was second on the team with 66 tackles; and All-Big Ten CB Malcolm Jenkins, who had 51 tackles and four interceptions. FS Jamario O'Neal, a sophomore, moved into the starting lineup halfway through the season and finished the year with a four-tackle game against Michigan.

Florida: CB Ryan Smith, a transfer from Utah, and FS Reggie Nelson, had eight and six interceptions, respectively, and lead a ball-hawking secondary that will be counted on to control OSU's outstanding group of receivers. Strong safety Tony Joiner led the defensive backs in tackles with 58 and picked off two passes. CB Reggie Lewis, a former receiver, had 27 tackles and two interceptions. Backup CB Tremaine McCollum (24 tackles) plays behind Smith.

Advantage: Florida

SPECIAL TEAMS

Ohio State: Aaron Pettrey, a redshirt freshman, made eight of 11 field goals, including two of three from 50-plus yards. P A.J. Trapasso averaged 41.0 yards and landed 15 punts inside opponents' 20-yard line. Ginn is the Big Ten career leader with six punt returns for touchdowns.

Florida: Brandon James has been the Gators' chief return man, averaging 17.5 yards on kickoffs and 11.6 on punt returns (with one TD). Eric Wilbur has been a solid punter, leading the SEC with a 42.2-yard average. If tonight's game comes down to a UF field goal, however, the Gators could be nervous. After a solid season last year, Chris Hetland is 4 for 13 on field goals, none longer than 33 yards.

Advantage: OSU