11 p.m.: Heading down to the field ato get ready for a live TV shot with Ch. 10 (CBS in Columbus). Regardless of the outcome of this game, support this team. They played a terrific game. Hope you enjoyed reading this blog. I would like to try this again sometime. Go Bucks!

10:50 p.m.: You can't stop TP in situations like that. That is an absolute back breaker for a defense.

10:40 p.m.: We have got to keep stopping them like that. They moved the ball but it was a stop. No turnovers the rest of the way. It's the fourth quarter. Everyone at home hold up four fingers.

10:30 p.m.: Ok, 15-10 after the field goal. A little breathing room. They need a TD or a couple field goals. The line is playing great but give credit to the backs in pass protection. Terrelle has been pressured but for the most part he has had time to operate.

10:25 p.m.: Brandon Saine with the catch over the middle for 20 yards. Outstanding concentration. Terrelle almost made that scramble work. He is an amazing athlete. DeVier just got the first down on effort. Nice cutback to the middle of the field for the first down but TP almost gave the ball back. Boom made a great play there to save the possession.

10:15 p.m. This is a key series right here. We can't allow any explosive plays of 20 or more yards. That was a huge series by Thad. Great bat down. SAFETY! 12-10 Buckeyes. 106,033 in attendance. A new Ohio Stadium record.

10:06 p.m.: Cam Heyward just had a huge sack. Great series for the defense. We are on the plus side of the 50 and need to get some points here.

Halftime: I met Vince Vaughn and said hey to Santonio Holmes. But other than that we have to tighten up the run defense. We need to stop the toss sweep and I'm sure our defensive coaches are all over that. We gave them 10 points and they only had 5 yards in the first quarter. Here we go.

9:42 p.m.: Great play by Young Fame (Andre Amos). That is a huge play - pushing him out of bounds like that to keep it tied up.

9:40 p.m.: This is a big play right here. We have to stop USC before the half.

9:37 p.m.: We can't let them go 80 yards in 48 seconds. We have to stay strong.

9:32 p.m.: Keep texting your friends at the stadium to stay loud. Crowd noise in these types of games is huge! Miscommunications with USC’s offense, especially with a true freshman quarterback, are good for the Bucks. Stay LOUD Columbus.

9:30 p.m.: Great stand by out defense. A 44-yard attempt now for USC missed - hit the crossbar. Great work by our defense.

9:29 p.m.: Nice hit, Cameron Heyward!

9:24 p.m.: This is a huge play - 3-1. Third-down conversions are huge in these types of games.

9:21 p.m.: Come on guys. We need to make a stop.

9:15 p.m.: That was a great punt by Thoma. We needed that. Now the defense needs a stop to get off the field.

9:10 p.m. That was a huge play by Ross Homan. That gets the defense off the field and again, gets the crowd some life. That was Homan's second career INT. Let's go Terrelle.

9:06 p.m. Just got first quarter stats. We had 148 and they had 5 yards and we are up 10-7. It just shows you how important turnovers are in games, especially big games. The defense is doing a great job. Spitler is playing today. There have been a couple 3rd and one plays vs. our defense. Those are critical. Offense needs to convert and the defense needs a stop to get off the field. USC's first, 1st down came in the second quarter.

9:05 p.m.: Those points to take the lead 10-7 are huge. I can't stress enough how important it is to keep the crowd going. Coach Johnson is pumped. That was a great kickoff coverage. Anything inside the 20 is outstanding.

9 p.m.: Hey a special hello to my mom and family out there reading this. Oh, and the Bermans, too. Go Bucks!

8:53 p.m. Boom Herron just made that play work with outstanding pass protection. That was huge. Timeout USC. DeVier made a heck of a catch (career long grab of 34 yards) and run. Bulled his way for a couple extra yards down deep but without Boom that play doesn't happen.

8:50 p.m.: The teams exchanged punts and we have improved our field position. Now we have to get some points on the board.

8:35 p.m.: Let's look for Thad Gibson to make a play. Hey, everyone reading this, text your friends at the game and tell them to be loud. We need noise. What a great stand for the defense. That was needed. The offense has confidence. Now the D does as well.

8:30 p.m.: Boren had a great push on that 2-yard TD. We have to keep the crowd in this game. That's why this TD is so big. USC has played in big games and they are veterans but when you can't hear out on the field it is such a huge advantage to the home team. OK it's 7-7 and we have proven we can move the ball. (Prior ties career's record pass completion-56 yards).

8:25 p.m.: I just made a little too much of a noise in the working press box. But it's hard not to root for the guys you work out with. Especially for a guy like Boom who redshirted and ran on the scout time. Seeing him now as the starting tailback is fantastic. Dane's catch was the longest of his career, 56 yards (previous 53 vs. PSU last year). We need to push this one in.

8:23 p.m.: Great push by the O-Line. Boom with a great run. WOAH! Boom with another gain. Let's Go!

8:21 p.m. Down 7-0 we have got to get some points on the board. The way our defense played down there deep, the offense needs to get down the field and get on the board.

8:15 p.m.: That's a tough way to start. They got down to the 40 on an nice play to start the game. The interception or any turnover is hard to deal with so early when you are trying to build momentum.

8:10 p.m.: When I was a captain I always called tails at the coin toss. I think I lost once that year. You always want to put the defense on the field first, whether it’s video games or the real thing. They called tails and won the toss. They are kicking off so here we go.

8:05 p.m.: The guys are in tunnel now thinking don't trip. I was always the first one so if someone tripped I wouldn't run them over. The Cheerleaders and Brutus led us out and they run like a 6 second 40 (yard dash) so I was always worried about running them over.

8 p.m.: For a lot of the players it's really their first Big Game. My first was the Texas game in '05 and the '04 game with Michigan was huge. Script Ohio is awesome by the way. All the flashbulbs are popping. This is great.

7:55 p.m.: Was on the field with and it was about 3-deep all the way around with recruits from all the Ohio State teams. I was talking to all the NFL scouts. I have never seen Script Ohio before in person. This is great. You can tell the players are ready. The crowd is ready.

6:10 p.m.: The Buckeyes are walking in the Stadium right now from Skull Session. Walking down the ramp to the Soprano's theme song blasting in the empty stadium is the best. That show is my favorite. Other than winning, I think the walk to the lockerroom (dressed in suits) is the best part of the day, it was for me.

5:45 p.m.: Just arrived at my seat, row 1, seat 54 on the north 35 yard line in the Press Box. Great view from up here. I'm getting settled in and am on my way for some pregame bar-b-cue. I'll be posting throughout the game starting about 7:30 or so. Check back often.

Former OSU All-Big Ten tackle Kirk Barton shares his thoughts as long-awaited game plays out on the Ohio Stadium field

Buckeye Fans,

While you are watching the Top 10 clash between the Buckeyes and Trojans tonight at Ohio Stadium, follow Kirk Barton's blog. The former All-Big Ten offensive tackle will be perched in the press box as he shares his thoughts on the action.

Barton Bio

Four-year starting tackle and leader of offensive line ... AFCA first team All-America in 2007 ... first team all-Big Ten (media, coaches, Rivals) in 2007 ... 41 career starts ... voted team captain as senior ... won 2007 Jim Parker award for outstanding lineman ... Big Ten all-academic ... four-year letterman ... part of 2006 line that allowed just 12 sacks all season, protecting Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith.