COLUMBUS -- The Ohio State Buckeyes won't be sneaking up on anybody in 2003.

The defending national champions begin the season ranked No. 2 in the nation -- 11 spots higher than a year ago when the Buckeyes sidestepped trouble in seven games decided by a touchdown or less on their way to finishing 14-0.

''The challenges are greater with the size of the bull's-eye,'' Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said.

The Buckeyes expect everyone to be aiming to knock them off and make a name for themselves by unseating the reigning champ. Washington, which opens the season Saturday in a rare night game at Ohio Stadium, gets the first shot.

''Obviously, everybody's talking about us right now. That kind of should be expected,'' defensive lineman Tim Anderson said.

History is not on their side, that's for sure. In 1968, The Associated Press switched from voting a No. 1 team at the end of the regular season to selecting the national champion after the bowls. Since then, only four teams have won back-to-back titles, and only one (Nebraska in 1994-95) has since 1980.

Besides last season, Ohio State has captured AP titles in 1942, 1954 and 1968. In the years following those crowns, the Buckeyes went 3-6, 7-2 and 8-1, respectively.

The school also claims No. 1 rankings from a variety of other wire services, associations and publications in 1957, 1961 and 1970. Ohio State came back with records of 6-1-2, 6-3 and 6-4 the year after picking up those trophies.

Should the Buckeyes have the same winning percentage this year as they had after those previous six national titles, their record would be 8-4.