COLUMBUS - No. 24 North Carolina State is doing its best to forget what happened last Saturday.

''The main point I told the players is let's not talk about Wake Forest any more,'' Wolfpack quarterback Philip Rivers said of last week's stunning 38-24 loss to the Demon Deacons. ''We can analyze it and drive ourselves crazy and before you know it we're fixing to play another game.''

That next game comes Saturday when they take on No. 3 Ohio State before 105,000 at Ohio Stadium.

The Buckeyes are also doing their share of looking in the rearview mirror.

Starting tailback Maurice Clarett was suspended from the team on Wednesday for 16 violations of NCAA rules, including accepting improper benefits and lying to investigators.

Coach Jim Tressel said the Buckeyes did not welcome the end of the lengthy sideshow.

''I think disappointment might right now override closure,'' he said.

So far, the Buckeyes have been less than imposing without the freshman who scored 18 touchdowns and rushed for 1,237 yards in nine full games and parts of two others during last year's national championship season.

They are 2-0 after a narrow 16-13 victory over 32-point underdog San Diego State last week.

Ohio State struggled all day against the Aztecs. Quarterback Craig Krenzel had the worst game of his career with 5-of-20 passing for 76 yards and an interception. An offense with every starter back - except Clarett, that is - couldn't muster 200 yards.

''We were very fortunate to get through last week,'' offensive lineman Adrien Clarke said. ''Last week is over with and the next thing we need to do is get off that and get ready for N.C. State.''

Tressel has not hidden the fact he likes to turn back the clock on offense, controlling the ball with runs between the tackles while keeping the defense honest with passes to wiry wide-out Michael Jenkins.

''They run a very simple and basic game plan,'' Wolfpack coach Chuck Amato said. ''I'm sure Woody Hayes is just beaming up in heaven at the way coach Tressel is winning games at Ohio State. It was his way of doing it, being physical. He's saying, 'Attaboy! That's the way to win national championships. You pound 'em and you pound 'em and you pound 'em and then you stop them with a great defense.'''

But the offense has been a shadow of last year's. It is clear the Buckeyes miss Clarett's ability to slip tackles.

Ohio State is averaging 131 rushing yards a game. They exceeded that last season in every game but one - and Clarett topped it by himself five times.

''We've got a lot of work to do in that area, no question,'' Tressel said.

A week ago, the Buckeyes' only touchdown came on safety Will Allen's 100-yard sprint with an interception that was deflected by cornerback Chris Gamble.

Ohio State's defense remains stolid. The front line has harassed Washington's Cody Pickett and San Diego State's Jim Dlugolecki while limiting rushers to a total of 35 yards in the two games - and an average of .7 yards per attempt.

''Their front four is the most impressive thing to me,'' said Rivers, who can pass Florida State's Chris Weinke (9,839 yards) to become the ACC's career passing leader with 94 more yards. ''They get off the ball and fly to it. … The key for us is not to get in third and 10. We need to keep them on their toes and be consistent, to keep drives going.''

Rivers believes the Wolfpack is ready to move on.

''We haven't said a word about that last game,'' Rivers said. ''It's key that we can bounce back. Knowing we have 10 more (games) to go at least can keep you going. We still have a chance to reach our goals.

''Maybe we'll do it the hard way. Sometimes it doesn't work just right.''