DaytonDailyNews.com

Chris "Beanie" Wells, the bruising running back from Akron, gained 65 yards on 10 carries last week in Ohio State's easy victory against Indiana. That followed a game in which he gained 53 yards against Michigan State. He scored in both games.

It is the continued growth of the freshman, who is becoming more than simply a short-yardage option for Ohio State.

"I think Beanie came here as a very good ball-carrier and has become an even better ball-carrier," OSU coach Jim Tressel said.

The good news for Tressel is that he doesn't need to develop a starter immediately. He has one in junior Antonio Pittman, who has rushed for 778 yards, an average of 97.25 yards per game. There's still the third option, sophomore Maurice Wells, who had 62 yards Saturday.

But it's Chris Wells who OSU fans have their eyes on for the future.

"I think Beanie has come along very well and at the pace we'd hoped," Tressel said. "I've said many times: If we can continue to have three guys progress, that is going to pay dividends, and knock on wood, we're still sitting at that point."

Buckeye bits

• OSU quarterback Troy Smith has 21 touchdown passes this season. He needs nine more to break Bobby Hoying's school record of 29.

• The Buckeyes have won 15 straight games. The school record is 22, set between the 1967 and '69 seasons.

• Ohio State leads the Big Ten in scoring offense (34.9 points per game) and scoring defense (8.2).

• Of Anthony Gonzalez's 38 catches this season, 33 of them have resulted in first-down yardage.

• Tressel-coached teams have defeated Minnesota in each of their three meetings.