COLUMBUS, OHIO ? No. 1 Ohio State has thought of everything in preparing for tonight’s showdown at No. 2 Texas.

The weather, however, is out of the Buckeyes’ control.

They held two open practices at night to prepare for the primetime start.

They’ve spent countless hours going over film of last year’s game and the Longhorns’ opening victory over North Texas.

And all of that won’t help them a bit when it comes to tackling the warmth of Texas.

“There’s no way we could simulate the heat,” Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said. “We’ve had lots of humidity here, but that’s not the same.”

The forecast today calls for a high temperature approaching 90, with the low around 70. The temperature has been about 20 degrees cooler in Ohio in recent days.

That’s ideal weather to leave a window open at night, but maybe not a good way to get used to the heat for a football game.

Then again, things could be worse for Ohio State. Last year’s high temperature in Austin on Sept. 9 was 96.

“Everybody says how hot it is,” defensive end Jay Richardson said.

The Longhorns consider their 12th man to be the local weatherman.

Today's big game matches Texas red-shirt freshman quarterback Colt McCoy against Ohio State fifth-year senior QB Troy Smith. The meeting between top-ranked OSU and No. 2 UT is college football's first No. 1 vs. No. 2 regular-season meeting since 1996.

“Weather is always going to be a factor, whether we’re up there in December and it’s snowing or down here right now and it feels like hell,” Texas running back Selvin Young said. “They’re going to get a chance to see what our atmosphere is like. We won’t be able to tell until those guys are running to the sideline in the fourth quarter looking for water.”

Water, obviously, is the key. The Buckeyes have been told and told again to drink plenty of water, in the days leading up to today, on Friday’s flight, and before, during and after the game.

“That’s one of the different ways that we’ve tried to prepare for the heat,” Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith said. “We’re attacking it and drinking as much water as we can, which we try to emphasize every week. But I’m sure it will be overemphasized this week.”

Most warm-climate teams roll in replacements so that everyone gets plenty of time to replenish fluids and avoid having their stamina sapped by the oppressive heat.

The Buckeyes hope to follow that template, continually putting fresh people in the game. But that might be a problem on defense, where they have nine new starters and are particularly green in the secondary.

Today's big game matches Texas red-shirt freshman quarterback Colt McCoy, against Ohio State fifth-year senior QB Troy Smith. The meeting between top-ranked OSU and No. 2 UT is college football's first No. 1 vs. No. 2 regular-season meeting since 1996.

“We need to take a lesson from Texas and be committed in that type of heat to substituting,” Tressel said.

He said coaches, trainers and doctors cannot fall into the trap of letting a player stay on the field too long.

“You’re kidding yourself if you think someone’s going to just rise up and handle things just because they’re tough,” he said.

As if the heat wasn’t enough of a problem, Ohio State has had little success playing after dark.

The Buckeyes have lost their last four regular-season night games, including their only two defeats a year ago (25-22 against Texas at home and a month later at Penn State, 17-10).

None of the Buckeyes have an explanation, particularly since they’re 4-0 in their last four bowl games, all played after dark.

“I don’t think that when the night comes, a switch turns on in our heads to play a certain way,” Smith said.

Right guard T.J. Downing said night games require patience.

“Maybe it’s the anxiety of waiting around all day – that can get in guys’ heads sometimes,” he said. “It’s tough to really pinpoint anything but hopefully we can change our luck on Saturday.”