Erik Haw. Team captains were announced August 25, 2006. Defensive captains named were seniors Quinn Pitcock and David Patterson. Offensive captains were seniors Troy Smith and Doug Datish. On August 30, Jim Tressel announced the awarding of scholarships to four former walk-ons—senior WR Derek Harden, senior fullback Ryan Franzinger, RS junior fullback and wedge buster Trever Robinson, and RS sophomore center Tyler "Tank" Whaley. These scholarships were freed due to the departures of Sirjo Welch (grades), Chad Hoobler (transferred to Ashland), Devon Jordan (injuries) and the aforementioned Marcel Frost. Mike Roberts (transferred to Indiana State) and Sian Cotton (grades) also left the program earlier in the year. On August 31, 2006, senior linebacker Mike D'Andrea underwent knee surgery and was declared out for the season. Schedule Rankings Following their victory over arch-rival Michigan on November 18, Ohio State became the first team ever to score a perfect 1.000 in the BCS composite score. Game summaries Ohio State 35, Northern Illinois 12 All-time record against NIU: 1–0–0 (first meeting) Ohio State's offense scored the first four times it had the ball, rolling up 28 points in the first 15:05 of the game. After moving out to a big lead, the Buckeyes rotated many players in and out of the game on both offense and defense en route to an easy 35–12 opening game victory. NIU running back Garrett Wolfe, as predicted, was the dominant force for the Huskies, amassing 285 of the Huskies’ 343 total yards, including 171 yards rushing, while touching the ball on half of Northern Illinois's offensive plays. Except for Wolfe, the Huskies were totally ineffective on offense, converting only one out of thirteen third downs. The Buckeye defense, which featured five first-time starters, sacked Huskie quarterbacks Phil Horvath and Dan Nicholson four times and intercepted Horvath once. On offense, captain Troy Smith effectively directed the offense, completing 18 of 25 passes for 297 yards and three touchdowns. His completions were well-distributed, with Ted Ginn Jr. catching four for 123 yards and 2 touchdowns, including a 58-yard score; and Anthony Gonzalez making four receptions for 53 yards and a score. Running back Antonio Pittman carried the ball 19 times for 111 yards and a touchdown, while true freshman Chris Wells, in his first game as a Buckeye, carried the ball 10 times for 50 yards and a touchdown. The Buckeyes’ 488 yards of total offense were marred by