It would seem only fitting that the first foray onto the turf for the 2010 season for the Ohio State Buckeyes football team would be billed, “The Shootout at Ohio Stadium.”

After all, the Buckeyes are pitted against Thundering Herd of Marshall today at 7:30 p.m. (Big Ten Network, WFXJ). At the controls for the first time for Marshall is Doc Holliday, who comes to the school in Huntington, W.Va. from the staff at West Virginia University.

So, are the Buckeyes expecting a shootout reminiscent of the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral on Oct. 26, 1881 in Tombstone, Ariz. that featured an earlier Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp against the Clanton brothers?

Frankly, according to Ohio State offensive coordinator Jim Bollman, the Buckeye coaching staff and players don’t know what to expect from Marshall, especially with a new coaching staff in place and no means to scout their opponent.

“It’s impossible to prepare for a team like that,” the Harbor High School graduate said. “I know very little about (Holliday), other than he has a reputation of being a great recruiter.”

With all the uncertainty, it is a prescription for having to make adjustments on the fly.

“It’s imperative that you have to make those adjustments,” Bollman said. “That’s never a problem as a coach, but those guys out there on the field obviously have to be able to change gears quickly or you can have real problems.”

Certainly, the Buckeyes want to avoid a scenario similar to Marshall’s last visit to the Horseshoe in 2004. In that instance, they need a 55-yard field goal in the closing moments of regulation by Mike Nugent to avoid overtime for a 24-21 victory.

That turned out to be one of the first salvos from Nugent in a year when he was chosen OSU’s MVP, earned first-team All-American honors, won the Lou Groza Award as college football’s top placekicker and eventually was a second-round draft choice of the New York Jets. That was an 8-4 season for the Buckeyes in Jim Tressel’s and Bollman’s fourth year in Columbus that ended in a victory in the Alamo Bowl.

Even though Bollman’s offensive unit will be largely a veteran crew under the guidance of Terrelle Pryor when they take the field, he is expecting no soft touches from the Marshall defense.

“They have some very good people up front,” the Ashtabula County Football Hall of Fame member said. “Their best returning player is their linebacker (Mario Harvey), who is a big hitter.”

Harvey, a 6-foot, 250-pound senior outside linebacker, is considered a first-team preseason Conference USA selection. Michael Janac, a 6-4, 294-pound senior defensive tackle holds similar status, while DeQuan Bembry, a junior cornerback, is a third-team CUSA prediction and Kellen Harris, a junior middle linebacker, is picked for fourth-team CUSA preseason honors.

Other veterans in the Marshall defense are junior defensive end Vinny Curry, junior cornerback Ahmed Shakoor and junior free safety Omar Brown.

But Bollman’s major concern this week for the second-ranked Buckeyes, with a key intersectional battle looming on the horizon Sept. 11 at the Horseshoe against the Miami Hurricanes, is more with the execution of the OSU offense.

“It would be nice to have balance,” he said. “It’s important to be able to run and pass the ball well.”

Being productive offensively will be important because Marshall figures to have some firepower. That should come from new quarterback Willy Korn, a transfer from Clemson University, who will be throwing to a veteran receiver corps.

That group includes 6-6, 267-pound senior tight end Lee Smith, a first-team preseason CUSA pick. There are also experienced players at wide receiver in Antavious Wilson, a fourth-team CUSA pick, and Chuck Walker. Sophomore running back Martin Ward, a fourth-team CUSA projection, is also a talent.

Most people are familiar with the assets the Buckeyes have offensively. The progress of one player in particular should be of interest to area fans. Harvey graduate Chris Fields, who terrorized area teams while with the Red Raiders, figures to be a key contributor in his redshirt freshman season as a third or fourth receiver, most often operating as a slot receiver.

“(Fields) has an opportunity to help us a lot,” Bollman said. “He’s a solid player who needs to keep improving and be a dependable guy.”

Bollman is pleased with this year’s freshman class. He is particularly excited about freshman offensive lineman Andrew Norwell, a 6-5, 3-8-pounder from Cincinnati Anderson High School.

“I think he’s one freshman who will help us a lot,” Bollman said.

Mainly, Bollman is just glad the Buckeyes are finally going up against somebody in a different uniform that has hostile intent. The drudgery of training camp, especially in this year’s tremendous heat, is finally over.

“We’ve had a lot of nicks and nacks, but almost everybody is in pretty good shape,” he said. “It’s been a very physical camp.

“It’s been very hot and very tough, but hopefully that will help us in a game like this. Hopefully, all the guys have done a good job of hydrating.”

Opening on a Thursday night might seem to be a bit of a hassle with such a dramatic departure from routine. But Bollman looks at it as a positive.

“It should add a lot more excitement to the atmosphere,” he said. “There’s always great atmosphere here anyway, but a little more never hurts.”