Star running back Maurice Clarett won’t be in uniform Saturday night when defending national champion Ohio State opens its season against No. 17 Washington.

Rick Neuheisel will be back in Washington instead of coaching the 17th-ranked Huskies against the No. 2 Buckeyes.

Both teams will look quite a bit different than people expected heading into the season.

Clarett was suspended last week for his role in an exaggerated car theft report. Neuheisel was fired last month for gambling on NCAA basketball tournaments and then lying to NCAA investigators when first questioned. But their teams must go on without them.

The Buckeyes survived when Clarett was sidelined last year with a shoulder injury. Maurice Hall and Lydell Ross will share the load until Clarett returns, but they won’t have nearly as strong a defense behind them as the Buckeyes had in their national title season.

“Ohio State will have more than one quality tailback,” said Huskies coach Keith Gilbertson, who took over for Neuheisel earlier this summer. “The two other youngsters that are listed to play are highly respected guys, highly recruited, and we know they’re going to put a quality athlete at tailback.”

Clarett’s absence will put increased pressure on the passing abilities of Craig Krenzel, who is clutch but not flashy.

Told not to do anything to lose the game last season, Krenzel now will be counted on to make the key plays to win early in the season for the Buckeyes.

“What’s different about Ohio State from the end of year to now is there are five or six great defensive players no longer with us and we’re missing a tailback who was very significant,” Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel said. “You can’t heap all … that on one guy. They all have to do a little bit and I see Craig being part of that.”

Gilbertson is starting his third head coaching job. But his teams at Idaho and California didn’t have nearly the talent the Huskies do. Washington has 14 returning starters, including prolific quarterback Cody Pickett and game-breaking receiver Reggie Williams.

Last year, Pickett’s 4,458 yards passing made him the first Pac-10 quarterback to break 4,000 yards in a single season. Williams was a first-team All-American after averaging 111.8 yards receiving a game.

The combination of Pickett to Williams could prove to be a tough task for a Buckeyes defense that needs to replace both starting safeties.

The picks:

North Texas (plus 33) at No. 1 Oklahoma

Sooners get easy start on title run … OKLAHOMA 41-7.

No. 17 Washington (plus 9) at No. 2 Ohio State

Buckeyes will miss Clarett … WASHINGTON 27-24.

No. 3 Miami (minus 28) at Louisiana Tech (Thursday)

QB Brock Berlin opens Canes career on the road … MIAMI 31-13.

Central Michigan (plus 33) at No. 4 Michigan

Wolverines won’t miss star DB Marlin Jackson … MICHIGAN 42-10.

New Mexico State (plus 29) at No. 5 Texas (Sunday)

QB Chance Mock takes over high-powered Horns … TEXAS 45-10.

No. 8 Southern Cal (plus 4) at No. 6 Auburn

Tough first test for new USC QB Matt Leinart … AUBURN 24-13.

Troy State (plus 37) at No. 7 Kansas State

RB Darren Sproles and QB Ell Roberson are too much for Trojans … KANSAS STATE 49-7.

Central Florida (plus 20) at No. 9 Virginia Tech (Sunday)

Golden Knights try to show they’re Big East worthy … VIRGINIA TECH 49-24.

No. 11 Georgia (minus 21/2) at Clemson

Short-handed Bulldogs look to survive … GEORGIA 24-17.

Fresno State (plus 21) at No. 12 Tennessee

Vols QB Casey Clausen is healthy again … TENNESSEE 31-17.

No. 13 Florida State (minus 161/2) at North Carolina

Seminoles look to bounce back from disappointing ’02 … FLORIDA STATE 34-14.

Louisiana-Monroe (plus 35) at No. 14 LSU

Tigers QB Matt Mauck is back from foot injury … LSU 45-7.

No. 15 Maryland (minus 81/2) at Northern Illinois (Thursday)

Huskies RB Michael Turner is unknown star … N. ILLINOIS 27-24.

Western Carolina (no line) at No. 16 North Carolina State

Philip Rivers & Co. get an easy tuneup … N.C. STATE 49-3.

Duke (plus 16) at No. 18 Virginia

Al Groh has Cavs poised for big season … VIRGINIA 34-14.

No. 21 Wisconsin (minus 3) at West Virginia

QB Rasheed Marshall will give Badgers fits … WEST VIRGINIA 31-27.

No. 23 Colorado State (minus 11/2) vs. Colorado (at Denver)

Rams looking for fourth win in five years vs. Buffs … COLORADO STATE 31-21.

No. 24 Oklahoma State (minus 8) at Nebraska

Cowboys WR Rashaun Woods might be best in nation … OKLAHOMA STATE 31-21.

No. 25 TCU (minus 61/2) at Tulane

Horned Frogs in preseason poll for second time since 1960 . … TCU 27-17.

AP-ES-08-27-03 1846EDT