Ohio State's coaches have spent all of this week working on "the option."

No, not the option offense. But rather any option other than having quarterback Braxton Miller running the ball so much.

Miller has 44 carries through two games -- only 10 players in all of FBS have more. And most if not all of them are running backs, so they don't also have to be versatile enough to run an offense and throw passes.

With the top two tailbacks (Carlos Hyde, Jordan Hall) either sidelined or severely limited this week by injuries, that leaves two other largely unproven backs (Rod Smith, Brio'nte Dunn) to shoulder much of the running game.

Coach Urban Meyer says the Buckeyes won't know if they've solved their problem until they play California on Saturday.