So, is that it? Boeckman has to throw deep passes, complete or not, to keep LSU honest; and Flynn has to make long handoffs so others can win the game?

There are a couple of other things to consider.

The 51-day layoff probably does not do Ohio State any good in the long run — they were waxed by Florida after a similar layoff following the 2006 season — but Boeckman needed the break.

The Columbus Dispatch reported that Boeckman’s late-season slump had some roots in poor mechanics. He has worked for a month on not opening up and having balls sail on him.

Boeckman is called the Mad Bomber, according to the paper, and he is starting to get back in the groove that helped Ohio State vault to No. 1 before an upset loss to Illinois.

You saw that loss. It was Boeckman’s fault. He threw three interceptions, which is an example of when the quarterback position is not over-valued.

Boeckman has to throw deep — accurately — and make LSU backpedal, away from the line and away from ganging up on Beanie Wells. The Buckeyes quarterback completed 64 percent of his passes in the regular season, but just 20 of 36 with four interceptions in his last two games (Illinois and Michigan).

As for Flynn, he has to throw downfield accurately, too. This Ohio State defense is better than the Alabama defense and the short, quick throws to Doucet, Demetrius Byrd, and Brandon LaFell will be challenged. There has to be a bigger bite taken downfield at 15 to 20 yards.

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The biggest thing is that Boeckman and Flynn have a responsibility to their teams not to lose the game. And just think what happens if they really foul it up.

The BCS, under siege with Southern California and Georgia routs on New Year’s Day, will really get some heat. If these guys throw interceptions galore and dress this title game in rags, no one will say it was because the defenses were nasty and causing mayhem.

The critics will say it was because Ohio State and LSU didn’t deserve to be here; USC and Georgia should have been in this game instead.

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We are already speeding toward a plus-one model, The Game after The Games, and Boeckman and Flynn could get us there pretty quick with interceptions, or fumbling the ball while being sacked, or throwing incompletion after incompletion.

For the sake of the system, these two guys better be solid. For the sake of their teams, they better not lose it Monday night.