Wells’ teammates were impressed. They voted the 6-1, 235-pound stud the team’s Most Valuable Player.

In a season in which the Buckeyes offense was supposed to struggle with the departure of Troy Smith, Ted Ginn Jr. and Pittman, Wells has been consistent, tough and driven.

“What has Beanie Wells meant? Oh, man. We wouldn’t be playing for the national championship  if it weren’t for Beanie Wells,” Tressel said. “I think he’s really grown.”

A big game against LSU could vault Wells into preseason Heisman contender status next season. Florida’s Tim Tebow clearly has a great shot at defending the award but Wells consistency could make him a solid choice.

“It’s not about awards," Wells said. "I don’t think about them. I just want to win. I can’t even believe my teammates voted me the MVP.”

Wells looks at the opportunity of playing for a national championship as part of his job. He is not just happy to be there and believes his team has an opportunity for redemption after the embarrassment against the Gators in 2007.

Wells knows that when Ohio State went to Arizona last January, the team had been on the banquet circuit and had read how wonderful they were in the media. As a result, the Buckeyes were not their usual, aggressive selves.

“This year, we’re a lot more focused,” Wells said. “We’re not 12-0 as we were last year. We’re 11-1, and we know what it feels like to lose. We don’t like that feeling at all, and we don’t want to feel that on the way home from this game”

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Wells is not going to New Orleans to sample the outstanding cuisine or get a taste of life on Bourbon Street. There’s only one thing that’s on Wells’ plate.

“I want to win the national championship,” Wells said. “That’s about it.”

Wells is focused, and that means his teammates will follow suit.