Ohio State starting quarterback Todd Boeckman's playing time could be reduced in OSU's game against Troy on Saturday at Ohio Stadium if coach Jim Tressel follows through on what he said at his weekly press conference Tuesday.

Tressel indicated Boeckman and freshman Terrelle Pryor probably would split playing time at QB on Saturday.

"We said if we had a game last night (Monday) with what we were planning to do, that we envisioned that it would be 50-50," Tressel said. "But that's certainly affected by how Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday go. And it's affected by what the first quarter, second quarter and on beyond looks like. So, if the game was at this moment, that's how we envision it."

Boeckman was 14 of 21 for 84 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions in a 35-3 loss to Southern California last Saturday. He also lost a fumble while being sacked.

In the last two games, with injured starting tailback Chris Wells out of the lineup, Ohio State has averaged only 239 yards a game total offense. Boeckman has averaged 97 yards passing in those two games.

Pryor and Boeckman shared time against USC, with Boeckman playing the majority of the time. The freshman was 7 of 9 passing for 52 yards and rushed for 40 yards on 11 carries.

It was expected Pryor would get some playing time from the beginning, but he apparently has advanced even faster than Tressel expected.

"What's been impressive to me about Terrelle is that if you take the 20-some preseason practices, Todd probably had 50 percent of the snaps, Terrelle had 25 percent and so did Joe Bauserman," Tressel said. "And then you move into games and Todd probably had 75 percent or the snaps in the first game and the other guys shared 25 percent."

"Then in the OU game, Todd probably had 95 percent of the snaps. Yet Terrelle has progressed with the lack of snaps in practice and in the game more than you would think a guy could."

Tressel also liked what he saw from Pryor in front of 93,000 fans at the Los Angeles Coliseum against No. 1 USC.

"I think if you knew nothing about football and you watched that game you wouldn't ever take away that this was a freshman playing his first significant amount of football," he said. "Terrelle has been very impressive and there are not many freshmen that I've had that, with very limited reps (practice repetitions) who have been able to pick up as much as he has. He's a pretty special player."

Boeckman's interceptions, including one that was returned for a touchdown, and reading of defenses against USC seemed to bother Tressel.

"Obviously, the thing Todd would tell you first and foremost - he can't throw the ball to the other team, especially if the other team is as good as the one we just played," the OSU coach said on the Big Ten teleconference.

"But we can't survive interceptions versus anyone in our schedule. So I think we'll have some good, lively competition, and it'll be, I think, how much playing time happens from here out will be based in large part on how practice goes, and then in large part how are we doing on Saturday."

Boeckman and Pryor were not made available for interviews on Monday.

NOTES:

WELLS STILL UNCERTAIN: Tailback Chris "Beanie" Wells is listed as "doubtful" at this point for Saturday's game.

Wells has run well in a straight line this week but has yet to do cuts and changes of direction. "That's where we had our setback last week," Tressel said. "So we'll have to see how that goes and update that later in the week."

Tressel did not offer any specific details on the injury but said doctors have told him it is not something that will require surgery during the season.

REHRING OUT: Starting offensive guard Steve Rehring will miss Saturday's game after being hurt against USC.

Bryant Browning could be moved from tackle to guard and freshman J.B. Shugarts inserted at tackle, or Andrew Miller could fill Rehring's guard spot in the two most likely scenarios on Saturday.