Ohio State’s gantlet of a 2011 season ended in predictable fashion.

The brief Luke Fickell era plopped at the finish with a rather uninspiring 24-17 loss to Florida in the Gator Bowl. It was the Buckeyes’ fourth straight loss, their first losing streak that long in 68 years.

It capped their record at 6-7, their first losing season since they went 4-6-1 in 1988. And considering the yearlong NCAA investigation, the suspensions and the stunning — at least to OSU officials — postseason ban for 2012 levied by the NCAA, it has been quite the 13 months since improper benefits from a tattoo-parlor owner stained the Buckeyes.

But enough of that. A new sheriff is in town, Urban Meyer.

Get ready to stomach “Urban renewal” puns for the foreseeable future, but also understand he means business. He met with the Buckeyes early in the morning after they returned from Florida, and it’s safe to assume he didn’t greet them with a congratulatory pat on the back.

Next season will not end with a championship, but it will include plenty of intrigue as Meyer settles in.

OSU beat reporters Tim May and Bill Rabinowitz look briefly at the Gator Bowl and then gaze ahead to the beginning of the Meyer era.

Rabinowitz: Well, Tim, that Gator Bowl was hardly worth waiting more than a month for. I at least expected a little razzle-dazzle in Jim Bollman’s farewell as offensive coordinator. Instead, it was the same somnambulant offense we saw early in the season. Florida did its homework. The Gators exploited Braxton Miller’s weaknesses as a freshman — his shaky pocket presence, reluctance to throw any risky passes and lack of touch on short passes. They negated his biggest strength by bracketing him so he couldn’t get outside the pocket and run. Defensively, the Buckeyes were OK but couldn’t get off the field at times. And, of course, the special teams were a disaster.

May: Somnambulant? Are you serious (yawn)? Granted, it was not the finest hour for an OSU offense that had about plenty of such outings this season. But the fumbles by Daniel Herron and DeVier Posey, and Miller’s overthrow of a wide-open Posey in the end zone on a drive that ended with a field goal — those were just as vital to the outcome as the special-teams gaffes. I thought the defense played pretty well though, as one of the defenders pointed out, kickoff coverage is tackling, and the coverage team is made up primarily of defenders.

Rabinowitz: Yes, somnambulant. When describing the Buckeyes’ offense this year, we often had to dig deep into our repertoire. That’s one thing that will certainly change under Meyer. It won’t be a tepid attack that plays not to lose. It’ll be fun watching the Buckeyes use the entire field, vertically and horizontally. But before they get deep into learning the new scheme, they will be put through the wringer. Meyer wants to test their resolve, and he’ll push them to the limit in offseason conditioning workouts. Mickey Marotti, the new strength coach, has an assistant athletics director title. That tells you how important Meyer considers him. Marotti has been known to use unconventional methods, such as making players push a loaded van around the practice field. Ought to be interesting.

May: I don’t think conditioning or resolve has been a problem. Alan Johnson, now the strength coach at Northwestern, brought the tire-flipping and truck-pushing regimen to Ohio State in 2001. Eric Lichter had his own methods. And, of course, defensive lineman John Simon has been using tires and anything else he can find in his routine for years. But when a team goes 6-7, and it has pretty much a new coaching staff and people looking to prove themselves, the winter, spring and summer are all about the change.

Rabinowitz: Let’s look at how the 2012 team might be composed. On offense, the only sure things are Miller at quarterback, Jake Stoneburner at tight end, Zach Boren at fullback and Jake Mewhort and Andrew Norwell on the line. There will be stiff competition at running back and receiver, though there’s definitely more proven quality at running back with Jordan Hall and Carlos Hyde. One of the big questions will be filling out the offensive line. Reid Fragel is moving there from tight end, and he has the frame to be an effective tackle. The Buckeyes like their young linemen, but they are unproven. Center Brian Bobek and tackle Antonio Underwood will need to emerge as sophomores, as will juniors-to-be Corey Linsley and Marcus Hall. The position battles throughout the offense figure to be intense.

May: I see Bobek moving right in at center, while Linsley, Hall, Underwood and Fragel are capable of filling the other spots, depending on how they are apportioned. Will Norwell move back out to tackle? Fragel has tackle written all over him. As for the defense, the immediate concern is linebacker. Ryan Shazier, Etienne Sabino, Storm Klein and Jordan Whiting are among those returning, but the competence there needs to take a couple of steps back up the ladder. It will be interesting to see whether freshman Joshua Perry, an early enrollee, and some others can make some noise come spring. Last year’s prize recruit, Curtis Grant, might end up at defensive end before he’s done, but he also might get one more serious look at linebacker.

Rabinowitz: The lack of impact by Grant was glaring, especially in light of how thin the Buckeyes were at linebacker by the end of the year. I agree that his future may be more as a hybrid defensive end/linebacker. I was impressed by Sabino in the Gator Bowl. He saved a touchdown with one nasty hit and played with more decisiveness than he had during the regular season. Shazier, as we’ve said many times, is a star in the making. I like the potential of the secondary. Everyone returns except Tyler Moeller, and all four starting defensive backs — Bradley Roby, Travis Howard, C.J. Barnett and Christian Bryant — have plenty of ability. Roby, in particular, could really have a breakout year in 2012. If Nathan Williams can make a successful return from microfracture knee surgery, the defense could make a big leap. Of course, Simon and Johnathan Hankins will anchor the line, and quite well.

May: The defense could gain some sudden impact from blue-chip recruits such as Noah Spence, Adolphus Washington and Tommy Schutt on the line. But the 2012 recruiting class needs another linebacker or two, it needs another offensive lineman or two, and it could use an impact athlete/receiver type. We’ll see how that goes down the stretch. Now that the coaching staff is complete, Meyer and his assistants can concentrate on finishing off the 2012 recruiting and begin making inroads on the 2013 class while also working on how things will change offensively and defensively in the spring. That’s quite the agenda.

Rabinowitz: If there’s a good thing about the bowl ban, it’s that the Buckeyes can adjust to the Meyer way knowing that if they take some lumps in the transition, it’s not going to cost them a championship. So they might feel a little more freedom to take some chances as they gear up for what could be a monster 2013 season. Meyer has already turned around what had been a mediocre 2012 recruiting class. Give him another year, and I’ll be shocked if OSU is not at or near the very top of the recruiting rankings next time around, especially considering that the state of Ohio’s next class is considered a fertile one.

May: Recruiting is what it’s all about, something Meyer has always known. That said, I could see him making an immediate, positive impact on the 2012 Buckeyes. With the Big Ten Leaders Division in flux — new coaches at Illinois and Penn State as well as OSU; Wisconsin losing key performers, including quarterback Russell Wilson; Indiana being Indiana; and Purdue having to play at OSU in 2012 — the Buckeyes have a chance to put up a good record. With eight home games, including Nebraska and Michigan, they could make some noise in the Associated Press poll. Just like 2011, 2012 promises to be interesting.

brabinowitz@dispatch.com

tmay@dispatch.com