Big 10 Preview: Ohio State

Lets not discuss the scandals involving Urban Meyer and Zach Smith. Ohio State will be Ohio State and do Ohio State things. Last year, Ohio State went 12-2, losing to USC in the Cotton Bowl Last year and winning the B1G Championship against Wisconsin.

Recruits

Ohio State had the 2nd best class in the nation, good for the best class in the B1G. The class had 3 5-star players, 20 4-star players, 3 3-star players and a 2-star player. Ohio State has had a top 10 class and the best B1G class in 9 of the last 10 years. Ohio State is really, really, really good at recruiting, even when their Coaches are some of the worst morally.

Quarterbacks

Dwayne Haskins will be the man for the Buckeyes, tacking over from J.T Barrett. Last year, Haskins completed 70.2% of his 57 passes for 565 yards, 4 TDs and 1 interceptions. Barrett completed 64.7% of his passes for 3053 yards, 35 TDs and 9 interceptions. Ohio State had the 36th best passing offense in the nation, and that should likely continue.

Offense

J.K. Dobbins will return as the lead back. In his freshman year, in 2017, Dobbins exploded for 1,403 yards and 7 TDs on the ground. Mike Weber will also return for his Junior year after going for 626 yards, and 12 TDs last year. There is no doubt the duo will top last year’s production behind a stud filled offensive line. The Buckeyes also return their entire receiving core 9 receivers caught at least 15 catches and had more than 130 receiving yards and at least one touchdown. That kind of continuity is just unfair.

Defense

It’s the tried and true Greg Schiano Defense. The only time the defense faltered was against Oklahoma, Penn State and Iowa. The three teams relied heavily on quarterback play under Baker Mayfield, Trace McSorley and Nate Stanley. All three teams had steller tight ends, Mark Andrews at Oklahoma,  Mike Gesicki at Penn State and Noah Fant at Iowa. In all three games, the defense allowed more than 30 points, only winning one game 39-38 against Penn State. So where does this defense stand for 2018? 20 of Ohio State’s top 30 defensive players at back, so not a lot has changed. The defense is also led by Nick Bosa. The defense will be a Top 10 defense in 2018.

Schedule

Prediction

Ohio State has the pleasure of being in the Big 10 East, meaning they play Penn State, Michigan State and Michigan every year. This year they don’t play Wisconsin, but they do play #16 TCU for Meyer’s last suspension game. I really hope the football gad bless america and Ohio State goes 8-4 or worse this season. But Ohio State will do as Ohio State does. They didn’t come here to play school or teach morals for all that matters. Ohio State loses one game in the B1G, but makes the championship game against Wisconsin. Form then its up to suspended AD Gene Smith to take the call and put Ohio State in the CFP playoffs. To the B1G, lets make sure that doesn’t happen.