Ohio State football enters a new era in 2019 with Urban Meyer out and Ryan Day in while Justin Fields looks to be the next great Buckeye quarterback.
The 2018 Ohio State Buckeyes were one of the most frustrating 13-1 teams you’ll ever watch. Whether it was poor play and coaching on the defensive side of the ball or lack of a consistent run game on offense, things just never seemed to click for most of the season. Add on another embarrassing road loss this time by Purdue, and you get a one-loss Big Ten conference champion left out of the playoffs.
It sounds crazy to think a team that went 13-1 could somehow be slightly disappointing, but that is the bar that’s been set in Columbus.
However, on the positive side, they handed their rival Michigan one of its worse losses in series history with a 62-39 beat down. At the center of that was the most prolific passing season in Big Ten history courtesy of Heisman finalist Dwayne Haskins. He finished with the most yards, completions, and touchdowns in a single season within the conference and often carried the Buckeyes to victory. Haskins along with receivers Paris Campbell, Terry McLaurin, and Johnnie Dixon were a deadly passing game, but with all four gone, there are big shoes to fill in 2019.
There are also huge shoes to fill in the sideline as Ryan Day takes over head coaching duties from Urban Meyer. Fortunately for a team like Ohio State, you’re never rebuilding, but merely reloading.
The Buckeyes only return four starters from last year’s team, but they have talent that seems ready to step up. And it starts with new Georgia transfer Justin Fields who will likely be starting this season under center. Next to Fields will be third-year starter J.K. Dobbins who is now the lone feature back with Mike Weber gone. Look for him to have his third-straight 1,000-yard rushing season.
At receiver, they have senior K.J. Hill is who the lone returning starter on the outside and is as reliable as it gets. If healthy all season, expect Hill to break David Boston’s school record for receptions. Alongside Hill will be Austin Mack, Binjinmen Victor and Chris Olave who have all flashed but need to prove they can be consistent. The offensive line does have to replace four starters, but it is time for some of these big-time recruits to start emerging.
On defense, they return nine players, but this unit wasn’t precisely lockdown in 2018. Coach Day made his concerns extremely clear by cleaning house with the defensive staff outside of d-line coach Larry Johnson. Now it is up to Co-defensive coordinators Greg Mattison and Jeff Hafley to take what is still a very talented defensive group and get them back on track. Chase Young is the main player to look out for as he could hear his name called very early in the 2020 NFL draft. Also, expect big things from cornerback Jeffery Okudah and linebacker Malik Harrison who could also be early-round draft picks.
The Buckeyes 2019 schedule has some ebbs and flows with the middle and end being pretty tricky. Though unlike the past few seasons, there will be no ominous non-conference matchup early for Ohio State so they may be able to find their footing early on. And by rivalry week, they could find themselves facing hated rival Michigan once again for the Big Ten West crown.
Ohio State football best-case scenario
- Aug. 31 vs. Florida Atlantic: W
- Sept. 7 vs. Cincinnati: W
- Sept. 14 at Indiana: W
- Sept. 21 vs. Miami (OH): W
- Sept. 28 at Nebraska: W
- Oct. 5 vs. Michigan St: W
- Oct. 18 at Northwestern: W
- Oct. 26 vs. Wisconsin: W
- Nov. 9 vs. Maryland: W
- Nov. 16 at Rutgers: W
- Nov. 23 vs. Penn State: W
- Nov. 30 at Michigan: W
Record: 12-0, (8-0 Big Ten)
When you are as talented as the Buckeyes usually are, going undefeated is the default best-case scenario. The stretch from Sept. 28-Oct. 26 will be crucial as it’ll test this team’s mental and physical ability to avoid another Purdue or Iowa disaster.
The Buckeyes have proven over the years they are going to be fully prepared to battle the top teams in the Big Ten like Penn State and Michigan, so that’s not a concern. Michigan, in particular, needs to prove they have the athletes to keep up with the Buckeyes after last year’s 62-39 blowout. Ohio State has won 14 of the previous 15 meetings between the two.
Ohio State football worst-case scenario
- Aug. 31 vs. Florida Atlantic: W
- Sept. 7 vs. Cincinnati: L
- Sept. 14 at Indiana: W
- Sept. 21 vs. Miami (OH): W
- Sept. 28 at Nebraska: L
- Oct. 5 vs. Michigan St: W
- Oct. 18 at Northwestern: W
- Oct. 26 vs. Wisconsin: W
- Nov. 9 vs. Maryland: W
- Nov. 16 @ Rutgers: W
- Nov. 23 vs. Penn State: W
- Nov. 30 at Michigan: L
Record: 9-3 (7-2)
Before every Ohio State fan completely loses their minds, remember this is the worst-case scenario. The Buckeyes don’t have their usually high level out of conference game, but Sept. 7 against Cincinnati could be a dangerous trap. They are going to be one of the better Group of 5 teams, and the Buckeyes still might be trying to find themselves on both sides of the ball.
The hype around Nebraska seems to be a little extreme, but they gave Ohio State a serious fight last year. And over the previous two seasons, the Buckeyes have been good for one inexplicably runaway loss. So a road game in Lincoln right in the middle of the season could be the 2019 version. Then when it comes to “The Game,” this could finally be the year Jim Harbaugh and Michigan ultimately live up to the hype.