By Jim Naveau
The Lima News
Here’s my ranking of Ohio State’s regular season games from easiest to most challenging.
This year OSU’s schedule can be divided into three categories — the non-league games, five games against middle-of-the-pack Big Ten teams and four Big Ten games which will have a lot to say about whether this will be a great season where dreams are reached or not.
Here’s how the Buckeyes’ schedule looks before they’ve played a game:
12. Akron.
The Zips are 7-47 over the last five seasons. Ohio State by 35. By halftime.
11. Western Michigan.
The Broncos are a decent MAC team that can beat the teams it’s supposed to beat. Ohio State is not on that list.
10. Marshall.
The three players competing for the starting quarterback job at Marshall combined for 11 touchdown passes and 19 interceptions last season. Ohio State cornerbacks like Denzel Burke, Davison Igbinosun and Jordan Hancock could feast on that.
9. at Michigan State.
Pro Football Focus gives Sparty a 1 percent chance to win the Big Ten. So, you’re saying there’s a chance? MSU might win five or six games but this isn’t one of them.
8. Purdue.
What’s the opposite of a destination school? After the 2022 season, Purdue coach Jeff Brohm left to become Louisville’s coach. After last season possibly the best player on the Boilermaker’s roster, defensive end Nick Scourtan, who led the Big Ten with 10 sacks, transferred to Texas A&M.
7. Indiana.
New coach Curt Cignetti brought in 15 transfer players, including 12 who played for him at James Madison. He’s never had a losing season in 13 seasons as a head coach. He’s probably never faced a task like winning at Indiana, though.
6. Northwestern.
Last year’s surprise team in the Big Ten won’t sneak up on anyone this season. They also probably won’t beat the best teams on their schedule — Ohio State, Michigan, Wisconsin and Iowa.
5. Nebraska.
The Cornhuskers are 2-17 in games decided by a touchdown or less in the last three seasons. With 5-star freshman Dylan Raiola and four returning offensive linemen in front of him they might be the best of the mid-level Big Ten teams.
4. Iowa.
Laugh at the Hawkeyes’ offense all you want and it might struggle again this season but they can play defense. They scored 15 points a game and found a way to win 10 games last season.
3. at Penn State.
Playing at Penn State might not be as intimidating as it once was but it’s still tough. And the Nittany Lions are hungry for a win over a team like Ohio State to prove their ceiling is higher than 9-3.
2. Michigan.
The Wolverines need a quarterback. If they find one by November this could be the toughest game on OSU’s schedule because Michigan has several of its best defensive players back from last season.
1. at Oregon.
This is a match-up of the two biggest winners in the transfer portal in college football in the offseason. Both have national championship hopes. And there could be a rematch in the Big Ten championship game.
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