Big Ten Football 2015: Ranking the schedules
By Mark Rogers
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
8. Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State is taking a beating by many for a schedule void of a signature non-conference opponent and the absence of Wisconsin and Nebraska from the West. While Virginia Tech has slipped considerably from its Top Ten status of 5-10 years ago with 11 losses the past two seasons, the Hokies bring what is expected to be one of the nation’s elite defenses to the Labor Day opener.
Oh by the way, Virginia Tech won this matchup last year with a signature effort on that side of the ball. The Buckeyes must go to Blacksburg at night without four of its top wide receivers due to suspension and injury. Braxton Miller may see more targets than he ever imagined this early in his wide receiver development.
The rest of Ohio State’s non-conference games hardly get the heart pumping with the likes of Hawaii, Northern Illinois and Western Michigan. The Buckeyes Western Division foes add up to mediocrity with a decent Minnesota team and a 2-6 Illinois squad that just lost its Head Coach Tim Beckman a week prior to the season.
Everyone in the Big Ten is eyeing the Buckeyes showdown with Michigan State on November 21 in Columbus. “The Game” will be played one week later in Ann Arbor.
Next: Illinois