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Ohio State Football: 5 bold predictions for the Buckeyes in 2017

By Andrew Miller

EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 19: Curtis Samuel #4 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates a touchdown with his teammates during the first quarter of the game against the Michigan State Spartans at Spartan Stadium on November 19, 2016 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 19: Curtis Samuel #4 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates a touchdown with his teammates during the first quarter of the game against the Michigan State Spartans at Spartan Stadium on November 19, 2016 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /
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Bold prediction time. The pressure is mounting on Ohio State football head coach Urban Meyer. Can the Buckeyes contend for a National Championship in 2017?

It seems like the Ohio State Buckeyes’ path to the College Football Playoff is clearly laid out for them already. They have the No. 2 spot in the Amway Coaches Poll entering Week 1, one spot behind former National Title runner-up, the Alabama Crimson Tide. 

Ohio State is becoming a popular pick to win the National Championship this season and with good reason. Their quarterback returns for his fourth year as a starter. Moreover, it feels like J.T. Barrett has been around forever. When it’s all said and done, Barrett might be the best quarterback in program history. Yet, a lot of that depends on how things go in 2017.

The biggest hurdle for the Buckeyes will be to get through their Big Ten schedule. Aside from Ohio State, three other Big Ten teams are ranked inside the Coaches Poll top 10 as well. The Wisconsin Badgers sit at No. 10, Michigan Wolverines at No. 9, and the Penn State Nittany Lions at No. 6.

Penn State presents the biggest threat to the Buckeyes in 2017. The combination of quarterback Trace McSorley and running back Saquon Barkley is a lethal duo for any team that faces them. Furthermore, Penn State was the only team to defeat Ohio State during the 2016 regular season.

All things aside, bold predictions are never something that are guaranteed to happen. With the 2017 season less than two weeks away, the time to explore bold (but realistic) scenarios has arrived.

Now, let’s take a look at five bold predictions for the Ohio State Buckeyes in 2017.

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