Ohio State football is primed for a historic season. With loads of talent and great coaching, expect big things along the way to a National Title!
Year in and year out, the Ohio State Buckeyes are among a handful of teams that have fans and analysts expecting nothing short of the College Football Playoff. Combined with the fact the Buckeyes are one of college football’s most recognizable brands means not meeting those expectations is considered a failure — even with a 10+ win season and a conference championship.
The pressure isn’t new. Urban Meyer has already proven he can weather the storm, taking the Buckeyes to the 2015 National Championship Game and leaving with his first title at Ohio State. Ohio State fans have had a taste. They know what’s possible, and now they want more.
2018 is no exception for the Buckeyes. But for national championships to be won, a team needs big wins and great performances from its players. And with the normal expectations, let’s take a look at what could, and should, help the Buckeyes contend for another national championship!
5. Haskins for Heisman
After what seemed to be a decade of having J.T. Barrett under center, the Buckeyes hand the keys to the offense to Dwayne Haskins. In eight games in 2017, mostly as a closer, Haskins threw for 565 yards and four touchdowns while completing 70 percent of his passes.
No performance stuck out like the one he had in The Game. In their game annual game against rival Michigan, the Buckeyes found themselves down 20-14 in the third quarter and without J.T. Barrett, who was injured and forced to leave the game. Enter Dwayne Haskins. With help from the Buckeye defense, Haskins led the Buckeyes to 17 unanswered points and a 31 to 20 victory over that team from up north. Although he did not account for any touchdowns, Haskins completed six of his seven pass attempts that went for 96 yards. Haskins also ran it three times for 24 yards.
Yes, the numbers don’t speak loudly, but the decision making and big plays show the potential he has. During the Buckeyes rally, Haskins completed several big-time throws on key third down situations. The combination of his decision making and limitless potential gives Haskins a lot to look forward to in 2018.
Unlike his predecessor, Dwayne Haskins is a pass-first quarterback but has the ability to know when to tuck it and run. From having an IQ to his big arm, the redshirt sophomore is going to have a big 2018 season. A season which will have him enter as a sleeper for the Heisman Trophy and finish as a finalist for that same prestigious award!
4. Déjà vu
For this upcoming season, Ohio State returns pretty much everyone who caught a ball in 2017, giving the Buckeyes one of the best receiving corps in the nation. Leading this talented group are K.J. Hill and Parris Campbell, whom both accounted for 40+ receptions, over 525 yards and three touchdowns apiece.
The wealth was spread evenly among their receivers last season. Johnnie Dixon, Austin Mack, Terry McLaurin and Binjimen Victor, all averaged over 14 yards a catch and tallied up 23 combined touchdowns in 2017. With the depth and skill at the receiver position, defenses will have to hope their secondaries are on their A-game when the Buckeyes appear in the schedule
So what should be expected in 2018? Well, pretty much everything that happened last season. Hill and Campbell should both lead the Buckeyes in receptions and yardage, while Dixon, McLaurin and Victor will continue to combine for their average of one touchdown for every three catches.
Sure, you might think this isn’t a bold take, but what is usually expected is that one or two of these guys will break away and separate themselves from the rest. Basically, there are too many mouths to feed and not enough food. Wrong. The receiving corps will mirror in 2018 what they did in 2017, and opposing defenses should be worried. That much talent at the receiver position opens up not only the passing game but the running game.
3. Two-Headed Monster
The Ohio State Buckeyes know how to recruit, but that’s not anything new. One of the biggest positions they’ve been able to recruit well is running back. For the 2018 season the Buckeyes get the pleasure of having a dynamic duo in their backfield with running backs J.K. Dobbins and Mike Webber.
As a freshman in 2017, J.K. Dobbins rushed for 1,403 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 7.2 yards per carry. And since the 2016 season, Mike Webber has rushed for 1,722 yards and 19 touchdowns, averaging 6.1 yards per carry.
With the success they have both achieved along with the team, both Dobbins and Weber will rush for over 1,000 yards. This is the perfect combo for a set of running backs to do so. Dobbins will be the speed back and looks to be the primary first and second down back, while Weber has more power and should be seen mostly on third downs and short yardage situations. However, Weber has good speed so if he can power through the line, he’s just as capable as Dobbins to breaking a big run.
Overall, expect Dobbins to rush for more yardage and for Weber to account for more scores. Regardless of who has more and of what, both these running backs are in line to have phenomenal seasons, in which both will tally over 1,000 rushing yards and put their names among the best running back duos in college football history.
2. Behind Enemy Lines
So far there has been a lot of talk about the Buckeyes’ offense but their biggest weapon resides on the other side of the ball. The Ohio State Buckeyes have without a doubt one of the best defensive lines in all of college football.
Last year, Ohio State racked up 45 sacks (third most in the nation) and 114 tackles for loss (Tied for first in the nation). This dominate defensive line is headed by Nick Bosa, a future top five overall pick who recorded 8.5 sacks and 16 tackles for loss in 2017. Joining Bosa on the line are Dre’Mont Jones (one sack, five TFL), Chase Young (2.5 sacks, five TFL) and Robert Landers (five TFL).
This defensive line will push through offensive lines this year, getting to both the quarterback and ball carrier at a high rate. In 2018, the Buckeyes will account for over 55 sacks and 120 TFL, leading the nation in both. Big numbers to obtain but Ohio State’s defensive line is just that good with all four guys being first to second round NFL talent. Offensive lines need to dig deep in the trenches or their backfield will be seeing scarlet red for a sacksgiving feast.
1. Running The Table
It’s no shock that they Buckeyes have this much talent. Nor is it surprising that they are one of most talked about teams entering the 2018 season. But what does this season have in store for The Ohio State Buckeyes? Simple, back-to-back Big Ten Championships, a National Title and a perfect season.
Even with a new quarterback, the Buckeyes are in full control of their destiny; every game is theirs to lose. On offense, it’s a pick your poison game plan for opposing defenses. Two 1,000-yard rushers, an arsenal of receivers and a quarterback whose arm is not only a canon but is one of the most accurate arms in all of college football.
Move over to the other side of the ball, and your facing headaches with their secondary, that turn into migraines with their linebackers, that evolve into nightmares with their defensive line. Not to mention they have the best coach in the nation, Urban Meyer, on the sideline calling the shots.
Next: Preseason Top 25 rankings
The Ohio State Buckeyes are the team to beat, not only in the Big Ten but in all of college football. At the end of the season the Buckeyes will win the College Football Playoff, all while going undefeated, something that has yet to be done during this era. (Okay so maybe that’s six predictions).