Ohio State football opens its 2018 season in a couple of weeks, but the Buckeyes have some major question marks. What’s the best and worst case scenario?
Urban Meyer is on paid leave, the Buckeyes are dealing with a PR nightmare and the 2018 season is right around the corner. What could go wrong, right?
Despite the off-season distractions plaguing the Buckeyes, they have one of the most talented teams in all of college football heading into the season and they’re favored to win the Big Ten and represent the conference, once again, in the playoff.
For that to happen, though, everything must go right. That starts with Meyer’s reinstatement and his team’s ability to avoid being distracted and do what it’s capable of — going undefeated.
Best-case scenario
The best-case scenario for the Buckeyes includes that unbeaten season as well as a clean resolution to the Zach Smith situation. The Buckeyes are no strangers to going undefeated, and this season has 12-0 written all over it, but it must take care of tough road games against Michigan State and Penn State as well as mop up Michigan at home.
Sept. 1: vs. Oregon State — W
Sept. 8: vs. Rutgers — W
Sept. 15: vs. TCU — W
Sept. 22: vs. Tulane — W
Sept. 29: at Penn State — W
Oct. 6: vs. Indiana — W
Oct. 13: vs. Minnesota — W
Oct. 20: at Purdue — W
Nov. 3: vs. Nebraska — W
Nov. 10: at Michigan State — W
Nov. 17: at Maryland — W
Nov. 24: vs. Michigan — W
Worst-case scenario
Ohio State’s worst-case scenario would involve a couple of losses to rivals as well as a non-conference defeat against TCU in Arlington, Texas. While I don’t see that happening, the Buckeyes do have three tough Big Ten games against Penn State, Michigan State and Michigan and the Horned Frogs present a tough non-conference battle.
Sept. 1: vs. Oregon State — W
Sept. 8: vs. Rutgers — W
Sept. 15: vs. TCU — L
Sept. 22: vs. Tulane — W
Sept. 29: at Penn State — W
Oct. 6: vs. Indiana — W
Oct. 13: vs. Minnesota — W
Oct. 20: at Purdue — W
Nov. 3: vs. Nebraska — W
Nov. 10: at Michigan State — L
Nov. 17: at Maryland — W
Nov. 24: vs. Michigan — L
The Buckeyes probably aren’t going 9-3 this season, but it’s a real possibility. Meyer will likely rejoin the team, potentially after a short suspension, and the team will respond after with increased quality play.
Ohio State is one of my favorites to make the playoff and one of 5-6 teams in college football that is likely to win the national title.