Ohio State Football: Will Ryan Day era yield Urban Meyer-like results?

4 of 4

PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 01: Ohio State Buckeyes offensive coordinator Ryan Day looks on during the second half in the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2019 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /

How will the Buckeyes fare in 2019?

Week 1: FAU (Aug. 31)
Week 2: Cincinnati (Sep. 7)
Week 3: at Indiana (Sep. 14)
Week 4: Miami (OH) (Sep. 21)
Week 5: at Nebraksa (Sep. 28)
Week 6: Michigan State (Oct. 5)
Week 7: BYE
Week 8: at Northwestern (Oct. 18)
Week 9: Wisconsin (Oct. 26)
Week 10: BYE
Week 11: Maryland (Nov. 9)
Week 12: at Rutgers (Nov. 16)
Week 13: Penn State (Nov. 23)
Week 14: at Michigan (Nov. 30)

The Buckeyes’ season will be determined on the strength of the team’s second half. The first of the year features several winnable non-conference matchups, and one important home matchup with Michigan State.

The latter half of the year is where things heat up. A road trip at Northwestern comes in Week 7, and a home tilt with Wisconsin follows a week later. Ohio State then finishes up with the two biggest games of the season. The Buckeyes host Penn State on the 23rd of November, and they visit arch rival Michigan.

Prediction: 10-2, 7-2 Big Ten

The Buckeyes have fallen victim to an uncharacteristic upset in each of the past seasons. There are spots on the schedule, like the road trip to what could be a surging Nebraska, where another one of these upsets. That, along with Michigan getting over the hump, will lead the Buckeyes to a two-loss year.

There are too many questions on this team. Ryan Day was great in the interim, but being a full-time head coach is a different monster. Can he handle it?

Will Justin Fields do the same? He was also great in spot duty, but can he adjust to being the man?

Next. Top 50 players in college football for 2019. dark

Of course, most teams in the nation would take Ohio State’s questions if they could also have Ohio State’s talent. Like most years, the Buckeyes should be favorites in most of the games they play. Can they continue to hold off Jim Harbaugh and Michigan, and will they avoid the kind of random upset they’ve suffered in the last two seasons? The answers to those two questions will define this season in Columbus.

Home/Ohio State Buckeyes