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Ohio State football: 3 biggest surprises from 2019 season

By Phil Poling

ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 30: Chase Young #2 and Justin Fields #1 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrate a win over the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium on November 30, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Ohio State defeated Michigan 56-27. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 30: Chase Young #2 and Justin Fields #1 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrate a win over the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium on November 30, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Ohio State defeated Michigan 56-27. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 28: Chase Young #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes pursues Trevor Lawrence #16 of the Clemson Tigers in the first half during the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium on December 28, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 28: Chase Young #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes pursues Trevor Lawrence #16 of the Clemson Tigers in the first half during the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium on December 28, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

2. Chase Young’s suspension

In early November, star defensive end and Heisman-hopeful Chase Young was suspended by the Buckeyes for the Nov. 9 Maryland game. The reason? He accepted a loan from a family friend that was used to fly his girlfriend to the team’s 2018 bowl game — the Rose Bowl vs. Washington.

RELATED: Way-too-early Ohio State depth chart projection

He wound up serving a two-game suspension for the loan, which Young re-paid in full, but he lost all the momentum his own Heisman candidacy had going for him. The Buckeyes had just beaten No. 13 Wisconsin 38-7, and Young posted career-highs in tackles for loss (five) and sacks (four).

Upon returning against Penn State, Young notched four more tackles-for-loss and added three sacks to push his season total to 16.5 — a single-season Buckeye record. After that, though, Young’s production was minimal. Did the suspension halt his momentum? Did Ohio State’s opponents make it a point to slow Young? Both? Whatever the fallout, the suspension was a potential season-altering surprise. The Buckeyes overcame it with excellence, though.

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