Saturday Blitz
Fansided

Ohio State Football: Ranking 2022 opponents by toughness

By Connor Muldowney

Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day prepares to lead his team on the field during the NCAA football game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Ind. on Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021. Ohio State won 54-7.Ohio State Buckeyes At Indiana Hoosiers
Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day prepares to lead his team on the field during the NCAA football game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Ind. on Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021. Ohio State won 54-7.Ohio State Buckeyes At Indiana Hoosiers /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 6
Next
Ohio State Buckeyes running back Master Teague III (33) gets tackled by Michigan State Spartans safety Darius Snow (23) and Michigan State Spartans defensive end Jeff Pietrowski (47) on a run up the middle during the third quarter of their NCAA College football game at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio on November 20, 2021.Osu21msu Kwr 43
Ohio State Buckeyes running back Master Teague III (33) gets tackled by Michigan State Spartans safety Darius Snow (23) and Michigan State Spartans defensive end Jeff Pietrowski (47) on a run up the middle during the third quarter of their NCAA College football game at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio on November 20, 2021.Osu21msu Kwr 43 /

You might be surprised to see Notre Dame down at No. 4 on this list, but there are so many question marks surrounding the Fighting Irish and with this being the first game of the year, Ohio State will almost undoubtedly take advantage.

Notre Dame doesn’t have a clear starting quarterback (although it should be Tyler Buchner) and Marcus Freeman is in his first season as a collegiate head coach. New coordinators, new quarterback, new running back, new head coach? This one should be lopsided despite Notre Dame having plenty of talent.

How can a team that Ohio State beat 56-7 last year be No. 3 on this ranking? Because Michigan State has been known to play the Buckeyes tough over the years, outside of last season’s obliteration in Columbus and this one will be played in East Lansing.

Coming into East Lansing against a Michigan State team that could very well be 5-0 and ranked in the top 10, Ohio State will face its toughest battle of the season to this point.

Payton Thorne will play much better than he did last year in Columbus and the offense will be just as solid as it was in 2021. If the defense improves as it should, Michigan State could have the Buckeyes on upset alert in early October.

Home/Ohio State Buckeyes