College Football News Preview 2020: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the Ohio State Buckeyes season with what you need to know.
– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak
– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– Schedule Analysis
– Ohio State Previews 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015
2019 Record: 13-1 overall, 8-0 in Big Ten
Head Coach: Ryan Day, 2nd year, 13-1
2019 CFN Final Opinion Ranking: 3
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 2
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 6
NOTE: Obviously, no one knows what’s going to happen to the 2020 college football season. We’ll take a general look at where each team stands – doing it without spring ball to go by – while crossing our fingers that we’ll all have some well-deserved fun this fall. Hoping you and yours are safe and healthy.
5. College Football News Preview 2020: Ohio State Buckeyes Offense 3 Things To Know
– Well that seemed to work out just fine. The Buckeye attack was fourth in the nation overall, third in scoring, No. 1 overall in third down conversions, and versatile enough to get things moving whenever and however it wanted. Even in the Fiesta Bowl loss to Clemson, the O worked great up until the very end.
CFN in 60 Video: Ohio State Buckeyes Preview
It all started with the guy who appears to be the best Ohio State quarterback in a fantastic chain of talents.
Everything was more than fine after losing Dwayne Haskins, with Justin Fields coming in from Georgia and being everything the offense could’ve wanted and more.
He had the help of a whole lot of next-level weapons around him, but he was the one running the killer offense with the running element to go along with one of the nation’s most efficient passing games. Former Kentucky transfer Gunnar Hoak is the expected backup. Considering the big shots Fields takes, the No. 2 gig matters.
– It’s Ohio State, so the running back situation will be okay no matter what, but JK Dobbins might have been the nation’s most underappreciated superstar over the last few years. Fields did his part for the ground game, but Dobbins was used for more than 300 carries with over 2,000 yards and 21 scores.
Master Teague is a terrific option returning – he was second with 789 yards and four scores – but Oklahoma transfer Trey Sermon should be the main man while Teague gets past an Achilles’ heel injury. There’s talent at the position, but it’s a relatively inexperienced group outside of the two main guys.
They’ll have the luxury of working behind another fabulous O line. Ohio State never has a problem bringing in talented blockers, but last year’s group seemed to have a different sort of edge. It took over when it was time to step up – like in the two wins over Wisconsin.
Thayer Munford is great at one tackle, Nick Petit-Frere has next-level upside at the other, and there’s enough versatility for the interior to replace a few lost parts without a hiccup.
CFN in 60 Podcast: 2020 Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State preview in 60 seconds
– Few places can lose two of the top three receivers and be more than fine. Gone is the school’s all-time leading receiver KJ Hill, and also gone is big-play threat and the team’s No. 3 producer, Binjimen Victor.
Whatever.
Chris Olave is a tremendous deep threat, Garrett Wilson is coming off a fantastic freshman season, and the other parts around them would be No. 1 targets at almost anywhere else. Tight ends Luke Farrell and Jeremy Ruckert are NFL-sized targets who’ll combine for at least 30 grabs.
NEXT: College Football News Preview 2020: Ohio State Buckeyes Defense 3 Things To Know
4. College Football News Preview 2020: Ohio State Buckeyes Defense 3 Things To Know
– Even for Ohio State there’s a big talent hit to overcome. Of course the program just replaces top NFL prospects with more of them, and the recruiting has been among the elite, but …
Chase Young, Jeff Okudah, Malik Harrison, Damon Arnette, DaVon Hamilton, Jordan Fuller – all gone. In all, eight of the top nine tacklers are done. Five of the top six pass rushers are finished, and it’s going to take a little bit to put all the pieces back together for the nation’s No. 1 defense.
A great Buckeye D isn’t a given – the 2018 version allowed almost 1,300-more yards – but don’t expect a massive drop-off as long as the line comes together fast.
– The line doesn’t have another Chase Young, but it’ll be more than okay. The combination of Tyreke Smith and Zach Harrison will be terrific pass rushers on the end. Plenty of others will be in the rotation, including veteran Jonathan Cooper – he could end up taking a starting gig. The ends are good, but the tackles …
The tackles have decent size, but is there a superstar ready to rise up? It’ll be a strength-in-numbers thing with plenty of good players to keep using on the inside to gum things up and keep the linebackers clean.
Malik Harrison is gone after doing a little bit of everything, but Pete Werner returns at one spot after finishing second on the team with 64 tackles. Tuf Borland is a big hitter who can play inside or out. The 240-pound Baron Browning is a veteran thumper who’ll have to hold off a whole slew of good-looking options for the rotation.
– Future first round draft pick Shaun Wade returns at one corner job, and then there’s work to do. The secondary will hardly be a disaster, but it will take a bit to find the right parts for the right spots. The versatility to play around with all three other jobs will help, but there should be a bit of a drop-off – it’ll take something special to be the No. 1 pass D in the nation again.
NEXT: College Football News Preview 2020: Top Ohio State Buckeyes Players
College Football News Preview 2020: Top Ohio State Buckeyes Players
Best Ohio State Buckeyes Offensive Player
QB Justin Fields, Jr.
Could Fields actually play? The former super-recruit for Georgia was obviously a big-time talent, but before coming to Ohio State his biggest claim to fame was being guy who threw the ill-fated fake-punt pass in the 2018 SEC Championship loss to Alabama.
His spring session with the Buckeyes was fine, but outside of one fantastic pass, his 2019 spring game performance was a big bowl of meh.
And then he almost led Ohio State to the national title.
He threw 41 touchdown passes and just three picks on the year – two in the Fiesta Bowl loss to Clemson – and ran for ten touchdowns. He was tough, confident, and nearly flawless as he looked and played every bit like the prospect he was billed to be.
He’s a franchise NFL quarterback, he’s got all the skills, and he’s now got the experience to make everyone around him even better.
2. WR Chris Olave, Jr.
3. OT Thayer Munford, Sr.
4. OG Wyatt Davis, Jr.
5. RB Trey Sermon, Sr.
Best Ohio State Buckeyes Defensive Player
CB/S Shaun Wade, Jr.
His biggest problem? He’s not Jeff Okudah. Even so, he’s a whale of a pro prospect with 6-1, 195-pound size and the speed to be in the mix to be the top defensive back off the board in 2021.
He’s a corner, but he’s got the toughness and upside to play anywhere in the secondary. Last year he only came up with one interception, but he broke up eight passes, generated two sacks, and made 25 tackles for the nation’s best secondary. Now he moves up into the star of the show as the lone returning starter to the defensive backfield.
2. DE Zach Harrison, Soph.
3. LB Pete Werner, Sr.
4. LB Tuf Borland, Sr.
5. LB Baron Browning, Sr.
NEXT: College Football News Preview 2020: Ohio State Buckeyes Keys To The Season
College Football News Preview 2020: Ohio State Buckeyes Keys To The Season
Biggest Key To The Ohio State Buckeyes Offense
The offensive line has to find its groove again. Justin Fields was in the mix for the Heisman, JK Dobbins ran for over 2,000 yards, and the receiving corps was brilliant.
It all started with an offensive line that helped make it all go.
Of course it was a function of the offense – the decision-making of Fields was a big help – but the line’s ability to thump away for the ground game turned out to be one of the biggest difference-makers.
There were too many sacks allowed, and it was possible to get into the Buckeye backfield, but the running game went off for 3,735 yards and 39 scores after running for 2,398 yards and 23 touchdowns in 2018.
Of course having a more mobile quarterback than Dwayne Haskins was a big factor in the difference, but the line also did its part as it took over games the longer they went on.
Left guard Jonah Jackson is off to the NFL, and right tackle Branden Bowen is done, but there’s not much of a problem filling in those two spots around center Josh Myers, guard Wyatt Davis and left tackle Thayer Munford.
Biggest Key To The Ohio State Buckeyes Defense
It has to be Next Guy Up in the secondary … fast. Even by Ohio State’s amazing standards, the pass defense was something special last season.
It allowed 259 yards and two touchdowns to Trevor Lawrence in the College Football Playoff loss to Clemson, but that’s the cost of doing business – the pass D wasn’t exactly ripped up.
The Buckeyes gave up just nine touchdown passes with 15 picks on the year, and Lawrence was the only one who hit them with double-digit touchdown passes. And now …
Jeff Okudah is a Detroit Lion, Damon Arnette went to the Raiders with the 19th overall pick, and Jordan Fuller was selected by the Rams.
Fortunately, Shawn Wade is back to step in at corner – he could work at safety if needed – and there’s more than enough talent returning to be okay. However, the date at Oregon comes up in the second week of the season, and the pass defense has to be ready to be special again.
Key Ohio State Buckeyes Player To A Successful Season
DE Zach Harrison, Soph.
Of course the key player is QB Justin Fields – he has to stay healthy – but assuming he does close to what he did last year, it’s up to Harrison, and junior Tyreke Smith, and senior Jonathan Cooper to rise up and rock.
Harrison is the leading returning sacker from the defensive line with 3.5 last season, and now it’s his time to shine as the next superstar Buckeye pass rusher. No pressure or anything, but the last four killer OSU defensive ends? Chase Young, Nick Bosa, Tyquan Lewis, Joey Bosa.
With all the new parts in the secondary, the pass rush has to kick in from the start. Considering the starting defensive tackles are new, too, the spotlight will be on Harrison to play up to his former five-star prep hype.
Key Game To The Ohio State Buckeyes Season
at Penn State, Oct. 24
The Buckeyes miss Wisconsin from the West, and they get Michigan and Iowa in Columbus. As long as the team is able to maintain the laser-straight focus it had throughout last season, there shouldn’t be too much of a problem outside of two huge showdowns – at Oregon and at Penn State.
The Nittany Lions kept it close in last year’s 28-17 loss to OSU, and they were in the game late. The previous two games between the two were each decided by one point, and the 2016 thriller in Happy Valley was Ohio State’s only regular season loss.
Come up with the road win this time around, and it’s going to take a mega-upset to miss out on a trip to the Big Ten Championship for the fourth year in a row.
– Ohio State Buckeyes Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
2019 Ohio State Fun Stats
– 2nd Quarter Scoring: Ohio State 237 – Opponents 51
– Rushing Yards: Ohio State 3,735 – Opponents 1,452
– Red Zone TDs: Ohio State 59-of-75 (79%) – Opponents 12-of-29 (41%)
NEXT: College Football News Preview 2020: Ohio State Buckeyes Win Total Prediction, What Will Happen
1. College Football News Preview 2020: Ohio State Buckeyes Win Total Prediction, What Will Happen
How does Ohio State bounce back from that?
After a gut-punch of a loss to Clemson in the College Football Playoff semifinal – giving up a 94-yard touchdown drive in the final minutes, and ending with Justin Fields throwing his second interception of the game after giving up just one all season long – how does the program get back the same focus and production?
You can’t make amends for a tough loss in the CFP if you don’t get back in.
Even with the massive talents losses on the defensive line and secondary, and despite losing ten players to the NFL draft, consider it a failure if the 2020 version doesn’t win a fourth straight Big Ten title and go back to the playoff.
This is still the most talented team in the Big Ten by a mile, and it’s still one of the five best teams in college football, if not top three.
It still has an NFL franchise-caliber quarterback under center, and it still has loads and loads of pro prospects coming from great recruiting class after great recruiting class.
Yeah, you don’t get better by losing Chase Young, Jeff Okudah, JK Dobbins, Malik Harrison, and so many other star talents of last year, but …
Set The Ohio State Buckeyes Regular Season Win Total At … 11
Bet at BetMGM Win Total Line: 11
There might be a loss at Oregon or at Penn State, but without Wisconsin on the regular season slate, and with Michigan at home, it’s going to take a total disaster for the Buckeyes to lose more than two regular season games for the first time since 2011.
And it’ll be a shocker if they drop both of the big road dates – they won’t.
As long as Fields stays healthy, they’ll likely be double-digit favorites against everyone but the Ducks and Nittany Lions. At least split those two games, go 11-1 or better, get back to the Big Ten championship again, win it again, and go back to the College Football Playoff.
This machine doesn’t stop.
No, the 2020 version isn’t going to be better than the 2019 killer, but don’t be stunned if it comes up with a far, far better finish.
