Life in the Big Ten isn’t easy these days — especially with the move to play nine conference games and the level of play that has gotten significantly better over the last few years. In the rotating schedule, hardly ever do things work out where there’s not an ultra-tough game on the road.
As usual, there will be twelve regular season games, each with its own challenges and obstacles. This year also doesn’t have that one marquee non-conference matchup like most seasons, but even still there’s at least one sneaky game there to be aware of.
We know the one at the end of the calendar is always tough, but what about the others? Here are the five toughest game Ohio State will play this year in this 2019 year of transition.
No. 5 – Friday October 18 At Northwestern
The Wildcats lost their All-Big Ten performer at quarterback Clayton Thorson along with other key members. But the team seems to always find a way to be competitive under head coach Pat Fitzgerald.
To make matters a little bit more bizarre than what they normally are in Evantson, the game will be on a Friday night. That throws off a normal week and routine, so the team will need to be sharp and fresh. Look for Buckeye Nation to take over the stadium, but it’s still a sneaky game.
No. 4 – Saturday October 26 vs. Wisconsin
The following week Ohio State gets an extra day of rest before welcoming the Badgers into town, but that won’t matter much. Wisconsin had an unexpected down year in 2018, but it’s always a physically bruising matchup, and there’s no doubt Wisconsin would like to pay back the Buckeyes for a loss in the Big Ten Championship game in 2017.
The Badgers always play the Buckeyes tough and look to have a another solid defense and one of the best running backs in the country in Jonathan Taylor. It’ll be an old-fashioned donnybrook.
No. 3 – Saturday Septemeber 28 At Nebrasksa
Many are picking the Cornhuskers as a dark-horse in the Big Ten for 2019. Big Red got on a bit of a roll towards the tail-end of last year and there’s a lot of faith in what head coach Scott Frost will be able to do.
There’s still a talent upgrade needed across the board to get back to championship levels, but the sophomore season of talented quarterback Adrian Martinez figures to be something special, and the wide-open attack of Nebraska’s offense gave Ohio State fits last year. This time it’ll be in Lincoln and it could be an even stiffer challenge.
No. 2 – Saturday November 23 vs. Penn State
Penn State loses its tougher-than-nails quarterback Trace McSorley, but there’s still plenty of talent to provide a stiff challenge — even at home. It’ll be another physical matchup, and the Nittany Lions seem to think Ohio State is their biggest rival, so they’ll be ready.
The game also comes as a precursor to a trip to Ann Arbor, so you have to worry about looking ahead and trying to save something psychologically for what could amount to the biggest game of the year in the Big Ten.
No. 1 – Saturday November 30 At Michigan
There’s nauseating love flying around the national media for Michigan this year. We’ve seen that before, but this year could be different. There are wholesale changes on defense, but the offense returns good quarterback play with Shea Patterson and a lot of weapons around him on offense.
Obviously the Wolverines will be foaming at the mouth to put an end to the worst run in the rivalry’s history, and being at the Big House, the emotion and intensity will be second-to-none. At some point, Michigan is going to break through. Is this the year?
