We’re still waiting to see whether or not we have college football this fall with the COVID-19 health crisis we’re all dealing with, but we’re forging ahead here at Buckeyes Wire. We’re taking a look at things for this upcoming season, and next up is the schedule.
If you are like us, when you look up and down the next season’s schedule at the beginning of the year, you start to gauge which contests could be a walk in the park, and which ones could be harder than you grandparents walking to school in a snowstorm uphill — both ways.
In that same vein, we’re ranking the games on Ohio State’s 2020 schedule. While nothing is a given, but there are clearly games that should be much easier than others.
Off we go.
Next … the rundown
No. 12 – September 5 vs. Bowling Green
Ohio State opens up the season with arguably its easiest game. Plenty of MAC schools have given some Big Ten programs a haymaker or two, but don’t expect this one to be that way, especially in the ‘Shoe.
Next … No. 11
No. 11 – September 19 vs. Buffalo
Another home matchup with a MAC opponent comes in as the second easiest contest of 2020. There are a few really good players on teams in the MAC, but the depth and talent gap is still huge when compared to a team at the top of the Big Ten. This one should also be a pretty easy go of it for the Buckeyes.
Next … No. 10
No. 10 – September 26 vs. Rutgers
The Scarlet Knight might have head coach Greg Schiano chopping wood in the neighborhood again, but it’s going to take a bit to turn this thing around. Rutgers hasn’t come close to even giving Ohio State a game since it joined the Big Ten, and that’s not likely to happen this fall either.
Next … No. 9
No. 9 – November 7 vs. Indiana
The Hoosiers have been known to give the big boys a game at times, but it’s unlikely to put a scare in Ohio State in Columbus. Even when Indiana plays the best possible game it can, it probably still can’t hang with what should be one whale of a squad in 2020.
Next … No. 8
No. 8 – November 14 @ Maryland
The Terps have been on a similar competitive arc with Ohio State as Rutgers. Aside from the one contest in 2018, the games have been anything but close, with the Buckeyes winning in blowouts on an almost yearly basis. On the road or not, this one shouldn’t be a problem.
Next … No. 7
No. 7 – November 21 @ Illinois
The Illini were a much better outfit in 2020, but there’s still a significant talent gap between the two programs. It won’t be as bad as the most recent of years, but this is another road game that the Buckeyes should be able to handle rather smoothly.
Next … No. 6
No. 6 – October 31 vs. Nebraska
Is this the year the Cornhuskers show the improvement many have called for under Scott Frost? Maybe. Even so, going into Columbus on Halloween is a scary proposition for Nebraska. The program just isn’t there yet to try and pull off that type of upset.
Next … No. 5
No. 5 – October 10 vs. Iowa
If there’s such a thing as a revenge game in 2020 for Ohio State, it’s this one. Iowa smacked the Buckeyes around in 2017 and is still bragging about it. Unfortunately, the two have taken a break since then, so this is the first time OSU gets any kind of shot at redemption. It’ll put the Hawkeyes back in their place on the banks of the Olentangy.
Next … No. 4
No. 4 – October 17 @ Michigan State
Nobody really knows what to expect from the first year of the Mel Tucker era in East Lansing. One thing is for certain though, there are still some pretty good football players on the Spartans’ roster. It’s not Michigan State of the middle of the Dantonio era any longer though and Ohio State should be able to elbow their way through this one with maybe a modest scare.
Next … No. 3
No. 3 – November 28 vs. Michigan
Truth be known, we might be giving the Wolverines too much credit here, especially since the game is in Columbus against a pretty veteran offense. But this is still technically a bitter rivalry, and at some point, Jim Harbaugh is going to get his team to rise up. It’s unlikely based on the way things have gone over the last couple of years, but this could turn into a game.
Next … No. 2
No. 2 – September 12 @ Oregon
Ohio State plays one of its toughest games just two weeks into the season (we hope). It’ll be just the second time the Buckeyes have played in one of the loudest venues in all of college football, Autzen Stadium. It’s a true hostile environment that involves a long trip across the country. It could be a top-five matchup, and almost assuredly will be a top ten one. A win here is great way to springboard some special things for either team.
Next … No. 1
No. 1 – October 24 @ Penn State
It hasn’t been announced yet, but you have to figure the Buckeyes’ trip to Happy Valley will be another whiteout — at least as long as fans are in the stands for this one. Ohio State has actually done rather well in fabled whiteout conditions at Penn State, but it’s always a tough game against a team playing on a lot of emotion, in front of the most hostile setting in the country.
