Well, a few weeks ago I promised a weekly blog update for the rest of the summer. However, being a teenager and it being the summer, it seems my work ethic completely disappeared for a few weeks. In an attempt to prepare myself for the upcoming college workload, and to ensure my fingers will be capable of typing some lengthy papers the next four years, I decided to make my long awaited return.
I must admit that it feels great typing this too. Perhaps it's because I'm typing on a laptop for a change. That means I'm only a coffee shop away from being a professional amateur blogger! More than likely though, it's because of the fact that we are now under four weeks from the start of the college football season. These last few weeks have not been too kind to the sporting world, as there's been far too much coverage on when Alex Rodriguez opens a medicine cabinet or when Johnny Manziel visits his neighborhood Applebee's. In addition, a University of Florida linebacker got arrested for barking at a police dog, and Carlos Hyde starred in the most disputed video since the last Bigfoot sighting. If that's not bad enough, lawsuits are tearing apart the fabric of the NCAA, and as a result, EA Sports will not continue making college football video games (Let's have a moment of silence for my favorite video game series of all time... Thank you). A return to the focus on the actual games is going to be much welcomed by all college football fans, but especially the avid fanbase that supports the Ohio State Buckeyes. Why? Because Buckeye Nation is going to have the chance to dethrone the SEC in Pasadena, California.
Last year, THE Ohio State University's football team went undefeated. It was the sixth time the Buckeyes were able to accomplish the feat. They were also the only FBS team to finish the season undefeated, after the dismantling of the luckiest football team of all time (Notre Dame) in the title game. Normally, going undefeated in consecutive seasons is a statistical impossibility in any sport, especially major college football. In fact, there's actually a better chance of being stuck by lighting, winning the lottery, and getting a hole in one at the same time than going undefeated in consecutive seasons in the college football (Look it up...). However, a weak schedule, a more talented team, and a tumultuous offseason have laid the groundwork for the Buckeyes to perform the improbable feat.
At first glance, it's hard to tell whether Ohio State plays more Big Ten or more high school JV teams this year. The nonconference opponents, for the second year in a row, lack a marquee game. Buffalo is the annual, lowly MAC school that will benefit from a generous paycheck. San Diego State, who may be the best of the four opponents, could compete like UCF did last year, but will ultimately be overmatched. Cal could normally provide for an interesting matchup, but with so many questions at the quarterback competition, it is hard to see them putting up much of a fight. Finally, Florida A&M is known more for their marching band than their football team, so I don't think much more needs to be said. With Carlos Hyde and possibly Bradley Roby's suspensions being served during this stretch, Urban Meyer will be able to figure out the depth chart issues that will need resolved. Among these is the running back position, where Ohio State has about a half dozen capable players looking to fill Hyde's shoes. Look out for Dontre Wilson, who has run around the world six times during your reading of this article. As for Big Ten play, the Bucks draw Wisconsin and Penn State at home. These two schools seem to be the only capable schools in the Leaders division, but the Badgers should drop off a little while adjusting to Bret Bielema's departure. Ohio State will unfortunately have to travel to the hellhole that is Ann Arbor to face the Wolverines, but with Grant Reed (The kid who named his cancer Michigan... And then beat it) in attendance, the Bucks will continue their domination of that school up north. The toughest test on Ohio State's schedule? The Northwestern Wildcats. A road night game, against a team on the rise, who also features one of the most dynamic players in the country, spells only trouble for the Bucks, especially when you consider they'll face Wisconsin the week before. (Kain Colter is the aforementioned player. The man plays three positions. He will also be a dark horse Heisman candidate should Northwestern have the season many experts are predicting). Oh, and also, there's the matter of the game at Purdue. You know, the team the Buckeyes need a miraculous comeback led by a backup quarterback to win last year (Long live Kenny Guiton!). The Boilermakers are like Saturday Night Live skits most season. Normally, they are the definition of mediocrity, but every once in a while, they deliver something fantastic. Unfortunately for the Bucks, the past few years they've faced Purdue during some of their best games of the year.
The Bucks may've lost some senior leadership on the defensive side of the ball, but the offense is set to put up ridiculous numbers this year. Braxton Miller is set to have a Jennifer Lawrence type of breakout this year (Yeah people know about him already, but it's going to payoff in some hardware this year is what I was going for in that analogy). The number of playmakers he has at his disposal, being counted by LeBron James, is not one, not two, not three, not four, not five, not six, not seven, not eight... The wide receiver position is at its best depth in years with playmakers like Devin Smith and Philly Brown. Tight ends Nick Vannett and Jeff Heuerman have an Aaron Hernandez type versatility to them, except it's limited to only his on the field attributes rather than the more "creative" and criminal off the field ones. Combine that with the running backs mentioned before and the return of Jordan Hall, or Percy Harvin Part II, and you've got an offense that can be the best in the country. Defensively, the Bucks lost the heart and soul in John Simon. However, with the return of Bradley Roby and Ryan Shazier, the defense should be okay. Shazier was named conference preseason defensive player of the year, and if all goes according to plan, he could become as heralded as James Laurinaitis and AJ Hawk.
Most importantly though, I believe the biggest factor in Ohio State going undefeated again is going to be the offseason troubles. The old adage of taking one step backwards to take two steps forward is going to be illustrated perfectly in Columbus because Urban Meyer is like Frank Underwood (House of Cards reference there. Not sure how many people got it, but if you don't watch that show, next time you turn on Netflix, which will probably be tonight, go ahead and give it a chance. It was nominated for an Emmy for nothing). He encounters a problem, analyzes the issue, and then provides the solution that will make a majority of people happy and earn him some great benefits down the line. Last year, as featured in the excellent ESPN Training Days series, he publicly doubted the skill of the team and used the bowl ban as key motivating factors in his first season. These moves led to the fruition of the excellent leadership skills, as the senior class felt a need to rise to the occasion. This year, look for pride to be one of the mantras of the team. Over the past few weeks, Buckeye football players have only made the news in negative ways. However, once Meyer gets control of his troops, he will make them realize they have an obligation to live up to the expectations set by the fans/media and the tougher obligations set by himself. Off the field incidents damage any legacy the Bucks make on it, and once this message is imprinted in the players heads, look for better play on the field.
It's definitely not going to be easy for the Buckeyes to go 13-0 this year (The thirteenth game will be the Big Ten Championship where they would probably face either Michigan, Northwestern, or Nebraska). Last year, Notre Dame got luckier than an Irishman on St. Patrick's Day to end up finishing with an unscathed regular season. For the Bucks to do it again, they will need the occasional break or call to go their way. However, simply due to the fact that they are clearly the best team in the Big Ten, I see Pasadena being filled with scarlet and gray on January 7th (Who they'll play? That'll come next week). Hell, even if they lose one game the Buckeyes will just end up in Pasadena about a week earlier for the Rose Bowl. Either way, it is going to be a very fun fall in old Columbus town.
J. Nave
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