Even before the Big Ten season schedule was announced, the average Buckeye fan already had rivalry week on their minds. While there’s no bad time for Ohio State to beat Michigan, this year’s edition of “The Game” seems to be tipped in the Buckeyes’ favor. With a more talented, experienced team and coach on paper, Ohio State will likely be a pretty clear favorite against its archrival. Because of this, Ohio State’s big road games against Oregon and Penn State will be somewhat overlooked.
In years past, when Michigan and Ohio State were in the same division and Penn State couldn’t hold its own against its Big Ten East rivals, it was conceivable that the entire season would come down to just one game for both teams. The winner of the “game” would get a spot in the Big Ten Championship against a flawed Big Ten West team and, with a win, a trip to the CFP. The loser would get a trip to a then-not-so-important bowl game.
In 2024, the days of divisional play are over, as are the days of the winner of “The Game” having a stroll to the Big Ten championship. Instead, it’s conceivable that a Michigan team replacing most of its starters from the previous year will be eliminated from Big Ten contention before Week 14, and a nightmare scenario for Ohio State that sees the team lose to both Penn State and Oregon, eliminating it from the race to go to Indianapolis.
Although the Buckeyes don’t have much of a challenge ahead of them until their Week 7 game, the same can be said for the Ducks. Despite all the optimism surrounding Dan Lanning’s team, Oregon hasn’t necessarily had the decisive win to establish itself as a national championship contender, and its home game against Ohio State presents a golden opportunity to get such a win.
The same goes for Penn State. If Ohio State players, coaches and fans have heard the same mantra about losing to Michigan for the past three years, Penn State has heard the same thing about its close losses to top-10 opponents like Ohio State and Michigan for the past three years.
For Ohio State, the most important games of the season will likely come against two top-10 teams, both on the road within a month of each other. If the Buckeyes aren’t ready, they could lose all the rewards that once came with a win over Michigan: an appearance in the Big Ten Championship Game and possibly even an appearance in the College Football Playoff.
This is something of a nightmare scenario, though, and for good reason. The Buckeyes are the best team in the Big Ten on paper, and despite all the home strength of Oregon and Penn State—there’s certainly plenty of that at Autzen Stadium and Beaver Stadium, respectively—the Buckeyes seem to have the talent and motivation to overcome inevitable adversity.
I predict Ohio State will lose to Oregon on the road in Week 7 before winning the rest of the regular season. I think the Buckeyes will easily beat a decent, but not great, Michigan team to close out the regular season and potentially turn the tide of the rivalry in their favor.
Then Ohio State gets revenge on Oregon and wins its first Big Ten championship since 2020.
As difficult as it is to win a national championship, a team has to do it. The Buckeyes – led by a championship-winning coach who may be a little underrated, Will Howard – have as much of a chance to win the national championship as any other college football team.
With an elite defense, extremely talented playmakers and an offense that is expected to take a big leap forward in 2024, Ohio State is headed to the national championship, where it will defeat a strong SEC opponent like Texas or Georgia and win its first national championship since 2014.
Big Ten titles: Ohio State beats Oregon
Offensive POY: Dillon Gabriel, Oregon
Defensive POY: Jack Sawyer, Ohio State
Coach of the Year: Matt Rhule, Nebraska
Freshmen of the year: Dylan Raiola, Nebraska
Big Ten teams in the College Football Playoff: Ohio State and Oregon
