Buckeyes March Into the Gauntlet: OSU’s Season Preview
Ohio State opens its season against Ball State and faces a rugged slate that includes clashes with CFP hopefuls Oregon, Indiana, USC, and Texas. Bill Bender of The Sporting News warns that this may be the most demanding schedule the Buckeyes have ever encountered, predicting an “imbalanced” path that could both test and bolster Ohio State’s championship credentials. While a 9–3 finish wouldn’t doom them—Texas managed the same record en route to a playoff spot last year—Bender cautions fans not to take their CFP berth for granted. He anticipates a showdown in Bloomington against Indiana, with both teams vying for Big Ten supremacy and a potential instant classic for the ages.
If Ohio State’s new motto is “embrace the pain,” they’ve certainly outdone themselves on the schedule front. It’s as if someone at the Big Ten office took OSU’s season-planner, marched into a war room, and said, “How can we turn their fall into a blender set on ‘high’?” But don’t fret, Buckeye fans—this isn’t a misprint or an elaborate hazing ritual. Clearly, Ryan Day just wanted a more “exciting” season, so he ordered the top quarterbacks in the land, a dash of Hoosier heartache, and a sprinkle of Longhorn guilt. What’s next? A midseason trip to the International Space Station to play a zero-gravity scrimmage? At this rate, nothing would surprise.
Leave a Reply