Throughout the spring and summer, I want to review the upcoming 2018 Ohio State football opponents, using the theme of competition as the baseline. While Ohio State has had more challenging schedules in the past, there are several games on the schedule that could potentially trip the Buckeyes up and end their goal of repeating as B1G champions.
These articles will examine the 2018 opponents, from least concerning to most concerning, based on various factors that I will list in the respective articles.
As always, I encourage interaction, either through the comments section below, or directly @ChipMinnich. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I look forward to writing them.
- TCU Horned Frogs (11-3 in 2017; 8pm EST kickoff on ABC)
Well, here we are. After twelve weeks, we have arrived at the opponent that I am most concerned about as Ohio State prepares for the 2018 season.
I can already see the eyes rolling, and hear the snickering. “TCU is the opponent that @ChipMinnich is most concerned about?”
Yes, and allow me to explain why.
Whenever I evaluate and rank Ohio State’s schedules, I always use the following criteria – the quality of the opponent, where the game will take place, and when it will take place. We can break down these categories one by one below.
As evidenced by TCU’s record in 2017, they are a talented, well-coached team. The Horned Frogs rallied from a 21-3 deficit against Stanford to beat the Cardinal 39-37 in the 2017 Alamo Bowl.
Gary Patterson comes into his 18th season as TCU’s head coach, having compiled a 160-57 record in that time span. Underrated as a head coach, Patterson has led TCU to seven top-10 finishes and 11 in the top 25 since taking over in December 2000. TCU returns 11 starters, with 5 on offense, 6 on defense.
It is on the defensive side of the ball where Patterson has earned his strong reputation. TCU runs a 4-2-5 alignment, which aids the Horned Frogs combat the wide-open offenses that they routinely face in the Big 12.
In 2017, TCU’s defense allowed an average of 19 points per game. An intriguing match-up in this game was one noted by @TonyGerdeman, when he wrote back in May to keep an eye on TCU defensive end Ben Banogu. Banogu will be matched up against Ohio State’s offensive tackles Thayer Munford or Isaiah Prince.
Let’s look at where the game is going to take place ~ AT&T Stadium, otherwise known throughout the football world as “Jerry’s World”. Home to the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, the Buckeyes will be coming back to the site of their 2017 Cotton Bowl victory over USC, as well as the home of the national championship game where Ohio State defeated Oregon 42-20 on January 12, 2015.
While Ohio State fans are notorious for traveling well, and I am sure this “neutral” site game against TCU will be no exception, the reality is TCU’s campus in Fort Worth, Texas, is only about a half hour away from AT&T Stadium. The geographical realities are such that TCU could have more fans in the stands, making this more of a road game than a true neutral site game.
Now we are to when this game is taking place – September 15th, at 8pm, for the national telecast on ABC. While other big games are going to be taking place on September 15th (LSU at Auburn at 3:30pm on CBS; USC at Texas at 8pm on FOX), this is the marquee game of the day.
Ohio State opens up the season versus Oregon State and Rutgers, both at home. TCU opens up vs FCS opponent Southern at home on September 1st, then goes on the road at SMU in a Friday night game on September 7th on ESPN2 at 8pm EST. Something tells me I am going to be watching that TCU at SMU game for sure, even though it violates my sacred belief that Friday nights should be reserved exclusively for high school football.
In 2017, Southern went 7-4, while SMU went 7-6 and played in the 2017 Frisco Bowl. Neither of Ohio State’s opponents went to bowl games, let alone winning records. My point? TCU will be better tested coming into this game than Ohio State.
Add it all up ~
- Traditionally well-coached team, especially on defense
- Playing in a stadium close to the opponent’s campus
- Ohio State comes into this game probably untested, with a somewhat inexperienced quarterback in Dwayne Haskins who will have (hopefully) completed two full games at this point
Do I believe Ohio State will win this game? Yes, I am in that group who will be predicting an Ohio State win. Do I believe it will come easy? Absolutely not.
As a matter of fact, I am going to predict that this game will mirror the last time Ohio State visited AT&T Stadium, being more of a defensive slugfest, with Ohio State trying to rely upon J.K. Dobbins and Mike Weber controlling the clock with the running game.
It’s a lousy out of conference schedule this year and this is the best of the sorry lot. I’m not worried about TCU. I’d rather it wasn’t on a Friday night because that’s just wrong. Friday nights belong to high schools. I’m glad I didn’t have to choose between our team and an OSU game back when I was in high school. Screw Gene Smith and the rest of the greedy bastards.
IDK seems like you could have delved deeper into the offense (and defense). Maybe record against top 20 opponents from last year, rushing yards, who’s back, QB, etc. Seems like this was a bit rushed – but glad to know you think the Bucks will win (though this is an OSU football site).