I've been thinking about the college football season slowly creeping thru all of this miserable spring weather. While every year we all can't wait for the season opening kick there are some games that meant a little more or have made me really nervous prior to kickoff/so excited I literally had the shakes.
What're your 5 Biggest Season Openers at the Shoe and on the road?
Home:
- 2003 vs Washington. Defending National Champions, primetime kickoff, ranked opponent, and nearly the entire team is back.
- 2022 vs ND. This is one that is going to setup a likely National Title run and with Freeman coming back to the Shoe it. We also return so many starters and it should be 2 top 10 teams
- 2010 vs Marshall. I chose this game because our roster was so loaded and we were preseason #2 playing primetime on a Thursday. We knew it was going to be a slaughter but I couldn't wait for it!
- 2012 vs Miami Ohio. Not a big matchup but Urban's first game had me so excited to see what our team will look like moving forward from Tressel. I was like a kid on Christmas morning. Lots of young talent and a new coach!
- 2019 vs FAU. Lane Kiffin coming into town and we heard this Justin Fields guy is legit. First official game for Ryan Day as our head coach and we returned a lot of talent.
Road:
- 2015 vs VT. Defending National Champs going to avenge their only loss from last season at night on a Monday? Yeah I was a nervous wreck and couldn't wait for kickoff. We were so loaded!
- 1998 vs West Virginia. Such a loaded roster but nervous Cooper would blow it week 1. Primetime and against #11 team in the country. This is IMO the second most loaded team in OSU history (2015).
- 2017 vs Indiana. New season to hopefully erase that 31-0 taste from our mouths. JT back and the best D-Line in OSU history. Also new RB JK Dobbins gets the start on a Thursday primetime slot.
- 2014 vs Navy. Brand new everything! RS Freshmen JT Barrett gets the start and we get to finally see this highly ranked 2013 recruiting class show off their skills. Couldn't wait to see this new team of guys!
- 2021 vs Minnesota. Legit worried we might lose this one in primetime. Minnesota plays tough ball and we have no identity yet on offense nor defense. I was legit nervous we would drop this game.
