Super Bowl Sunday marked the end of any meaningful football games for many moons and now all we can do is wait for the light reprieve of the Spring Game and count the long days until the fall.
One of the ways we mark the time around here during the off-season is to look way too far ahead at what lies on the other end of the football calendar wasteland. Let’s get that going with a look at the 2015 schedule.
Sept. 7 – at Virginia Tech
Easily the marquee game of the non-conference schedule, the Buckeyes will be out to avenge their only loss of the 2014 National Championship season. Winning at Blacksburg typically isn’t very easy, but four teams managed to do it in 2014 (East Carolina, Georgia Tech, Miami (FL) and Boston College. It’s on a Monday night, so that’ll be different.
Frank Beamer’s team may have hung a 35-21 loss on Ohio State this past season, but it’ll be difficult for them to repeat the accomplishment, despite being at home in an environment that can be as rough as Penn State. The Hokies return quarterback Michael Brewer and their top three running backs, as well as standout tight end Bucky Hodges and their two leading receivers.
The Hokies figure to be better than a fifth-place ACC Coastal team, which is what they were last year (7-6, 3-5), but they did win their bowl game, a 33-17 victory over Cincinnati in the Military Bowl. And, in a hostile environment on opening week, this is not going to be an easy one for the Buckeyes.
Sept. 12 – vs. Hawai’i
Let’s face it, Ohio State’s home non-conference schedule is hot garbage in 2015. But the Rainbow Warriors are a fun team to watch—at least while at home. They generally stink on the road, and this is a long trip for them. Hawai’I finished fourth in the Mountain West West (not a typo, that’s their division) last year at 4-9 (3-5) and fell short of bowl eligibility.
Ikaika Woolsey returns at quarterback (sadly we won’t see former Buckeye Taylor Graham, who was a senior this season). Joey Iosefa also graduates but we’ll be treated to the delightfully named Steven Lakalaka at running back. The Warriors also return their top two receivers. But let’s face it, even on a short week, the Buckeyes should roll.
Sept. 19 – vs. Northern Illinois
As far as MAC teams go, the Huskies are not the typical easy out. They went 11-3 (7-1) last season, destroying Bowling Green in the MAC Championship Game before getting blown out, 52-23, to Marshall in the Boca Raton Bowl. The other two Northern Illinois losses came at Arkansas and, surprisingly, at home to Central Michigan, 34-17.
Quarterback Drew Hare returns, after throwing for 2,300+ yards and running for 900 more last season as a sophomore. The Huskies do, however, lose senior running back Cameron Stingily and 1,000+ yard receiver, Da’Ron Brown. Northern Illinois will probably be annoying for a quarter or two before Ohio State can pull away.
Sept. 26 – vs. Western Michigan
The Buckeyes go back-to-back against the MAC when the Broncos visit Columbus. Western Michigan went 8-5 (6-2) last season, finishing third in the MAC West, before losing 38-24 to Air Force in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
Quarterback Zach Terrell threw for 3,443 yards last season and returns for his junior year. Terrell's favorite target was sophomore Corey Davis, who racked up, 1,408 yards and 15 touchdowns, but Daniel Braverman caught 81 balls for 997 yards and six scores. Both will be back, as will running back Jarvion Franklin, who ran for 1,551 yards and 24 touchdowns as a freshman. WMU can amass yards and score, reaching the 40-point mark seven times last season.
What crazy uniforms will the Hoosiers wear next?
Oct. 3 – at Indiana
Ohio State opens conference play in Bloomington Columbus West. The Hoosiers are coming off a 4-8 (1-7) team and a last-place finish in the B1G East. Indiana’s lone conference win came against rival Purdue in the season finale, but the Hoosiers also went to Columbia and beat SEC East champ Missouri. The Buckeyes took a while to get going but beat Indiana, 42-27.
The Buckeyes won’t have to worry about running back Tevin Coleman next season, as he’s entered the NFL Draft. The leading returning running back is Divine Redding, who rushed for 118 yards on 29 attempts as a freshman in 2014.Quarterback Nate Sudfield is back for his senior year and backup Zander Diamont made a few plays against the Buckeyes last season. Indiana loses its top two receivers, but offense hasn’t been a problem since Kevin Wilson took over in Bloomington.
Oct. 10 – vs. Maryland
The Terrapins make their first visit to the Shoe as a Big Ten team, coming off a 7-6 (4-4) season. Maryland finished third in the B1G East but was demolished by Stanford in something called the Foster Farms Bowl, 45-21. The Buckeyes won easily in College Park last season, 52-24.
The Terps scored 28.5 points per game, but allowed 30, so defense was a bigger problem than offense. Quarterback C.J. Brown is gone, but Caleb Rowe returns after playing in four games in 2014. He was a better passer than Brown, but not nearly as good a runner. Running backs Brandon Ross and Wes Brown will be back but top receiver Deon Long is out of eligibility and Stefon Diggs is going pro. It’ll be a bit of a rebuilding year for Randy Edsall, but it helps that defensive star Will Likely is back.
Oct. 17 – vs. Penn State
Let’s face it, the Nittany Lions were a pain in the ass last year, despite their 7-6 (2-6) record and sixth-place finish in the Big Ten East. Ohio State struggled at Happy Valley, partially due to J.T. Barrett’s knee sprain and partly due to conservative play calling and a couple killer turnovers. The Nittany Lions made the most of their return to bowl eligibility, beating Boston College in overtime in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl, 31-30.
Quarterback Christian Hackenberg is back for his junior year, after throwing for nearly 3,000 yards last season. Leading rusher Akeel Lynch is back too, as well as top two receivers DaeSean Hamilton and Geno Lewis. Tight end Jesse James, however, left early for the NFL. Penn State’s star is rising, but it remains to be seen what kind of coach James Franklin really is.
Oct. 24 – at Rutgers
The Scarlet Knights finished their first season of Big Ten play 8-5 (3-5), finishing fourth in the East Division. Their reward was being sent to Detroit, where they ripped North Carolina apart in the Quick Lane Bowl, 40-21. The Buckeyes had little trouble handling Rutgers in the Horseshoe last season, winning 56-17.
Rutgers will lose quarterback Gary Nova to graduation, but should be stacked at running back. Top receiver Leonte Carroo chose not to bolt for the NFL, after going for 1,086 yards last season. The Knights yielded 30 points per game and scored only 26. Losing a starting quarterback doesn’t bode well for Rutgers, which at least gets to face the defending champs at home. I almost typed that sentence with a straight face.
Nov. 7 – vs. Minnesota
The Golden Gophers visit the Shoe after Ohio State’s lone bye week of the year. Minnesota has made a lot of progress under Jerry Kill, finishing 8-5 (5-3) last season—good for second in the B1G West. Minnesota was in the division race until the last week, but ultimately came up short, then lost 33-17 to Missouri in the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl. It wasn’t an easy win, but Ohio State defeated the Gophers in the snow in Minneapolis last season, 31-24.
Running back David Cobb and standout tight end Maxx Williams are both off to the NFL, but quarterback Mitch Leidner returns after running for 452 yards and passing for 1,798 in 2014. Minnesota will likely be a tough out again in 2015, but playing the Gophers at home, and without Cobb or Williams, should help.
Sorry, Illinois, but it's our Illibuck.
Nov. 14 – at Illinois
The Illibuck is back up for grabs in Champaign’s Wind Tunnel Stadium* in 2015. Tim Beckman’s team has gone from really horrible to mediocre the last couple of years. The Fighting Illini finished 6-7 (3-5) in 2014, in fifth place in the Big Ten West. Illinois even reached a bowl game, losing in the Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl, 35-18. The Buckeyes put the Illini away early last season, giving J.T. Barrett the second half off in a 55-14 rout.
(*Not its real name)
Wes Lunt threw for 1,763 yards and 14 touchdowns against only three interceptions in an injury-hampered season last year as a sophomore. Josh Ferguson ran for 735 yards as a junior. And Lunt will have plenty of receivers back in 2015, including Mike Dudek, who finished with 1,038 yards and six touchdowns last season. The question for the Illini will be the defense, which yielded 34 points per game last year.
Nov. 21 – vs. Michigan State
Sparty once again figures to be the toughest game on the schedule, but the Buckeyes get them at home this fall. However, coming to the Shoe just a week before The Game makes for a tough back-to-back schedule for Ohio State. The Buckeyes took care of Sparty in their own house last season, 49-37. But the Spartans could have been in the conversation for the College Football Playoff if things had gone the other way. Mark Dantonio’s team went 11-2 (7-1), taking second in the B1G East and beating Baylor, 42-41 in the Cotton Bowl.
Connor Cook, one of the nation’s most efficient field generals, returns at quarterback. He threw for 3,214 yards and 24 touchdowns vs. eight interceptions in 2014. Running backs Jeremy Langford and Nick Hill both graduate, leaving sophomore Delton Williams as the most accomplished returning rusher. Williams ran for 316 yards and five scores this season. Sparty will have to reload at receiver after losing Tony Lippett and Keith Mumphery, but MacGarrett Kings Jr. tallied 404 receiving yards as a juinior. The defense will be good again, despite the loss of coordinator Pat Narduzzi.
This game will likely decide the Big Ten East again.
Nov. 28 – at Michigan
The Game! Jim Harbaugh! Tradition! Rivalry! Did I mention Jim Harbaugh?
The Wolverines went 5-7 (3-5) in 2014, finishing fifth in the Big Ten East and missing out on a bowl game, leading to the firing of Brady Hoke. Yet, for the fourth straight year, Michigan gave Ohio State a good fight. The Buckeyes pulled away late, prevailing 42-28, although they lost Barrett for the year in the process.
Michigan quietly put together a pretty good defense in 2014. Under Harbaugh and new defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin, along with Greg Mattison as defensive line coach, the Wolverines will likely get even better on that side of the ball. The Game is at Michigan. These are pluses in Michigan’s column. But the Wolverines have to find a quarterback. Harbaugh will help with that. Shane Morris is the likely candidate but he’ll need further development. The top three runners return and Drake Johnson may have emerged as the toughest back of the three. Devin Funchess has gone to the NFL, but tight end Jake Butt is a weapon and some of the young receivers could prosper under the new regime.
This won’t likely be an easy game. By the final weekend of November, the Wolverines will be operating at maximum Harbaugh.
There you have it. It’s still a long way off, but this is how the 2015 season looks. When the season starts, Las Vegas will have Ohio State favored in every game. Which games present the biggest road blocks? Which make you nervous? Which are you most looking forward to?
It’s only seven months away.
