The college football season is nearly here and the 2023 Ohio State schedule is quietly filled with interesting foes. As usual, the Buckeyes will get to face nine Big Ten opponents and three out-of-conference teams. While anything can happen, not every matchup is made the same. Some games are going to be broad-daylight massacres while others will carry a little more weight.
Expectations are still sky-high for Ryan Day‘s squad heading into his fifth full season at the helm. He has a few decisions to make at the quarterback position that he hopes to get figured out in the next few weeks. The defense will need to play well against teams capable of playing competent football, unlike last year. There are so many questions surrounding this team but thankfully they get started against a few teams that they can afford to try a few things.
Ranking the 2023 Ohio State Schedule by Intrigue
The Snoozefests
At Indiana (Week 1),
Each year, the Buckeyes face off against a team who is just not even close to them in terms of talent. To kick off the year, the Buckeye travel to Indiana. Now, it must be mentioned how the Hoosiers tend to play well against Ohio State and have actually beaten the spread eight times in the last 12 years. However, Indiana is not looking like they’re set up for success in 2023. They are returning just two starters on defense and four on offense.
Connor Bazelak was the team’s leading passer in 2022 and he bolted for Bowling Green. The bright spot on the offense is Cam Camper who led the way with 569 yards and two touchdowns off of 46 receptions. Ever since that exciting 2020 season, the Hoosiers have gone 6-18 and their only two wins in the conference came last year.
Youngstown State (Week 2)
Then, the Buckeyes play host to in-state FCS foe, Youngstown State. The Penguins were a late addition to the schedule and they will likely be the guinea pigs for the Ohio State quarterback battle. If you’re big into recruiting, this is the type of game to tune into because those highly-touted freshmen will likely get to play in the second half.
at Purdue (Week 7)
Purdue could be bumped into trap-worthy status on the 2023 Ohio State schedule and for good reason. Since 2002, Purdue has beaten the Buckeyes four times. That’s tied for the most in that time with Michigan and Penn State. The two have played 12 times in that stretch as compared to the 20 matchups with Michigan and 21 with Penn State.
There are still some reasons for pause with this Boilermaker team despite the departure of Jeff Brohm. Hudson Card is a talented transfer quarterback from Texas and the new coach, Ryan Walters, will have the defense ready to go.
at Rutgers (Week 10)
Finally, Rutgers. The Buckeyes are 9-0 all-time against Rutgers by an average score of 53-11. There is no reason to think this year will be any different.
Trap-Worthy Games
Maryland (Week 6)
While it’s not nearly as prevalent during Day’s tenure as it was with his predecessor, there is always a risk of a loss to a perceived lesser opponent. You could argue Oregon in 2021 counts but they were not to the disappointment level of 2014 Virginia Tech, 2017 Iowa, or 2018 Purdue.
Maryland is sneaky. Taulia Tagovailoa is coming off of another 3,000+ yard season with 18 touchdowns. He leads an offense that, outside of the Penn State debacle, averaged over 30 points per game. He gets his top two receivers back as well as Roman Hemby, a 1,010-yard rusher in 2022. They added Josh Gattis and Kevin Sumlin to the coaching ranks, so that offense could take another step forward.
Michigan State (Week 11)
Michigan State, meanwhile, is a wild card. Payton Thorne is gone so the Buckeyes will have to face a first-time starting quarterback in either Noah Kim or Katin Houser. They lost Keon Coleman but this team loves to overachieve when counted out. Jalen Berger returns and he’ll be leaned on in this matchup as it’s in November in chilly Columbus. Defensively, they are returning six starters including Second-Team All-Big Ten linebacker, Cal Haladay. He tallied 120 tackles, 11 for loss, one-and-a-half sacks, a forced fumble, and a recovered fumble.
Minnesota (Week 12)
Finally, looking ahead almost bit the Buckeyes last year. In the 2023 Ohio State schedule, the team a week before Michigan is Minnesota. Obviously, the week before The Game has all of the makings of a trap game ala Illinois in 2007. Athan Kaliakmanis is the perfect quarterback to take advantage of a defense looking ahead and he’s expected to have a big year. Add in Western Michigan transfer Sean Tyler taking over the running game from Mohamed Ibrahim and this offense can be solid. The Buckeyes were prone to big plays in 2022. They’ll be susceptible again if they’re overlooking the Golden Gophers.
Now It’s Getting Interesting…
Western Kentucky (Week 3)
Wait, a Conference USA team? Buckle up.
The Hilltoppers have been home to some of the most prolific quarterbacks in college football. Their quarterback, Austin Reed, put up 4,746 passing yards last year which is 26th best in the history of single-season marks. Western Kentucky threw for over 352 yards per game last year and 433 per game in 2021. That was behind Bailey Zappe‘s 5,967 yards, the most in FBS history.
If there are any concerns with the Buckeyes’ secondary, they will be exposed in this one. Reed’s favorite target is Malachi Corely. Corely is a ridiculous athlete and has been dubbed the YAC King for his proclivity for explosive plays. 975 of his 1,295 receiving yards were after the catch. The junior receiver is generating legitimate NFL hype but this team’s downfall will be its rebuild defense. If the Buckeyes can’t get their big-play weakness under control, this has the makings of a 100-point affair.
at Wisconsin (Week 9)
Then, later on, Ohio State travels to Camp Randall to take on its old head coach…well, interim head coach. Luke Fickell takes over at Wisconsin and he’s set to compete in a wide-open Big Ten West. However, this Badgers team will be different than the one we’ve grown accustomed to. Fickell brought in new offensive coordinator Phil Longo who brings with him the Air Raid offense.
Tanner Mordecai transfers in and is well-equipped due to his time in SMU’s offense. In that offense, Mordecai threw for 7,152 yards and 52 touchdowns in just two years. Defensively, the Badgers will be stout. Going to Wisconsin is hard enough without them finally having a quarterback. Ohio State will need to be ready for a fight.
CFP Implications
at Notre Dame (Week 4)
There are three matchups on the 2023 Ohio State schedule that will decide whether the Buckeyes are among the elite programs in the nation. To start, Week 4 comes with the opportunity to follow up the 21-10 win in Columbus from last year. Sam Hartman comes to campus from Wake Forest. The offense will have to recover from losing its top target (who was a tight end) via the draft. Audric Estime does return, however, and will get the opportunity to improve from his 935 yards and 11 touchdowns from last year.
One thing is for certain, Marcus Freeman will have his defense ready to go. They very nearly beat the Buckeyes last year off of the performance of the defense. Sure, Jaxon Smith-Njigba was knocked out. However, with as many weapons as Ohio State had last year, it was impressive to hold them to 21 points.
Penn State (Week 8)
Perhaps the Big Ten team that too many are sleeping on, Penn State has been incredibly close of late. Presumed starter Drew Allar looks like he could be the real deal. Having a duo like Nicholas Singletary and Kaytron Allen makes his life significantly easier. The pair combined for 1,928 yards and 22 touchdowns as true freshmen. A receiver to keep an eye on is Dante Cephus. Cephus joined in on the mass exodus from Kent State this offseason and brings with him 1,984 yards and 12 touchdowns over the last two years.
Every game with Penn State is a battle. Despite owning a six-game win streak, it has taken multiple last-minute comebacks or Herculean individual efforts to get the win. Last year, J.T. Tuimoloau went nuclear on the Nittany Lions. The Buckeyes cannot hedge their hopes on such an individual effort again or else they’ll fall.
at Michigan (Week 13)
Finally, Michigan. For the first time since 2001, the Buckeyes are entering a season on a two-game losing streak to their bitter rival. What Ohio State has done to Michigan in the rivalry since 2001 (17-4), Michigan did to them over the past two years. The Wolverines bullied the Buckeyes in back-to-back matchups, plain and simple.
Every year, this game is circled on the schedule. On the 2023 Ohio State schedule, it’s the game with the most on the line. Michigan is coming off of back-to-back Big Ten titles and CFP appearances. Last year, Ohio State gave up four touchdowns of at least 69 yards. Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards are freak athletes and J.J. McCarthy is operating on all the confidence in the world, but that cannot happen again.
This is the game. The Game. The most important game. Losing this one, no matter what comes before, could be Day’s death knell in Columbus.
Photo courtesy: Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
