Ohio State Football: 2010 Schedule Breakdown

At first glance, the 2010-11 Ohio State Buckeyes football schedule does not look terribly challenging and the possibility of running the table doesn't seem out of the question. However, don't let the eight home games to only four road games fool you. The schedule features games against Miami, at Wisconsin, and at Iowa, all top 15 teams in most early rankings. Needless to say, the Buckeyes path to Glendale, Arizona won't be as easy as some may think.

September 2 - vs. Marshall

In past seasons, the opening game hasn’t always faired the way the Buckeyes have hoped. Although they usually come up victorious, OSU often plays sloppy and allows a much less superior team to hang around.

Marshall shouldn’t pose much of a threat when they visit Ohio Stadium this Thursday, September 2 for an unusual weekday night game in Columbus.

The Thundering Herd lost their best offensive player, Darius Marshall, to the NFL. Although their quarterback, Brian Anderson, has plenty of experience, Marshall’s offensive line doesn’t which puts the Herd at a several disadvantage against OSU’s superb defensive front seven.

On the other side of the ball, Marshall’s defensive line is solid and should force Terrelle Pryor out of the pocket. This could be either good or bad for the Herd. If Pryor can make plays like he has done his entire career outside of the tackle box, then this game should not be close.

I will be looking forward to seeing what kind of mentality the Buckeyes will come into the season with. Are they going to come strolling into the first game and walk to a sloppy victory, or are they going to come out looking focused on a National Championship by destroying a team they should handle easily?

September 11 - vs. Miami

This second slot in the schedule for the past couple years has been designated for a marquee matchup with USC the past two seasons and Texas prior to that. This season will be no different as the top ninth ranked Miami Hurricanes stroll into Columbus.

So…here we are again. A win in the second game of the season puts you on a collision course for the National Championship, and a loss puts you climbing up hill for the remainder of the season.

The Hurricanes are no strangers to big games early on in the schedule as last season, they opened the season against four ranked teams, winning three of them on their way to finishing the season with a respectable 9-4 record. The core of that Miami teams returns including quarterback Jacory Harris, a Pryor clone.

Ohio State will need to win the physical aspect of the game because it will be tough to compete with Miami’s speed. If the Bucks can turn the game into a grind it out, smash mouth battle, while pressing Harris into making mistakes, then OSU should come out on top.

September 18 - vs. Ohio

The pesky Bobcats gave the Bucks all they could handle two years ago in Columbus.

With their pass-heavy pistol offense, OU presents a unique offense which the Buckeyes rarely face in the Big Ten. This is the only factor that could give the Buckeyes trouble. Having played a pass-heavy Hurricanes offense the week before, Ohio State should be prepared for the air attack.

OU is rather one-dimensional as well, so look for the Buckeyes to bring pressure without the threat of giving up anything from the Bobcats running game.

September 25 - vs. Eastern Michigan

The Buckeyes fourth straight home game to open up the season slates them against the EMU Eagles who have been predicted as No. 117 out of 120 teams in their preseason rankings.

With that being said, look for OSU to get the underclassmen some experience while giving their starters some rest as they get ready to begin conference play.

October 2 - @ Illinois

OSU opens up Big Ten play with their first road game of the season as they travel to Champaign to take on the Illinois Fighting Illini.

The Illini offense will have a completely different look as quarterback Juice Williams, who seemed to have played for the last 10 years, is gone due to graduation. This means that the Bucks defense should take advantage of first year starter Nathan Scheelhaase.

Illinois defense is one of the worst in the Big Ten and expect OSU to get whatever they want. After all, the Buckeyes and offensive coordinator Jim Bollman have always seemed to put up big numbers against the Illini defense.

October 9 - vs. Indiana

Its back to Columbus for the sixth game of the season as OSU looks to do battle against a much improved Indiana Hoosiers squad.

The Hoosiers have a potent offense which should have no trouble putting up points. Notable offensive stars such as quarterback Ben Chappell, running back Darius Willis, and wide receiver Tandon Doss return as catalysts of Indian’s pistol offense. This should be a great matchup against the stout Buckeye defense.

Unfortunately for the Hoosiers, they can’t stop anyone and Pryor and the boys should have a field day on offense.

Bottom line…Indiana’s offense, though explosive, will not be able to outscore the Buckeyes. The only concern for OSU is that they get caught looking ahead to Wisconsin the following week, let Indiana hang around in a shootout game, and steal one in The Horseshoe. I don’t foresee this happening though.

October 16 - @ Wisconsin

Back in 2003, following their National Championship, the Buckeyes saw their 19-game winning streak snapped in Madison. And, two years ago a courageous performance by a Freshman Terrelle Pryor led OSU to a narrow victory. So…needless to say, this is going be a battle.

The star of this Badger team is 2009 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year John Clay. Your typical Badger running back, Clay can take over a game and control the tempo. Only problem is, the Bucks will want to play at that same tempo.

Wisconsin’s inexperience defensive front complied with OSU’s veteran offensive line will have the Buckeyes running the ball as much as the Badgers.

That is why this game will be smash-mouth Big Ten football at its finest. Expect a low scoring affair that comes down to the wire.

October 23 - vs. Purdue

Revenge is without a doubt the name of this game.

After an embarrassing loss at Purdue last season which saw the Bucks tally just 110 yards of offense through three quarters while committing five turnovers, expect an Ohio State offense to come out firing seeking redemption.

Purdue is getting used to a new signal-caller, Miami-transfer Robert Marve. Marve is a gun-slinger, so look for OSU to bring the heat in hopes of creating some turnovers.

I believe this game will end up being the Buckeyes largest victory within Big Ten play.

October 30 - @ Minnesota

A possible trap game for the Buckeyes as they don’t want to get caught looking ahead to the following week’s matchup against Penn State.

Tressel and the boys will be making their first trip to Minnesota’s beautiful new stadium in a night game featured on the ESPN’s family of networks. Look for the Minnesota crowd to be a factor in this game.

Also a factor, Golden Gophers quarterback Adam Weber has plenty of talent and is a former All Big-Ten Second Teamer.

Other than the obvious big games against Miami, Wisconsin, and Iowa, this game scares me the most. If the Bucks come out focused and ready to play like the better team that they are, they should have no problem. However, get caught looking ahead, and they could be in for a dog fight.

November 13 - vs. Penn State

When Penn State strolls into Columbus on November 13, OSU begins a crucial stretch to end the season that will come to decide their BCS title game hopes. The good thing for the Bucks is that they get a week off to prepare before that stretch which begins with the Nittany Lions.

After Penn State broke their hearts in 2008, the Buckeyes returned the favor in Happy Valley last November.

The Nittany Lions return Heisman candidate Evan Royster at running back and a solid offensive line, but are breaking in a new quarterback in Kevin Newsome. I think Newsome will be the key to the game. If the Buckeyes can key on Royster and force Newsome into some turnovers, then OSU should come out on top.

November 20 - @ Iowa

It is very possible that this clash on November 20 th between OSU and Iowa could be a matchup of unbeatens with the victor basically punching their ticket to Glendale, Arizona.

Last season, in the de facto Big Ten championship game in Ohio Stadium, Devin Barclay’s overtime field goal sent OSU to the Rose Bowl.

This season, an Iowa defense is led by defensive end Adrian Clayborn, will be looking for revenge on their own turf.

Ricky Stanzi, who missed last year’s game with injury, begins 2010 as the starter. Stanzi also has two outstanding receivers in Derrell Johnson-Koulianos and Marvin McNutt.

This will be another gut-check game that will come down to the final minutes. A soon to be instant classic for sure.


November 27 - vs. Michigan

Pre-sweater vest, Buckeye fans may be concerned. In 1993, 1995, and 1996 undefeated Ohio State teams fell to Michigan.

If OSU has the fortune of coming into the final game of the season unbeaten, they should follow in the footsteps of the 2002 and 2006 Buckeyes who came into the Michigan game undefeated and went on to take care of business at home.

RichRod’s offense still isn’t running on all cylinders and the Wolverines are switching their defensive alignment to a 3-3-5.

With so many questions marks and no team identity, Michigan will be no match for an emotional Buckeye team and crowd.

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