Can Anyone Stop Ohio State from Winning the Big Ten Championship?

After an undefeated 2012 campaign under new heard coach Urban Meyer, expectations are sky high in Columbus. No longer held back by NCAA post season sanctions, Ohio State sets their eyes on the Big Ten championship and are hopeful they can at the very least be in the discussion for the BCS Championship as well.

Braxton Miller scored 28 total touchdowns last season.

Leading the charge offensively for the Buckeyes is Heisman hopeful quarterback Braxton Miller. Miller was nothing short of dynamic last season accounting for over 3,300 yards of total offense and 28 total touchdowns (15 passing, 13 rushing) in 2012. The Buckeyes also have running back Carlos Hyde returning for his senior season. Hyde had a very solid season in 2012 rushing for close to 1,000 yards and scored 16 touchdowns on the ground. Miller and Hyde should prove to be a very scary 1-2 punch on the ground this season. But that does not mean they do not return talent at the wide receiver position either. They return both of their returning receivers in Philly Brown and Devin Smith. They both caught over 60 passes in 2012 and combined for 9 touchdown catches, Brown also chipped in two more scores on special teams. The Buckeyes have to be very happy that they return the nucleus of an offense that scored close to 40 points a game last season.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Buckeyes are losing a few key contributors along the defensive line to the NFL draft and graduation, most prominently  Johnathan Hankins who amassed 55 total tackles in 2012, including 4 tackles for loss, defensive end John Simon and his 9 sacks in 2012 are also going to need to be replaced. Linebackers Etienne Sabino and Nathan Williams who combined for over 80 tackles are also leaving for the NFL draft. Fortunately, the Buckeyes still return their leading tackler in senior linebacker Ryan Shazier. Shazier had over 100 tackles in 2012 with 17 tackles for loss, including 5 sacks, and he also had an interception to boot. The secondary will be lead by senior cornerback Christian Bryant and safety CJ Barnett.

From a personnel standpoint, Buckeyes fans have to be excited to have not only the core of the offense but also their two leading tacklers in Shazier and Bryant. Despite losing two key contributors on the defensive line in Hankins and John Simon, the Buckeyes still have tons of depth and young players ready to step up along the defensive line. However, you can have all the talent in the world but if you cant put it together on Saturdays you have no shot to contend for a Big Ten Championship.

Urban Meyer began his coaching career at Ohio State
with an undefeated season.

Looking at their schedule, the Buckeyes are set up very nicely for a run at not only a Leaders division championship, but the Big Ten crown as well. The Buckeyes open with two non conference home games in Buffalo and San Diego State before heading to the west coast to take on the California Golden Bears before heading home to take on Florida A&M before the first real test in my eyes on the schedule and that is a September 28th showdown in Columbus with the Wisconsin Badgers. If Ohio State can survive the Badgers they are set up for a very nice October home slate with the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Penn State Nittany Lions after a trip to Ryan Field to take on the Northwestern Wildcats.The Buckeyes will then start November with back to back road trips to Purdue and Illinois before hosting the Indiana Hooisers in the final home game of the season before finishing the regular season in the Big House to take on the hated Michigan Wolverines on November 30th.

In college football, a favorable schedule is at times the most important aspect to a successful season. I think that a 10+ win season is very possible, and may be expected by the Buckeye faithful in Columbus. With the biggest obstacles coming in Wisconsin and Michigan and both teams graduating their most dangerous offensive weapons in running back Montee Ball and quarterback Denard Robinson respectively. I do not see any team in the Big Ten that can match the offensive firepower of Braxton Miller and the Buckeyes. It should be an exciting season for you if you are Buckeye fan in 2013 and beyond.

- Josh Gamez

@itsjoshgamez

josh.projectcfb@gmail.com