77
Last season Ohio
State had one of
the best—and most
balanced—wide
receiving units in
the country, with
four pass catchers
gaining between
650 and 1,100 yards.
Three of them are
now in the NFL.
The lone holdover,
6-foot, 195-pound
K.J. Hill has upped
his production
each year, from
18 catches for
262 yards as
a freshman to
56 grabs for
549 yards in 2017 to
70 for 885 last year.
The sure-handed
senior, who trails
David Boston by
47 catches on the
school’s all-time
list, has been used
all over the field, but
with the turnover at
receiver he’ll need
to do emerge as
the No. 1 target.
There will be a
learning curve for
Justin Fields in a
new offense, and
he’s going to need a
reliable top option.
X-FACTOR
THE BIG STORY The post–
Urban Meyer era begins in
Columbus, and former offensive
coordinator Ryan Day’s biggest
task as coach will be replacing
the quarterback who rewrote the
school record book. Stepping in
for Dwayne Haskins is sophomore
transfer Justin Fields, a former
five-star recruit who was granted
immediate eligibility despite
playing 12 games at Georgia last
year as Jake Fromm’s backup. Like
Haskins, Fields not only has a big
right arm, but he’s also more of a
dual threat, averaging 6.3 yards
per carry in 2018.
CAN’T MISS Two years ago
running back J.K. DOBBINS
shattered Maurice Clarett’s
freshman record with 1,403 yards,
but his production dipped last
season as the offense leaned on
Haskins’s arm. The J.K. Dobbins
Show should return this year: Day
has vowed to take full advantage
of the 5' 10" 217-pounder’s
breakaway speed.
KEY QUESTION Can Ohio State’s
defense stand up against the
run better than it did last year—
while relying on less experienced
players? In 2018, the Buckeyes
allowed opponents 4.5 yards per
carry, and that was before defensive
tackle Dre’Mont Jones and end Nick
Bosa left for the NFL. The D-line
will be key, led by projected
first-rounder Chase Young.
KEY MATCHUP
BIGGEST GAME
SI RANKING
AUG. 31
FLORIDA ATLANTIC
SEPT. 7
CINCINNATI
SEPT. 14
@ INDIANA
SEPT. 21
MIAMI (OHIO)
SEPT. 28
@ NEBRASKA (24)
OCT. 5
MICHIGAN STATE (21)
OCT. 18
@ NORTHWESTERN
OCT. 26
WISCONSIN (19)
NOV. 9
MARYLAND
NOV. 16
@ RUTGERS
NOV. 23
PENN STATE (16)
NOV. 30
@ MICHIGAN (11)
THE RUNDOWN
3
6
9
12
15
12
–^1
11 –
2
12 –
2 (
BIG
TE
N^ C
HA
MP
S)^
13
–^1
(B
IG^
TEN
CH
AM
PS
)^
11 –
1
WINS
If Fields is as good as
advertised, Ohio State will
be hard to beat in the Big
Ten—but then, winning the
conference hasn’t always
YEAR 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019* guaranteed a playoff berth.
*SI PROJECTION
5 -YEAR TREND
10.5
The Big Ten
competition isn’t
as stiff as in years past, but the
Buckeyes do have tough road trips
to Lincoln and Ann Arbor.
2019
SCHEDULE
Ohio State
FRO
M^ L
EFT
:^ ZA
CH^
BOL
ING
ER/
ICO
N^ S
PO
RTS
WIR
E/G
ETT
Y^ IM
AG
ES;
JEF
F^ H
AY
NES
6
