Throughout the year, we will be asking and answering questions about various Ohio State teams, the players, and anything else on our collective minds of varying degrees of importance. If you have a question that you would like to ask, you can tweet us @LandGrant33 or if you need more than 280 characters, send an email HERE.
It was the best of opponents; it was the worst of opponents. In their first
two games of the season, the Ohio State Buckeyes have faced the then-No. 1 team in the AP and Coaches Polls and the No. 83 team in FCS according to SP+. Without crunching every team’s schedule, I would imagine few, if any, have experienced quite as large a talent gap between opponents as the defending national champions have.
Nonetheless, both games have given OSU coaches and fans alike a lot to be excited about, both in terms of this year’s starters and the guys who will be the future of the program for the next few years.
So, in this week’s fan survey, we want to know which players have proven to you that they deserve to see the field more than they currently are. This can be anyone from true freshmen to guys who have been buried behind talented teammates. If the player that you think deserves it the most isn’t included in the survey, please feel free to head to the comments at the bottom of the page and write him in.
Once you answer that question, check out Question 2 and chime in on what you think the margin of victory will be in this Saturday’s contest with the Ohio Bobcats.
Question 1: Which Buckeye do you think has earned more playing time through the first two games?
Last Saturday’s 70-0 victory over the Grambling State Tigers provided an inordinate number of opportunities for young and inexperienced players to get meaningful(ish), live snaps against an opponent that they didn’t share a locker room with. Because of that, there is a ton of buzz around some guys who haven’t yet had an opportunity to solidify their place in the OSU starting lineup or two-deep.
But, before you go all-in on someone, I do think that it’s important to consider the depth chart. Is the player you are pulling for one who has a clear path to increased playing time, say at a position that has been underwhelming through two games? Or is he someone who is a bit buried behind arguably the best starters at their position in college football?
Because I am all for youngsters getting in the game early and often, but if you are asking for a true freshman to supplant a starter, you should be quite confident that he is better than what’s there now.
Question 2: What will the margin of victory be in Saturday’s game against Ohio University?
One of the teams in Saturday’s game at The Horseshoe is a defending conference champion, and we all know it isn’t Ohio State. Last year, the Ohio Bobcats won the MAC, and they opened this season by nearly knocking off the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on the road (lost 34-31), and then in Week 2, they beat WVU at home (won 17-10). So, OU is going to give the Buckeyes a much better test than Grambling State did last weekend, but the question is, how much better?
Currently, FanDuel has OSU as a 31.5-point favorite, and SP+ projects a score of 41-10. So, do you think the home team covers, or do the scrappy Bobcats make it a bit too close for comfort?
Throughout the year, we ask questions of the most plugged-in Ohio State fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
