COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State football’s 2020 schedule hits the sweet spot between allowing a team to prove itself without being overly hostile to championship hopes.
With its toughest non-conference and conference games both coming on the road, the Buckeyes are more vulnerable to an in-season slip-up than a year ago. Yet the balance of the schedule provides enough quality opponents to potentially absorb one competitive loss.
Beginning with an in-state afterthought and building to an inter-division power, we count down the 12 opponents Ohio State will face in 2020.
12. Bowling Green (Sept. 5)
2019 record: 3-9
The Falcons allowed 62 points to Kent State last season and 49 to Buffalo — a team that appears later (but not much later) on this list. BGSU returns a pretty good receiver in Quintin Morris and no one else who stood out even from a Mid-American Conference perspective in 2019.
This season opener provides a tasty warm-up for Justin Fields and the potentially explosive Buckeye offense and a nice paycheck for BGSU.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights punter Adam Korsak (94) does his thing during the third quarter against Maryland on Saturday October 5, 2019 in Piscataway.Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media
11. Rutgers (Sept. 26)
2019 record: 2-10
Greg Schiano and Brendon White return to Ohio Stadium for both teams’ Big Ten opener. Adding White and other transfers made Rutgers relatively more competitive with the middle of the conference, but not with programs like the Buckeyes.
The Scarlet Knights have a great punter in Adam Korsak. They’ll need him on this afternoon.
Maryland receiver Dontay Demus Jr.is tackled by Michigan State linebacker Tyriq Thompson during the first half at Spartan Stadium on November 30, 2019, in East Lansing, Michigan.Getty Images
10. at Maryland (Nov. 14)
2019 record: 3-9
It’s almost hard to remember Maryland was ranked early last season, especially because the season ended with a seven-game losing streak.
The last time the Buckeyes went to College Park they were nearly run over by Anthony McFarland. He’s gone, and so is Javon Leake. This was an offseason of turnover between transfers, retirements and NFL Draft declarations. As of Wednesday the Terrapins were down to two scholarship quarterbacks.
Mike Locksley’s rebuild is still laying the foundation.
Buffalo running back Jaret Patterson reacts after scoring a touchdown in the second quarter against Miami of Ohio at Yager Stadium on September 28, 2019 in Oxford, Ohio.Getty Images
9. Buffalo (Sept. 19)
2019 record: 8-5 (defeated Charlotte 31-9 in Bahamas Bowl)
Lance Leipold has steadily built the Bulls into one of the best teams in the MAC since leaving Division III power Wisconsin-Whitewater. Pro Football Focus called Jaret Patterson the nation’s third-best returning running back behind Clemson’s Travis Etienne and Alabama’s Najee Harris. PFF also lists Taylor Riggins and Malcolm Koonce among the 10 best edge rushers in the country.
Buffalo is 0-5 all-time against the Big Ten. That drought should end someday, but probably not in 2020.
Illinois safety Sydney Brown returns an interception for a fourth quarter touchdown against Michigan State at Spartan Stadium on November 09, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan.Getty Images
8. at Illinois (Nov. 21)
2019 record: 6-7 (lost to Cal 35-29 in Redbox Bowl)
Lovie Smith probably saved his job with a four-game mid-season winning streak that began with an upset of Wisconsin. The defense lost some NFL-bound talent but returns safety Sydney Brown and linebacker Jake Hansen.
Brandon Peters last faced the Buckeyes as a Michigan backup in 2018. He’ll need a lot of as-yet-unknown help to lead an upset.
Indiana quarterback Michael Penix Jr. runs with the ball against Northwestern at Memorial Stadium on November 02, 2019 in Bloomington, Indiana.Getty Images
7. Indiana (Nov. 7)
2019 record: 8-5 (lost to Tennessee 23-22 in Gator Bowl)
Michael Penix Jr.’s 2019 injury kept him out of the matchup with OSU in Bloomington. He belongs on the short list of the best quarterbacks the Buckeyes could face in 2020 — and he can target true receiving threats in Whip Philyor and Ty Fryfogle.
The Hoosiers aspire to be upwardly mobile in the Big Ten East. The first step was winning all of the games they were supposed to. The next step will be inroads against the middle of the league. Challenging Ohio State in a non-down year, however, is only visible on a distant horizon.
Michigan State University head football coach Mel Tucker speaks at his first press conference as MSU's head coach at the Breslin Student Events Center on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020.Neil Blake | MLive.com
6. at Michigan State (Oct. 17)
2019 record: 7-6 (defeated Wake Forest 27-21 in Pinstripe Bowl)
Former Browns and Buckeyes assistant Mel Tucker takes over a program in need of a new direction. He’ll need to figure out who his quarterback is, but the Spartans have an established running back in Elijah Collins and a solid receiving corps.
On the other side of the ball, MSU lost Kenny Willekes, Raequan Williams and other important pieces. If you believe in trap games, though, this game comes one week after a potentially challenging visit from Iowa and one week prior to the trip to Penn State.
Ohio State defensive tackle Tommy Togiai and linebacker Dallas Gant combine to tackle Nebraska receiver Wan'Dale Robinson at Memorial Stadium on September 28, 2019 in Lincoln, Nebraska.Getty Images
5. Nebraska (Oct. 31)
2019 record: 5-7
Adrian Martinez took a step back in 2019 in production and efficiency, and the Buckeyes flew to Lincoln mid-season to help that process along. The Cornhuskers still look like a potentially explosive offense thanks to Wan’Dale Robinson, J.D. Speilman and other emerging talents.
We’ve been fooled before by Nebraska, which must make significant improvements on defense to become relevant again even within the Big Ten. This does not project to be an Ohio State team you want to engage in a shootout.
Iowa's Ihmir Smith-Marsette returns a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown during the first half of the Holiday Bowl against USC at SDCCU Stadium on December 27, 2019 in San Diego, California.Getty Images
4. Iowa (Oct. 10)
2019 record: 10-3 (defeated USC 49-24 in Holiday Bowl)
The last time these teams played, the Hawkeyes fried OSU’s playoff hopes with a 55-24 thunderbolt in 2017. That team was somewhat sneakily populated with NFL talent. Iowa just suffered an exodus of future pros in offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs and defensive end A.J. Epenesa, among other departures.
The Hawkeyes should still have a strong offensive line, but the defense lost several key contributors. The biggest different between 2017 and now is this game will be played in Columbus. Iowa has not won here since 1991.
Michigan running back Hassan Haskins (25) breaks a tackle by Ohio State linebacker Pete Werner (20) during a 2-point conversion attempt in the fourth quarter of the 2019 game in Ann Arbor. The Buckeyes have an eight-game win streak over the Wolverines.Mike Mulholland | MLive.com
3. Michigan (Nov. 28)
2019 record: 9-4 (lost to Alabama 35-16 in Camping World Bowl)
We do not yet know who will quarterback the Wolverines in the next installment of The Game. We do know Hassan Haskins, Zach Charbonnet and Chris Evans provide intriguing backfield options. We know Nico Collins and Ronnie Bell can make plays at receiver.
Michigan should have the talent necessary to put up points in Ohio Stadium. Does it have any chance of slowing down Ohio State’s offense? The Buckeyes have scored 42 or more points five times during the current eight-game winning streak in the series.
Offensive lineman Penei Sewell after the Oregon Ducks defeat the Washington Huskies last Oct. 19 at Husky Stadium in Seattle. (Sean Meagher, The Oregonian)
2. at Oregon (Sept. 12)
2019 record: 12-2 (defeated Wisconsin 28-27 in Rose Bowl)
Justin Herbert is gone, we don’t yet know who will replace him, and the Ducks are replacing four offensive line spots around unanimous All-American Penei Sewell.
That is the good news for Ohio State fans. The bad news: ESPN’s SP+ predicts Oregon to have the nation’s second-best defense in 2020. Kayvon Thibodeaux may be the best defensive end in this game, and four other starters passed up the NFL to stay in school.
The loser of this game can still works its way back into the College Football Playoff picture, or perhaps settle for a Rose Bowl rematch.
Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons leaves the field after their 27-17 loss to Ohio State on Nov. 23, 2019. (Joe Hermitt, pennlive.com)
1. at Penn State (Oct. 24)
2019 record: 11-2 (defeated Memphis 53-39 in Cotton Bowl)
While Michigan remains OSU’s main emotional rival, the Nittany Lions remain the more tangible obstruction to the Big Ten East crown.
Penn State keeps showing up on too-early preseason top five lists, and the talent bears that out. Micah Parsons was a consensus All-America linebacker, and defensive back Tariq Castro-Fields and defensive end Shaka Toney are All-Big Ten caliber players. Five offensive linemen with starting experience return, and Pat Freiermuth might be the league’s best tight end.
Ohio State lost at Beaver Stadium in 2016 and escaped with a one-point victory in 2018. Someone’s season may very well be on the line for the 2020 installment.
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