5 weeks into the 2024 season, Ohio State is slated to play their very first Power Four challenger of the year when they take a trip to East Lansing on Saturday in a match with Michigan State. The Buckeyes travelled through a nonconference slate that consisted of Akron, Western Michigan and Marshall, whom they beat by a combined rating of 157-20.
According to ESPN, Ohio State's schedule– which likewise consisted of an early bye in Week 3– ranks 131st out of 134 FBS groups through the very first 4 weeks. In a look on ‘College Football Live', previous Michigan terrific, Ohio native and Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard buffooned the Buckeyes schedule ahead of their journey to Michigan State.
“During the week, I was doing my preparation, and I stated, ‘Hey, Marissa, I require you to look something up,'” Howard stated. “‘I'm taking a look at the Top 25 ranked groups in college football, and I'm taking a look at Ohio State. Are they the only group that in 4 weeks, has not played a Power Four group?' And she stated, ‘Yes, Desmond, you're right.' Quite much, Ohio State took the entire month off– the entire very first month off– and now they play Michigan State. They're playing a Power Four group. Going on the roadway, betting a Michigan State group that defensively, they lead the conference in sacks and deals with for loss.
‘The trenches, see that fight in the trenches. I'm not exactly sure– I'm gon na need to ask Pete [Thamel] later due to the fact that Michigan State has actually lost a minimum of 3 pass receivers early in the season. I do not understand who's returning. … But Ohio State, lastly, welcome to the 2024 college football season up in East Lansing versus Sparty.”
Jan 2, 2023; Pasadena, California, USA; ESPN broadcaster Desmond Howard before the video game in between the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Utah Utes at the 109th Rose Bowl video game at the Rose Bowl./ Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
While the previous Wolverine definitely has individual factors for buffooning Ohio State's schedule, he's far from the only college football expert who's called out the Buckeyes' early slate. Previous OSU head coach Urban Meyer, who still has strong ties to the program, made a comparable remark before the season started.
“Their schedule's sort of a joke early on,” Meyer stated on his podcast, ‘The Triple Option', in late August. “I imply, they're going to be 50-point favorites in the very first 3 video games. They have a bye week and after that they play Michigan State, which is a shell of itself today.”
Howard got some pushback from the College Football Live panel, that included ESPN's Pete Thamel, “Stanford Steve” Coughlin and Jen Lada, however the previous Michigan pass receiver leaned on the truths of Ohio State's schedule structure.
“I'm simply stating, they have not played any person,” Howard stated. “Week 5, and they have actually not played a Power Four group. That's insane.”
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