Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
It’s been nearly two years since the Ohio State Buckeyes lost a game. In 2011, the Buckeyes had a mediocre season and it was somewhat of a nightmare as Jim Tressel left the school and interim coach Luke Fickell took over to lead the team no a 6-7 record. Where did that leave the program? Seemingly in shambles, right? Wrong.
Urban Meyer took over in 2012 and ran this team to the bone. Braxton Miller looked like an entirely new quarterback and the Buckeyes finally looked like the team they once were under Tressel — maybe even better. If it weren’t for the scandal that led to a one-year bowl ban, the Buckeyes probably would have contended for a national title after finishing an improbably 12-0.
Meyer has taken this team to a whole new level and there is no team in the Big Ten right now that can stop them — or has been able to for two years.
The Wisconsin Badgers come to town on Saturday night and it is sure to be one of the best games of the week in college football. The Badgers have won three straight conference titles and Meyer actually called them the “kings of the Big Ten”. That is high praise coming from the best coach in the conference.
However, that might be Meyer trying to butter Wisconsin up just to roast them in front of a national audience — as they should. The Buckeyes have two quarterbacks that could start for any team in the conference as well as well as the fifth-best rushing attack in the nation behind Jordan Hall. Ohio State will have no problem taking down the Badgers at home on Saturday — if it were on the road, it would be a different story.
The Buckeyes have been blessed with a relatively easy schedule this season in the conference. Besides playing Wisconsin this week, they will need to travel to Evanstan, Ill., to take on the Northwestern Wildcats in week six. This should also be a win because the Wildcats are not elite yet, barely beating a lowly Maine team and yet to face stiff competition through four games.
After that, the Badgers have five straight winnable games — with the hardest coming against the Penn State Nittany Lions at home. Week 14 will be the game that decides the Buckeyes’ fate. That game comes against the Michigan Wolverines on the road.
Michigan has looked vulnerable this season thus far and are not the team people expected them to be. It will be a close game as it is also a huge rivalry, but the Buckeyes’ offense will be too much for the struggling Wolverines defense.
That would give Meyer a 24-0 record at Ohio State. This time, however, he will have a chance to play for a Big Ten title and possibly a national title.
Related: Big Ten Game of the Week: Wisconsin at Ohio State
Urban Meyer Playing Head Games Naming Co-Starters at QB for Ohio State Buckeyes
These X-Factors Must Rise to the Occasion for the Wisconsin Badgers and Ohio State Buckeyes
Connor Muldowney is a columnist for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Connormuldowney, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google. You can also reach him at .
