The Ohio State Buckeyes were the ultimate Cinderella Team of 2014, as they capped off an improbable run with a national championship. This is a team that brings back a ton of talent, recruited very well, and became the first team ever to be unanimously voted preseason number one.
As is the case with all national champs in the following year, the one constantly asked question is, can they do it again? The answer to that question, after the team’s performance Monday night versus the Virginia Tech Hokies, is a resounding “Yes!”
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There major factors that play into Ohio States’s favor, and those factors are depth and strength of schedule.
Strength of Schedule
Ohio State will not get a serious test within the Big 10 until November 7th, when the Minnesota Golden Gophers come to town, and are not likely to see the likes of Wisconsin until the Big 10 Championship game.
As far as big-time games, the toughest test they will face is against Michigan State on November 21st, but they will have the benefit of playing that game in Columbus. Even though the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry is always a fierce battle, it is unlikely that they will be a tough test.
Their non-conference schedule should be a cakewalk, as they will face Hawaii, Northern Illinois and Western Michigan at home and Rutgers in New Jersey.
Depth
What was evident Monday night in Blacksburg, VA, was this team’s ridiculous depth. Everyone knew the quarterback position was secure, regardless if it was Cardale Jones or J.T. Barrett under center. Jones eventually holds the job for now. At tailback, it was obvious that Heisman hopeful Ezekiel Elliott would be running the show. What may have been unclear, though, was the depth at many of the other positions, particularly at the wideout spot.
Monday night, with three very productive wideouts suspended, Ohio State unleashed their potential secret weapon on the college football atmosphere: wide receiver Braxton Miller.
The man who once ran the show at quarterback for the Buckeyes debuted in his new “H-back” position, and did not disappoint as he caught a 54-yard touchdown pass and displayed his insane athleticism during a 53-yard run for six. The nation was very aware of what the former Big Ten Player of the Year was capable of at quarterback, and now it is possible he could be an X-factor on this team that most did not see coming.
As for the defense, they went into the game shorthanded without the presence of suspended defensive end Joey Bosa, the reigning Big 10 Defensive Player of the Year, and still handled Virginia Tech offensively. They have big time talents like linebackers Darron Lee and Joshua Perry, and up front, they have guys who help make Bosa’s job easier. Adolphus Washington knocked Virginia Tech quarterback Michael Brewer out of the football game and essentially rendered Virginia Tech’s offense useless.
And oh, by the way? The current depth chart shows that 8 of the 11 defensive starters are underclassmen.
Winning championships is not an easy job, and winning back-to back titles is especially difficult to do. In order to make it happen, you have to have a great team and you also have to have a hard-working team. The Ohio State Buckeyes clearly have both, which is why they have a very realistic chance of repeating in 2015.