50 For 50: JT Tuimoloau, Jack Sawyer – A Pair And A Scare

Welcome to our daily feature that I am calling “50 for 50” where I attempt to get us to Big Ten Media Days — which are 41 days away — with a daily sampling of what we can look forward to this upcoming college football season.

We will do this via the following categories: the 50 biggest individual matchups for the Buckeyes this season, the 50 most important college football games this season, 50 Buckeye things to look forward to this season, 50 national predictions, 50 Big Ten predictions, and 50 predictions involving the Buckeyes.

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Biggest Buckeye Matchups

Michigan WR Tyler Morris vs. Ohio State CB Davison Igbinosun

Tyler Morris may have flown under the radar a bit last year for Michigan. He finished eighth on the team with 13 receptions, but averaged 15.2 yards per catch, scoring once. The Wolverines replace their top two wideouts from last year, which puts Morris firmly in the starting lineup. He started four games last year and could very well be Michigan’s top outside target this year. Ohio State junior cornerback Davison Igbinosun is a very physical defender whose 6-foot-2 frame is difficult for smaller receiver to deal with. We know the team that runs the ball the best wins this game, but we’ve also seen the team that gives up the big plays through the air has a really damn difficult time of winning as well.

Most Important Games

Oregon Ducks at Wisconsin Badgers, November 16

Oregon and Wisconsin have played just six times, with the last two being the 2020 and 2012 Rose Bowls. The Ducks won those two games by a combined eight points. This is a late-season matchup for both teams, which could be a good thing or bad thing. Oregon will have already played Ohio State and Michigan, so they’ll be prepared for this one pretty well. And their September 14 game at Oregon State should prepare them for the Camp Randall Stadium crowd as well. Luke Fickell needs a signature win for the Badgers — and he’s going to have plenty of opportunities this year. Wisconsin has games against Alabama and USC before October, but a win over the Ducks could be quite the upheaval of standings in the Big Ten.

Something To Look Forward To

Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau meeting at the quarterback.

When people talk about “bookend defensive ends,” they are referring to what Ohio State has this year in Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau. Both are now experienced seniors who have seen it all and have come back with a purpose. It would be right for Buckeye fans to get excited about those two rushing a passer from their respective edges and meeting in the middle. Go ahead and imagine them as bookends, but holding up just one book. And then continuing to push in against each other until the book’s spine is contorted and the cover begins to crack. Figuratively, of course.

National College Football Predictions

Missouri receiver Luther Burden will have a three-touchdown game.

Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden is one of the best players in the country. A year ago as a sophomore, he caught 86 passes for 1,212 yards and nine touchdowns. Tigers head coach Eli Drinkwitz moved Burden all over the offense in order to exploit mismatches and gain advantages. That movement led to Burden having two games where he scored two touchdowns. Sounds pretty impressive, but it was actually down from the three games he had with two touchdowns as a true freshman. This year, he’s finally going to hit that trifecta of touchdowns. He may do it more than once.

Big Ten Football Predictions

Michigan will finish no better than fourth in B1G scoring defense.

The Wolverine defense will attempt to confirm once again that they have not been a one-pony trick over the last few years. They have lost personnel and coaches from last season, but they return plenty of talent defensively. Still, other programs return more talent and more stability. As such, you can expect the Michigan defense to take a step back this year. The Wolverines allowed 10.4 points per game last year, which is the lowest number in the Big Ten in well over a decade. That number is going to increase this year, which will find the Michigan defense outside of the top three in scoring defense for the first time since 2022.

Ohio State Football Predictions

Ohio State will have a punt return for a touchdown this year.

The last punt return for a touchdown by the Buckeyes happened 10 years ago. Receiver Jalin Marshall took one back against Indiana as one of his four touchdowns that game. Since then, returning punts has grown to be a labor of disinterest by the Buckeyes. That will all change this year — or maybe it won’t change and rather a block in the back will simply go uncalled. It is time for Ohio State to be more aggressive in the return game. That newly found aggression will lead to a punt return touchdown. Who will it be? I have no idea. If the Buckeyes are interested in returning punts, they may not want to put Emeka Egbuka back there because of his value on offense. Maybe they go with Brandon Inniss as a way to get him more involved overall.

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