50 For 50: Expect Touchdown Celebrations For Buckeyes On Defense

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 nine 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

Nebraska OT Bryce Benhart vs. Ohio State DE Kenyatta Jackson

Bryce Benhart is a sixth-year player who will be entering his fifth season as Nebraska’s starting right tackle. He has 41 career starts and his next start will set the Husker record for most starts by an offensive lineman in program history. He was an Honorable Mention All-Big Ten selection last season. Benhart will be a very good test for Ohio State redshirt sophomore defensive end Kenyatta Jackson. The Buckeyes come into this game off of an open week. The game after this one is the trip to Penn State. With the PSU game in mind, Jackson may get more time in this one than normal so that starting defensive ends JT Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer can rest up a bit before the trip to State College. By this point in the season, the Buckeyes will need Jackson to be a productive member of the defensive line rotation.

Most Important Games

Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Wisconsin Badgers, 12:00 pm FOX

Alabama is currently favored by about 10 points over Wisconsin. All eyes will be on this game as it sets the stage for the rest of the day’s schedule. If Luke Fickell really wants to get the Badger buzz going this year, a win for Wisconsin would definitely do the trick. New UW starting quarterback Tyler Van Dyke is 2-5 as a starter against ranked opponents, with his last win coming in 2021. Defensively, the Badgers have to hold up against the run and the deep passing of Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe.

Things To Look Forward To

The Ohio State season opener.

Playing a game against Akron isn’t exactly a needle-mover for Buckeye fans, but as a season opener, it’s going to be a national holiday. The anticipation for this season is extremely high and it all begins with Akron Week. The expectations for this game will be high as well. While perfection may be wanted, season openers are rarely the place they happen. Regardless, the season opener will be the start of championship hopes for Ohio State and its fans.

National College Football Predictions

The Texas Longhorns will make the playoffs.

You may think this prediction isn’t very bold, but I would remind you that Texas has made the College Football Playoffs just once in the 10 years since its inception. You would then respond that it’s a lot easier to make the playoffs now than it was over the first 10 years. I would concede and then try to get the conversation back on track. I’ve already predicted that Texas will lose to Texas A&M to close out the regular season. That shouldn’t eliminate them from the SEC Championship Game, however. And with 12 teams in the playoffs now, there’s no way the committee is leaving out any SEC team that plays in the conference championship game.

Big Ten Football Predictions

UCLA will have its best attendance in a decade.

I’m not going to bother digging up too many numbers, nor am I going to go back and see if I get this one right, but I do expect attendance to increase this year for UCLA thanks mostly to opposing fanbases in the area. Indiana fans will get to watch the Hoosiers in the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1968 and just the second time overall. Minnesota fans haven’t seen the Gophers in the Rose Bowl since the second part of a home-and-home in 1978. Oregon, Iowa, and USC fans will be in town as well. There are only six home games this year, but I still wouldn’t be shocked to see these six games outdraw the seven home games in 2018 and 2021. The Rose Bowl capacity is over 91,000. The best crowd last year was 71,343 for Colorado. No other game topped 57,000.

Ohio State Football Predictions

Five defensive players will score touchdowns.

Only three times over the past decade have five defensive players scored touchdowns in a season for the Buckeyes. Amazingly, six defensive players scored in 2021 — Cameron Martinez, Haskell Garrett, Ronnie Hickman, Denzel Burke, Craig Young, and Jerron Cage. Four defensive players scored last year, while three scored in 2022. The Buckeyes are expected to employ an aggressive defense this season. That aggression should lead to some big plays going the other way this year.

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