50 For 50: Can Quinshon Judkins Carry OSU To A Win Over Michigan?

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 five 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 LB Ernest Hausmann vs. Ohio State RB Quinshon Judkins

Ernest Hausmann is Michigan’s leading returning tackler, and after a season as a reserve for the Wolverines he will be one of their two starting linebackers this season. Michigan went into the portal to land Hausmann after the 2022 season where he started half the season as a freshman at Nebraska. He had his ups and downs last season and needs to fix that this year. He will be one of the two linebackers tasked with stopping Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins this year. Judkins was a two-time All-SEC running back at Ole Miss. His transfer to Ohio State gives the Buckeyes a physicality that they can use when Michigan comes to Columbus in late November. As a side note, both players were three-star recruits in the 2022 recruiting class. Hausmann was the No. 677 player in the class, while Judkins was ranked No. 562 overall.

Most Important Games

Washington Huskies at Oregon Ducks, November 30

Oregon has lost three straight in this series, including two three-point losses last year thanks to head coach Dan Lanning’s decision making. The Ducks will be heavy favorites this year, not unlike Ohio State over Michigan. This should be the nightcap to a day full of rivalry games in the Big Ten. Oregon and Washington should be at opposite ends of the conference standings, but this could be one hell of a way for new Huskies head coach Jedd Fisch to announce his arrival into this rivalry.

Things To Look Forward To

The CJ Hicks/Sonny Styles rotation.

Buckeye fans have been waiting two years to see CJ Hicks in the lineup at linebacker but they could have to wait even longer given this spring’s move of Sonny Styles from safety to linebacker. Hicks spent the spring with the ones, but it is difficult to imagine Styles going to the bench after starting 12 games last year at nickel and strong safety. His experience is too valuable. However, OSU defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and head coach Ryan Day have said that there is room for both in this defense. They may play the same position but can do different things. It will be interesting to see how Knowles makes that happen, especially when they’re both on the field together.

National College Football Predictions

Missouri will be the fourth SEC team in the College Football Playoffs.

This prediction comes down to two things: 1) needing to find a fourth SEC team to join Georgia, Texas, and Ole Miss in the playoffs; and 2) deciding between Missouri and LSU for that final spot. Tennessee could be a team to watch here as well. Oklahoma’s schedule is just too tough. I’m siding with Missouri because of quarterback Brady Cook, receiver Luther Burden, head coach Eli Drinkwitz, and mainly a schedule that doesn’t feature Texas or Georgia. They do have to go to Alabama and Texas A&M, but if they split those games they should be fine. The non-conference schedule won’t earn them any respect, but being in the SEC, the committee isn’t all that concerned about the non-conference schedule.

Big Ten Football Predictions

Minnesota will beat North Carolina to open the season.

Not that anybody needs to tell you this, but week one of the college football season begins on the Big Ten Network with Howard at Rutgers at 6:00 pm on Thursday, August 29th. After two hours of watching that gift to America, we will all turn to FOX to watch Minnesota host North Carolina. This is a return game from last year’s 31-13 Tar Heel win over the Gophers. PJ Fleck and his squad will exact revenge on last year’s defeat with a methodical brand of offense and just enough defense to keep things ugly. At the very least, we’ll get to watch two bowl-type teams on a Thursday night — unless you’re watching North Dakota State and Colorado on ESPN instead.

Ohio State Football Predictions

At least four Buckeyes will score from 70 yards out.

On average, the Buckeyes have had three players produce plays of at least 70 yards in a season over the past decade. Not all of those plays have gone for touchdowns, but you get the idea. There’s a fair bet that TreVeyon Henderson or Quinshon Judkins will end up in this group, and a receiver or two also. A pick six of at least 70 yards has happened three times in the past five years — including one by current nickel back Jordan Hancock. This defense should be more explosive than any we’ve seen at OSU since 2019, and a new energy in the return game could lead to something there. There is also the fact that quarterback Will Howard has more 70-yard runs in his career than anybody else on this team has 70-yard plays.

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