50 For 50: Carnell Tate About To Join An Exclusive Club

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. Today’s edition features Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate, quarterbacks Julian Sayin and Lincoln Kienholz, and more.

As always, 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.

Previous | Day 9

Biggest Buckeye Matchups

TEXAS QB ARCH MANNING VS. OHIO STATE SAF CALEB DOWNS

Some might say that this matchup features college football’s most-famous player against its best player, but ESPN would say those people are incorrect because Arch Manning can’t play against himself. Regardless of what ESPN says, Caleb Downs vs. Arch Manning is going to be pretty entertaining. Manning has all of the theory, while Downs has all of the facts. Manning will run and throw, and Downs will be tasked with being aware of all of it. It won’t be easy, but it will be fun.

Most Important Games

MICHIGAN WOLVERINES AT OKLAHOMA SOONERS, SEPT. 6

Any time the Big Ten and SEC play in the regular season, it’s a moment for all of us to celebrate. It’s just sad that it took a Big XII team having to move to the SEC to make it happen. This is more of a helmet game than a playoff preview, but neither coach is going to want to lose this one. There is a chance, however, that Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore won’t have to worry about this going on his record regardless.

Things To Look Forward To

A NEW OHIO STATE QUARTERBACK TAKING OFF.

The betting favorite to be Ohio State’s starting quarterback this year is redshirt freshman Julian Sayin, but he’s not going to win the job without a fight from redshirt sophomore Lincoln Kienholz. The pair were back and forth in the spring, but eventually somebody is going to win the job. When that player does, you can look forward to him becoming one of the new stars of college football. What quarterback — in college or the NFL, alive or dead — wouldn’t want to throw to Ohio State’s receivers? And what quarterback wouldn’t look like a star doing it?

National College Football Predictions

JOEY AGUILAR WILL HAVE A 300-YARD GAME against an fbs opponent.

While UCLA and Tennessee didn’t technically trade quarterbacks this offseason, former Vol Nico Iamaleava is now a Bruin, and former short-term Bruin Joey Aguilar is now a Vol. Aguilar was a two-year starter at Appalachian State, but transferred to UCLA last December. My predicting that Aguilar will have a 300-yard passing day against an FBS opponent may not sound all that bold or interesting, but it is something that Iamaleava never did in his two years with the Vols.

Big Ten Football Predictions

MICHIGAN WR DONAVEN MCCULLEY FINISHES WITH 650+ YARDS RECEIVING.

Former Indiana quarterback-turned-receiver Donaven McCulley transferred to Michigan after shutting his season down last year at IU after four games and two catches in order to preserve his redshirt. In 2023, he posted a career-high 48 receptions for 644 yards and six touchdowns for the Hoosiers. Ironically, my prediction of 650+ yards receiving for McCulley has nothing to do with his past numbers, but rather the fact that Michigan’s wide receivers combined for a TOTAL of 650 yards receiving last year.

Ohio State Football Predictions

CARNELL TATE WILL HAVE A 1,000-YARD SEASON.

Just because it’s old hat now, doesn’t mean it isn’t still special. In 2018, Parris Campbell became just the fifth Buckeye receiver to ever have a 1,000-yard season. Since 2021, however, five Buckeye receivers have produced seven 1,000-yard seasons. There have now been just 10 Buckeyes in the history of Ohio State football to produce a 1,000-yard receiving season. This year, junior Carnell Tate will become the 11th.

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