50 For 50: Is Devin Sanchez About To Step Into Rarefied Air?

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 36 days away — with a daily sampling of what we can look forward to this upcoming college football season. Today’s edition features Ohio State freshman cornerback Devin Sanchez, linebacker Sonny Styles, 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.

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Biggest Buckeye Matchups

UCLA QB NICO IAMALEAVA VS. OHIO STATE LB SONNY STYLES

The last time Nico Iamaleava played the Buckeyes, he left with more cracks in his helmet than a Viking in a melee. The good news for Iamaleava is that the game this year is on November 15, so it should be a good deal warmer than when he was in Ohio Stadium with Tennessee last December. Sonny Styles had a relatively quiet night against the Vols, but didn’t need to do much in such a blowout. That may still be the case this year, but it’s going to be interesting to watch how Iamaleava is used as a runner and RPO magician against Styles in Matt Patricia’s defense. When Styles attacks, can he bring Iamaleava down? The Buckeye spies had issues with that a season ago.

Most Important Games

MICHIGAN WOLVERINES AT USC TROJANS, OCT. 11

Michigan held on for a win at home against the Trojans last year, but now they’ll have to face USC on the road for the first time since 1957. USC will have the week off before this game, but the Wolverines will come into this one after a home tilt against Wisconsin. The loser of this game may not be eliminated from the playoffs, but they will probably need to be perfect the rest of the way out.

Things To Look Forward To

DISAPPOINTING THE PENN STATE BELIEVERS.

The college football magazines are out and everywhere you look, the Penn State Nittany Lions are being picked as the Big Ten Champions. The plucky Ohio State Buckeyes, meanwhile, are gonna have to settle for second place. The reality of the situation will come to a head on November 1 when Penn State faces the Buckeyes in Ohio Stadium for a raucous noon-time kick. The Nittany Lions can have their White Out. It’s nothing compared to an Ohio State Play Date.

National College Football Predictions

VANDERBILT WILL GO BOWLING AGAIN.

The last time Vanderbilt went to a bowl game two years in a row was back when James Franklin was pacing the sidelines of what was arguably the worst SEC East we’ve ever seen. Vandy actually went to bowl games in each of Franklin’s three seasons in Nashville (2011-2013). If the Commodores are going to make it two years in a row this season, they’re probably looking at another 6-6 regular season. They may start out 1-2 with losses at Virginia Tech and South Carolina, which won’t help. They’ll likely need to finish 2-2 in their final four games against Texas (road), Auburn (home), Kentucky (home), and Tennessee (road). They have 17 starters returning, including a quarterback who sued in order to not have to get a real job. That’s how you know he’s a true leader. He’s all in.

Big Ten Football Predictions

ILLINOIS WILL BE RANKED EVERY WEEK THIS SEASON.

The last time Illinois finished an entire college football season ranked in the Top 25, the No. 1 song on the Billboard charts was Justify My Love by Madonna. At the box office, Home Alone and Kindergarten Cop had America doubled over in laughter and bad guys doubled over in pain. It was a year that began with the United States finally listening to Van Halen’s pleadings and invading Panama, and it was capped by the Illini losing to Clemson in the Hall of Fame Bowl 30-0. I’m Casey Kasem.

Ohio State Football Predictions

DEVIN SANCHEZ WILL HAVE 2+ INTERCEPTIONS.

You’re looking at this prediction and thinking, “That’s nothing special.” Well, first off, you must be sooooo perfect. And second, the last true freshman at Ohio State with multiple interceptions in a season was safety Donte Whitner in 2003. More amazingly than that, however, is the fact that the last true freshman cornerback to record at least two interceptions in a season was William White in 1984. So when I predict Devin Sanchez to come down with a couple of interceptions, you should a) respect the boldness; and 2) respect the freshman’s talents.

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