50 For 50: Caleb Downs Will Bring Home Some Hardware

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 7 days away — with a daily sampling of what we can look forward to this upcoming college football season. Today’s edition features Ohio State defensive end Beau Atkinson, a prediction for Caleb Downs, a thought on the defensive tackles, 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

OHIO STATE DE BEAU ATKINSON VS. ILLINOIS RT MELVIN PRIESTLY

Melvin Priestly was a two-year starter at Grambling State before transferring to Illinois last year and turning into an Honorable Mention All-Big Ten right tackle. He’s about as veteran an offensive lineman as Ohio State transfer defensive end Beau Atkinson will see this year. As part of the Buckeyes’ rotation in 2025, if Atkinson can have a significant impact in his matchups against Priestly, the Buckeyes could be breathing a sigh of relief on the road.

Most Important Games

FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES AT FLORIDA GATORS, NOV. 29

I don’t know how this game got on here. Probably just habit. By the time this game finally gets played, Florida will already have three or four losses and Florida State will have already had two or three votes of confidence for head coach Mike Norvell. In a not-so-crazy alternate reality, Florida State could go 0-2 against the SEC and still make the College Football Playoff.

Things To Look Forward To

SEEING IF A FRESHMAN DEFENSIVE TACKLE CAN EARN PLAYING TIME.

Ohio State wanted to add defensive tackle help in the transfer portal last year but they were not able to do so. Clearly, Ryan Day wanted to address what he considers an issue on the defense. Since that didn’t happen, you can’t help but wonder if one of three true freshmen — Jarquez Carter, Trajen Odom, Maxwell Roy — could emerge as a possible piece of the rotation. Even if making it into the rotation is a bridge too far, it’s going to be interesting to see if any of the three show a spark when given an opportunity.

National College Football Predictions

JEREMIYAH LOVE WILL BE A HEISMAN FINALIST.

Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love should be one of the best and most exciting players to watch this season. When he is healthy, he’s a threat from everywhere. Being a member of the Irish football team, he’ll have all of the attention a guy could need. Opening the season at Miami in week one and then Texas A&M at home in week two will be the perfect stage. Those two early games could carry Love all the way to New York. Provided Arch Manning saves enough votes for everybody else, of course.

Big Ten Football Predictions

PENN STATE IS GOING TO THE BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.

Even with a loss at Ohio State on November 1, you’ll be hard pressed to find another loss on the Penn State schedule. Their Big Ten opener is Oregon in Happy Valley for the White Out. If they get by the Ducks, they can go ahead and book the hotels for Indianapolis. Road games at UCLA, Iowa, Michigan State, and Rutgers won’t be simple, but the Nittany Lions may be double-digit favorites in each of those games. The home schedule also has Northwestern, Indiana, and Nebraska. Again, there would need to be an upset here.

Ohio State Football Predictions

CALEB DOWNS WILL WIN THE THORPE AWARD.

Caleb Downs was a finalist for the Thorpe Award last year as the top defensive back in college football. A Buckeye hasn’t won the award since cornerback Malcolm Jenkins in 2008. (Yes, that means Malik Hooker was completely ripped off by USC’s Adoree Jackson in 2016.) Caleb Downs certainly has the name recognition and he’ll be utilized in a number of ways defensively. Now all that’s needed is for him to make the plays, which has always been his strong suit. A few more interceptions wouldn’t hurt, but it’s not always a prerequisite.

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