CJ Hicks
Football

50 For 50: Will CJ Hicks Provide An Edge Against 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 6 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 CJ Hicks, linebackers Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese, 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 44

Biggest Buckeye Matchups

OHIO STATE DE CJ HICKS VS. MICHIGAN OT EVAN LINK

Evan Link started at right tackle last year as a redshirt freshman, and by some measures he was one of the least effective tackles in the Big Ten. Still, even if Link had some rough patches last year, it was all a learning experience. He should be better this year. In fact, he could be the Wolverines’ starting left tackle. The Buckeyes may throw some waves of pass rushers at Link. Senior CJ Hicks may be new to the position, but he’ll have 11 games to his credit before Ohio State heads to Ann Arbor. If he can save his best for last, nobody would be happier than CJ Hicks himself.

Most Important Games

TEXAS A&M AGGIES AT NOTRE DAME, SEPT. 13

If Texas A&M wants to be anything other than annual preseason SEC hype, then a win at Notre Dame in week three will get the job done. At least initially. Aggies’ quarterback Marcel Reed had an up-and-down season as a redshirt freshman last year. He’s got the potential to be a nightmare for a defense. Notre Dame won’t be able to hide much in the lead up since they open the season at Miami. We’ll have a pretty good idea of what the Irish do, and so will Texas A&M. If the Irish open 0-2, the best win on the rest of their schedule may be Boise State.

Things To Look Forward To

TWO OPEN WEEKS FOR THE BUCKEYES.

The Ohio State football season is a stressful time for the fan base, so what better way to break up that stress than with a couple of weeks where you can just sit and watch 14 hours of college football and not worry about your Buckeyes. You can just enjoy the breathing room. Plus, what’s better than just plopping down, turning on your three televisions and laptop and two tablets on a Saturday afternoon and just melting into the noise and pizza and beverage and pizza?

National College Football Predictions

NORTH CAROLINA WILL LOSE ITS SIXTH BOWL GAME IN AS MANY SEASONS.

North Carolina hasn’t won a bowl game since 2019, which also happened to be Mack Brown’s first year. This is a two-leg parlay for me as I’m predicting North Carolina will make a bowl game, but then also lose it. There is no guarantee this team has six regular season wins in it. If they do get to a bowl game, I just don’t see Bill Belichick or his players having much interest in it. Especially if it involves Belichick having mayonnaise dumped on him after a Tar Heels win.

Big Ten Football Predictions

OHIO STATE IS GOING TO THE BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.

The toughest game on Ohio State’s schedule won’t even impact their conference title hopes. The Buckeyes are likely to be favored in every game this season, so predicting that they make it to the Big Ten Championship Game isn’t all that bold. Still, the last time the Buckeyes were there was 2020. Ohio State is overdue to return to Indianapolis. The road schedule isn’t easy, and Penn State won’t roll over, but there’s nothing on this schedule that should be too daunting and cost OSU two or three conference losses.

Ohio State Football Predictions

SONNY STYLES AND ARVELL REESE WILL EACH HAVE 11+ TFLS.

Cody Simon (12.5) and Sonny Styles (10.5) almost did this last year. I see Styles and Arvell Reese making it happen this year in Matt Patricia’s new-ish defense. It has been 20 years since a pair of Buckeyes have had 11+ tackles for loss. AJ Hawk (17) and Bobby Carpenter (11) did it in 2005. Simon was a great blitzer last year for the Buckeyes. Can Reese be that effective this year? Styles is likely to be used in more pass-rushing situations. It won’t be easy, but if you give them 15 or 16 games, they should make it happen.

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