50 For 50: Sonny Styles Readying For Special Final Season

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 28 days away — with a daily sampling of what we can look forward to this upcoming college football season. Today’s edition features Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles, nickel back Lorenzo Styles, Jr., 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

PENN STATE WR TREBOR PENA VS. OHIO STATE NB LORENZO STYLES, JR.

Penn State vs. Ohio State is being talked about as the Game of the Year in the Big Ten. Whether that ends up being true or not will be decided later, but it’s certainly not going to fly under the radar. One matchup that could be under the radar, however, is Penn State slot receiver Trebor Pena versus Ohio State nickel back Lorenzo Styles, Jr. The Nittany Lions brought Pena over from Syracuse, where he led the Orange with 84 catches last year. Pena is not a big-play guy, but he’s an active receiver who will move chains. Styles is going to have a very busy afternoon dealing with Pena. Penn State absolutely needs Pena to win this matchup.

Most Important Games

TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS AT ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE, OCT. 18

The last time Alabama and Tennessee didn’t play each other during a college football season was 1943. Both schools suspended their football programs for the year because of World War II. But there are few rivalries that have played as many games as these two schools have. The Vols own two of the last three, but both of those games came in Knoxville. They haven’t won in Tuscaloosa since 2003. Folks are expecting the Vols to take a step back this year. If they can handle Georgia in week three and then keep this one close, it might be time to revisit those opinions.

Things To Look Forward To

MALIK HARTFORD AFTER A YEAR OF LEARNING BEHIND CALEB DOWNS.

Safety Malik Hartford was one of the first Buckeye freshmen to lose his black stripe in 2023, which tells you how quickly he adapted to life at Ohio State. He was immediately in the two-deep as a freshman and even started twice. Last year as a sophomore, he was the backup to All-American Caleb Downs. Even though they are both juniors, it will be interesting to see what Hartford learned from watching Downs last year. The Buckeyes need the safeties next to Downs to step up. Hartford should be ready for whatever is asked.

National College Football Predictions

THREE TOP 10 TEAMS WILL LOSE IN WEEK ONE.

Three Top 10 teams have lost in the opening week over the past two seasons total, which makes this prediction pretty bold. It’s even bolder when you consider that last year’s lone Top 10 loss in week one was No. 10 Florida State falling to Boston College 28-13 — which was FSU’s second loss of the season. They opened Week Zero with a loss to Georgia Tech, but no new vote was taken since the initial preseason poll. We can all agree that FSU was not a Top 10 team last year. This year, we know one of Ohio State and Texas will lose. Notre Dame and Miami could be a battle of Top 10 teams as well, which would be great for me. LSU and Clemson could be a third Top 10 team, which makes this prediction seem less like a prediction and more like a mathematical certainty. But I’m no math genius, so who am I to throw around big words like that? Also, don’t sleep on Florida State giving a Top 10 Bama team a loss as well.

Big Ten Football Predictions

A MICHIGAN RECEIVER WILL EXPLODE FOR A 65-YARD GAME.

Not since the 2023 National Championship Season* has Michigan had a wide receiver amass at least 65 yards receiving in a single game. Tyler Morris posted a 64-yard game last year, which was the Wolverines’ season high for wide receivers. This year, you can kick that 64-yard game to the curb because Michigan — some how, some way — will have a receiver catch enough passes to compile at least 65 entire receiving yards in the span of one 24-hour period.

Ohio State Football Predictions

SONNY STYLES WILL BE AN ALL-BIG TEN SELECTION.

Sonny Styles is about to play the same position for the second year in a row for the first time in his college career. In his first year at linebacker in 2024, Styles posted 100 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, and 6.0 sacks. The conference coaches named him Second-Team All-Big Ten for his efforts. The conference media was less impressed, however, as he was only Honorable Mention by the media. This year, however, Sonny Styles is much more well known, which is half the battle. It will be fascinating to see how new defensive coordinator Matt Patricia gets the most out of him in 2025.

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