50 For 50: Predicting The First B1G Day For Tavien St. Clair

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 17 days away — with a daily sampling of what we can look forward to this upcoming college football season. Today’s edition features Ohio State receiver Brandon Inniss, freshman quarterback Tavien St. Clair, 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 33

Biggest Buckeye Matchups

PENN STATE DB ZION TRACY VS. OHIO STATE WR BRANDON INNISS

With former Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles now at Penn State, the importance of the nickel position has ramped up in Happy Valley. The more versatile a nickel, the more Knowles can do with his defense. Junior Zion Tracy was at nickel a year ago and is expected to be there this year as well. He missed the spring, but that won’t impact his matchup with Ohio State slot receiver Brandon Inniss considering Tracy will have seven full games in Knowles’ defense before PSU heads to Columbus. With the Nittany Lions being the overwhelming favorites in the Big Ten, any advantage the Buckeyes can find will need to be utilized. Tracy was the guy who started last year’s game with a pick six. The Buckeyes will attempt to avoid a similar start this year.

Most Important Games

TEXAS LONGHORNS AT FLORIDA GATORS, OCT. 4

Both teams will have an open week before this game. Florida will have already had games at LSU and at Miami as preparation for the Longhorns. Texas, of course, will have their season opener at Ohio State, but then follow with games against San Jose State, UTEP, and Sam Houston. The Longhorns will be rested, the Gators will be tested, and we’re all going to see what happens when the Arch Manning Era experiences its first SEC game. The Manning Family is 1-2 all-time in the Swamp as starters, by the way.

Things To Look Forward To

THE OFFENSIVE LINE PICKING UP WHERE IT LEFT OFF LAST YEAR.

Perhaps the most impressive feat in last season’s run to a championship is how well the offensive line performed despite the many injuries. Nine different linemen started a game last year for the Buckeyes, and many of them are back this year. Austin Siereveld, Luke Montgomery, Carson Hinzman, and Tegra Tshabola were all major pieces of the championship run last year, and this year they’ll be 80% of the starting lineup. Rice transfer Ethan Onianwa will be the left tackle. Watching everybody gel early in the season will be interesting, but the true test could be what happens when somebody goes down.

National College Football Predictions

DAVID SANDERS WILL START AT LEAST ONE GAME FOR TENNESSEE.

For everything that Tennessee gave five-star offensive tackle David Sanders in recruiting, they can’t really afford to be patient with him. I don’t know if he’ll start the opener, but like Peyton Manning back in the day, he’ll eventually take over and never give it back. That is, at least not until he transfers out or leaves for the NFL.

Big Ten Football Predictions

JAYDEN BALLARD WILL HAVE 2+ TD CATCHES FOR wISCONSIN.

In case you missed it, former Ohio State wide receiver Jayden Ballard is now at Wisconsin. He is looking for a much larger role in his final season of college football after a Buckeye career that saw him catch just 11 passes for 177 yards and one touchdown. Ballard had some good moments in the spring for the Badgers. He is certainly a deep threat and quite possibly the fastest player on the team. There will be every opportunity for Ballard to eclipse all of his career totals, including his touchdown receptions.

Ohio State Football Predictions

TAVIEN ST. CLAIR WILL ACCOUNT FOR A TOUCHDOWN AGAINST PURDUE.

Braxton Miller is the last true freshman Ohio State quarterback to throw a touchdown in a Big Ten game. The year was 2011 and current Ohio State freshman quarterback Tavien St. Clair was probably watching Yo Gabba Gabba! at the time. The last Ohio State quarterback to rush for a touchdown in a B1G game as a true freshman was CJ Stroud in 2020. The first opportunity for Tavien St. Clair to run or pass for a touchdown in a Big Ten game is probably the November 8 trip to Purdue. The Boilers aren’t going to be very good, which is exactly what St. Clair will need in order to 1) get into the game, and 2) reach the end zone one way or another.

Go to discussion...