Ohio State Football: 2020 season lacks a trap game

For the most part last year’s Ohio State football team made things look easy. Will the Buckeyes continue to roll during the 2020 season?

Ohio State football coach Ryan Day made life easy on Buckeye Nation for most of the 2019 season. Outside of the first quarter against Michigan, the first half against Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship and the College Football Playoff semifinal loss to Clemson, fans were treated to a season without much discomfort.

Coming off the 2018 season that was filled with close wins and the 2017 which was doomed after the loss to Iowa, a mostly undramatic season was appreciated by most fans. Now, can coach Day treat the Buckeyes to a similar journey in 2020 as he did last season?

While it is nice to have dominating wins, close games are good.  Maybe not for the heart, but they do test the team’s will to overcome adversity, and that is needed when the talent level on the field becomes equal.

Expectations are the Oregon and Penn State games will be tight.  Road games against tough teams normally are not blowouts.

Even the Michigan game should be better than the last two.  Three-straight humiliating defeats is difficult to imagine.

Outside of these three games, which ones pose a serious threat to the Buckeyes’ quest for a fourth-straight Big Ten title and another shot at the playoff?

At first glance, probably none. There is not an offensive team in the conference that has the firepower to go toe-to-toe against what should be Ohio State’s most explosive offense ever.

Looking at the other road games, Michigan State, Maryland and Illinois, only boredom or major injuries would keep these games close. This leaves Iowa, Nebraska, Indiana and Rutgers.

Greg Schiano is a great coach, but he’s years away from fielding a competitive team. Tom Allen is maximizing his talent at Indiana, but last year reflected the wide gap between his program and Ohio State’s level.

Nebraska regressed last year under Scott Frost.  The Cornhuskers should be better this year, just not strong enough to make it a four-quarter game.

Could Iowa come in the Horseshoe and pull off the upset? Doubtful, coach Day will want payback for the humiliating loss in 2017. The Buckeyes have an open week prior to playing the Hawkeyes.  They’ll be well-rested and ready to deliver a knockout.