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Ohio State Football: Three predictions for the National Championship

By Frank Teriaca

Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day and quarterback Justin Fields (1) share a moment after Fields was awarded the Most Outstanding Player award after beating Clemson Tigers 49-28 in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans on Friday, Jan. 1, 2021.College Football Playoff Ohio State Faces Clemson In Sugar Bowl
Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day and quarterback Justin Fields (1) share a moment after Fields was awarded the Most Outstanding Player award after beating Clemson Tigers 49-28 in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans on Friday, Jan. 1, 2021.College Football Playoff Ohio State Faces Clemson In Sugar Bowl /
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The Ohio State football team prepares to face the Alabama Crimson Tide for the National Championship game on Monday night. Here are three predictions.

Head coach Ryan Day and the Ohio State football team are working hard on multiple fronts in order to get ready for Monday night’s National Championship. Not only does Day have to prepare for the No. 1 team in the country, Alabama, but he also has a different battle to fight.

Covid had become a real threat to this game as it had been rumored to have been running through the Ohio State locker room, most noticeably with the defensive line. But this is not new to Ohio State, as they have been fighting this problem for it’s last few games. They know how to prepare in this type of environment. Just ask Clemson.

In what may be the most pressing concern, Buckeye quarterback Justin Fields needs to be healthy. His rib injury from the Sugar Bowl is a real concern. For Ohio State to have a chance, they will need to score. And a banged-up Fields is not going to help that concern. Here are three predictions for the big game.

No. 3: Jaylen Waddle makes his return

Alabama’s best receiver has not played in a game since October. Alabama’s second-best receiver won the Heisman. This could be an issue for Kerry Coombs and Ohio State’s secondary if Jaylen Waddle makes his return.

Before Waddle was injured, he was having a monster season. In just four games, Waddle’s put up some video game type numbers with 25 receptions for 557 yards and four touchdowns. He put up over 100 yards receiving in all four of his games played in 2020.

I’m not sure how Ohio State is going to stop this attack if Waddle is indeed healthy.  Not knowing how effective he will be, I still think Waddle will suit up. And at the very least, it gives the Ohio State coaching staff one more thing to have to game plan for. Here is what Coombs told the media this week, via Eleven Warriors:

"“I think you absolutely have to prepare as if he’s gonna return. … He’s a special player. My hat’s off to him. If he can recover and play, those type of stories I think are great for college football.”"

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