When the Ohio State Buckeyes host TTUN at the "Shoe" on Saturday, November 28, FOX Sports' RJ Young believes there will be at least one Heisman finalist between the two programs during the annual interstate College Football spectacle. That was Young's "Bold" prediction for "The Game."
Per Young, "The Game has featured at least one College Football Playoff participant in each of the last seven years, produced five of the last seven Big Ten champions, and included two of the last three national champions. It has become appointment viewing not just because of its history, but because of its direct impact on the national title race. I don’t expect that to change, even with Kyle Whittingham assuming the controls at Michigan."
"With new offensive coordinators at both programs — Arthur Smith at Ohio State and Jason Beck at Michigan — there could be some schematic shifts on both sides. But there will be no drop-off in talent on the field. Each roster features at least one player with legitimate Heisman Trophy potential, and at least one future finalist will be on the field in this game. Is this the year Ohio State accomplishes something it hasn’t done since 2014: win The Game, the Big Ten Championship, and the national title? That question will begin to take shape in earnest on Nov. 28," Young added.
Well, duh. Young couldn't say the quiet part out loud, for the sake of the illusion of competition and neutrality from the network partner. When these two teams clash, though, there's a slim chance TTUN has a Heisman finalist in Maize and Blue. While Jordan Marshall and Savion Hiter will be great out of the backfield, the committee approach will likely keep both out of the conversation.
Quarterback Bryce Underwood is outside of the top 15 in Heisman odds for most sportsbooks at this point and had a rough spring, to say the least. EDGE John Henry Daley isn't the next Aidan Hutchinson. The Wolverines won't be the ones bringing a Heisman finalist to the bunch in this game.
Ohio State has two players in the top 10 for Heisman futures odds
Julian Sayin is typically right behind the Notre Dame Fighting Irish's CJ Carr and Texas Longhorns' Arch Manning, though right alongside the Ole Miss Rebels' Trinidad Chambliss, the Indiana Hoosiers' Josh Hoover, the Oregon Ducks' Dante Moore, and the Miami Hurricanes' Darian Mensah in most sportsbooks' Heisman futures odds.
Jeremiah Smith, meanwhile, is typically right behind them. A non-QB just won the Heisman in 2024 with former two-way Colorado Buffaloes star receiver/corner Travis Hunter riding versatility to New York City two seasons ago. The Alabama Crimson Tide's DeVonta Smith was the last non-gimmick true receiver to win the award in 2020.
You won't see a Heisman finalist from TTUN, just as you won't see two from Ohio State. At least one Buckeye will be at Lincoln Center's Appel Room this December, though. Ohio State has a shot to really bury TTUn in the next few years.
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