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Ohio State Football: Which Team Is Going To Be The Toughest To Beat?

By Ryan Rosko

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The Ohio State football team will start their season Monday night as reigning national champions. Are there going to be many challenges on the schedule this season?

Doesn’t it seem like Ohio State just won the first playoff in the FBS and FBS’ National Championship? Okay, maybe not. However, the great thing everyone can admit is that Buckeyes fans are excited that this season is finally here and we can watch the team’s run this fall, hopefully leading to another championship!

With one of the best, if not the best coach in the country, combined with multiple players with elite talent, when is the team realistically going to be challenged? Every game should not be overlooked, but one has to admit that there are some pretty easy games on the schedule.

Given how successful and talented the team is, every expectation this season is to return to the college playoff and win it all again. Before they get to that point, the Buckeyes must go through their schedule. Which team or team(s) are going to be the toughest to beat this season? That is the debate the FoS team discussed.

Torrelle Howard

I’ll take the boring pick: Michigan State.

While I’d like to take an underdog, especially that game at Michigan, I just don’t think any other teams have the talent to keep up with Ohio State. Michigan will probably be the second toughest game simply because it’s at Michigan and it’ll be the last game before Bowl Season/Playoff season, so a lot will be on the line. I just don’t believe they have enough talent to compete just yet.

Michigan State will be at home (thankfully), but they have Connor Cook who is a great QB and while I’m not sure exactly who they have on the defensive side, Michigan State historically brings a good defensive unit in when they play so I doubt this year will be any different.

That will be Ohio State’s toughest/biggest game. If they can get through the Spartans then they can make the playoff. I’d even say Michigan State is better than any other team on the other half of the conference, so that game would be harder to win than the Big 10 Championship.

Kris Grimes

The toughest game for Ohio State this season on paper looks to be the Michigan State Spartans. Quarterback Connor Cook and Co. have one of the best teams in the Big Ten, and Coach Dantonio will prepare his men for a battle like no other.

With sights set the following week and the rivalry battle with the state up north, it might be easy for the Buckeyes to lose focus against a really good offense led by QB Cook and an underrated MSU defense.

Other teams to watch? Penn State has dug themselves out of the Paterno scandal and boast another NFL QB prospect in Christian Hackenburg. There’s also Rutgers who always go hard, and of course the team up north led by former NFL head coach Jim Harbaugh. The Ohio State Buckeyes will find themselves getting the best of every team every week.

It’s not easy being number one, as everyone will give it their all to be the team that dethrones the champ.

Ric McElroy

They will have a couple tough games on the schedule. That’s irregardless of what Steve Spurrier says. They have Maryland on Oct. 10th and Penn State Oct. 17th. That’s back to back games, then comes someone hasn’t thought much of but they have a good team and that’s Minnesota Nov 7th.

But I think most will agree that their toughest game comes on Nov. 21st against Michigan State. Luckily it’s a home game but THE GAME is in that state up north, the following week. The State game is probably the one that scares me most as they have a really good quarterback in local Ohio player Connor Cook. There are a few NFL teams already showing a lot of interest in him including the Cleveland Browns, who went so far as contacting his high school coach from Walsh High, who is retired now.

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Joe Russo

Most of our team here at FoS will lean heavily towards the Michigan State game, which also happens to be the home finale. With Connor Cook and a stellar defense, the Spartans do appear to be a very tough test. The last few seasons certainly show Sparty is not to be taken lightly.

But the toughest game of the season happens to be the first game of the season. Virginia Tech was the lone blemish on the Ohio State resume last season, for those that cannot remember further back than the postseason title run. If there are two coaches that scare Buckeye fans this season, it should be long time Hokie head coach Frank Beamer and defensive guru Bud Foster. They’ve had all offseason to prepare for the Ohio State offense and showed last season that when healthy, Virginia Tech is one heck of a team.

Aside from the fact that the Hokies beat Ohio State last season, the Buckeyes are missing so many major pieces on both sides of the ball. There’s a reason Joey Bosa is in the discussion as the top overall pick in the next NFL draft. Jalin Marshall is a major piece of the offense and will be equally missed in the return game. Now, Urban Meyer has to turn to back ups like the recently converted Braxton Miller and untested defenders like Sam Hubbard to fill in during prime time. With the hype, distractions, and national attention, Ohio State needs to get off to a good start.

Justin Blum

Ohio State’s toughest game this season is most likely going to be Michigan State. I say this for a number of reasons. First, Michigan State wants revenge for losing to the Buckeyes in 2014. Second, the Spartans are a legitimate threat. They are talented on both sides of the ball and they are well coached.

Third, their coach, Mark Dantonio. He is the best coach OSU will face this season and he too, is highly motivated to win this game. Fourth, the game is being played in Columbus this year and that bodes well for Michigan State, as the visiting team has won the last two games in the series.

Ryan Rosko

Understandably MSU would be a popular pick. There is so much that rides on the game. I would go with the game as well 100% too, but to change it up a bit there is another team I have in mind. That team is Minnesota. Last season the Buckeyes came away with a win over the Golden Gophers, but they only won by a touchdown. Minnesota is no OSU or MSU, but they are in the discussion for that third best team in the Big Ten.

Minnesota plays everyone tough. Their opener was against TCU this season. They lost, but the Golden Gophers kept the score tight throughout the whole game. They are a team that should definitely not be overlooked.

Nick Dudukovich

Just like last season, the Michigan State game is the biggest contest the Buckeyes will play in before the team takes its expected place in the Big Ten title game.

The game comes at a time where a loss kills the team’s chances to qualify for the College Football Playoff. And a loss to Sparty would probably clear the way for MSU to represent the east in conference championship.

The ramifications of the game can’t be understated. A win means Ohio State’s on their way. A loss means the Buckeyes won’t be defending their title. It’s why NFL.com ranked the contest the No. 2 college football game to watch.

Next: Ohio State Football: 5 Reasons The Buckeyes Will Beat Virginia Tech

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