Ohio State football: 3 reasons Buckeyes will flatten Nebraska

3 reasons the Ohio State football team will trounce Nebraska.

There’s no better way to welcome the season than to have it take place at home. The Ohio State Buckeyes have won by 20+ points in the last two seasons when opening the season in Ohio Stadium. However, this season arrives as a bit of a curveball as it is currently late-October and OSU will open up against a Big Ten opponent.

The last time the Buckeyes opened the season against a conference opponent was in 2017 when they traveled to Bloomington to face the Indiana Hoosiers. The Buckeyes were down at halftime in that match up before pulling away to complete a 28 point victory. It was a rather concerning game that exposed some of the Buckeyes’ glaring weaknesses early on which extended further into the season.

The Buckeyes had given up over 400 passing yards and three passing touchdowns that evening.  On a side note, that game versus the Hoosiers was the grand opening for budding star running back J.K. Dobbins who the Buckeyes will remember for years to come. The Buckeyes had a tendency to give up passing yards in abundance to their opponents.

In the very next game, the Buckeyes surrendered nearly 400 passing yards and three passing touchdowns through the air. Given, that was Heisman quarterback Baker Mayfield throwing it around the yard but it was at Ohio Stadium which is a large concern. Having a difficult game early in the schedule, whether it be a conference opponent or high profile foe, can spell trouble.

Speaking of Oklahoma, the Buckeyes have once again made a move in the transfer portal during the offseason by scooping up Trey Sermon. Senior running back Trey Sermon logged three seasons with the Sooners before transferring and becoming a Buckeye. Sermon was efficient as a runner with the Sooners as he averaged six yards per carry or better in each season.

Buckeyes’ head coach Ryan Day has not been shy in the slightest when it comes to making moves in order to bring in the best talent to the roster.  Not only has he continued former head coach Urban Meyer‘s ability to be savvy as a recruiter, but Day has also made moves with players on other teams within the college football realm as well.

Last year it was Justin Fields who was on Day’s radar, which he successfully closed the deal with, now he has brought in Trey Sermon who is one of the most high-profile running backs in the nation right now. Sermon missed the remainder of last season with Oklahoma after suffering a knee injury in week 11.

This season brings plenty of new faces for the Buckeyes which everyone is excited to see. However, this season has been born on uncertainty which has already struck some of the biggest teams in college football on the field as well as off the field. There are some big shoes that need to be filled, though Ohio Stadium won’t be filled at its typical opening day capacity to witness it. In a world of uncertainty, the Buckeyes are looking to rise as the certain victor on opening day above the Nebraska Cornhuskers.