Though most college football programs would be more than content with an 11-2 record and a Rose Bowl victory, at Ohio State, things fell short of expectations. For the first time since 2015, there was no Big Ten title or College Football Playoff appearance to flaunt.
And while the Buckeyes were one of the youngest teams in the country, the talent was there to make a run at some really special things. The defense wasn’t up to par, and the physicality in the trenches was lacking at key times of the season, and that kept the full potential from becoming a reality.
Now it’s time to look ahead and see what things look like for next season. Can Ohio State bounce back and get back to winning the Big Ten and being a part of all the playoff fun in 2022? Many think so, and with all the staffing overhauls head coach Ryan Day orchestrated after the end of the regular season, it sure feels like OSU is going to do almost anything it takes to get back to where it belongs.
A lot of that has to do with the schedule though, something Ohio State can’t control. It’s a tough one next year with crossover games against Wisconsin and Iowa, a nonconference out-of-the-gate game against Notre Dame, and road trips to Penn State and Michigan State.
We’re peering into the crystal ball in a way-too-early run through the schedule to predict every game on the docket for 2022, and here’s how we think things will shake out.