The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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THE WOLVERINE 2020 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 139 BY CLAYTON SAYFIE In his first season as the man in charge, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day was tasked with keeping the engine on an already well- oiled machine running. He did that and then some. The Buckeyes' offense averaged 49.9 points per game during the regular season, the highest total for a Big Ten team since Michigan's 1901 "Point A Minute" club scored 50 per contest. At the same time, the Scarlet and Gray finished atop the conference in total defense and scoring defense. OSU ultimately fell 29-23 in a tightly contested College Football Playoff semifi- nal matchup, after winning the Big Ten and blowing out rival Michigan 56-27. The Buckeyes expect to repeat that suc- cess in Day's second season, even with some key departures that include the No. 2 and No. 3 overall NFL Draft picks — defensive end Chase Young and cornerback Jeff Okudah. It will all start at quarterback with junior Georgia transfer Justin Fields. In his first season in Columbus, Fields completed over 67 percent of his passes for 3,273 yards and 41 touchdowns during the 2019 campaign. He also ran for 484 yards and 10 scores, thriving in OSU's offense and showing he's much more than just a pocket passer. The 6-3, 228-pounder finished third in 2019 Heisman Trophy voting, and the Wil- liam Hill Sportsbook made him the favorite to receive the honor come December. Junior running back Master Teague III ran for 789 yards and four touchdowns while amassing 4.9 yards per carry last season, and appeared to be the heir apparent to J.K. Dob- bins, who went in the second round of the NFL Draft to the Baltimore Ravens. How- ever, Teague reportedly tore his Achilles tendon this offseason. Many now expect Oklahoma graduate transfer Troy Sermon to take over the bulk of the carries, after a three-year career with the Sooners that saw him total over 2,000 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns. A balanced attack that ran for 266.8 yards per game (fifth in the country) and passed for 263.1 yards per contest (36th) returns three starting offensive linemen and signifi- cant weapons on the outside. Headlining the receiving corps is junior wideout Chris Olave. In 2019, he hauled in 49 catches for 849 yards and 12 touchdowns, proving to be one of the Big Ten's best pass catchers. The Buckeyes' ability to reload will be put to the test on defense, with just three starters returning for new coordinator Kerry Coombs and co-defensive coordinator Greg Mattison. Young will no longer be on the end of the line, and returning captain and fifth-year senior defensive end Jonathan Cooper hopes to come off an injury-plagued year stronger than ever (he played in just five games last season). Cooper has totaled 52 tackles with 11.5 for loss throughout his career. A strong linebacker group will help with consistency, even with Malik Harrison gone due to graduation. Fifth-year senior Tuf Bor- land will lead that crew, after posting 55 stops, three tackles for loss, one sack and a pick a year ago. The secondary is, by far, the thinnest posi- tion group on the squad. Redshirt junior cor- ner Shaun Wade, the only returning starter, has the most talent and experience on the back end. He notched 26 tackles, four tack- les for loss, one interception, two forced fumbles and eight pass breakups last season. Beyond him, others must emerge if OSU wants to be the nation's top pass defense like it was in 2019. The losses of Okudah, cor- nerback Damon Arnette and safety Jordan Fuller will all be felt, as will the absences of safeties Jahsen Wint and Amir Riep, follow- ing their dismissal from the team amid rape and kidnapping charges. The Buckeyes will try to once again fend off U-M and Penn State to finish atop the Big Ten's East division, win their fourth straight conference title and appear in the College Football Playoff for the fourth time since its inception in 2014. Notes OSU's offense ranked in the top five na- tionally in scoring (46.9 points per game), rushing (266.8 yards) and total offense (529.9 yards) in 2019 … The Buckeyes' de- fense finished in the NCAA's top 10 in scor- ing (13.7 points allowed per game), rushing (103.7 yards), passing (156.0 yards) and total defense (259.7 yards) for the season … ES- PN's Todd McShay ranked QB Justin Fields the No. 4 eligible prospect for the 2021 NFL Draft, while he listed CB Shaun Wade No. 9 and wideout Chris Olave No. 23. ❑ Buckeyes Expected To Contend For College Football Playoff Again 2020 SCHEDULE Date Opponent 2019 Result Sept. 5 Bowling Green — Sept. 12 at Oregon — Sept. 19 Buffalo — Sept. 26 Rutgers W, 56-21 Oct. 10 Iowa — Oct. 17 at Michigan State W, 34-10 Oct. 24 at Penn State W, 28-17 Oct. 31 Nebraska W, 48-7 Nov. 7 Indiana W, 51-10 Nov. 14 at Maryland W, 73-14 Nov. 21 at Illinois — Nov. 28 Michigan W, 56-27 PLAYERS TO WATCH Offense: Justin Fields, Jr., QB Was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, first-team all-conference and second-team consensus All-American in 2019 … Became the first quarterback in Big Ten history with 40 passing TDs and 10 rushing TDs in the same season. Defense: Shaun Wade, R-Jr., CB The 6-1, 195-pounder was selected third-team All-Big Ten in 2019 … Has accumulated 57 tackles, four tackles for loss and four picks throughout his career. Junior wide receiver Chris Olave led OSU in receiving yards (849), yards per catch (17.3) and receiving touchdowns (12) last season. PHOTO COURTESY OHIO STATE ATHLETICS OHIO STATE BUCKEYES • NOV. 28 • GAME 12 QUICK FACTS All-Time Series: Michigan leads 58- 52-6 First Meeting: U-M 34, OSU 0 (Oct. 16, 1897 in Ann Arbor) Last Meeting: OSU 56, U-M 27 (Nov. 30, 2019 in Ann Arbor) Head Coach: Ryan Day, 16-1 at Ohio State and overall (2nd full year) 2019 In Review: 13-1, 9-0 Big Ten (1st East) Final 2019 Ranking: No. 3 in Associated Press and coaches' polls Returning Starters: 13 (6 offense, 3 defense, 4 spe - cialists) Last Bowl Appearance: 2019 (Fiesta Bowl vs. Clemson, L 29-23) RETURNING LEADERS Passing: Justin Fields (3,273 yards, 41 TD, 3 INT) Rushing: Master Teague III (789 yards, 4 TD) Receiving: Chris Olave (849 yards, 12 TD) Tackles: Peter Werner (64) Sacks: Baron Browning (5) Interceptions: K'Vaughan Pope (2)