Check your magazines.
Nothing screams “college football is near!” pretty much like the advance magazines of the annual college football season
With all four major posts – Athlon, Phil Steele, Street & Smith’s and Lindy’s – now shipped, it’s officially time to start thinking about the start of the college season, even if we still face quite a bit of uncertainty.
Here’s a look at how the season’s top four preview magazines rank the state of Ohio and how they view the Buckeyes in the 2020 season.
Athlon – No. 3
Athlon gave Ohio State the lowest rank of any major preview magazine, but it is still exceptionally high in the Buckeyes, ranking them No. 3 in the country, only behind No. 1 Clemson and No. 2 Alabama.
Although Athlon predicts that the state of Ohio will go undefeated and return to the college football tie behind one of the country’s most talented rosters and probably the country’s deadliest offense, they are concerned about Buckeye’s defense after losing three headlines in high school and the best passer in the country.
Even though this is a team with enough capacity to compete and with several upper-class men occupying key positions, OSU will have to fit in a lot to return to the college football tie. With Day under the headphones, Fields at the controls and young blazers in the wide positions, this offense could go back to being electric. Clearly, Fields will have every opportunity to confirm why he is a Heisman favorite. But will defense losses prove to be too much to overcome?
Athlon is quite tall at Justin Fields, ranking him as the No. 2 player in the country behind Trevor Lawrence. Athlon also likes Wyatt Davis and Shaun Wade, ranking them as the No. 15 and No. 19 players in the country, respectively. Fields is a second-team All-American along with Shaun Wade, according to Athlon, while Wyatt Davis is an Athlon first-team All-American.
As for the bowl prediction, Athlon has Ohio State meet Alabama in the College Football Playoff semifinal.
Lindy’s – No. 1
Lindy views the Buckeyes as the best team in the country for the season, ranking them ahead of No. 2 Clemson and No. 3 Alabama, and they predict that the Ohio State “will emerge as masters of college football” this season.
The state of Ohio has that sparkle in its eyes. Yes, the Buckeyes have accomplished a lot in recent years, but not at the end of the season lately. They haven’t won a playoff game since they won it all in 2014. Don’t underestimate that hunger, which will be fueled by some of America’s best talent. And is there a better coaching staff? Bottom line: Ohio State has the look of a national champion.
Lindy considers the Ohio State roster to be absolutely loaded, with Justin Fields as the nation’s best quarterback, Wyatt Davis as the top guard, Josh Myers as the No. 2 center, and Shaun Wade as the No. 2 cornerback and Thayer. Munford as fifth-best offensive tackle.
As a result, Lindy’s gives five Buckeyes All-American nods with Fields, Davis and Wade, all forming the first team and Myers and Munford reviewing the second team.
Lindy’s hopes that Ohio State will be the most dominant team in the country and flex its muscles in the world of college football this fall.
Street & Smith – No. 2
Street & Smith is also at the top of the Buckeyes, but doesn’t see them as the best team in the country next season, but close by, ranking Ohio State No. 2 behind Clemson.
The pace continues, and Ohio State will again remain among the very small class of teams that can truly win the 2020 national championship. Like most years in Columbus, this is a matter of title or failure.
Street & Smith gives the All-American Buckeyes three winks before the season with Wyatt Davis and Shaun Wade earning first-team honors, while Justin Fields, who is also named Ohio State’s top professional prospect, wins the second team. .
The magazine also named some pre-season Big Ten superlatives, naming Fields the best passing QB, Master Teague III the most elusive RB, Ryan Day’s most innovative coach, and of course Drue’s best Twitter account. Chrisman the Big Ten.
Looking at the season prediction, Street & Smith has the Buckeyes making the national title against Clemson.
Phil Steele – No. 1
Well-known football connoisseur and forecaster Phil Steele has the Buckeyes as the best team in the nation heading into the season, ranking them ahead of No. 2 Clemson and No. 3 Alabama and telling 247Sports that he believes this is Ohio State’s year to win the national title. .
“I’m going to go to the state of Ohio this year,” said Steele. “I was very impressed with what Ryan Day did. I thought Ohio State last year was two better touchdowns than the Ohio State team the year before. The 2018 squad allowed more than 400 yards per game, had weekly closed calls. Last year, Ohio State simply stepped on everyone’s throat from start to finish, dominating every game. He probably should have beaten Clemson in the playoffs last year.
“They have a veteran quarterback at (Justin Fields), they have three guys who turned down the NFL on the offensive line. The defense will be good as always, and I have a lot of faith in Ryan Day, so I think they will get him out this year.”
Steele sees Ohio State as the one who takes the table in the Big Ten behind Fields and a solid and talented offensive line, but if there’s any rival in the conference in his eyes, it’s Penn State, whom he ranks at No. 10. in the country.
“I think the biggest challenger in the state of Ohio and the Big Ten is Penn State. When you look at Penn State, most of the team comes back, “Steele told 247Sports. “… This is a loaded team from Penn State and they host Ohio State at home.
“Now you wonder how many people will be available for the money laundering conditions on October 24, but we will worry about that in late October, as long as we are playing soccer, we are happy, right?”
We will be happy indeed.
