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Photo by Don Speck | The Lima News OHIO STATE 2021 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

Dynasty days Buckeyes’ greatest Thursday, Aug. 26, 2021 era is now

All content © 2021 AIM Media Midwest. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law. 2 Thursday, August 26, 2021 OSU FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2021 Greene County Dailies Current era the gold standard for OSU

By Jim Naveau has won 11 of its last 12 games [email protected] against Wisconsin, including three times in the Big Ten COLUMBUS — This might championship game. be the golden age of Ohio State Day is a different coach and a football. different personality type than When took Meyer. But he has kept some of control of Ohio State’s football the key elements of what Meyer team in January 2012 one of the built, like strength and condi- first things he did was schedule tioning guru Mickey Marotti early-morning team workouts and an incredible recruiting outside in the snow. It was an program. effort at team building by group With the Big Ten’s highest- misery. ranked recruiting class nine Whether they realized it of the last 10 years and seven or not at the time, the rest of 5-star recruits in the 2021 class the Big Ten football programs it appears Ohio State will con- would soon also be shivering in tinue doing what it has done a state of shared misery. And so since 2012 for a while. would much of the rest of the 2. Late Career Woody Hayes world. Don Speck | The Lima News Era (1968-1978) To politely paraphrase what Ohio State defensive tackle Haskell Garrett (92) holds up the championship trophy after Ohio State defeated Ohio State football and Northwestern to win its fourth consecutive Big Ten title last December. one columnist wrote at the Hayes’ career were both time, the message the hiring trending downward when his of Meyer sent to the rest of the Big Ten games in nine seasons. Football Playoff national cham- (2012-present) recruiting class of 1967, which Big Ten was that it was in trou- They’ve been Big Ten champion pionship game and a College Ohio State’s 106-11 record wasn’t allowed to play until ble. And after two seasons of the last four years, have been Football Playoff semifinal game. over the last nine seasons looks 1968 under the rules of the Ryan Day as OSU’s head coach, selected for the College Football So, what are the top eras in even more impressive when you day, arrived. Over that group’s maybe the message is you’re Playoff four times, advanced to Ohio State football? It’s tough consider who it has beaten. three varsity seasons Ohio State still in trouble. Maybe even big- the championship game twice to compare eras. But here’s a It has beaten Michigan eight went 27-2 and was consensus ger trouble than before. and won it in 2014. ranking of them: times in a row and 15 of the national champion in 1968. In the Day/Meyer Era, the Ryan Day’s teams haven’t lost last 16. It has beaten Penn State That began an 11-year stretch Buckeyes have a 106-11 overall a Big Ten game and his only Gold Medal Eras eight of the last nine times the where OSU won or shared nine record and have lost only five losses have been in a College 1. Ryan Day/Urban Meyer two teams have played and it Big Ten championships and had Go Bucks.... Celebrating 64 Years Serving Greene and Surrounding Counties Flatter Insurance Agency | Joe Flatter Auction Company 407 N. Broad Street, Fairborn, Ohio • (937)878-3444 OH-70247902 Greene County Dailies OSU FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2021 Thursday, August 26, 2021 3

OHIO STATE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE 2021 Date Opponent Time Thursday, Sept. 2 at Minnesota 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 11 Oregon Noon Saturday, Sept. 18 Tulsa 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 25 Akron TBA Saturday, Oct. 2 at Rutgers TBA Saturday, Oct. 9 Maryland Noon Saturday, Oct. 16 Bye week Saturday, Oct. 23 at Indiana TBA Saturday, Oct. 30 Penn State TBA Saturday, Nov. 6 at Nebraska TBA Saturday, Nov. 13 Purdue TBA Saturday, Nov. 20 Michigan State Saturday, Nov. 27 at Michigan Noon Don Speck | The Lima News Ohio State head coach Ryan Day and his team celebrate a victory over Wisconsin after winning a third consecutive Big Ten title in 2019. Saturday, Dec. 4 Big Ten Championship Game 8 p.m. a 98-24-2 record. 3. Jim Tressel Era Meyer and Day have added an Era (1951-1967) Football Writers Association. A case could be made (2001-2010) 8-0 record and one COVID-19 Ohio State claims three They were second in the AP this was the greatest era of OSU Tressel’s years in Columbus cancelation in the last nine sea- national championships from and UPI polls. football with more Big Ten were defined by two things — sons. Michigan’s last win in the this era when college football Hayes’ teams had some great championships and just the 2002 national championship series was in 2011 in the season championships were decided seasons early in his career but as many national champion- win over Miami and making between Tressel’s departure and by poll voters. A 10-0 season he also had at least three losses ships as the teams of the last Ohio State the dominant team Meyer’s arrival. in 1954 when it was voted No. in nine of his first 17 seasons nine seasons. But national in its rivalry with Michigan in a Tressel’s 2006 and 2007 1 by The Associated Press is at OSU, including two losing championships weren’t directly way that was beyond the wild- teams also played for national one and a 9-1 season in 1957 seasons. won on the field in the 1960s est dreams of most OSU fans. championships but fell short when it was No. 1 according 2. Era (1979- and there were no Big Ten The 2001 win over Michi- against Florida and LSU. to United Press International 1987) championship games to get gan started OSU on its way to is another. The third, after Bruce was often derided through to win conference a 9-1 record against its rival Silver Medal Eras an 8-0-1 season in 1961, was championships. from 2001 to 2010, to which 1. Early Career Woody Hayes awarded to the Buckeyes by the See ERA | 8

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By Jim Naveau [email protected]

COLUMBUS — There are many players who could be players to watch at Ohio State this football season. Here are five of the most interesting of the Buckeyes:

1. Chris Olave Olave was always going to be a player to watch this season. Most people thought they’d be watching him in the NFL but he sur- prised almost everyone by announcing he would return to Ohio State for his senior Offensive lineman Thayer Munford picks up Ohio State Photos by Don Speck | The Lima News season. wide receiver Chris Olave during a touchdown celebration Ohio State wide receiver Garrett Wilson puts a stiff arm on Maryland’s defensive back Deonte Banks On the surface it looked like in a game against Maryland at in 2019. during a game in 2019 at Ohio Stadium. Olave had done everything he could do at Ohio State. But he receiver recruit and the third- touchdowns, and caught 50 sion Hills High School in San sion Hills’ coach told Day he saw it differently. lowest ranked member of passes, seven of them for Marcos, Calif., saying it was should look at Olave and he “There’s a lot of reasons I Ohio State’s 2018 recruiting TDs, last season when OSU done for athletic reasons, not sent Olave to be the receiver came back. I felt like I needed class. He flew under the radar was the runner-up in the Col- academic reasons. when Tuttle had a throwing to work on some things,” he until the Michigan game lege Football Playoff. Ohio State’s interest in him session for Day. said. “I came back to try to his freshman year when he Olave’s lack of recruiting grew after Ryan Day, then Day liked what he saw from get in the weight room more caught two touchdown passes attention in large part was the Buckeyes’ offensive coor- Olave and what he heard and get a lot stronger and and blocked a punt. because he missed his junior dinator/ coach, about him from people at Mis- turn into a complete receiver Suddenly everyone knew season of high school football went to Mission Hills to try sion Hills. And the 26 touch- and try to be NFL ready his name. He was Ohio State’s after the California Interscho- to recruit Jack Tuttle, a 4-star down passes he caught as a Week 1.” No. 1 receiver in 2019 with lastic Federation refused to who is now senior in high school were a Olave was a 3-star wide 48 catches, 12 of them for approve his transfer to Mis- Indiana’s back-up QB. Mis- factor, too. Stephan & Stephan Law Group, LLC Home Site Title Attorneys-at-Law Agency, Inc. 1354 N. Monroe Drive, Suite B 1755 W. Second St. Xenia, Ohio 45385 Xenia, Ohio 45385 Phone (937) 374-4635 Phone: (937) 372-4404 www.homesitetitle.com OH-70249163 Greene County Dailies OSU FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2021 Thursday, August 26, 2021 5

2. Garrett Wilson A year ago Olave and Wilson were being described as possibly the best receiver com- bination in the Big Ten. This year it’s more like they might be the best pair of receivers in the country. It’s possible both could be selected in the first half of the first round of the 2022 NFL draft if Wilson decides to declare for the draft Ohio State defensive Zach Harrison is no stranger to double Photos by Don Speck | The Lima News after his junior season. teams. Here he’s surrounded by Northwestern offensive linemen Ohio State freshman TreVeyon Henderson runs the ball during the Buckeyes’ spring Wilson will return to but he still makes the tackle on running back Cam Porter during game in April. Henderson was ranked the No. 1 running back in the country in the 2021 recruiting an outside wide receiver last season’s Big Ten championship game. class. position this year after being moved inside to er nationally in the 2019 3. Zach Harrison at Ohio State some rison in practice, is was playing my best ball slot receiver last season. recruiting class. Harrison, a former of those people who one of those predicting the last three or four He thrived in both He had offers from 5-star recruit, doesn’t possibly pay too much great things for him. games of the season. of those positions. He Alabama, Oklahoma, pay attention to recruit- attention to recruiting “Zach Harrison? He’s a “It’s day and night caught 43 passes for Notre Dame, Texas ing and who is ranked rankings have wondered freak of nature,” Mun- from when I was a 723 yards and six touch- A&M, Georgia, Michi- as the best recruits. if the 6-6, 272-pound ford said. freshman. I sometimes downs last season after gan and most of the That element of college junior defensive end has Harrison himself says go back and watch catching 30 passes, five big-time college football football just doesn’t lived up to expectations the best is yet to come. freshman year film and of them for touchdowns, programs. interest him. after being ranked the “I still don’t feel like I’m like, ‘I don’t even as a freshman. Those He lived in Columbus “I don’t follow No. 2 defensive end in I’ve reached my moun- recognize that guy.’ I’ve 30 catches were the from the time he was recruits,” he said earlier the country in the 2019 tain top yet. I still have gotten bigger, stronger, most by an Ohio State six years old until his this summer at Big Ten recruiting class. improvements to make faster and my technique freshman receiver since family moved to Texas Football Media Days. The answer to those and I’m trying to make has gotten better,” he David Boston had 33 in when he was 12. While “Once I was done being questions could come those improvements said. 1996. that wasn’t the only rea- a recruit I left that this year when Harrison every day,” he said. Wilson was a 5-star son he ended up in scar- behind. It’s in the past.” appears ready to have a “I feel like I could 4. TreVeyon Henderson recruit out of Lake let and gray, it helped There are a lot of breakout season. have done more but If for some reason you Travis High School in convince him Columbus people who do follow Offensive lineman toward the end of last don’t like watching vid- Austin, Texas who was is where he wanted to recruiting, though. And Thayer Munford, who season I was really ranked the No. 2 receiv- be. after two good seasons has seen plenty of Har- catching my stride. I See WATCH | 7

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COLUMBUS Here are three — Pick a number. of them: 1. The One, two, three or quarterback Ryan four. How many Day chooses to Ohio State quarter- start the opener at backs do you think Minnesota plays will get on the field well and keeps this season? Jim the starting job all The Buckeyes Naveau season. 2. If the might have more Contributing starter struggles talent at that posi- columnist during a game Day tion than they’ve might be quicker ever had before with to send another QB into two 5-star recruits, Kyle the game for a series or McCord and Quinn two or the rest of the Ewers, and two 4-stars, game than he would C.J. Stroud takes off on a running play during Ohio State’s 2021 C.J. Stroud and Jack have if his starter was an spring football game. Miller. established veteran. 3. But they are all young The starter by the end of and none of them has the season could be a dif- backs with freshmen and replaced his quarter- ever thrown a pass in a ferent quarterback than one of those substitu- back Kelly Bryant, who college football game. the one who started the tions came at halftime of had led the Tigers to a Stroud and Miller opener. a national championship national semifinal game enrolled in January 2020. The most likely sce- game. the year before, with McCord enrolled this nario is sticking with the Alabama coach Nick freshman Trevor Law- Photos by Don Speck | The Lima News January, and in a bit of a quarterback who began Saban pulled his starter rence four games into the Jack Miller (9) was the first of Ohio State’s collection of 5-star surprise, Ewers decided the season as the starter. Jalen Hurts at halftime of 2018 season and won the and 4-star quarterbacks to commit to the Buckeyes. to graduate early and But don’t rule out the the national champion- national championship. came to OSU a year other two possibilities. ship game in the 2017 It’s a new world. ahead of schedule in mid- Ohio State and Day are season and replaced Coaches have more Ohio State. Two of the The competition for August. playing to win national him with freshman Tua options and maybe less four, Miller and Ewers, playing time, if it is This leads to all kinds championships. Two of Tagovailoa, who threw patience. So do quarter- have two high schools shared in a big or small of possibilities with no the last four national the game-winning touch- backs. on their resumes, so way, would seem to be incumbent and no expe- championships were won down pass. There is no way they are not strangers to between Stroud, McCord rienced quarterback on by coaches who replaced The next year Clemson McCord, Ewers, Stroud exploring a new oppor- and Miller unless playing the roster. their starting quarter- coach Dabo Swinney and Miller will all stay at tunity. quarterback at the

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the college football season an era but Brown’s 1942 Era ended on Nov. 1 during his team was the first Ohio 13 seasons in Columbus he State football team to From page 3 might have been a whole win a national champi- lot more popular with onship. The reason he as “Old 9-3 Earle” by Ohio State fans. stayed only three years some OSU fans when he Cooper’s 2-10-1 record was because he went into followed Hayes as the against Michigan and the military during World Buckeyes coach because three chances at national War II. his teams finished with championships that Who knows what he that record six seasons in slipped away in 1995, 1996 might have done at Ohio a row. But his teams won and 1998 because of losses State with more years? four Big Ten champion- to Michigan the first two 2. Era ships and finished second times and to Michigan (1916-1919) twice. State in 1998, defined him Harley, a running back, Another thing that is in the minds of many fans. is often referred to as the Don Speck | The Lima News often overlooked is that Ohio State’s adminis- player who built Ohio Ohio State fans celebrate with a message for Michigan in the final moments of OSU’s 56-27 win in his winning percentage at tration wanted someone Stadium because he was 2019 over the Wolverines, its eighth in a row over its rival. The two rivals did not play last season Ohio State (.755) is almost different from Bruce when the star running back on because of COVID-19. identical to the .761 win- it went looking for his OSU teams which won 21 ning percentage of Hayes. replacement and Cooper games, lost one and tied 2020 OHIO STATE STATISTICS He was never a fan was different. The differ- one and won two Big Ten favorite when he was ences, including his south- championships during his PASS RECEPTIONS SACKS OSU’s coach but he ern accent, didn’t always career. Chris Olave`50 Jonathon Cooper`3.5 Garrett Wilson`43 Tommy Togiai`3 became one after he was play well in Columbus. Harley also played Jeremy Ruckert`13 Haskell Garrett`2 fired the week before the Bobby Bowden sym- basketball, baseball and Trey Sermon`12 Zach Harrison`2 Michigan game during the pathized with him about ran track while at Ohio PASSING YARDS Jaxon Smith-Njigba`10 Tuf Borland`1.5 1987 season, the only sea- that before OSU played State. He missed the 1918 `2,100 TACKLES son in which the Buckeyes the Seminoles in the Sugar season because he was a RUSHING YARDS Pete Werner`54 Shaun Wade`2 didn’t win nine or more Bowl in 1997 and said, fighter pilot during World Trey Sermon`870 Tuf Borland`48 Five others with one games with him as head “I told him not to go up War I that season. Master Teague`514 Shaun Wade`35 Justin Fields`383 FIELD GOALS coach. there, to stay down here Ohio State played its Justin Hilliard`33 Steele Chambers`86 Baron Browning`30 Blake Haubeil`5/7 His OSU teams were 5-4 with us guys. There aren’t football games at Ohio Jake Seibert`1/2 against Michigan, includ- many you alls up there.” Field during Harley’s RECEIVING YARDS TACKLES FOR LOSS Dominic DiMaccio`1/2 ing a win in his final game, career. When overflow Chris Olave`729 Justin Hilliard`5 Garrett Wilson`723 PUNTS and 5-3 in bowl games. Bronze Medal Eras crowds of 20,000 or more Zach Harrison`4.5 Jameson Williams`154 Tommy Togiai`4.5 Drue Chrisman`45.0 3. John Cooper Era 1. Paul Brown Era packed it, the university Jeremy Ruckert`151 Zach Hoover`39.3 (1988-2000) (1941-1943) decided to go ahead with Haskell Garrett`4.0 Trey Sermon`95 Jonathon Cooper`3.5 Cooper recruited great Three seasons is a bit the construction of Ohio Tuf Borland`3.5 talent to Columbus and if short to be considered Stadium.

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