A Vikings Fan’s Viewing Guide to CFB: Ohio State and the CFP

Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) throws a pass during the fourth quarter of the Rose Bowl against the Utah Utes in Pasadena, Calif. on Jan. 1, 2022. College Football Rose Bowl

Just like the NFL season is fast approaching, we are nearing the day where college football teams will arrive on campus and begin their own preseason work. As a self-proclaimed NFL Draft nerd, I get almost as excited for the college football season as I do for the NFL season. Because of that, I am putting together guides for many of the notable college football programs ahead of the 2022 season. Whether you’re a seasoned college football viewer, or just getting into it for the first time, there is something here for everyone.

We’ve already gone through many of the major contenders in the AAC, and we just finished up with the ACC. Now, we’ve been working our way through a conference that has been all over headlines lately: the Big Ten. Next on the docket is the Ohio State Buckeyes, a team that should be a favorite to win a national title this year.

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Overview

After such a dominant year in 2020, Justin Fields headed to the NFL, and the QB torch was handed to CJ Stroud. Stroud performed marvelously throughout the year, passing for over 4400 yards and 44 TDs while completing over 71% of his passes. Now, a large group of that offense is off to the NFL, so Stroud will have to prove that he can continue to produce without them.

Additionally, the defense must perform better than they did at times throughout the regular season as this group cost them a trip to the CFP last year. With some additional talent to this group, the Buckeyes look poised to make another run in 2022.

2022 NFL Draft Prospects

Notable Transfers In

  • RB Deamonte Trayanum (Arizona State)
  • CB Tanner McCalister (Oklahoma)

Notable Transfers Out

  • DL Noah Potter (Cincinnati)
  • S Bryson Shaw (USC)
  • CB Sevyn Banks (LSU)
  • CB Ryan Watts (Texas)

2022 Schedule

  • 9/3 vs. Notre Dame
  • 9/10 vs. Arkansas State
  • 9/17 vs. Toledo
  • 9/24 vs. Wisconsin
  • 10/1 vs. Rutgers
  • 10/8 @ Michigan State
  • 10/22 vs. Iowa
  • 10/29 @ Penn State
  • 11/5 @ Northwestern
  • 11/12 vs. Indiana
  • 11/19 vs. Maryland
  • 11/26 vs. Michigan

Keys to 2022

Keep the Offense Rolling

The Ohio State Buckeyes continuously have one of the most overpowering offenses in all of college football. In 2021, they scored a whopping 45.7 points per game, the number one scoring offense in the entire country. CJ Stroud is likely going to be one of the top picks in the 2023 draft, but he’s going to have to keep up the production without Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave, who were selected in the first round of the 2022 draft.

That said, even though those two went early on in the first round, there may be an even more talented receiver left on the roster. Jaxon Smith-Njigba was the leading receiver for Ohio State last year with 95 catches, 1606 yards, and nine touchdowns. They also have one of the best RBs in the country with TreVeyon Henderson in the backfield. He rushed for 1248 yards and 15 TDs in last year. The Buckeyes should provide plenty of fireworks once again this year.

The Defense Must Step Up

Overall, the Buckeyes were one of the most complete teams in the country last year. However, there were specific instances where they could not stop the run which cost them another trip to the College Football Playoff.

During their Week 2 loss to Oregon, they gave up 269 yards rushing and three touchdowns on the ground. Then against Michigan they allowed 297 yards and an atrocious six touchdowns in their 42-27 loss. Tennessee Titans draft selection Hassan Haskins had 169 of those yards and five scores in the game.

For a team that scores 45+ points per game, the defense doesn’t even have to be spectacular. They just can’t give up 200+ yards on the ground on a regular basis. The defense returns many of their top performers in 2022, and transfer CB Tanner McCalister should be a big boost to the passing defense. If they can hang around with the best offenses, Ohio State looks poised to make another CFB Playoff trip this year.

My “Purple Player to Watch”

I’ve offered up a number of offensive linemen for Vikings fans to watch this college football season, and the Ohio Buckeyes choice will be no different. The Vikings have dipped into the Buckeye pool for linemen before, most recently selecting Wyatt Davis in 2021. This time, I again look at right guard Matthew Jones as a player who could fit into the Vikings o-line.

Jones is a fifth-year senior who hasn’t gotten much starting experience to this point in his career, but with Paris Johnson heading out to the left tackle spot and Harry Miller’s medical retirement, there is a spot open for 2022. At 6’4 310 pounds, he has ideal size for an NFL right guard.

However, for the first time I’m going to offer up a second player. That’s right the Buckeyes center, Luke Wypler, is a name to remember. Even if the redshirt sophomore doesn’t declare for the 2023 draft, he should be one of the top interior linemen prospects in 2024. Recently, former Buckeye and current Green Bay Packers Josh Myers has had terrific success. Perhaps the Vikings will go the same route in the coming years.

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