Predicting every game of the Ohio State Buckeyes’ 2024 college football season

We are just over two weeks until Ohio State kicks off its 2024 college football season. The Buckeyes have big expectations in 2024 and will look to get back to the College Football Playoff, which is now expanded to 12 teams.

With the season not far off at all, there is no better time than to predict the outcome of every game on the schedule for the team in Columbus.

Aug. 31 vs. Akron

The Buckeyes start the season with their first three games at home and they will be favored big in each one. Akron and Ohio State last played in 2021 when the Buckeyes won 59-7. There is no reason to expect much different this time around.

Prediction : Win

Sept. 7 vs. Western Michigan

Western Michigan is coming off of a 4-8 season and will serve as another tuneup game for the Buckeyes. They’ll roll in this one.

Prediction : Win

Sept. 21 vs. Marshall

Marshall always seems to have a couple of draft sleepers and players that stand out. The Thundering Herd will be on the wrong side of a lopsided score in this one.

Prediction : Win

Sept. 28 at Michigan State

The Buckeyes’ first road game comes in what I look at as an underrated environment. Michigan State fans support their program pretty well and they show up. The Buckeyes will be favored by three scores at least in this one but it’ll be a step up in competition.

Prediction : Win

Oct. 5 vs. Iowa

Iowa will be the first-ranked team that the Buckeyes have to see. Having them in Columbus helps. Iowa boasts a strong defense and a balanced offense, though it won’t be strong. Iowa is always well-coached and they don’t make many mistakes. I expect this to be a pretty close game.

Prediction : Win

Oct. 12 at Oregon

When looking at the schedule, Oregon is probably the biggest game of the regular season. The Ducks enter the Big Ten as a top-five team and a ton of talent. Ohio State was interested in Dillon Gabriel and he ended up with the Ducks. Going to Oregon is a big worry and this game is going to have some fireworks. I expect a back-and-forth game and I’m going to take the Buckeyes getting a big stop late to hold on.

Prediction : Win

Oct. 26 vs. Nebraska

Sandwiching Nebraska in between two games could be a game where you worry about it being a trap game a bit. The Buckeyes should take care of the Cornhuskers, but they’ve had a past of competing with Ohio State. Former quarterback commit Dylan Raiola could be the starter for them in this game, so there is your storyline.

Prediction : Win

Nov. 2 vs. Penn State

Going undefeated and winning it all is a tough thing to do and in the new playoff era, it may be a positive to get tested in the regular season and perhaps even take one on the chin. Traveling to play at Penn State may be the toughest environment in the country and they’ll be fired up to face the Buckeyes. I’m going to mark this down as Ohio State’s loss, due to the fact that I don’t think an undefeated team will win it all.

Prediction : Loss

Nov. 9 vs. Purdue

The Buckeyes are back at home against a team that has challenged them in the last few years. I expect Ohio State to bounce back in a big way here.

Prediction : Win

Nov. 16 at Northwestern

The coolest thing about this game is that it will be played at Wrigley Field. Northwestern is a team like Iowa that is going to rely on their defense and play smart football. The talent difference will stand out in this one and OSU will add another win.

Prediction : Win

Nov. 23 vs. Indiana

In late November the Buckeyes will be big favorites at home against the Hoosiers. At this point, you hope that the Buckeyes are not looking ahead at what is to come.

Prediction : Win

Nov. 30 vs. Michigan

At last, Ryan Day gets over the hump and beats Michigan again. I believe that Ohio State will win this one by at least two scores and will look to score a lot of points against the rival that has had their number lately. I think it is fair to expect that with the offseason that both teams had.

Prediction : Win

Conclusion

I believe the Buckeyes will go 11-1 during the regular season and will face Oregon a second time in the Big Ten Championship. When we look back at how the season went, we may be shocked that Oregon and Ohio State marched up three times with the possibility of meeting in the CFP.

Related: The fastest player on the 2024 Ohio State Buckeyes roster will shock you