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Computer ratings project Buckeyes regular season record
Ohio State has one of the best rosters — and one of the most difficult schedules — in college football for the upcoming season.
And the computer models realize both of those things can be true at once. The Massey Ratings , a long-standing, legendary computer model that projects out teams records and scores in each game, loves the Buckeyes entering the 2024 season.
Massey Ratings has the Buckeyes going 11-1 this year, with the lone loss coming in a 28-27 loss to Oregon on the road in mid-October. It has Ohio State beating Penn State on the road by just three, 27-24, and then Michigan by just one point, 25-24, in the Horseshoe on Nov. 30.
The ratings also show the Buckeyes with at least a 90 percent chance of winning in nine of their 12 games; the other three are the Oregon game (50 percent chance to win), the Michigan game (52%) and at Penn State (52%).
All three of those Ohio State opponents are in the Massey Ratings top 10 entering the year.
For more on how the Massey Ratings predict the Buckeyes season to go, click here .
Two Ohio State linebackers on Butkus Award watch list
Ohio State hasn’t even named Sonny Styles or C.J. Hicks as the starting linebacker beside Cody Simon yet.
But folks around the country know how talented both Styles and Hicks can be if they do get the nod. That’s why when the preseason watch list for the Butkus Award was released Tuesday, both players were listed on it.
Yes, Styles and Hicks are both on the preseason watch list for the Butkus Award, given annually to the country’s top linebacker. Ohio State is one of seven schools to land multiple linebackers on the watch list. Iowa is the only other program in the Big Ten to have multiple linebackers make the list.
Senior leader and starting middle linebacker Cody Simon was a notable snub from the list, but he is expected to have a good season and be in contention to win the Butkus Award.
READ: Pair of Buckeyes linebackers land on Butkus Award preseason watch list
Buckeyes freshman LB Payton Pierce sheds black stripe
Ohio State linebackers coach James Laurinaitis raved about freshman linebacker Payton Pierce last week when he met with the media.
Since that conversation, it seemed like just a matter of time before Pierce lost his black stripe, a signal that he’s officially a member of the football program. That time has come.
Pierce lost his black stripe Tuesday after Buckeyes practice, the program announced on social media. He’s the fourth Ohio State freshman to lose the black stripe this August, joining defensive end Eddrick Houston, safety Jaylen McClain and running back James Peoples. Quarterback Julian Sayin and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith previously lost their black stripe during spring practice.
READ MORE: Buckeyes freshman linebacker Payton Pierce sheds black stripe
Counting Down
Buckeyes vs. Akron: 17 days
Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 108 days
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The post Scarlet Sunrise: Computer ratings project Buckeyes regular season record appeared first on On3 .
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