Ohio State finds itself inside a pressure cooker of almost ridiculous expectations entering the 2024 football season after bringing in so much top-shelf talent via recruiting and the transfer portal.
It's always "Beat Michigan or bust" in Columbus, but the influx of talent has fans almost demanding a national championship as well. Coach Ryan Day's crew faces a mostly favorable schedule − eight home games, including Michigan − and probably can lose two games and still make the 12-team playoff. But few in Columbus are thinking that way. When fans close their eyes they see a perfect season ending with a win in the championship game in Atlanta.
More: Ohio State football's worst-case scenario in 2024? Lose to Michigan, miss the playoff
Ohio State football's best-case scenario in 2024?
Stick it to cheating Michigan
Nothing would soothe the Buckeye soul more than shutting up the invading cheaters from the north , who not only have won three rivalry games in a row but are coming off a national championship. Sure, it would be better if Jim Harbaugh were still on the UM sideline when OSU beats the Wolverines in Columbus, but Buckeye Nation won't be picky. Just win, baby.
Show Quinn Ewers he should have stayed
Ohio State fans would love to get a playoff semifinal win against Texas, the school quarterback Quinn Ewers bolted to after spending only one season with the Buckeyes . Most OSU fans have forgiven Ewers for his transgression, but enough bitterness remains that a vocal minority would enjoy sending Ewers a message: you don't leave Ohio State without living to regret it.
Pay back Georgia with last-second winning field goal
In 2022, Ohio State lost a College Football Playoff semifinal to Georgia when Noah Ruggles' field goal attempt sailed wide left as time ran out both in the game and the year − the kick missed just as the clock struck midnight on New Year's Eve. The Bulldogs won 42-41 and went on to crush TCU in the national championship game. It would be sweet justice if OSU won the 2024 national title on a made field goal against the Dawgs.
Toughest games on Ohio State football schedule 2024?
At Oregon, Oct. 12 : Autzen Stadium, home of the No. 3-ranked Ducks, is small (54,000) but mighty loud enough to unsettle an OSU travel squad making its first visit to the Pacific Northwest since 2007.
At Penn State, Nov. 2 : The Nittany Lions have not beaten Ohio State since 2016, but Happy Valley can be an unhappy hellhole for visitors nonetheless, especially is quarterback Drew Aller has learned how to throw deep downfield.
Michigan, Nov. 30 : Duh. The Wolverines have won the past three meetings, and while they have only five starters returning from last year's national title team, they certainly will believe they can win The Game.
Easiest games on Ohio State football schedule 2024
Akron, Aug. 31 : Labor Day weekend will feel like backbreaking work for the Zips, who are coming off back-to-back 2-10 seasons. Expect this to be a 50-point win for the Buckeyes.
Western Michigan, Sept. 7 : The Broncos have tailback Jalen Buckley, who was freshman of the year last year in the Mid-American Conference, which makes this an interesting test to see if OSU's run defense is up to snuff.
Marshall, Sept. 21 : The Thundering Herd arrive in Columbus with a new Air Raid offense that likely will be grounded against the Buckeyes' secondary, one of the best nationally.
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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Can Ohio State football win it all in 2024? Best-case scenario for the Buckeyes
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