Ohio State football season preview 2024: Biggest games, key players to watch, predictions and more

In each of the last three seasons, Ohio State football has finished with an 11-2 record. At many schools, that would make coach Ryan Day eligible for a statue. At the program, it puts him increasingly close to the hot seat. Ohio State plays for championships, and Day has failed to deliver them, including a trio of losses to Michigan.

Will 2024 be the season OSU breaks through? Keeping that in mind, here are the biggest games that might give the program a hard time:

Ohio State's biggest games of 2024

Dillon Gabriel and Oregon will be a tough road challenge for Ohio State in 2024 (Photo Credit: IMAGN)

The Buckeyes have an easy non-conference slate, but the expanded Big Ten will present enough challenges for one season. Probably the most challenging game outside of the three biggest is on Oct. 5 against Iowa. OSU has only played Iowa once in the last five years, but their defense can be sticky.

But the three biggest games of the year include two road battles and then the annual rivalry game. On Oct. 12, Ohio State will travel to Oregon, whose program bested the Buckeyes in Columbus in Week 2 of the 2021 season and figures to be a tough foe again.

On Nov. 2, OSU will head to Penn State. Ohio State has won the last seven games in the series, but the matchups tend to be competitive. James Franklin's Nittany Lions would love to play spoiler for the Buckeyes, and they have plenty of talent to do so.

Finally, the season ends with a home battle against Michigan on Nov. 30. While Ohio State is 15-4 in the last 19 games of the series, it is 0-3 in the last three years. This Michigan team looks less imposing than last year's squad, but in a rivalry game like this, anything can happen.

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Key Ohio State players to watch

The Buckeyes never lack talent, and there's no reason to think this season will be any different. Ohio State has two running backs who could start for virtually any team in the nation, an impressive group of athletes across both sides of the line of scrimmage and many outside skill players. But here are the most important players:

1. Emeka Egbuka, WR

Two years ago, Egbuka played like an All-American, racking up 1,151 receiving yards and showing versatility and agility. Last season, he battled injuries and never really got going, finishing with 41 catches for 515 yards and four touchdowns.

But the 6-foot-1 player has top-end speed and can still catch the ball in the middle of the field. He's a playmaker and OSU wants to deploy him. Alongside the outstanding skills of Blue Smith, opportunities for Egbuka will expand.

2. JT Tuimoloau, DE

At 6-foot-5 and 270 pounds, Tuimoloau has the kind of physique that excites NFL scouts. He is a game-breaker as a pass rusher but has to be more consistent. He had 10.5 tackles for loss in 2022 and seven more last season. With the experience and talent alongside Tuimoloau, there's no reason he can't put together the explosive year OSU fans have been awaiting.

3. Caleb Downs, S

Downs's recruitment is thanks to Ryan Day. Downs had 107 tackles and six passes defended last season at Alabama. Pairing him with corners Denzel Burke and Davison Igbinosun is almost unfair. Considering the pass rush that OSU will bring up front, Downs might get many chances to make game-breaking plays.

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Ohio State Predictions for 2024

OSU might breathe a sigh of relief knowing that an 11-2 record could get them into the playoffs this year. The team should probably be no worse than 12-1 entering the playoff. How they stack up against the SEC is the ultimate question of the season.

The 12-team playoff might save Ryan Day's job and ensure the Buckeyes get a legitimate shot in 2024. Can they win it all? They certainly could, but even for a talented roster, it'll be a tall order.

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What do you think of OSU's 2024 squad? Share your thoughts below in our comments section!