When: Â Thursday, August 31st @ 6:00 PM on ESPN
Where: Â The Rock, Bloomington, Indiana
With the 2017 College Football season fast approaching, I could not help but preview opening day of the upcoming season.  After my brief break due to my move back to the states, I am proud to say that I am back MOTSAG faithful!
To open the 2017 season, Ohio State will collide with a seasoned Indiana team that is capable of putting up huge numbers on opposing defenses, but that was under former Head Coach Kevin Wilson, who coincidentally was dismissed by Indiana and is now the Offensive Coordinator at Ohio State.
In an unusual turn of events and because of some luck, Coach Meyer jumped at the chance to improve their offensive deficiencies by employing Wilson. Â Wilson has a proven track record of reinventing offenses under his watch with stints at Miami (OH), at Northwestern and at Oklahoma. He will bring a quick tempo attack to Ohio State, and it is what the Buckeyes lacked after Texas Coach Tom Herman left.
The search for improvements did not stop there, as Coach Meyer plucked another young coach from the NFL ranks to bolster their staff in Quarterback Coach Ryan Day. Â Day, a Chip Kelly disciple, will be tasked to improve the QB play. Â Day and Wilson will work side by side to resurrect an anemic Buckeye offense that was shut out in last years CFB Playoffs.
J.T. Barrett will lead the team for his last season donning the Scarlet and Gray for a Thursday game at Bloomington, Indiana. Â With him, he has 4 returning starters along the O-Line, but a new RG that has yet to be announced. Â Bruising RB Mike Weber returns and TE Marcus Baugh is back as well.
Ohio State will break in many first year starters at WR, with Dixon, Campbell, and McLaurin leading the way.  Ohio State also has a mix of older and younger players at the position vying for playing time in Hill, Mack, Victor, Harris, and Grimes, so we will have to see how the offense adapts to their newer, faster system.
The defense returns the majority of the front seven and their backups. Â The biggest question would be the secondary, which lost 3 first rounders to the NFL Draft. Â The projected starters at CB will likely be Arnette, Sheffield, and Ward with Okudah as the fourth man up. Â While Wade, Williamson and Riep will be looking for playing time in during garbage time.
At the Safety spots, Webb is the only returning starter, while the other spot is up for grabs between Erick Smith and Jordan Fuller, who no matter who wins, both will play this season.  Both bring different playing styles, but both would do well when called upon.
Indiana has a bit of a QB battle going as Richard Lagow is trying to fight off a Redshirt FR Peyton Ramsey, who did well during the spring game. Â They will have 5 returning starters on offense and a BIG leading 9 on defense led by Tegray Scales. Â Scales will attempt to stymie his former Head Coaches new team in the season opener.
Prediction: Â 44-20 (Ohio State)
The Barrett led offense will shine in the opener, with obvious improvements across the board. Â It will be a balanced attack with 200+ yards passing and at least 100 on the ground. Â The WR’s will be the biggest improvement and the TE will be featured more frequently than the previous seasons. Â O-Line will improve as well with Prince and the new RG being the key players, but also the key matchup. Â
The defense will be stout, but the secondary with the new starters will give up a few huge chunk plays before the lock in. Â The Rushmen package will be lethal the LB’s will give Indiana fits. Â I look for them to have a least 2 sacks and a forced fumble, while the secondary snags 2 interceptions. Scales will lead the defensive charge and he will be a problem. Â He will be near the ball the entire game. Â
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