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With the 2015 College Football season under way our Ohio State Buckeyes open their season against non other than the only team to beat them last year; the Virginia Tech Hokies. In watching this game there may be some players on the field that are having a big impact that you may have never heard of before, so let’s take a look at some of the new faces the coaching staff is counting on to come up big in the first game of the year.

The first guy that the coaching staff is counting on to make some plays Monday is WR Parris Campbell from St.Vincent-St. Mary. Yes, the same high school as Lebron! Parrris is a 6’1″ 205 lbs RS Freshman that has made a major impact this fall camp. So much that word as leaked out that he will start at the WR spot opposite of Mike Thomas. Coach Meyer believes Parris can be the guy to take the spot of Evan Spencer from last year as one of the best blocking WR’s in the country because of his size and strength. Don’t let that fool you though. Parris is much more than a blocker. As a 4 star recruit coming out of HS, Parris is a freaky fast athlete with great hands. He will be expected to make some plays catching the ball just as much as he will be blocking for Zeke. Parris will be wearing #21 so keep an eye out!

Another guy in the receiving core that will need to make an impact in with the suspensions is RS Freshman Johnnie Dixon 5’11” 195 lbs from Dwyer high school in Florida. Dixon was a big time recruit when he committed to OSU and was expected to make an impact last year as a true freshman, but due to injury he had to take a redshirt. Johnny is a guy that can flat out fly! As one of the fastest players on the roster. No doubt he will be in the game for much of the offensive plays and will get quite a few touches. The thing to keep an eye on is that Johnnie will be wearing #5 this year instead of #1. A certain senior that has changed positions asked Johnnie for his number and ,out of respect, Johnnie gave it up. So be prepared for the new #1 and #5 to have a big impact Monday.

On the other side of the ball there were not a lot of spots to fill after graduation. Tommy Shutt #90 will take over most of the snaps that Mike Bennett took last year, along with true Sophmore Raekwon McMillan #5 taking over for Curtis Grant. One guy that you may not have great memories about is the new #2 corner Gareon Conley 6’0″ 195 lbs from Massillon, Oh. Conley has changed his number to #8 and hopefully that will help people forget the one performance he had last year as RS freshman when Michigan State blatantly targeted him in the first quarter when he was filling in for injured Eli Apple. Since then Conley has grown leaps and bounds according to the coaching staff. Conley was not simply given the job either he was tested greatly by Damon Webb #7 another guy that will get time on Monday, but Conley stood strong and earned the right to be a starter Monday. Hopefully he lives up to his 4 star ranking and is able to give the Buckeyes a strong presence opposite of Eli Apple.

The last player that should have a major impact on Monday is RS Freshman DE Sam Hubbard 6’5″ 265 lbs from Cincinnati, Oh. Sam has changed his number to #6 this year and you should definitely expect to see that number on the field a lot, even when Joey Bosa comes back. Sam is a guy that the coaches can’t help but talk about. Coming to the program as a safety, Sam has come along way to be where he is today. Even as a true freshman he was playing so well that the coaches considered stripping his redshirt away and playing him in the National Championship. That ,of course, did not happen and obviously worked out just fine! But, this year we are going to need Hubbard along with many others if we want to reach our ultimate goal… another title!

A few other guys you might see make an impact could be true Freshman CB Denzel Ward #12, Sophmore DE Jalyn Holmes #10, RS Sophmore DE Typuan Lewis #59, RS Freshman WR Terry McLaurin #83, and finally Sophmore OLB Dante Booker #33. Let’s see what this season brings! Go Bucks!

It’s a Fall Saturday Afternoon, a cool breeze rolls into the house as you and your family and friends are watching the Buckeyes take on another Big Ten foe. You look around and everyone is dressed in Scarlet and Gray with drinks in their hands and plates of random food sitting on the floor. Light conversations are going on between your fellow fans but all the while everyone has their eyes glued to the 60” HDTV hanging on the wall. Then, the Buckeyes make a huge play for a touchdown! The room erupts into cheers, with high fives being offered to everyone, big and small, young and old. This is what we as members of Buckeye Nation look forward to every Saturday during football season.

We all have our own traditions for what goes on during a “typical” Ohio State Football game. Whether you’re at The Shoe, a local bar, a friend’s house, or even hosting your own party, us Buckeye fans are bonded in the fact that we love watching our team play. Aside from that, it’s the atmosphere that gets so many of us excited for Saturdays. The aromas, the sounds, even the great fall Ohio weather bring back some of our favorite memories from seasons past. So now I’m going to try to explain why I (We) love College Football Saturday’s.

Its 8am, you wake up like a kid on Christmas morning not being able to contain your excitement. You jump in the shower (if you’re still in college you most definitely have a beer in your hand by now) and get out faster than you ever do for work and get dressed. You pull out your sacred Ohio State jersey and put it on like a hero’s cape. You think to yourself, “Its Saturday baby!!” You whip together a hearty breakfast and flip on ESPN. By 10am, College Gameday comes on and this gets you even more pumped for that afternoons’ game. For me, I don’t even need to see the TV at this point. Just hearing the voices of Chris, Lee, and Kirk (no, I’m not mentioning Desmond) gives me nostalgic feelings and usually puts a smile on my face. It’s a Fall Saturday. They flip around the country talking about the biggest games and storylines of the day. So instead of just being excited about the Buckeyes, now you’re looking forward to the other big time matchups including the primetime battle at 8 later that night. By 11:59, Corso is donning the headgear while the home crowd behind him either goes nuts or boos.

By this point it’s time to find the noon game of your preference. Perhaps a good Big Ten matchup is on or it’s also really fun to watch That Team Up North struggle against the Hoosiers or Appalachian State. But even though your beloved Buckeyes aren’t on yet, you get sucked in to the sounds of the game. The bands playing, fans cheering, pads crunching; it becomes addicting and you think to yourself again, “It’s Saturday.” How is it possible that while watching a game that doesn’t feature your favorite team or have any relative impact to your team, cause you to become so attached to watching and listening? It’s because it’s Saturday and you love College Football. There’s nothing else like it. By halftime of the noon slate, you’re cooking up all sorts of gameday food: Chicken Wings, Cheese Dip, Calzones, Pasta Salad, Meatballs, Pulled Pork Sandwiches, and whatever you’re fellow Buckeyes decide to bring over for the game. You start to get even more excited for Ohio State to take the field.

30 minutes before kickoff, everyone is at your place filling themselves with food and beer (if in college, mostly beer). And for some people, it’s a reunion. Family members or old friends you haven’t seen in a while are able to make it over again, and it’s all possible because of college football. Finally, the Buckeyes run out onto the field as adrenaline pumps through your veins almost as if you had just chugged a case of Red Bull. You’ve been waiting for this moment since the final second ticked off the clock in last Saturday’s game. And now it’s finally here. The first big hit from the Silver Bullets always gets a roar from the crowd as well as the people huddled around your TV. Same goes for the first big play from the Buckeye offense. The anticipation for a touchdown is building by the second and when we score, roaring cheers erupt like a cork flying out of a bottle of champagne. It puts the whole room into a great mood and you feel like nothing could disrupt that feeling of ecstasy.

As the game goes on there are ups and downs with each play and series as you enjoy every minute of it. It gets to the point where you’re even excited to answer the Aflac trivia question and show off your immense knowledge of college football. You pump your chest and point at your jersey every time the number you’re wearing gets 6 for the Buckeyes. And hearing The Best Damn Band In The Land play the fight song after every score makes you proud to be a fan of Ohio State. Today is perfect. Today is Saturday. During halftime or commercial breaks it feels good to go outside and toss around the pigskin, perhaps pretending your Braxton Miller or Buckeyes of the past like Archie, Troy, Eddie, or Galloway. You have your Buckeye sweatshirt on under your jersey as the cool, fall breeze hits your face. It even smells like a Fall Saturday.

As the game comes to a close you are happy yet a little disappointed. Happy because the Buckeyes notched another W, yet disappointed because another College Football Saturday is coming to a close and you’re already thinking about next week. But you cheer up as you realize that the 8pm primetime game is coming on soon and you can’t wait to see who can win this one. The night game almost always provides a great game and a great atmosphere for college football. But eventually, that game has to end as well. Saturday is over, and now all you have to look forward to the rest of the weekend is watching the NFL which isn’t exactly fun in the state of Ohio (I’m looking at you Browns and Bengals).

College Football may not be the most important thing in the world, but it can provide a distraction for some of life’s problems. It can bind relationships together. Many fathers and sons go through life with the hopes of watching this sport together every Saturday in the fall. There are always a couple stories that you tell which have nothing to do with the football yet the story begins by you recurring, “Well, we were watching the Ohio State game that day and…” But as each Saturday ends you look back on the day with a sense of pride. And by the time you’re waking up on Sunday morning you think to yourself, “6 days to Saturday!”

What started off to be a rough start for the Buckeyes, ended up being a great win. Cincinnati is not a slouch. The Bearcats have a very talented offense. I expect big things from this program and would not be surprised to see the Bearcats win the AAC. Now let’s move on to this current week, as the Buckeye take on the Terrapins.

Quick Rant: As I watched this game I was very frustrated with this Ohio State secondary. Like many of you I wonder when in the world will this secondary get fixed? I did call out one particular player last week on twitter and that was Eli Apple. While I am not the biggest fan of calling out young players, but this kid came to Ohio State for a reason. Over the next few years I expect the talent level to get better in the Big Ten and for Ohio State to get even better recruits. However if this young man wants to start for this football team now and in the future he cannot continue to get beat the way he has been the past few weeks. Apple has a good future and I think he will adjust, but clearly Meyer wants to get more aggressive on the edges. If that is the style the Buckeyes go to, I will say it is about time. I was tired of the defense giving up the short yardage passes because those yards eventually add up and give quarterbacks confidence. With Ohio State’s defensive line, the Buckeyes should be playing press coverage all day. What is the point of having the best defensive line in the country if you’re going to give up those quick passes? The way offenses are going to eliminate your defensive line is by doing those kind of plays. I think the coaching staff for the Buckeyes recognize that and will finally get this issue addressed.

When Maryland is on Offense: Maryland is a team that likes to allow quarterback C.J Brown uses his arm and legs to make plays. Brown is the leading rusher for the Terrapins, with three hundred and forty yards and five rushing touchdowns. Brown likes to take lots of chances with the ball, as can be seen by his three interceptions already this season. Anyone who follows Ohio State recruiting might remember a wide receiver Urban Meyer wanted really badly and that young man is Stefon Diggs. Coming out of high school Diggs was someone who felt would be filling in the role Dontre Wilson is currently playing. However, Diggs decided to stay home and help build the Maryland program up. Wilson is very versatile he can carry the ball, as well as catch the ball. The Terrapins have a smaller offensive line than the Bearcats did last week. While these guys are smaller, that usually means the line is lighter and quicker off the ball. I expect this offense to try and do what Virginia Tech did on offense. Quick throws and let your play makers make plays.

When Ohio State is on Offense: This offense over the past few weeks has really got into a rhythm. I expect the Buckeyes to have a balanced attack. I like the way the Offensive line has played the last few weeks and I think that momentum will continue. The Buckeyes needed to be very focused on holding on to the ball and not committing any turnovers because this Terrapin defense knows how to force turnovers. I would love to see the offense put Michael Thomas or any tight end on the side of Will Likely. There is some big mismatch potential, with Likely on being five foot seven. While Likely is small, this kid is a player. He leads the team in interceptions and is fourth on the team in tackles. However, I want to see the Buckeyes to put a bigger body across from Likely. If the Buckeyes are able to cause a mismatch and make the Terrapins have to use a safety to help Likely out, that is going to cause more holes in the field for receivers to find and Barrett could have a huge day.

Maryland NFL Potential: The offensive side of the ball is what we have focused on the past few weeks in this section. Why don’t we change it up a bit and go on the defensive side of the ball? A guy I really like is Sean Davis. The leading tackler on the team Davis is a big safety and is only a sophomore. He only has two pass break ups and zero interceptions. Davis however does have two tackles for loss and as a safety you have got to love his toughness and willing to get into the backfield. Davis needs to improve his pass coverage skills, but if he is able to become a better cover safety and continues to be a physical safety I would not question his name being called in the third round range come the NFL Draft in 2016.

Buckeye to Watch: I am going with an obvious pick here and going to pick J.T Barrett. I am going with Barrett because to me this is a statement game for the Buckeyes. While this first week has passed and teams seem to be different, the college playoff committee will remember how close West Virginia was to beating Alabama on a neutral site. This Terrapin team only lost to that same West Virginia team by a field goal. If Barrett, and the Buckeyes, goes into Maryland; put up a big W that will look good to the committee. Barrett also needs a big game here because I think he has started to put thoughts into Meyer’s mind about next season. If Barrett continues to light the world on fire does the coaching staff really want to ruin what Barrett has done and turn the team back over to Miller? My opinion is if Barrett is able to lead the Buckeyes into East Lansing and pull out a W. Then go on to win the Big Ten title, the coaching staff sticks with Barrett. Thus leading to Miller Transferring or the Buckeyes move him to another position.

Bottom Line: While I think the Buckeyes need to blow out Maryland, I expect this to be one of those games where whoever has the ball at the end wins. The Terrapins are able to force turnovers at a high level and I think the Terrapins will dare Barrett to beat them. I do believe the Buckeyes defense will hold off the Terrapins long enough for Barrett to lead the Buckeyes to a win in the closing seconds.

Weekly Getting the SEC Fan about the Truth: I want all the SEC East fans plus Indiana to stand up. Now everyone, who is not undefeated in the SEC East, to sit down. You will notice that one team will be standing and that is Indiana. For years we have heard that the middle and lower talented teams in the SEC would be competitive in the Big Ten. Well how the tables have turned this season. Indiana has a very talented offense and the question has always been about their defense. When the defense shows up they can hang with anyone, as seen by them beating a ranked Missouri team on the road. If the defense does not show up then they lose to teams like Bowling Green. I think it is time the whole Country finally gets off the SEC band wagon and look at the conference is carried by the SEC West and there is just so much parody in college football.

Who Should Michigan Hire? This is going to be a new weekly segment. I will talk about how bad Brady Choke is and how terrible this Michigan football team is. Also I will talk about whom I believe the university should actually hire and not some dream fantasy Michigan fans have on who the next coach should be. Brady Hoke is just an awful coach. I mean for heaven’s sake why would you keep Shane Morris in the game? I understand completely that you do not want Devin Gardner in the game because he is horrible, but Morris is the future of this team. Side note I wonder if Desmond Howard still thinks that Gardner is one of the best quarterbacks in the country? Anyways let’s continue about who Michigan should hire. In a previous post I wrote I talked about how the state of Michigan is very important to the Big Ten conference and I still stand by what I wrote. As much as it pains me to say this Ohio State needs Michigan more than Michigan needs Ohio State. As long as college football is played Michigan will brag about all their wins they have and all their championships, that happened like a hundred years ago so who cares? If Michigan and Michigan State are good then that makes Ohio State better. If both or just one of these teams are down it brings Ohio State down because of the national perception. I say Ohio State needs Michigan more because no one expects anything from that embarrassment of a team up north, however if they seem like they are on the rise then it makes Ohio State look good. As Ohio State fans we expect NFL caliber players and national championships. We don’t expect or fans to bring in coke cans just to get into the game. I think the best thing for Michigan is to hire Dan Mullen of Mississippi State. Mullen coached under Meyer at Florida and has been terrific job at Mississippi State. This could bring back memories of when Schembechler and Hayes.

Did I spell that right? It always looks wrong to me. That’s usually why I refer to the city as Cincy. I kinda don’t like Cincinnati. If they love Kentucky so much down there they can leave. This state is only big enough for one baseball team and one football team, and let’s be honest, when have the Reds or Bengals done anything? (Okay, don’t answer that.)

So it’s back to the gridiron for our Buckeyes, something all us Ohioans can agree on, that the Buckeyes and Ohio State are superior to the University of Cincinnati Bearcats in every way, shape, and form. Maybe someday it will fall off and sink into the Ohio River and do us all a favor.

Things will be a little somber at the Horseshoe, as a moment of silence is observed for UC walk-on running back Chamoda Kennedy-Palmore and his tragic death. Extremely sad and should put things in perspective as to what really matters. You really only need a few seconds to consider it, though. It’s football. Football matters. And family. And friends. And good times and enjoyable memories. Dang it now it’s dusty in here.

As always, we’ve had a plethora of game coverage. Ronnie looked at the players to watch, but let’s be honest: the only player that should give you pause for concern is Gunner Kiel:

He is a towering player at 6-5 200+ pounds, and with his size comes some surprising mobility. He won’t beat you with his feet, but is more than capable of escaping the pocket and gaining meaningful yardage. Kiel’s real talent lies in his big arm and above average accuracy. Head Coach Tommy Tubberville wanted to find out what he had with Kiel in their first two games and he came away impressed. Kiel went 50 for 76 (65.8%) and threw for ten touchdowns and two interceptions. The Bearcats offense is not very balanced and relies heavily upon Kiel to get the ball to their plethora of wide receivers. This will be the most talented receiving core Ohio State will face this year and Kiel loves to spread the wealth. The Buckeyes will have to bother Kiel in the pocket in order to make their more aggressive pass coverage schemes more effective. If not, expect Kiel to put up big big numbers and really push the Buckeyes to the brink of an upset.

Chip looked at three things to consider for the game, the majority of which deals with trenches.

MotSaG Live continues apace, and Josh and the gang are really hitting it out of the park. Give it a listen!

Jacob previewed the game, which you should read.

After you read it, what do you see happening this Saturday? The Buckeyes will win (duh), but which quarterback racks up more yards? Which freshmen sees the field the most? What margin of victory is “acceptable” to start the way back into the CFB Playoff discussion?

I’ll say:

Ohio State: 45
Cincy: 23

Kiel will out-gun JT “Double” Barret in a shootout. (I’m so sorry)

Raekwon McMillan will see the most snaps this Saturday.

Who cares? Just win BABY!