“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
Akron Zips (0-0) v. (2) THE Ohio State Buckeyes (0-0)
The Ohio State Buckeyes look to shake off the cobwebs and start what could be the most highly anticipated season in school history. The pressure is mounting for Head Coach Ryan Day as the Buckeye Faithful have grown increasingly impatient. Losing to a bitter rival three years in a row will do that, but the winds are changing. Fans may need a media sheet for the first few games, as so much has changed during the offseason. The Bucks sport not one but three new quarterbacks, including two transfers. They also have Freshman receiver Jeremiah Smith to plug the Grand Canyon-sized gap left after the departure of Marvin Harrison Jr., amongst several other new weapons, all dedicated to one thing: beat that team up north. Okay, maybe another thing: win the national title.
In-state “foe” Akron comes to Columbus looking to upset the number 2 Buckeyes. The Zips have never beaten the Buckeyes unless you count Butchel College’s 12-6 win in 1894. Unfortunately, it’s not looking good for them again this time around. Zippy may be in for a long day, but they knew that when they accepted the 600,000 dollar payout to travel to the state capital for a Saturday rendezvous against the Scarlet and Gray.
General Information:
Date: 8/31/2024
Game Time: 3:30 EST
Venue: Ohio Stadium (Capacity: 102,780)
Series: Ohio State leads 4-0
Last Meeting: 9/25/21 Ohio State 59-7
What To Watch For:
Ohio State:
The Buckeyes will come into this game looking to start fast and finish the fight early. If all goes well, fans will see the starters on the bench for most of the second half. The biggest question is whether offensive coordinator Chip Kelly can ignite the offense and if the new weapons, receiver Jerimiah Smith, quarterback Will Howard, and running back Quinshon Judkins, can help in that department.
On the other side of the ball, defensive end Jack Sawyer looks to start a monster campaign while going toe-to-toe against a porous offensive line that can only hope to keep their quarterback upright. Defensive backs Denzel Burke and Caleb Downs are poised to lead the Silver Bullets with lockdown coverage. There is nowhere for offenses to exploit, save for maybe the linebacking corps, and even that position group ranked top ten last season. No, sorry folks, the Buckeyes are even more the real deal than ever before, and defensive coordinator Jim Knowles will give teams nightmares all year, starting with the Zips.
The fact is the Buckeyes are returning 14 starters and executed one of the greatest heists of the portal era, adding talent, depth, and experience. They are the scariest team on paper since the 2000 Miami Hurricanes.
Akron:
The Zips come into this game as one of the bottom feeders, even for a MAC school. They have won fewer than ten games in total over the past five seasons and haven’t been over .500 since 2015. Their offensive line won’t be able to stop the onslaught of the Buckeyes’ vaunted defensive line that’s full of future NFL talent. The Zip defense will get lost and overwhelmed by the speed and tenacity of a Chip Kelly-fueled offensive machine.
Prediction:
This one won’t be pretty. Ohio State is looking to send a distinct message to the nation, and they may not take their foot off the gas until the final whistle. Chip Kelly is known for putting up points in bunches with little to no mercy for the opposition. Jim Knowles has more weapons on defense than he knows what to do with, and it won’t help that Akron can’t find the end zone. This one will most likely be over by halftime, and expect the Buckeyes to put up embarrassing numbers, even with their backups. Ohio State wins 52-10.
(Photo by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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