Five Bold Predictions if Buckeyes had chance to play The Game

COLUMBUS — There was no way to sugarcoat the message for Ohio State.

The Buckeyes live the rivalry with Michigan every day of the year, and having that ripped away was going to sting no matter what consolation prize might have been waiting for them in the Big Ten championship.

Sure, it certainly helped Ohio State start getting over the loss of The Game knowing it could still accomplish its other goals by defending its conference crown next week or that it remained in position to return to the College Football Playoff. But not getting to compete for Gold Pants or have Senior Day in the Horseshoe this season is something that will stick with these Buckeyes for a long, long time no matter what happens from here.

I’m tired of giving the team bad news,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said on his radio show on 97.1 The Fan on Thursday. “[Tuesday] was another one of those days. But the thing that a lot of realized after that was a lot of these kids have really become hardened, and the response that we had from our team was really pretty amazing. They were devastated we weren’t playing that game, we had been really looking forward to playing these guys — all of us, and certainly I have for a while. Really wanted to play them in the worst way.

“It got taken away, but then the focus became Northwestern.”

There will be time to break down the matchup with the Wildcats next week in Indianapolis. But before fully moving on, Lettermen Row is going to continue its Friday tradition of Bold Predictions by projecting what would have happened in The Game had COVID not got in the way.

Justin Fields helped Ohio State continue its winning streak over Michigan. (Birm/Lettermen Row)

Austin Ward: Justin Fields was set for seven touchdowns

Even when Michigan had NFL talent on its defense the last couple seasons, the Buckeyes were still absolutely shredding up Don Brown’s scheme and reputation with a nonstop barrage of touchdowns. That certainly wasn’t going to change with Day looking to send a message and Justin Fields making one of his final pitches to Heisman Trophy voters, and the results would have been stunning to watch on Saturday at noon. Fields is operating at truly elite level, and there is simply no question he was set to break some records against a hapless bunch of Wolverines. The projection here was seven touchdowns before Ohio State gave C.J. Stroud a turn.

Birm: Ohio State would have scored 70 points

In Don Brown’s final game as Michigan’s defensive coordinator, Ryan Day and the Buckeyes would have put together their finest offense of performance not just of this year, but in the history of the game against Michigan. That is saying something considering the Buckeyes have put up such an incredible numbers against the Wolverines in the last few seasons, but the frustration and anger of this year, combined with the bravado from the Michigan staff throughout the off-season, was producing the perfect storm for an all-time butt kicking. Next year will provide a different challenge for Ohio State as it looks to replace Justin Fields, but this year would have been a historic offensive outburst from the Buckeyes against a Michigan team that had all but given up in 2020.

Spencer Holbrook: Buckeyes would have put up 45 by halftime

Let’s be real: The Michigan defense is the worst unit on the field in the rivalry. Couple that with the fact that even when the Wolverines have had good defenses, Ryan Day owns Don Brown’s defense annually. The Buckeyes would have put up points on every first-half possession while forcing turnovers. Ohio State was going to name its score and puts up 45 in the first half for a College Football Playoff statement in a rivalry rout.

Ohio State running back Master Teague has been a weapon. (Birm/Lettermen Row)

Tim May: Ohio State ground game would have dominated Michigan

As much as the Michigan 2020 defense beckons all comers to pass, pass, pass and pass some more, it hasn’t exactly been the seven blocks of granite, either. Then look at the revitalized Ohio State rushing attack. The past two games have seen three players reach personal highs running: Master Teague III against Indiana, and Trey Sermon and quarterback Justin Fields against Michigan State. And the latter two did so despite the offensive line missing three starters due to Covid-19. There’s a good chance those three would have been missing again against Michigan. But 6-foot-8, 350-pound Dawand Jones and Co. were poised to clear more paths, and against a yielding foe. Oh well, now it’s Indy or bust.

Will Crall: Buckeyes would have set record for margin of victory

Ohio State was poised to win by its widest margin in the history of the Michigan rivalry. In 1935 the Buckeyes traveled to Ann Arbor and won 38-0, in a game that featured a 65-yard punt return touchdown by Tippy Dye and marked the best ever performance of Ohio State against Michigan. With all due respect to Dye and coach Francis Schmimdt, this record would have been shattered. Ohio State would have won by at least 45-points in this year’s edition of The Game. Ohio State can obviously score a ton of points, but stats don’t matter because this Michigan team is the most pathetic group of quitters that have ever worn the maize and blue. While it’s fun kicking the Wolverines while they are down, for the sake of the rivalry I hope that Michigan finds another coach who can bring them back to respectability.

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