Predictions: Our experts guess what Ohio State football will accomplish in 2022
We asked our experts to weigh in on the 2022 season for Ohio State football.
Here are their predictions on breakout players, surprises, the record and more.
Bill Rabinowitz
Ohio State football beat writer
REGULAR-SEASON RECORD: 11-1
POSTSEASON GAME AND OPPONENT: Georgia in the CFP semifinal at the Fiesta Bowl. Then Alabama in the CFP final.
FINAL CFP RANKING: 2
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OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE MVPS: QB C.J. Stroud, S Ronnie Hickman.
THREE BREAKTHROUGH PLAYERS: WR Emeka Egbuka, OG Donovan Jackson, DT Mike Hall Jr. I would include Marvin Harrison Jr., but his breakthrough came in the Rose Bowl.
FRESHMAN SURPRISE: DE Caden Curry
NATIONAL RANKING IN TOTAL DEFENSE AND OFFENSE AT SEASON’S END: 12/1
LEADING RECEIVER AT SEASON’S END AND TOTAL RECEPTIONS: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, 100.
LEADING RUSHER AT SEASON’S END AND TOTAL YARDS: TreVeyon Henderson, 1,600.
SACK LEADER AND TOTAL NUMBER OF SACKS : J.T. Tuimoloau
BEST INDIVIDUAL MATCHUP: Hickman vs. Notre Dame TE Michael Mayer, though Hickman will have plenty of help.
TRAP GAME: Iowa, Oct. 22. Hawkeyes defense should be good and the game is between road games at Michigan State and Penn State.
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BEST PLAYER OHIO STATE WILL FACE IN 2022: OT Peter Skoronski, Northwestern. If we can project the postseason, it’ll be Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson.
MOST OVERPLAYED, OVERDONE ANGLE ON OHIO STATE'S 2022 SEASON: Will/should Stroud run more?
MOST COMPELLING STORYLINE OF THE SEASON: The development of Jim Knowles' defense
FOUR-TEAM FIELD IN THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF: Alabama, Ohio State, Georgia, Utah.
Joey Kaufman
Ohio State football beat writer
REGULAR-SEASON RECORD: 11-1
POSTSEASON GAME AND OPPONENT: College Football Playoff semifinal vs. Georgia and national championship game vs. Alabama
FINAL CFP RANKING: 2
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OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE MVPS: QB C.J. Stroud, CB Denzel Burke
THREE BREAKTHROUGH PLAYERS: WR Marvin Harrison Jr. LG Donovan Jackson, DE Jack Sawyer,
FRESHMAN SURPRISE: LB C.J. Hicks
NATIONAL RANKING IN TOTAL DEFENSE AND OFFENSE AT SEASON’S END: 22/1
LEADING RECEIVER AT SEASON’S END AND TOTAL RECEPTIONS: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, 91 receptions
LEADING RUSHER AT SEASON’S END AND TOTAL YARDS: TreVeyon Henderson 1,613 rushing yards
SACK LEADER AND TOTAL NUMBER OF SACKS: Jack Sawyer, 11 sacks
BEST INDIVIDUAL MATCHUP: Burke vs. Michigan State WR Jayden Reed.
TRAP GAME: At Maryland on Nov. 19. If the Buckeyes are looking ahead to the following week’s game against Michigan, a chance to avenge last season’s defeat in The Game, Maryland Taulia Tagovailoa is good enough to take advantage.
BEST PLAYER OHIO STATE WILL FACE IN 2022: Wisconsin RB Braelon Allen.
MOST OVERPLAYED, OVERDONE ANGLE ON OHIO STATE'S 2022 SEASON: Are the Buckeyes too pass-heavy to win it all?
MOST COMPELLING STORYLINE OF THE SEASON: Whether Ohio State can loosen the South’s stranglehold on national titles in the playoff era.
FOUR-TEAM FIELD IN THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF: Alabama, Ohio State, Georgia, Oklahoma
Rob Oller
Columnist
REGULAR-SEASON RECORD: 11-1
POSTSEASON GAME AND OPPONENT: Fiesta Bowl vs. Notre Dame in CFP semifinal; CFP national championship game vs. Alabama (SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles)
FINAL CFP RANKING: 1
OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE MVPS: QB C.J. Stroud/Denzel Burke
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THREE BREAKTHROUGH PLAYERS: WR Emeka Egbuka, LB Tommy Eichenberg, DE J.T. Tuimoloau
FRESHMAN SURPRISE: RB Dallan Hayden
NATIONAL RANKING IN TOTAL DEFENSE AND OFFENSE AT SEASON’S END: 15/2
LEADING RECEIVER AT SEASON’S END AND TOTAL RECEPTIONS: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, 89
LEADING RUSHER AT SEASON’S END AND TOTAL YARDS: TreVeyon Henderson, 1,234
SACK LEADER AND TOTAL NUMBER OF SACKS : J.T. Tuimoloau, 8.5
BEST INDIVIDUAL MATCHUP: Michigan TE Erick All vs. S Ronnie Hickman
TRAP GAME: Wisconsin
BEST PLAYER OHIO STATE WILL FACE IN 2022: QB Bryce Young, Alabama
MOST OVERPLAYED, OVERDONE ANGLE ON OHIO STATE'S 2022 SEASON: DE Jim Knowles is a genius
MOST COMPELLING STORYLINE OF THE SEASON: Is C.J. Stroud the best QB in school history?
FOUR-TEAM FIELD IN THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF: Ohio State, Notre Dame, Alabama, Georgia
Colin Gay
Real-time reporter
REGULAR-SEASON RECORD: 12-0
POSTSEASON GAME AND OPPONENT: Fiesta Bowl vs. Georgia, CFP national championship game vs. Alabama (SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles)
FINAL CFP RANKING: No. 2
OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE MVPS: QB C.J. Stroud/S Ronnie Hickman
THREE BREAKTHROUGH PLAYERS: DE J.T. Tuimoloau, S Josh Proctor, WR Emeka Egbuka
FRESHMAN SURPRISE: DE Caden Curry
NATIONAL RANKING IN TOTAL DEFENSE AND OFFENSE AT SEASON’S END: 20/1
LEADING RECEIVER AT SEASON’S END AND TOTAL RECEPTIONS: Jaxon Smith-Njigba with 85 catches
LEADING RUSHER AT SEASON’S END AND TOTAL YARDS: TreVeyon Henderson, 1,700 total yards
SACK LEADER AND TOTAL NUMBER OF SACKS: J.T. Tuimoloau, 9.5
BEST INDIVIDUAL MATCHUP: Michigan State WR Jayden Reed vs. Ohio State CB Denzel Burke
TRAP GAME: at Maryland
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BEST PLAYER OHIO STATE WILL FACE IN 2022: Wisconsin RB Braelon Allen
MOST OVERPLAYED, OVERDONE ANGLE ON OHIO STATE'S 2022 SEASON: C.J. Stroud’s “revenge tour”
MOST COMPELLING STORYLINE OF THE SEASON: Ohio State defense’s turnaround
FOUR-TEAM FIELD IN THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF: 1. Alabama 2. Ohio State 3. Georgia 4. Utah
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State football 2022 predictions: Our experts give their picks
