COLUMBUS, Ohio -- While the 2019 college football season ended only a few weeks ago, the 2020 landscape becomes a bit clearer every day.
Underclassmen entries for the 2020 NFL Draft closed earlier this week. Many impactful transfer decisions have also been announced as players want to be on campus at their new destinations.
Not every opponent on Ohio State’s 2020 schedule has been impacted by this roster turnover, but many have. Here’s a rundown of how some departures and decisions have affected the teams the Buckeyes will face.
At Oregon, Sept. 12
The wait for a major challenge lasts until only Week 2. The first regular season West Coast excursion since 2013 (at Cal) pits the Buckeyes against a program that returned to national relevance last season.
The Ducks don’t yet know who will start at quarterback after Justin Herbert’s departure. Yet the returning talent includes offensive tackle Penei Swell — Pro Football Focus’ top returning offensive lineman for 2020 — and several players who turned down draft opportunities. Those include second-team All-Pac 12 running back CJ Verdell, cornerbacks Thomas Graham Jr. and Deommodore Lenoir and defensive tackle Jordon Scott.
Assuming one of the former top prospects on the roster succeeds in taking over at quarterback, the Ducks should again be a College Football Playoff contender.
Rutgers, Sept. 26
The Scarlet Knights lost starting defensive end Elorm Lumor (31 tackles, three sacks) to an early NFL Draft entry.
Former OSU defensive coordinator Greg Schiano has made a bigger impact via the transfer portal. Buckeye fans already know about Brendon White’s new career with the Scarlet Knights. Former Michigan defensive tackle Michael Dwumfour also joined as a grad transfer, as did former UCF defensive lineman Malik Barrow.
Other incoming transfers could pursue a hardship waiver for immediate eligibility. That probably isn’t enough to close the gap with Ohio State, but Schiano’s ratio of veteran talent lost to veteran talent gained is important to helping Rutgers escape the basement.
Iowa, Oct. 10
Early draft decisions hit the Hawkeyes hard, including two first-team All-Big Ten defenders — edge rusher A.J. Epenesa and safety Geno Stone — and Big Ten offensive lineman of the year Tristan Wirfs.
Startling left tackle Alaric Jackson, however, opted to stay. Earlier this week Iowa picked up a big transfer in former Indiana tackle Coy Cronk. Iowa’s reputation for strong play up front should be well-protected.
Nate Stanley’s time at Iowa is done. He turned quarterback duties over to redshirt sophomore Spencer Petras.
At Michigan State, Oct. 17
Wide receiver Cody White, who totaled 42 yards on four receptions at Ohio Stadium last season, opted to enter the draft. So did cornerback Josiah Scott, who totaled a team-high 12 tackles with an interception against the Buckeyes last season.
The Spartans had eight players enter the transfer portal since September and have to date added only a long snapper in response. Former Western Michigan transfer Jayden Reed, a 2018 Freshman All-American, will be active in 2020 after sitting out one season.
At Penn State, Oct. 24
After waiting out K.J. Hamler’s injury situation in 2019, Ohio State knows it won’t face him in 2020. The slot receiver is headed for the draft. So is Yetur Gross-Matos, a first team All-Big Ten defensive end who stacked up 9.5 tackles last season.
Justin Shorter, last season’s fifth-leading receiver and a former five-star recruit, is in the transfer portal. Some of quarterback Sean Clifford’s other assets passed on the draft, however, including star tight end Pat Freiermuth and honorable mention All-Big Ten offensive linemen Will Fries and Michael Menet.
The Nittany Lions are a popular top-10 pick in early 2020 Top 25s. This road trip again looms as the biggest challenge to Ohio State’s control of the Big Ten East.
Indiana, Nov. 7
The Hoosiers did not face many pressing NFL Draft decisions. Wide receiver Whop Philyor opted to stay, and besides being one of the best names in college football, he was a 1,000-yard receiver last season. That’s an intriguing weapon to pair with Michael Penix assuming the Buckeyes get to face the IU quarterback, who missed the 2019 meeting due to injury.
The loss of Coy Cronk to Iowa is a significant loss in terms of the Hoosiers’ ability to match Ohio State on the offensive line.
At Maryland, Nov. 14
The number of players with remaining eligibility who have left the Terrapins’ roster since last season is approaching 20. That includes running backs Anthony McFarland (of the 298-yard game in 2018) and Javon Leake, both of whom entered the draft.
At Illinois, Nov. 21
The Illini stunned Wisconsin in Champaign last season and in the process potentially altered the course of the College Football Playoff race. Defensive end Oluwole Betiku Jr. had a sack that day, but the Buckeyes won’t face the third team All-Big Ten selection as he has entered the draft.
Former Michigan quarterback Brandon Peters returns, however, and the Illini hope that stability helps them build on their first bowl trip since 2014.
Ohio State would have a nine-game winning streak in the Illibuck series if not for vacating the 2010 victory.
Michigan, Nov. 28
The Wolverines are losing three All-Big Ten selections to early NFL Draft entry: center Cesar Ruiz, edge rushers Josh Uche and receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones.
Among those who passed on the opportunity are two other all-conference talents: receiver Nico Collins and defensive lineman Kwity Paye.
Tarik Black, another receiver who played in all 12 games last season, is in the transfer portal. Michigan has not figured out a way to score at Ohio State’s level in recent seasons. With so much talent back on that side of the ball for the Buckeyes, that task should be at least as difficult in 2020.
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