No. 4 Buckeyes Open 2021 Campaign Thursday in Minnesota
8/30/2021 9:16:41 AM | Football
Four-time defending Big Ten champion Ohio State begins its quest for a fifth consecutive title on Thursday evening when it kicks off the 132nd season of Buckeye football with a primetime game at Minnesota.
The Buckeyes are coming off a 2020 season in which it defeated Northwestern in the Big Ten Championship Game, won the Allstate Sugar Bowl over Clemson and reached the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.
THE BASICS
No. 4 Ohio State at Minnesota • Thursday, Sept. 2 • When: 8 p.m. • Where: Huntington Bank Stadium • TV: FOX • Radio: 97.1 The Fan
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- The 2021 Buckeyes do not have a quarterback on its roster who has attempted a collegiate pass, but that will change Thursday as redshirt freshman C.J. Stroud will get his first career start. Ryan Day named him the opening-game starter on Aug. 21.
- Stroud will have one of the best wide receiver duos to throw to, as Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson combined for 93 receptions, 1,452 yards and 13 touchdowns last fall in just eight games.
- Three starters return along the offensive line, including preseason All-American Thayer Munford, who has 33 career starting assignments under his belt.
MUNFORD IS THE 2021 BLOCK O RECIPIENTÂ
Offensive lineman Munford is not only one of Ohio State’s most experienced players and one of six team captains, but he’ll also be the recepient of the Block 0 jersey this season. While Munford will remain wearing No. 75, he’ll have a special patch on his jersey to signify the honor. The Block 0 honors Bill Willis and the ideals that he stood for – toughness, accountability and the highest standard of character.
FOR OPENERS
- Ohio State has won 21 consecutive season-opening games dating back to a 23-12 loss to No. 12 Miami in the 1999 Kickoff Classic at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
- Overall, the Buckeyes have won 41 of their last 44 season openers.
- The Buckeyes are beginning the season on the road against a conference opponent for the second time in the last five seasons.
- In 2017, Ohio State outscored Indiana 36-7 in the second half and pulled away for a 49-21 win over Indiana in Bloomington.
- Ohio State is 14-0 all-time in season-opening games vs. Big Ten competition.
SIX CAPTAINS NAMED FOR 2021
- WR Kamryn Babb, a fourth-year performer who has been limited because of injury, but has become a leader on and off the field;
- DT Haskell Garrett, a returning All-American who is playing his fifth season along the defensive line, and who has played in 41 games;
- DE Zach Harrison, a rising star as a true junior who has played in 21 games and started three times in his first two seasons with the Buckeyes;
- LB Teradja Mitchell, a fourth-year performer who has played in 28 games and is one of the most experienced linebackers on the team;
- OT Munford, a super-senior who is playing his fifth season and has team-highs of 33 starts and 45 games played; and
- WR Olave, a true senior who has started 12 times and played in 35 career games and is on pace to break numerous receiving records.
PASS HAPPYÂ
- Since Day’s first season on Ohio State’s coaching staff in 2017, the Buckeyes have averaged 263 yards passing in three of those four seasons.
- Since 2017, Ohio State quarterbacks under Day have thrown 160 touchdown passes.
- That’s an average of 3.2 touchdown passes per game, the most in the Big Ten and the third most in the country.
- In three full seasons, Day-coached Ohio State quarterbacks have thrown no less than 39 touchdown passes each year.
SOME STREAKS
- Ohio State has won 15 consecutive Big Ten Conference games under Ryan Day, and 18 consecutive conference games overall (last loss at Purdue in 2018)
- Ohio State has won four consecutive outright Big Ten titles, a first in the Big Ten.
- Ohio State has won 21 consecutive regular season games (Purdue; 2018) and 25 consecutive home games (Oklahoma; 2018).
- Ohio State has appeared in the AP preseason Top 25 33 consecutive years, which leads the country (Oklahom is 2nd; 22 years).
11
Ohio State returns only 11 starters. Minnesota returns 20 of 22 starters including 100 pct. of its offensive line starts, 99 pct. of its passing/rushing yards and 100 pct. of its tackles.
23
Ohio State has played 81 games, including 23 Big Ten Conference road games, and played at every Big Ten stadium – seven multiple times – since last playing at Minnesota in 2014.
15
It was 15 degrees at kickoff in the 2014 game at Minnesota (and 46 in 2010). Shouldn’t reach those lows this year: Sept. 2 is the earliest date that Ohio State and Minnesota have ever met.
21
Ohio State has won 21 consecutive season-opening games dating back to the 1999 loss to No. 12 Miami in the Kickoff Classic at the Meadowlands/Giants Stadium complex in East Rutherford, N.J.
SERIES HISTORY
- Thursday night marks the 54th all-time meeting between Ohio State and Minnesota.
- The Buckeyes lead the all-time series 46-7 and have won 11 consecutive meetings and 27 of the last 28.
- Ohio State is 22-5 all-time in Minneapolis but has only played twice before at Huntington Bank Stadium (in 2010, a 52-10 win and again in 2014, a 31-24 triumph).
SCOUTING THE GOPHERS
- One of the most experienced teams in the country, Minnesota has 10 “super seniors” on its roster who are utilizing the extra season of elgibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Tanner Morgan returns for his fifth season and is 18-8 as a starter and ranks in the top 10 in Minnesota history in passing yards (sixth), pass attempts (eighth) and pass completions (seventh).
- In 2019, he was a second team All-Big Ten selection while leading Minnesota to an 11-2 record and a win in the Outback Bowl.
- Another super senior is Mohamed Ibrahim, the 2020 Big Ten Running Back of the Year. He has 2,840 career rushing yards and 31 touchdowns in 28 games played.
- Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck got his first job in coaching at Ohio State in 2006 when he was a graduate assistant on Jim Tressel’s staff.
