What's the point of making preseason predictions if you don't go back and own them once the dust has settled?
Each of the last few seasons I've tried to come up with some bold predictions, predictions, efforting to avoid the easy stuff, and this past August was no different.
So what about 2019's proclamations? Generally speaking, it was another mixed bag but let's get into the specifics.
Oh, and don't forget to own - good or bad - your 2019 predictions in the comments.
J.K. DOBBINS WILL RUSH FOR AT LEAST 100 YARDS IN 10 OR MORE GAMES THIS FALL
And BINGO was his name-o.
J.K. Dobbins rushed for at least 100 yards in exactly 10 of 14 games allowing me to hit this one on the nose.
Dobbins went for over 100 yards in each of the last four games, rushing for 714 total yards against Penn State, Michigan, Wisconsin and Clemson.
On the season, Dobbins set a school record with 2,003 total rushing yards averaging 143.1 per game and 6.7 per carry with 21 touchdowns.
When making the prediction, I felt good about my chances considering the arrival of a dual-threat quarterback to boost the run game and Dobbins' own salty taste from a down sophomore season but for J.K. to eclipse the century mark 10 times in a season is heady stuff.
His effort marked the fifth-most 100-yard rushing efforts in a single-season by a Buckeye. Ezekiel Elliott (2015) and Eddie George (1995) still own the school record with a dozen each while Archie Griffin had two seasons with 11 such efforts (1973, '74).
JORDAN FULLER WILL BECOME THE SECOND SAFETY SINCE AT LEAST 1970 TO LEAD TEAM IN TACKLES IN BACK-TO-BACK SEASONS
This was a pretty big long-shot based on the simple fact it had only happened once in basically 50 years so I don't feel too bad for for the fact Jordan Fuller ended up finishing third in tackles behind Malik Harrison and Pete Werner.
My logic for making the prediction centered on a few things. First, Fuller had proven to be a sure-tackler and would be playing a ton of snaps in a single-high safety system. Second, outside of Harrison, I didn't have a ton of confidence in the linebackers and figured the staff would be forced to rotate heavily, leaving it a two-man race between Malik and Jordan.
Through nine games, Fuller was in striking distance with 43 stops compared to Harrison's team-leading 46.
Over the last five games however, Fuller would register just 19 tackles while Harrison logged 29 and Werner added 29 himself. When the season came a close, Harrison finished No.1 with 75 stops, Werner leapfrogged into No. 2 with 64 and Fuller clocked in at No. 3 with 62.
Had Fuller finished with a flourish and passed both guys, he would've joined Mike Doss as the only Buckeye safety since at least 1970 to lead Ohio State in tackles in back-to-back seasons.
WHILE THE GROUP WILL BE MUCH IMPROVED, THE BUCKEYES WILL STILL FAIL TO BE A TOP-25 TOTAL DEFENSE
LOL. Win some, lose some, completely embarrass yourself in some.
I'll happily take the 'L' here. I simply did not see what was statistically the worst defense in school history in 2018 bouncing back to become a top-25 total defense in 2019.
New coaches, new scheme and frankly, personal concerns about a handful of the same players had me thinking it just wasn't going to happen. I expected improvement - I mean, how could you not? But I didn't expect what we saw last season.
After giving up 403 yards per game in 2018 to rank No. 71 in the country in total defense, the defense improved all the way to No. 1 in the country giving up just 259 yards per game representing an improvement of 144 yards per game. Insanity.
The pass defense, rejuvenated by Jeff Hafley and led by Jeff Okudah, Damon Arnette and Shaun Wade, improved from No. 89 in 2018 giving up 245 yards per game to No. 1 in 2019 surrendering just 156.
OHIO STATE'S OFFENSE WILL FEATURE FIVE RECEIVERS WITH OVER 450 YARDS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SCHOOL HISTORY
This one was a big stretch and actually came closer to happening than you might think.
Only twice had Ohio State saw even four receivers go for at least 400 yards - 2017 and 2018 - but I went for the gold thinking maybe five receivers could go for 450 yards in the same season.
As it turned out, only three receivers recorded at least 450 yards. Chris Olave led the way with 849 yards on 49 grabs, K.J. Hill slotted behind him with 636 yards on 57 catches and Binjimen Victor tallied 573 yards on 35 grabs.
True freshman Garrett Wilson finished with 432 receiving yards - 18 shy of reaching my target. I expected him to start a little faster but he had only had 129 receiving yards through the first half of the season before going for 303 yards over the second half.
Austin Mack was the fifth guy I was counting on to reach 450 and he only made it to 361 yards. He missed three games which doomed my chances especially when you consider he averaged 32.8 receiving yards per game. If you assume his average of 32.8 over those three games and add it to his 361, he projected to 459 yards over the full 14 games.
OHIO STATE WILL WIN THE BIG TEN AND MAKE THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF, FINISHING 12-2 ON THE SEASON
Not a bad way to finish up.
Yes, I did have Ohio State picking up a loss during the regular season but I still had the Buckeyes winning the Big Ten, making the College Football Playoff, and losing in the semifinal.
For that regular season loss, I wasn't sure who would do it, just that it wouldn't be Michigan.
I figured Ohio State's offense would good enough to outscore just about everyone but the defense wouldn't be good enough to win it all.
Overall, picking Dobbins to rush for 100 yards in at least 10 games was a hit and so was calling a Big Ten championship, CFP bid and loss in the semis.
Tabbing Fuller to lead the team in tackles for a second-straight season fizzled after game nine and the big reach of saying five receivers would record at least 450 receiving yards needed Wilson to have one or two more catches and Mack to stay healthy.
The steaming pile of a prediction came as I picked Ohio State to finish outside the top-25 in total defense and all it did was finish No.1 in the land. Yeah, not good.
Undeterred, I'll take a stab at 2020 season predictions in August.
