Justin Fields will have plenty of opportunities to shine in 2020.
The star Ohio State quarterback is coming off a historic season as a first-year starter for the Buckeyes. He threw for 3,273 yards and 41 touchdowns against just three interceptions while adding 484 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground.
His play guided Ohio State to a perfect 13-0 start, got the Buckeyes into the College Football Playoff and netted him an invitation to New York City for the 2019 Heisman Trophy presentation.
LSU quarterback Joe Burrow rightfully ran away with the award, and Fields is trying to follow suit this fall.
One thing that should help him is a lack of friendly fire. Ohio State defensive end Chase Young and running back J.K. Dobbins were also in the Heisman mix last year, and with their early departures to the NFL, Fields is the team's only viable candidate for college football's highest individual honor.
A Buckeye hasn't won the Heisman Trophy since quarterback Troy Smith won it in 2006. If Fields wants to change that, he'll have to come up big in Ohio State's most important games. Fortunately for him, there are plenty of opportunities with the Buckeyes' schedule this fall.
On Thursday, Fields was named the favorite to win the award by BetOnline.
New 2020 Heisman Trophy odds from BetOnline...Justin Fields 9/2; Trevor Lawrence 5/1; Spencer Rattler 10/1; Sam Ehlinger 12/1; Jamie Newman 14/1.
— SportsTalk (@sportstalksc) March 11, 2020
Here's a look at the spotlight games that give Fields the biggest opportunities to impress Heisman Trophy voters this fall.
@ Oregon, September 12
After the gimme opener against Bowling Green in the season opener, Ohio State will pack its bags and head west for a marquee showdown against Oregon.
The Ducks are favored to win the Pac-12 and very well could be ranked in the top 10 when the Buckeyes come calling, but they have a lot of turnover offensively that they have to figure out.
Gone is Justin Herbert, the multi-year senior starter who fueled Oregon's offense the last four years. The Ducks also need to find four new starters along the offensive line to protect the quarterback who replaces Herbert.
But Oregon's defense got an unexpected lift this offseason with the returns of cornerbacks Thomas Graham Jr. and Deommodore Lenoir and defensive tackles Jordon Scott and Austin Faoliu, all of whom spurned the NFL draft for another year with the Ducks.
It'll be a tough early test for Fields and Ohio State, but if he plays well, it'll put him at the forefront of the Heisman Trophy conversation right out of the gate.
@ Penn State, October 24
A week before Halloween, Ohio State has a scary matchup when it travels to State College for its showdown with Penn State.
The Buckeyes have endured the Nittany Lions' "white out" conditions every time it's visited Happy Valley since 2005. Under the lights with a raucous crowd, it's one of the toughest places for an opponent to play.
Ohio State came away with a thrilling come-from-behind win the last time it played there. Dwayne Haskins erased a 12-point fourth-quarter deficit by leading two late touchdown drives to give the Buckeyes a 27-26 win.
The Buckeyes might need similar heroics from Fields this fall, as Penn State is expected to contend for the Big Ten title.
Something to note — the Big Ten's new contract with Fox could force the Nittany Lions to host Ohio State at noon, rather than in primetime. The network wants the Big Ten's best games in the noon slot, which is why Ohio State hosted Wisconsin and Penn State at noon last fall.
Michigan, November 28
For any Ohio State player contending for the Heisman Trophy, this will always be the definitive spotlight game.
It was for Smith when he won it in 2006. Michigan invaded top-ranked Ohio State with the nation's top defense and the No. 2 ranking, but Smith carved the Wolverines up for 316 yards though the air and four touchdowns against one interception in the iconic 42-39 win.
Michigan hasn't put up much of a fight defensively over the last two season, giving up 62 points to Haskins and the Buckeyes offense in 2018, only to follow it up with a 56-point barrage at the hands of Fields in Ann Arbor last fall.
The Buckeyes are the favorites to make a return trip to Indianapolis for the Big Ten title, but if Ohio State wants to get there, and if Fields expects to return to New York City, they'll have to take care of Michigan on the final week of the regular season.
