College football is unique in that a single loss could mean the difference between a conference championship appearance (or the ultimate regular-season goal, a College Football Playoff spot) and ending up in an average bowl game. The Ohio State Buckeyes re-captured the Big Ten title last season but this team expects to make the College Football Playoff and win the national championship.
If the Buckeyes want to reach those goals, they need to win some of the most challenging games on their 2018 schedule. Those games won't be easy, but they are of vital importance to Michigan's playoff hopes. With that in mind, here are Ohio State's five toughest games in 2018:
5) at Purdue Boilermakers - Oct. 20
Purdue made a bowl game for the first time in what feels like forever last season in head coach Jeff Brohm's first season and many are expecting the Boilermakers to take another step forward in 2018. This is also a road game that comes right before a bye week, meaning Ohio State may not be as focused as they need to be. Still, though, the Buckeyes will be the heavy favorites on the road.
4) vs. TCU Horned Frogs (Arlington, TX) - Sept. 15
TCU is expected to take a step back in 2018 after losing star quarterback Kenny Hill but this group still has plenty of talent and head coach Gary Patterson is one of the best in the country. This is essentially a home game for the Horned Frogs, too, playing in Arlington.
3) vs. Michigan Wolverines - Nov. 24
The Wolverines have come close to beating the Buckeyes each of the past three seasons but Harbaugh has not managed to knock off Ohio State yet.
This game has also had major playoff implications two years in a row - Ohio State's double-overtime win in 2016 sent them to the playoff despite not winning the Big Ten and their win in Ann Arbor in 2017 propelled them to the Big Ten title (though they narrowly missed out on the CFP). What will the stakes be this time around?
2) at Michigan State Spartans - Nov. 10
One of Ohio State's two tough road tests this season will come in East Lansing. Michigan State has had success against the Buckeyes in recent years, winning two of their last five meetings, and it's their last game against the other teams at the top of the Big Ten East. Michigan State's season will likely come down to this game.
1) at Penn State Nittany Lions - Sept. 29
How's this for a late-September game? This was one of the games of the year last season and Penn State will be looking for revenge after blowing a big lead in that loss. Both teams will have played one Big Ten game prior to this but the winner will be in the driver's seat for both the Big Ten title and a CFP berth.
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