Sometimes a rematch is the best way to help kick off a season, a notion the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes will subscribe to Monday at Lane Stadium in a season-opening showdown against the Virginia Tech Hokies. It doesn’t take an excellent memory to recall what happened last year. The Hokies, led by legendary coach Frank Beamer, traveled to Ohio Stadium and escaped with a 35-21 victory. Of course, Ohio State and coach Urban Meyer rebounded and eventually won the inaugural College Football Playoff, but the sting remains and the shot at revenge in a hostile environment surely drives the Buckeyes. It’s a battle of wills sure to set the tone for each team. Here’s a look at the game’s most important info. Overcoming History and Absences The taste of a home loss to the Hokies doesn’t just go away with the dawn of a new season, CFP triumph to massage the bruise or not. In the loss, Buckeyes quarterback J.T. Barrett threw three interceptions and didn’t have much in the way of help from his backs, leading the team in rushing with 70 yards and a score while the team averaged 2.7 yards per carry. Meyer spoke about the lingering effects of the loss, per ESPN.com: “There is a little nudge around here because they beat us, and really the way they beat us. Offensively right now there is a lot of distaste for the way that thing happened, and that’s not taking away from their personnel, because I think they have excellent personnel, especially on defense.” The offense has serious question marks heading into Monday’s contest, too. As the above link mentions, quarterback Cardale Jones was rushed to the emergency room with a headache this week, which may throw a wrench in plans if Meyer had wanted to use two quarterbacks to fluster the Hokies defense. …
Continue Reading: Ohio State vs. Virginia Tech: Ticket Info, Date, TV Schedule and Live Stream
