Ohio State fans will be back in The Shoe for Saturday’s spring game.
The school is capping attendance at 19,180 for the 12 p.m. start at Ohio Stadium. The four-time Big Ten defending champions have some interesting questions on the field heading into coach Ryan Day’s third season in Columbus.
Sporting News previews the Buckeyes’ spring game with all the need-to-known information.
MORE: Watch Ohio State’s spring game live with fuboTV (7-day free trial)
When is Ohio State’s spring game?
- Date: Saturday, April 17
- Time: Noon ET
Ohio State’s spring game starts at noon ET Saturday at Ohio Stadium.
How to watch Ohio State spring game
Ohio State’s spring game will be televised on Big Ten Network. You can also stream the game live with fuboTV, which offers a seven-day free trial.
How many fans are allowed?
The max capacity for Saturday’s game is 19,180, and 10,000 of those seats will be given to campus medical staff and personnel out of appreciating for their efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ohio State’s band and spirit squad also will be at the game.
Biggest question
Who’s the quarterback? Justin Fields, who passed for 63 TDs and nine interceptions, left for the 2021 NFL Draft. That leaves a three-way race for the quarterback job. Ohio State had that spring question in 2015 with Cardale Jones, J.T. Barrett and Braxton Miller and again in 2018 with Dwayne Haskins, Joe Burrow and Tate Martell.
Ohio State QB competition
C.J. Stroud saw limited action last year, but he showed his talent with a 48-yard TD run against Michigan State. He is considered the front-runner, but the competition is tight. Redshirt freshman Jack Miller III was a record-setting quarterback at Chaparral (Scottsdale, Ariz.), and incoming freshman Kyle McCord (St. Joseph’s, Philadelphia) is another five-star talent at the position.
Three more things to watch
Receivers
LSU has the best receiving corps in 2019. Alabama took the title in 2020. The Buckeyes are the preseason favorite in that category heading into 2021. Ohio State is set with the most-dynamic 1-2 combination of Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave. Who will challenge for the other reps? Jameson Williams, Julian Fleming and Jaxon Smith-Njigba all played complimentary roles in the offense last season, and freshman Emeka Egbuka, Marvin Harrison Jr and Jayden Ballard will be in the mix.
Offensive line
All-Americans Wyatt Davis and Josh Myers departed for the NFL, and the Buckeyes have to re-work the interior of what should be another tough offensive line. The Buckeyes averaged 256.9 rushing yards per game, which makes that elite passing attack that much-more effective. Matthew Jones moved to center, and Paris Johnson moved to guard. The good news is tackle appears to be set with returning starters Thayer Munford and Nicholas Petit-Frere. Keep an eye to see if another standout emerges. Freshman Donovan Jackson could be that player.
Back seven
The Buckeyes were torched in the 52-24 loss to Alabama in the College Football Playoff championship game last season, and the back seven will need retooled as a result. Seniors Dallas Gant and Teradja Mitchell will take on more-significant roles at linebacker, and sophomore Cody Simon is in the mix to start. Sevyn Banks steps into the role of the top cornerback, but the Buckeyes still have questions in the secondary. We won’t learn too much from the spring game, but it will offer hints as to who is in the lead heading into the fall.
Freshmen to watch
Offense: TreVeyon Henderson, RB
Henderson should be itching to get back on the field. The five-star running back from Hopewell, Va., did not have a high-school season in 2020, and he should get a few carries in a backfield that features Master Teague and Steele Chambers. Henderson is yet another talented piece for Day to work with, so it will be interesting to see what that usage will be as a freshman.
Defense: Jack Sawyer, DE
Saywer, a 6-5, 248-pound defensive end from Pickerington North, was an early enrollee who opted out of his senior season. He committed to Ohio State after his sophomore season, and he will likely step into a backup role behind Zach Harrison and Tyreke Smith, and he will only improve with defensive line coach Larry Johnson.