Ohio State With 2 Marquee Matchups in 2023, ESPN's Greg McElroy Says

The Ohio State Buckeyes are national title contenders yet again, but have some big hurdles they have to clear in their quest for the College Football Playoff.

For years, it was easy to rag on the Ohio State Buckeyes' light schedule through the Big Ten slate ahead of the College Football Playoff.

However, next year's schedule is by no means a cakewalk, starting when the Buckeyes head to South Bend, IN. for the return game of the home-and-home series against Notre Dame, which ESPN's Greg McElroy had listed as an honorable mention for the best game in week four. 

Ohio State's home matchup against Penn State Oct. 21 and its road matchup against Michigan Nov. 25 both topped McElroy's game-of-the-week list that he revealed on "Always College Football" May 15.

McElroy said the Buckeyes' game against the Nittany Lions will be the second-toughest matchup they'll face next season behind the Wolverines.

"I love Penn State this year," McElroy said. "Are there things that need to be addressed? For sure. Do I have some slim question marks about [Drew] Allar's ability to be mobile? Are there question marks about their ability to maybe be good and great along the offensive line?" 

McElroy said, despite what struggles Penn State may need to overcome, that he has some "question marks" about Ohio State's quarterback situation and the offensive line as well.

The former Alabama quarterback said he thinks both rosters have "just about everything you could want to make a run."

"Assuming Allar is who everyone says he is, Penn State could very well challenge the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 'Shoe," McElroy said. "That's one that we absolutely cannot miss."

Then, as McElroy said, "week 13 shouldn't require a whole lot of explanation" as to why "The Game" was his game of the week in a matchup that could send the winner to the Big Ten Championship for the third year in a row.

"[Michigan] proved that 2021 wasn't a fluke," McElroy said. "They, at that point, were the more physical team, they controlled the line of scrimmage in the second half, they were able to create some big plays after a little bit of a slow start, and Ohio State just couldn't get into rhythm at any point defensively or offensively there in the second half."

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