Skip to content

Ad Disclosure

ESPN’s FPI predicts every game on Ohio State’s 2021 schedule

Paul Harvey

By Paul Harvey

Published:

Ohio State is on a run of dominance in the B1G and is looking to make it five straight conference titles.

During the shortened 2020 season, the Buckeyes looked strong early on before a close call against Indiana. Ohio State then alternated cancellations around a dominant win against Michigan State before advancing to the B1G Title Game.

Northwestern took the Buckeyes down to the wire in a game that Trey Sermon saved for Ohio State. From there, the Buckeyes took down Clemson in the Playoff before losing to Alabama in the National Championship Game.

Now heading into 2021, head coach Ryan Day will be starting the year with a new quarterback under center. While that can be a trying time, Ohio State looks well-positioned to make a change. And according to ESPN’s Football Power Index, it might not have a drastic impact on the outlook for the season.

In fact, the FPI still has Ohio State favored at 80% or greater in every game this season. Here are the full projections:

  • Sept. 2: at Minnesota – 87.7% (W)
  • Sept. 11: vs Oregon – 84.6% (W)
  • Sept. 18: vs Tulsa – 96.5% (W)
  • Sept. 25: vs Akron – 99.7% (W)
  • Oct. 2: at Rutgers – 93.3% (W)
  • Oct. 9: vs Maryland – 94.9% (W)
  • Oct. 23: at Indiana – 82.7% (W)
  • Oct. 30: vs Penn State – 82.0% (W)
  • Nov. 6: at Nebraska – 86.8% (W)
  • Nov. 13: vs Purdue – 93.1% (W)
  • Nov. 20: vs Michigan State – 92.4% (W)
  • Nov. 27: at Michigan – 81.3% (W)

Traditionally speaking, those win percentages project Ohio State to run the table at 12-0. However, the FPI formula implemented by ESPN works out to an 11.5-1.4 overall record, meaning the system is expecting a slip up from the Buckeyes at some point this season.

Either way, the FPI still gives Ohio State a greater than 70% of winning the conference yet again. Can the Buckeyes pull it off and make it back to the College Football Playoff?

Paul Harvey

Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.