Ohio State Football: Game-by-Game Predictions for the Month of November

The Ohio State Buckeyes debuted at No. 3 in the initial College Football Playoff rankings that were released on Tuesday, but if Urban Meyer's squad takes care of business in November, it'll have a great shot at landing the No. 1 overall seed in this year's playoff.

The schedule is absolutely back-loaded this season as the Buckeyes have their two toughest games—home against No. 7 Michigan State and on the road versus No. 17 Michigan—to close out the regular season. When games against a feisty Minnesota team and the improved Illinois Fighting Illini are thrown in, Ohio State's path to the Big Ten title game and a potential berth in the playoff looks daunting.

Can the Buckeyes keep the nation's longest winning streak alive long enough to make it through the regular season? 

Minnesota Golden Gophers

Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Minnesota is coming off a tumultuous week after former head coach Jerry Kill retired due to health concerns. With interim head coach Tracy Claeys at the helm, the Gophers hosted No. 15 Michigan and nearly pulled the upset, but a goal-line stand as time expired preserved a 29-26 victory for the Wolverines.

Despite the bye week, the Buckeyes are coming off a loss of their own. Newly named starting quarterback J.T. Barrett was arrested for operating a vehicle while impaired Saturday morning, resulting in a one-game suspension. 

That'll put Cardale Jones back behind center when the Gophers come calling for a prime-time showdown in Ohio Stadium on Saturday night. The redshirt junior will struggle to find a rhythm, but the Buckeyes will ride Ezekiel Elliott for most of the first half as they build a 14-6 lead at the break. 

Jones will open the third quarter with an interception that will set the Gophers up inside Ohio State's red zone. Minnesota quarterback Mitch Leidner will break free for a 15-yard touchdown run to pull his team within one, but that's as close as they'll get. Braxton Miller will share quarterback duties with Jones in the second half, and the Buckeyes will keep the ball on the ground as they score the game's final 17 points. 

Ohio State 31, Minnesota 13

Illinois Fighting Illini

Hannah Foslien/Getty Images

The Illinois game will serve as the last tuneup before the big showdowns with Michigan State and Michigan.

The Buckeyes have absolutely dominated the Illini since Urban Meyer took over in 2012, winning all three matchups by an average of 32 points, which included last year's 55-14 pasting in Columbus.

This year's game will be more of the same.

Ohio State will invade Memorial Stadium and jump out to an early lead thanks to the big playmaking ability of J.T. Barrett, who will win back the starting job following his reinstatement. Barrett will throw for two touchdowns in the first and run for another to open the second as Ohio State builds a 21-0 lead.

Illinois receiver Geronimo Allison will break free for a dazzling 50-yard touchdown, but that will be the lone highlight in a game that Ohio State dominates. Ezekiel Elliott will run for 130 yards and two touchdowns on just 15 carries, and Braxton Miller will add 120 total yards of offense and a touchdown as the Buckeyes cruise.

Ohio State 52, Illinois 10

Michigan State Spartans

Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

The de facto Big Ten East Division title game will take place on November 21 when Michigan State visits Ohio State for a night game in the 'Shoe.

The Spartans will enter the game 10-0 and ranked fifth nationally, up from their current spot at No. 7 thanks to Alabama beating LSU and Oklahoma beating Baylor. Mark Dantonio's squad will be looking to avenge last year's 49-37 loss to the Buckeyes that ended their shot of making the first-ever College Football Playoff.

Connor Cook will strike first when a coverage bust leaves Macgarrett Kings Jr. all alone behind the secondary for a 65-yard touchdown to open the game. The Buckeyes offense will sputter out of the game, going scoreless in the first quarter as Michigan State builds a 10-0 lead.

Michael Thomas will spark Ohio State when he takes a quick slant pass 40 yards for a score to open the second. That will trigger a 21-0 run for the Buckeyes, who will take an 11-point lead into halftime. 

Michael Geiger will pull the Spartans within eight with a 30-yard field goal early in the third, but Ohio State will cushion its lead on the next drive when Ezekiel Elliott rips off a 55-yard touchdown. Cook and the Michigan State offense will fail to keep pace as the Buckeyes run away with an 11-point win.

Ohio State 38, Michigan State 27

Michigan Wolverines

Tony Ding/Associated Press

The first meeting between Urban Meyer and Jim Harbaugh will be an instant classic. 

Despite vastly inferior teams, Michigan has pushed Ohio State to the edge in every game since Urban Meyer's first year in 2012. The difference this year will be evident with the competent and passionate coaching of Harbaugh, who will have Meyer and the Buckeyes on the ropes early.

The stingy Michigan defense will stifle J.T. Barrett and the Buckeyes offense, and the Big House crowd will be in a frenzy when De'Veon Smith rips a 40-yard touchdown run to put the Wolverines up 13-3 to open the second quarter. 

That's when the Buckeyes will turn to the ground game. Ezekiel Elliott and Barrett will hammer away at the Michigan front seven as they find a groove running the zone read. Ohio State will tie the game at 13, but the Wolverines will drive for a last-second field goal as time expires in the first half to take a 16-13 lead into halftime.

Ohio State will come out hot in the third quarter as Barrett gets the Wolverines secondary to bite on play action before finding Jalin Marshall for a 65-yard score. Both defenses will settle in until the midway point of the fourth quarter, when Jake Rudock orchestrates a clutch 10-play, 85-yard drive that gives Michigan a 23-20 advantage.

With less than two minutes to play, Ohio State will be in full desperation mode. Barrett will complete a couple of short passes, and Elliott will advance a screen pass to midfield. That's when Braxton Miller will save the Buckeyes' season.

Meyer will dial up a trick play—getting the ball in Miller's hands on a reverse to set up a deep pass to Michael Thomas. The Wolverines won't be fooled, but Miller will spin out of two tackles, reverse field and race 50 yards for the go-ahead touchdown with 20 seconds to play. 

The win will send Ohio State to the Big Ten title game, where it'll face undefeated Iowa. 

Ohio State 27, Michigan 23