Ohio State Spring Game 2016: Date, Start Time, TV Schedule, Live Stream and More

Ohio State flashes its recruiting pipelines and muscle at Saturday's spring game in what might be a crowd of more than 100,000 fans at Ohio Stadium.

Urban Meyer's Buckeyes have to replace eight players on both sides of the football after last year's successful run to the Fiesta Bowl and a stomping of Notre Dame. Yet despite the turnover, ask around and the Buckeyes remain one of the favorites to qualify for the College Football Playoff.

Though Ezekiel Elliott, Joey Bosa and others are gone, Meyer hopes a more pass-oriented attack and a rejuvenated, deep defense can help the Buckeyes make another seamless transition to contention.

2016 Ohio State Spring Game

When:  Saturday, April 16, at 1:30 p.m. ET

Where: Ohio Stadium

TV: Big Ten Network

Live Stream: BTN2Go

There's a ton of pressure on the Buckeyes to perform well Saturday, hence the expected massive turnout.

According to ESPN.com's Austin Ward, the confirmed ticket allotment already dwarfs most turnouts from other major programs:

For Meyer, he hopes the attendees hit the number on the head so he can see how his new-look roster responds to the pressure:

Pressure abounds no matter the final number, of course.

Look at quarterback. Nobody will rip the gig from J.T. Barrett, but if any program knows just how important it is to have a viable backup ready to go, it's these Buckeyes. Meyer will run both Joe Burrow and Stephen Collier through their paces to see how they hold up.

Behind the quarterbacks, Elliott's void means one of Bri'onte Dunn or Mike Weber will have to step up and take control, though Meyer recently confirmed neither guy has a leg up on the other yet.

Meyer talked both wideouts and running backs with Cleveland.com's Bill Landis:

"Meyer said he expects the running back competition between Bri'onte Dunn and Mike Weber to carry into this summer's training camp. He also mentioned receivers like Terry McLaurin and James Clark as guys who can help themselves on Saturday with Ohio State's top four receivers out this spring."

Then there's freshman sensation Austin Mack who has garnered the most hype of maybe any Buckeye player this spring and him jumping way up the depth chart and contributing wouldn't be too surprising. 

Bleacher Report's Ben Axelrod captured Meyer's thoughts on the matter: "Austin Mack is going to play next year. It's two days and I know it's too early to say that, which I have a tendency to over-evaluate guys and get too excited about them, but he's doing fantastic."

As for the new-look defense, Chris Worley will attempt to replace Darron Lee at linebacker, while defensive linemen Dre'Mont Jones and Jashon Cornell will kick inside to man the tackle spots, leaving a bevy of rushers to explode off the edges to try make up for the loss of Bosa.

It's maybe the most interesting development around these Buckeyes this year. Jones and Cornell could have simply spent time as backup ends and not contributed. Instead, they'll start on the inside while Sam Hubbard and others play on the edges, with Meyer opting for more of an attack-oriented approach from the line at all spots.

Call it a trial by fire for the offense, which features running backs and receivers looking to make names for themselves while young quarterbacks get as much experience as possible in case the seemingly inevitable (for Ohio State, at least) happens again.

Few programs get a spring-game experience like Ohio State does, which is fitting given just how much hype and expectation chases the team despite 16 new starters stepping into the fray.

Under the watchful eye of 100,000, Ohio State's title pursuit begins again Saturday.

Stats and info courtesy of ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.