COLUMBUS: The spotlight will fall on whomever Ohio State coach Urban Meyer sends out as his starting quarterback.
The key matchup will be OSU’s top returning receiver, Michael Thomas, against Virginia Tech’s All-America cornerback Kendall Fuller.
But a couple of Buckeye wild cards could help decide the outcome of Monday night’s nationally televised matchup between No. 1 and defending national champion Ohio State and its lone 2014 conqueror, Virginia Tech, in Blacksburg, Va.
Thomas caught six passes for 98 yards, including a 53-yard touchdown, in last year’s 35-21 upset loss in Ohio Stadium. With Devin Smith and Evan Spencer gone to the NFL, Noah Brown suffering a broken leg in practice last week and receiver Corey Smith and H-backs Dontre Wilson and Jalin Marshall suspended for week one, Thomas will draw lots of attention.