COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Here's our schedule breakdown of Ohio State's season, as we assign a chance for each opponent to beat the defending national champion Buckeyes. We'll continue multiplying those chances until we reach our final number, the chance we think Ohio State has to go 12-0 during the 2015 regular season.

Virginia Tech Hokies

vs. Ohio State: Monday Sept. 7, at Virginia Tech's Lane Stadium at 8 p.m. in a primetime Labor Day kickoff to the season for both teams.

2014 record: 7-6, 3-5, tied for fifth place in the ACC's Coastal Division.

Bowl: Defeated Cincinnati, 33-17, in the Military Bowl.

Returning starters: 16 (eight offense, eight defense).

Phil Steele preseason rank: No. 16

College Football Matrix preseason rank: No. 27

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Week before the OSU game: The Hokies and Buckeyes will meet in the last game of the opening weekend, which means Virginia Tech has an entire offseason to focus on the Buckeyes. A year ago while upsetting Ohio State in Columbus, Virginia Tech had the advantage of facing the Buckeyes the week after they played Navy and that triple option offense. This year, the Buckeyes will also be able to focus on the Hokies during their preseason prep.

Chances to beat Ohio State: 10 percent. A year ago the Hokies were filled with questions and playing Ohio State on the road. This year they're filled with expereince and getting Ohio State at home. Last year, Virginia Tech was the only team in the country to beat the College Football Playoff National Champion - and the Hokies should be significantly better this season.

So, what, is that a guaranteed Virginia Tech win then?

Not quite. As much as the Hokies may have improved since beating the Buckeyes last season, Ohio State's leap from that game is immeasurable.

A year ago, we gave Virginia Tech an 11 percent chance to beat the Buckeyes, the second-best chance on that 2014 schedule. And the Hokies made it happen. Now? We take a small step back in Virginia Tech's hope because so much has changed in a year.

How they could compete with Ohio State: Last year it was all about the scheme. With quarterback J.T. Barrett making his second start, Virginia Tech attacked the Buckeyes with a defense that put nine players near the line of scrimmage and the OSU coaches said they weren't prepared for what the Hokies did on either side of the ball.

That won't happen this year. No surprises. But there is skill, especially on defense. CFB Matrix ranks Virginia Tech's defensive line as the third-best in the nation and the defensive backs as the fourth-best. Ohio State has a top 10 unit on basically every part of the field, so the Buckeyes will still have a talent edge. They will against everyone.

But the Virginia Tech defense may be the most skilled side of the ball Ohio State faces all season. And the winner of the OSU quarterback derby may be feeling a little pressure in the opener. So the Hokies repeating the problems they gave the OSU offense last season isn't impossible

On their offense: Virginia Tech must fill holes on the line, losing three senior starters, but otherwise everyone who matters is back for an offense that finished 96th in the nation last season, averaging 24.1 points per game. What Ohio State fans saw last year was the best the Hokies had to offer - the 35 points tied a season high.

Quarterback Michael Brewer did have some bigger games than his 199 passing yards and two touchdowns against the Buckeyes. He topped 250 passing yards in five starts, but his touchdown to interception ratio was only 18-15. There were questions about whether he might be challenged for the quarterback job in the spring, but he played well enough that he should remain the starter for the opener.

A Texas Tech transfer, he was new to the program last season and still engineered a huge win in week two. But the offense needs more in 2015. Every player who scored a point last season is back, led by receiver Isaiah Ford and tight end Bucky Hodges, who combined for 13 touchdowns.

Injuries hit the running back position last year, but J.C. Coleman and Trey Edmunds will provide options in the opener. Coleman ran for 468 yards over the last four games last season, including 157 against Cincinnati in the bowl game.

On their defense: This group is great. Sophomore cornerback Kendall Fuller is a preseason first-team All-American, and he'll be healthier than a year ago after offseason surgery on a fractured wrist that he played through last season. He's the type of lockdown defender who could change the OSU offense by taking away a player like receiver Michael Thomas.

And that will open up chances for the Hokies to get pressure, led by defensive end Dadi Nicolas, a first-team All-ACC pick and first-team preseason All-American on some lists. He had 8.5 sacks last season to rank third in the ACC, while teammate Ken Ekanem was second with 10.5. He's back as well at the opposite end, which means senior right tackle Chase Farris will be tested right away as the one new starter on the OSU offensive line.

Virginia Tech ranked fourth in the nation with 48 sacks last year and 14th in points allowed at 20.2 per game.

Projection: Who's going to predict the national champs to lose their first game of the year? That's not what we're saying. But this is a reminder that the challenge will be real. The fact that the Buckeyes don't have to worry about Navy before the Hokies is a huge change from a year ago. But going on the road against a very good defense and a top 25 team in a primetime game? That's no walkover. The early betting line has the Buckeyes as 18-point favorites. This could be a season when the Buckeyes steamroll every opponent. If they don't, then the Hokies are capable of putting up a fight.