Since posting a 6-7 record in 2011, Ohio State has been a juggernaut. In that time, the Buckeyes have won a pair of national championships, never lost more than two games in a season, and won at least 11 times in each year outside of the Covid Year (2020).
Other than the occasional blip, Ohio State for decades has been one of the strongest programs in all of college football. Those nearly impossible standards make it hard on the head coaches each year. If the Buckeyes are not winning a national championship, the Big Ten, or beating Michigan, though not necessarily in that order, disappointment is the only emotion these fans feel.
Coming off a championship campaign, coach Ryan Day got that 800-pound gorilla off his back, but now more than ever, the club from Columbus is the hunted.
Coming in this season, Bet365 (check our Bet365 Review) has Ohio State as the favorite across the board:
- #1 To Repeat as National Champions (+500)
- #1 Big Ten Odds to Win the Conference
- #1 With the Highest Odds to Make the CF Playoffs (-370)
Let’s take a deeper look at Ohio State’s chance to win another Natty.
NCAAF Championship Odds
Why Ohio State Could Repeat
New quarterback Julian Sayin doesn’t have the experience of Will Howard from last year, whose maturing years were at Kansas State. Sayin has arm talent, and being able to throw to one of the best in the country in Jeremiah Smith is a wonderful go-to receiver. With Coach Day annually attracting a conga line of talented pass catchers, many of whom end up NFL players, it’s just a matter of practice and reps for Sayin.
Ohio State reminds you of Alabama for most of the Sabin years, where rebuild was never mentioned; it was about – reloading.
No question the Buckeyes lost many talented players from their championship season. We won’t know for sure about Ohio State until they face Texas in the season opener and at Washington and Illinois. All are in the first half of the season.
Why Ohio State Will Not Repeat
With all the talent-laden teams Ohio State has produced, those with young first-year quarterbacks had enough flaws that mattered. Times have changed, and not only do the Buckeyes recruit well, they pay well in the new modern era.
Nonetheless, winning on the road with an inexperienced QB can be a challenge, despite the surrounding players. While it always helps to have – the players – they still have to meld into specific units, while learning to fit within the team concept.
New leadership has to come forward. That doesn’t mean it won’t occur, but any coach will tell you leadership within a locker room can be a fickle thing, with not every senior class at any program able to find the right individuals.
When it comes to the Buckeyes, one has to assume they will be in the Top 10 in every unit, even though there are many new faces. The biggest drawback for Ohio State is under center, and while those questions might have their answers later, a level of uncertainty remains until proven otherwise.
The past two back-to-back champions were Georgia and Alabama, who were head-and-shoulders more talented than the competition. Before that, it was USC in 2003-04 with Matt Leinert and Nebraska with Tommie Frazier in 1994-95.
Having to win three or four postseason games in the new era makes it even harder without the right field general.
Ohio State could reach the semifinals or even the title tilt, but we’ll say they come up short.
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