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Ryan Day has a 56-8 record since taking over as Ohio State coach in 2018, but Buckeyes fans aren’t satisfied.
It’s been nearly five years since Ohio State has beaten Michigan, and that rivalry takes center stage this season as it is championship-or-bust in Columbus.
The Buckeyes are projected to be one of the best teams in the country this fall.
Their current odds to win the national championship are +400 on FanDuel, behind only Georgia.
They’re also listed as the favorites to win the Big Ten, with current odds of +155.
Day hit the portal hard this offseason, bringing in some big-time players at critical positions.
Will this finally be the year the Buckeyes get over the hump in national title contention?
Offensive outlook
Ohio State’s offense left a lot to be desired last year, ranking 45th in scoring with 30.5 points per game.
Quarterback Kyle McCord ended up the scapegoat after a lackluster season, and the Buckeyes added former Kansas State passer Will Howard in the portal to replace him.
It’s fair to wonder how much of an upgrade Howard will provide.
McCord outperformed him in yards per attempt and adjusted completion rate last year, finishing with a better PFF passing grade.
However, this is the most talent Howard has ever had at his disposal.
The Buckeyes lost elite wideout Marvin Harrison Jr. to the NFL, but offensive coordinator and WRs coach Brian Hartline should still boast a highly productive group.
Emeka Egbuka returns for his senior season with first-round draft aspirations, while five-star sophomore Carnell Tate is ready for more work.
Freshman Jeremiah Smith, the top-ranked wideout in the 2024 class, is poised to make an instant impact.
Three of the five starters from last year’s offensive line return, and Alabama transfer Seth McLaughlin is poised to boost the interior significantly.
Ole Miss transfer Quinshon Judkins joins TreVeyon Henderson — who had over 1,100 yards from scrimmage and 11 touchdowns in 10 games in 2023 — to form one of the best backfields in the country.
Defensive outlook
Coordinator Jim Knowles led one of the best units in the country last year.
The Buckeyes allowed just 11.2 ppg, second-fewest in the FBS.
According to Action Network’s Collin Wilson, Ohio State returns over 79 percent of its tackles, pressures, and passes defended.
Linebackers Steele Chambers and Tommy Eichenberg, the team’s two leading tacklers, headed to the NFL.
However, Sonny Styles is moving from safety to linebacker, and former five-star recruit C.J. Hicks is poised to make a significant impact in a more prominent role.
The starting cornerback trio of Davison Igbinosun, Denzel Burke, and Jordan Hancock returns. Sophomore safety Caleb Downs also enters the fold.
He was the top-rated safety in the 2023 class and produced 107 tackles in his true freshman season, ranking third among qualified Power Five safeties in PFF’s coverage grades.
Final verdict
Ohio State likely won’t break a sweat until an Oct. 12 trip to Oregon.
The Ducks, a new top-tier contender in the Big 10, are 1.5-point favorites in FanDuel’s lookahead line.
By the time we get to The Game on Nov. 30, Day could be coaching for his job.
Fans would riot over a home loss to a Michigan team that had 13 players drafted this offseason.
Betting on College Football?
The Buckeyes have won 11+ games in three straight seasons, and the betting market expects that trend to continue.
Ohio State has -150 juice to the over on a win total set at 10.5 — that’s an implied probability of 60% that the Buckeyes will finish with 11+ wins this fall.
It’s difficult for me to recommend a wager on a national title future at +400 odds, particularly in the new format.
There will be more opportunities for the Buckeyes to suffer an upset loss in an expanded CFP field.
I’m waiting to get involved for now, but if the Buckeyes trip up early in the season in their journey west to play Oregon, I’ll be eager to invest in the team’s futures at more reasonable prices.
