I've never been a fan of the defending champions idea in college football. Most of the key players who won it for the Buckeyes aren't around any more and the 2024 squad lost 14 players to the NFL Draft, not to mention quite a few other seniors. It's a false continuity and the portal only makes the idea seem sillier. So new star TE Max Klare, who has been on the Buckeye campus for three months, is defending the national championship of a Big 10 team that he played against?
I’ve never been a fan of the Defending Champions idea in college football. Most of the key players who won it for the Buckeyes aren’t around any more and the 2024 squad lost 14 players to the NFL Draft, not to mention their other departed seniors and portal losses. It’s a false continuity and the portal only makes the idea seem sillier. So new Purdue TE Max Klare, who has been on the Buckeye campus for four months, is defending the national title of a Big 10 team that he played against?
If it makes a Texas win in Columbus more compelling, I’m for it.
Early season 2025 Ohio State won’t be able to match their January edition predecessors right out of the gate, but they have a chance to be very good, and they could mirror last year’s late season upsurge as new parts cohere around the best college pass catchers on the planet.
They don’t need to be as good as the 2024 Buckeyes.
They just need to be better than their 2025 playoff draw.
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I’ve already covered:
Penn State ClemsonTexasAlabama
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You can ‘t talk about the Buckeyes without leading with the best college football player on the best receiving corps in the nation. Their pass catchers are not only the best unit that Texas will play, they are the best position unit in college football.
Here’s an analysis of their room.
Ohio State will take a step back on both lines of scrimmage, but remember that in the playoffs last year, their piecemeal and injury-plagued OL was probably the worst group in the semifinals. They held up against some terrific defensive lines in their four game playoff run. They return that entire interior group but will start two new tackles outside. Utility lineman Austin Siereveld has left tackle locked down, Rice transfer Onianwa is still battling Minnesota transfer Daniels for right tackle.
The word out of Ohio State camp is that the battle between Julian Sayin and Lincoln Kienholz is legitimate. Sayin is inconsistent, but this feels like an oversell.
When the smoke clears, I expect Sayin. Two reasons:
1). Ryan Day has created a QB battle – real or imagined – to put stress on a new starting QB every time Ohio State has turned the page. He wants them to feel the pressure to perform. Will Howard was obviously brought in to start last year. Day didn’t make it official until August 15th. Justin Fields had to “win” his job in Day’s most preposterous manufactured competition with career back up Gunner Hoak; CJ Stroud “beat out” Jack Miller and Kyle McCord in a competition that went to late Fall camp.
2). While Kienholz is the much better athlete, more physically impressive, and offers a run dimension, Sayin has the purer arm. What’s Ohio State’s #1 offensive asset that they must unlock? Their pass catchers. If Kienholz starts, it would signal to me that Julian lost it more than Lincoln won it. Kienholz might present a few challenges that give PK issues, though.
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Defensively, their linebackers will be very good and Caleb Downs is a fantastic playmaking safety, but new defensive coordinator Matt Patricia is a mystery in the college game and a downgrade compared to the departed Jim Knowles. I’ll have an article on what to expect from Patricia philosophically coming this week.
The Buckeyes will also have a new offensive coordinator in long time WR coach Brian Hartline, but it’s Day’s baby.
Be the smart guy or gal at the tailgate or in your living room. Read Thinking Texas Football.
Ohio State can lose 2 of 3 to Texas, Michigan and Penn State and still comfortably make the final dance with a solid seeding. In a single elimination tournament, they would have an upside that few can match. Never discount that a program loaded with blue chips can identify new solutions in-season.
The other wild card?
Ryan Day has demonstrated that he will alter his entire approach for the postseason. Last year’s philosophical shifts after the Michigan humiliation were ballsy and he was rewarded for it. He understands what the playoff fundamentally is in a way that many head coaches don’t.
Category: General Sports
