Ohio State Ranks High In Way-Too-Early Pre-Spring Top 25
An unusual number of Ohio State Buckeyes players chose to return for one more season rather than enter the NFL draft.
As a result, most expect the Buckeyes will be right in the middle of the College Football Playoff race.
According to On3 Sports’ early pre-spring Top 25, the Bucks are ranked first in the Big Ten and second in the nation, trailing only Georgia.
Among the reasons for the high optimism surrounding coach Ryan and his program? The returning talent, and their new offensive coordinator.
Said On3:
The Buckeyes have had a fascinating offseason, with Ryan Day putting his name in the running for the 2024 season.
No program has been more aggressive in maintaining quality from their own roster (TreVeyon Henderson, Denzel Burke, JT
Tuimoloau, Emeka Egbuka, Jack Sawyer, and Tyleik Williams) while also bringing in blue-chip transfer players (Caleb Downs,
Quinshon Judkins, and Will Howard).
Then, over the weekend, Day replaced Bill O’Brien, who had been the offensive coordinator for less than a month, with UCLA
head coach Chip Kelly. It’s a startling move for a sitting Big Ten coach to take over as offensive coordinator for a conference
rival, but it’s an upgrade for Ohio State, as Kelly could work miracles with the two-headed duo of Henderson and Judkins at tailback.
The Buckeyes also return perhaps the greatest defense in the country.
Not to mention Day’s great recruiting class for the 2024 cycle, which includes numerous players who will play early and frequently next season.
Among those players are five-star freshmen Jeremiah Smith, Eddrick Houston, and Mylan Graham, all of whom may help bolster positions of need from last season.
When you combine that with the veteran talent on the roster and the number of great transfers coming in, it’s no surprise that the Bucks are among the favorites to make the Big Ten Championship game and the College Football Playoff.
You can see On3’s full top-25 below (Big Ten teams in bold):
1. Georgia
2. Ohio State
3. Oregon
4. Texas
5. Alabama
6. Ole Miss
7. Notre Dame
8. Michigan
9. Penn State
10. Missouri
11. LSU
12. Utah
13. Oklahoma
14. Kansas State
15. Tennessee
16. Florida State
17. Clemson
18. Miami
19. Oklahoma State
20. Kansas
21. Louisville
22. NC State
23. Texas A&M
24. Arizona
25. SMURead more new https://sportupdates.co.uk/
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