Ohio State is once again being treated like one of the best teams in college football.
But looking at this schedule, are we sure the Buckeyes aren’t being a little overhyped?
There’s no denying the talent. Ohio State returns quarterback Julian Sayin, who threw for 3,610 yards and 32 touchdowns last season, along with arguably the best player in college football in Jeremiah Smith. Running back Bo Jackson is also back after rushing for 1,090 yards as a freshman.
That’s an offense capable of winning a national championship.
The concern is everywhere else.
Ohio State’s defense lost a significant amount of talent from last season and will rely on several transfers and younger players to replace it. The Buckeyes added veterans like James Smith, John Walker, Qua Russaw, Christian Alliegro and Terry Moore, but adding talent and immediately recreating an elite defense are two completely different things.
And Ohio State won’t exactly have time to figure everything out.
After opening against Ball State, the Buckeyes travel to Austin for a massive showdown with No. 5 Texas.
Then the schedule gets nasty.
Ohio State travels to No. 19 Iowa and No. 6 Indiana, gets No. 20 USC on the road, hosts No. 2 Oregon, and eventually finishes the regular season against No. 14 Michigan.
That’s five ranked opponents in the screenshot above, plus an Iowa road trip that is rarely comfortable.
The November 7 matchup against Oregon could be especially important. If Ohio State’s rebuilt defense isn’t ready for an elite opponent by then, that’s when some of the offseason hype could come crashing down.
None of this means Ohio State isn’t a legitimate national championship contender. Sayin, Smith and Jackson give Ryan Day one of the most dangerous offensive cores in America, and the Buckeyes have recruited too well to suddenly fall apart.
But being talented doesn’t automatically make you unbeatable.
Ohio State has enough talent to win the Big Ten and the national championship.
This schedule is going to make them prove they’re actually that good.
