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Ohio State has built something really special over the last five seasons, and with that has come great expectations.
Many are pegging the Buckeyes as the second or third-best team in country, behind Alabama and, for some, Florida State. Nearly everyone has predicted this to be in the College Football Playoff and competing for a second national championship in four years. With 15 starters returning, it’s certainly a manageable goal.
Few teams are as athletic and talented as the Buckeyes. They’re one of the more well-balanced teams in the country and have the ability to win games in a number of ways.
Ohio State is a heavy favorite to win the league. Penn State and Michigan will likely challenge for the top spot in the East, but with so much star power back and a brand new offensive mindset, the Buckeyes have lofty expectations heading into the season.
2016 record: 11-1* (8-1)
* Doesn’t include postseason
Coaching Situation
Urban Meyer begins his sixth season at Ohio State, and he’s already accomplished some pretty incredible feats. The Buckeyes have won a B1G title, a national championship, and have appeared in the College Football Playoff twice in three years. All that while posting a 61-6 record.
Many have considered Meyer’s 2015 and 2016 teams to be the best that he’s had during his short stint in Columbus, but it was Ohio State’s 2014 team that claimed a conference and national title. Since then, the Buckeyes have come up short on chances to add a ninth championship to the trophy case.
The 31-0 shellacking Ohio State suffered at the hands of Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl was the worst defeat in Meyer’s career, at any stop. But that’s just added more fuel to the fire for Meyer and Co. in 2017. With the addition of Kevin Wilson as offensive coordinator, this has the potential to be one of Meyer’s best offensive teams yet.
Quarterback Situation
Not many quarterbacks in the country can do everything, but J.T. Barrett is one of the few. You could argue that he’s not the best pure-passer in the conference, but he’s certainly one of the best offensive players you’ll find.
Whether it’s with his arm or his legs, Barrett can find ways to beat you. He’s proven that over the past three seasons, racking up a 26-4 record as a starter with the Buckeyes. He’s already thrown for more than 6,000 yards and is approaching the 2,500-yard mark on the ground. He’s a defensive nightmare.
You could critique his mechanics and footwork, maybe even his decision-making at times. With Wilson on staff now, Barrett has a chance to correct some of those issues. And in a brand new offense, the senior quarterback is really going to have an opportunity to be the leader of one of the top offensive units in the country.
Strengths & Weaknesses
There’s a lot to like about Ohio State in 2017. A defensive line comprised of Sam Hubbard, Tyquan Lewis, Nick Bosa and others might be the top front unit in the B1G. Opposing quarterbacks are going to have trouble staying clean against the Buckeyes.
With Barrett back under center, the Buckeyes have an experienced leader at football’s most important position. That’s a key for success for any team. And having top-notch athletes in Wilson’s offensive scheme is going to be a lot of fun to watch.
Having said that, the inexperience at wide receiver might be a bit of concern, particularly early in the year in games against Indiana and Oklahoma. There may not be an issue with that position, but it’s hard to know until the season kicks off.
The Buckeyes also need a little more consistency on the offensive line. Billy Price is a great anchor for the front line and it should be a better unit than a year ago. But Ohio State needs to win the battle in the trenches against teams like Oklahoma, Iowa, Penn State and Michigan to be successful.
Game-by-Game Predicitons
Week 1: at Indiana (W)
This is going to be a tough one to open the year with, especially with College GameDay making a visit to Bloomington, but the Buckeyes have too much firepower for the Hoosiers.
Week 2: Oklahoma (W)
Don’t think that “ordinary defense” comment isn’t still lingering with Ohio State. The Sooners are good, but not good enough to win in Columbus.
Week 3: Army (W)
Army’s triple-option attack might give the defense some trouble, but the Black Knights just don’t have the athletes to pull off the upset.
Week 4: UNLV (W)
The Rebels had trouble competing in the Mountain West last year. They don’t have any chance against one of the top teams in the country.
Week 5: at Rutgers (W)
Step-by-step, Rutgers is gradually going to see improvement under Chris Ash. But the Scarlet Knights are still a long way from competing with Ohio State. This one could get ugly.
Week 6: Maryland (W)
Four quarterbacks are still in the mix for the starting job. The good news is that all four might get a chance to play if the Buckeyes can build up a big lead early.
Week 7: at Nebraska (W)
Nebraska’s offensive front just isn’t good enough to keep an NFL-caliber defensive line away from the quarterback. Tanner Lee’s arm makes this game interesting, but he’s going to get knocked around an awful lot.
Week 8: Bye
Week 9: Penn State (W)
Revenge game at the Horseshoe. Plus, the Buckeyes are coming off a bye week. It’s hard to bet against Meyer considering all of those factors.
Week 10: at Iowa (W)
Tricky game for Ohio State, especially if the game is played at night in Kinnick Stadium. Ultimately, though, Iowa’s offense just doesn’t have the weapons to keep up on the scoreboard.
Week 11: Michigan State (W)
Depending on how the previous 10 weeks go, this could be a desperation game for Mark Dantonio and the Spartans.
Week 12: Illinois (W)
Illinois lost its entire starting defensive line from last season. As long as the Buckeyes cover receivers Malik Turner and Mikey Dudek, the Illibuck Trophy will remain in Columbus.
Week 13: at Michigan (L)
It’s hard to go undefeated. Already 0-2, this becomes a critical game for Jim Harbaugh. Ohio State drops “The Game” for the first time under Meyer.
2017 Projections: 11-1 (8-1)
Final Standings: Tied-1st, B1G East
#GoBucks
Almost everyone is picking Ohio State to win the B1G and compete for another national championship. Anything short of those expectations would be a disappointment. That’s the standard Meyer has set in Columbus.
Opening with Indiana and Oklahoma is a pretty tough two-week stretch for a team with funneling in some young players. Fortunately, the Buckeyes are experienced in a lot of key areas, including along the defensive line and at quarterback and running back. If Ohio State survives the first two weeks, it can work on developing some of its younger talent and building depth as the following four weeks are relatively light.
The second half of Ohio State’s schedule is brutal. Nebraska, Penn State, Iowa and Michigan make up four of the Buckeyes’ final six opponents. That’s a rough way to close the season, especially with three of those games on the road. But Meyer still has the advantage on the sideline and Ohio State still has a wealth of talent and athleticism.
Another College Football Playoff berth seems like a high hurdle for the 2017 Buckeyes. But Meyer has done more with less. Another CFP bid is more than attainable for Ohio State.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB