Ohio State lands Big Ten’s top spot in ESPN’s ‘future power rankings’

Ohio State is sitting pretty, coming off its first national title since 2014 and the first national title of the 12-team College Football Playoff era. The Buckeyes are also the favorites to repeat, coming in at +500 overall via BetMGM. (Texas is tied for the best odds in the country.)

So, it’s no surprise or secret that Ryan Day has his team poised to remain in contention for the foreseeable future, even if the program does not have a starting quarterback as of this writing. Last year’s starter, Will Howard, is off to the NFL after leading Ohio State to the title in his one season with the program, and a young quarterback competition involving Julian Sayin and Lincoln Kienholz has dominated the offseason.

However, that young QB room is a key factor in the “future power rankings,” recently compiled by ESPN. Adam Rittenberg recently ranked every Power 4 program, 1-68, in terms of their future outlook, and the Buckeyes grabbed the No. 2 spot in the country. Texas earned the top spot.

While not featuring a returning QB is a problem, the ability to name a starter who could be in place for multiple seasons is a key factor. Here’s what Rittenberg had to say about the likelihood of a multiyear starter at the position:

Quite likely. Ohio State has the smallest and least experienced quarterback room of coach Ryan Day’s tenure, mainly because Julian Sayin is in line to take over. Sayin, a redshirt freshman who transferred from Alabama after Nick Saban retired, was ESPN’s No. 9 recruit in the 2024 class. He must beat out junior Lincoln Kienholz but could lead the offense at least through 2026.

RELATED: Ready to dive into OSU’s title odds with a chance to repeat? Grab the best available Ohio betting apps in your area to get started.

Star power, for the present and the future, is also no concern for Ohio State. Jeremiah Smith has at least 2 more seasons in college football, and he might already be the top player in the country as a rising sophomore. In regard to the future, the Buckeyes just signed 5-star QB Tavien St. Clair and hold the No. 2 recruiting class in the country for the 2026 recruiting cycle.

As for the rest of the Big Ten, Oregon is not far behind Ohio State at No. 4 in ESPN’s list, and Penn State is in the top 10 at No. 6. Beyond that trio, the dip begins to get steeper, so there is certainly a triumvirate growing to dominate the future of Big Ten football.

For now, it’s the Buckeyes reigning as the national champs, and it could be even bigger things in store down the road.

Paul Harvey

Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.