Greg McElroy believes Ohio State is a lock to make the College Football Playoff in 2024
Greg McElroy is going all in on the Ohio State Buckeyes in 2024.
Nevermind that Michigan is the defending national champion. Nevermind that Michigan is the three-time defending Big Ten champion. And nevermind that Michigan has emerged victorious in each of its last three meetings with Ohio State. With Jim Harbaugh leaving for the NFL and Ohio State absolutely loading up this offseason, the ESPN analyst believes the Buckeyes are a lock to make the College Football Playoff next season.
“As of today, the team to beat in the Big Ten is the Ohio State Buckeyes,” McElroy said this week on the Always College Football podcast. “How can you deny the impact that the brand of Ohio State has had on the (transfer) portal? I mean, just the additions are absurd. Absurd.”
McElroy said he likes Kansas State transfer quarterback Will Howard to step into the Buckeye offense and thrive. If Howard is simply good, not great, McElroy believes the Buckeyes can pivot and re-orient their attack around “the best tandem of running backs in the country.”
The Buckeyes have a top-10 transfer class, according to 247Sports. And that’s even underselling things; the group only has six known transfer commitments.
But they’re all from instant-impact players. Howard is one of them, obviously. Former Ole Miss running back Quinshon Judkins is partnering with TreVeyon Henderson in the backfield to form a destructive duo. The Buckeyes have to replace Marvin Harrison Jr., but Emeka Egbuka is a solid candidate to do so. Or Jeremiah Smith, the No. 2 overall recruit in the 2024 class.
On the other side of the ball, Caleb Downs transferred in from Alabama after leading the Crimson Tide in tackles last year.
JT Tuimoloau returns, as do several other key Buckeyes who are all looking to end the skid against the Wolverines.
“I look at that schedule and I think there are about three losable games. What are the odds that Ohio State loses all three? I’d say 10%. Maybe. Even if they lose two out of three, they’re going to the College Football Playoff,” McElroy said. “That’s why I put the percentage (chance) that the Ohio State Buckeyes make the 12-team Playoff in 2024 at 90%. They’re that good. I feel that good about what they’ve built and how things set up for them this upcoming season.”