BY: KENNY VARNER

The defending national champion Ohio State Buckeyes enter the 2025 season with a few key pieces to replace—most notably at quarterback, running back, and across the defense, which returns just three starters. Still, this is a program that never lacks talent or depth. Even non-starters at Ohio State typically see significant playing time, showcasing the Buckeyes’ ability to reload year after year. Starting the season ranked in the top four, the Buckeyes aim to become the first team to repeat as national champions since Georgia in 2022. The schedule is demanding, and the target on their back is massive. The question now becomes: how will they respond as the hunted?

As of August 8, head coach Ryan Day has said, “The competition continues” in reference to the starting quarterback job. Julian Sayin appears to have a slight edge, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if Lincoln Kienholz pushes and ultimately wins the job. Either way, the Buckeyes will field a capable signal-caller. They’ll also be blessed with the best receiving corps in the country, led by Jeremiah Smith, who, as a freshman, racked up 1,315 yards, 76 catches, and 15 touchdowns last year. Emeka Egbuka and his 1,011 yards are gone, but that opens the door for Carnell Tate, who had 733 yards last season and is poised to push for 1,000 in 2025. To say the Buckeyes are deep at receiver is an understatement. Add in tight end Max Klare, a transfer from Purdue, and the group of weapons is truly elite.

Ohio State does lose two 1,000-yard rushers in Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson, but make no mistake—this team reloads. James Peoples is currently listed as the No. 1 back, and while unproven, he’s expected to thrive in this offense. Up front, the Buckeyes return three starters: center Carson Hinzman, guard Tegra Tshabola, and the versatile Austin Siereveld, who looks to move to tackle this season. Luke Montgomery gained valuable experience in the rotation last year and is expected to emerge as a dominant force. The losses of Donovan Jackson and Josh Simmons will be felt, as this year’s line may not feature guaranteed first-round NFL talent. However, depth additions like tackles Ethan Onianwa (Rice) and Phillip Daniels (Minnesota)—who would be stars on most teams—bolster the group.

Defensively, Ohio State was elite last year, finishing No. 1 in both total defense and scoring defense. Repeating that feat will be tough with only three starters back and eight defenders drafted in the top 174 of the NFL Draft. But again, this is Ohio State—they reload, not rebuild.

Up front, Eddrick Houston and 326-pound Kayden McDonald will anchor the tackle spots. While Kenyatta Jackson isn’t technically a returning starter at defensive end, he saw plenty of snaps in the rotation and is ready to break out. On the other side is game-wrecker Beau Atkinson, a North Carolina transfer who posted 11 sacks and 17 tackles for loss for the Tar Heels.

At linebacker, Cody Simon is off to the NFL, but Sonny Styles returns after racking up 85 tackles and 4 sacks last season. He’s now the leader of the unit. Arvell Reese steps into the middle linebacker role with 40 tackles already under his belt from rotational duty—he’s ready to carry the torch.

In the secondary, Caleb Downs might be the best defensive back in college football. If the Heisman truly went to the best player, he’d be in the mix. Corners Jermaine Mathews Jr. and Davison Igbinosun form what may be the best cornerback duo in the Big Ten. Ohio State is also raving about freshman phenom Devin Sanchez, who’s expected to make an immediate impact. With Downs as the star at safety, other contributors like Lorenzo Styles Jr., Malik Hartford, and Jaylen McClain will get the chance to prove why they were so highly recruited.

Ohio State doesn’t measure success solely by beating Michigan—they measure it by Big Ten and national championships. That standard remains unchanged this season. The Buckeyes face a tough schedule and plenty of challenges, starting right away when fellow national title contender Texas comes to Columbus. They avoid powerhouse Oregon as well as solid teams like USC, Indiana, and Iowa. A sneaky road game at Illinois looms in October, and they’ll get two weeks to prepare for a massive clash with Penn State on November 1. Of course, the season ends with The Game—this time in Ann Arbor.

The Buckeyes will get better as the season goes along, which makes the early matchup with Texas a concern—but at least it’s at home. At most schools, a 10-2 record would be a dream. At Ohio State, it feels like the sky is falling. One or two losses are possible, but the Buckeyes are too talented, too deep, and too well-coached not to be a serious contender come playoff time. They may not be the outright favorite, but nobody will want to face them when it matters most.