Ohio State Buckeyes 2025 Football Preview, Prediction, Betting ideas

Ohio State

2024 Record: 14-2 National Champions

View From Afar: Going into 2024, it was clear that Ohio State had the most talented roster in the country. It felt like an all-in year with players returning for senior seasons, a transfer QB, and an all-world recruit, Jeremiah Smith, coming to Columbus. The product on the field, however, was choppy at times. Nebraska had a 4th quarter lead in Columbus, late-game miscues in the loss at Oregon, and, of course, the absolute debacle against Michigan in the regular-season finale. Folks in Columbus certainly had the pitchforks out after the 4th consecutive loss to the Wolverines, especially a team with such anemic QB play (Warren went 9-16, 62 yards, 2 ints in a win)! However, Ryan Day and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly kept their heads and conjured up some scheme adjustments, and the rest is history. Drubbing Tennessee and Oregon in the lead up to a classic win vs. Texas, and ultimately a controlled victory in the title game over Notre Dame. The whole country saw the incredible ability of Jeremiah Smith in that playoff run and the overall talent of the roster as a whole. 2025 brings about wholesale changes for the Buckeyes, both coordinators hit the road, and 14 players were drafted to the NFL. Brian Hartline will finally look to call plays on offense, the often-heralded WR’s coach has been with the program for 8 years, let's see how much leash Ryan Day gives him. Last year’s defensive coordinator, Jim Knowles, heads to Penn State, a blow to lose him to a conference, for, in steps Matt Patricia in a move that certainly raised some eyebrows, though 19 years in the NFL is nothing to turn your nose at. Ryan Day got the Championship he so craved to quiet some of his skeptics, certainly unjustified given his record against every school not named Michigan. But there is a certain standard at Ohio State a program that Covid year removed has won double digit games every season since 2011. They are always in the mix, with all the turnover and changes, can this Buckeye team avoid the drop off that their arch rivals suffered a year ago, and keep themselves in national title contention?

Recruiting: Ohio State wrestled back the top spot in conference rankings in 2025 from Oregon, 2024 they came in at second to the ducks. This team is always a top 5ish finish nationally, Bo Jackson is the name to watch out for this season. The RB with the big name to live up too is from Ohio so lets see if he can shine in a less star-studded backfield than years prior.

Portal: Ohio State came in at third in the Portal rankings in the Big 10. Max Klare (TE) comes over from Purdue; he grades out as the third-best TE returning in the conference. Rice transfer Onianwa will look to bolster the line. He seemed to impress in the spring. Atkinson(DE) comes over from UNC, Patricia poaching one of his old buddies' studs away! He had 7.5 sacks a year ago, the D-line lost a truckload of production, so they look to him to step in.

Key Roster Departures: 14 total players drafted, undrafted free agent signings! Where to start! Two first team all-Americans gone from o-line Jackson(1st round) Mclaughlin(UDFA). Egbuka, a first-round pick WR, had the second-most receiving yards in program history. JTT, Jack Sawer, Tyleik Williams are gone from the D-line, all Big 10 caliber players throughout their careers. Ransom, Simon, and Burke, all Big 10 selections, are gone from the LB room and secondary, without even mentioning QB Will Howard, and the terrifying duo of Judkins and Henderson. Those two really were game-changers during the playoff run. For all Jeremiah Smith’s highlight reel plays, the backs did much of the heavy lifting. So ya, that’s a ton of talent out the door!

Roster Tidbits: Former 5-star Julian Sayin will look to take over from Howard; he seems to throw a nice ball, and has the pedigree, just unproven. Carnell Tate will look to be Smith’s running mate; that certainly will be one of the most electric duos in the country. O-line again has questions as it did a year ago, Hinzman returns at C he graded out ok, as did Siereveld, the rest returning didn’t impress from a grades standpoint, as mentioned above a couple transfers will provide depth. The RB room is where I am most concerned about this team, losing two 1,000 yard rushers in Judkins and Henderson is huge, they both sneakily caught over 20 balls each. Donaldson come’s over from West Virginia to fill the void, he’s had back to back years of 700 plus yards. James Peoples was the number 4-ranked RB in the nation out of high school, so he will also look to provide punch. Defensively, the line seems to be a question mark. Houston and McDonald both graded out well in limited role’s they will both need to step up. Over 20 sacks gone from last year with Sawer and JTT gone, who will step up? The linebacking corps/ Downs will obviously be outstanding. Sonny Styles is back after all big 10 caliber season, Arvell Reese could make a solid impact too as he actually graded out the #3 returning LB in conference. Downs (S) will once again be one of the best players in the country, Igbinosun and Jermaine Matthews will be the go to CB’S. Igbinosun led the team in penalties a year ago; let’s see if he can clean things up.

Statistical Pulse: Ohio State led the nation in yards allowed per game a year ago, only giving up 254 per. The were top 3 nationally in Sacks, rush yards allowed, and pass yards allowed per game, the defense was staunch. Will Howard had the #3 passer rating in the nation, and threw for 35 TDs to 10 picks, will Sayin be able to match that kind of output from the jump?

Schedule: Texas coming to Columbus for the opener! Love it! That will be a marquee matchup to open the season, and a repeat of the classic in last year's playoffs, indeed a game that college football fans cannot wait for. Road trips to Washington, Illinois, and Wisconsin, and of course, in Ann Arbor to finish, will provide big tests for this group. Penn State come’s to Columbus. Not an easy schedule, but you avoid Oregon, USC, and a Nebraska side that proved to be a thorn in the side a year ago.

Prediction: Ohio State no doubt will have the best offensive player in the country this year, and maybe even defensively also. So it’s hard to see this team taking a significant step back if Sayin is serviceable. However, the leadership and quality lost off this team cannot go understated. I just don’t see how the D-line produces at the same level as last year, and will that start to ask more questions of this secondary. Offensively, I wonder if the losses at RB and again having to get a o-line retool will cause challenges especially early against the likes of Texas. Ultimately, Ohio State as we have seen almost always wins 10 games, but this year is the first year in a while where the likes of at Illinois or at Washington really could get dicey for the Buckeyes. My prediction is that Ohio State and Michigan both enter the last week of the season 9-2, and the winner of that game heads to the playoff. I think Texas gets this team in the opener, they stumble once more before a massive showdown with the Wolverines.

Actionable: Texas +3 v Ohio State I like the Longhorns week 1, the Longhorns defense will contain the Buckeyes' attack similar to last year's playoff, and not having as many game breakers will cost them. If you like Ohio State under 10.5 wins, why not just take the Longhorns in this game? Having said that, I do think it’s interesting that the all-in, all-world Buckeyes of ‘24 only won 10 regular-season games! So, I certainly don’t hate under 10.5.