2024 Recap
After a fourth straight loss to archrival Michigan, Ryan Day entered the College Football Playoff with his back against the wall. But rather than falter, Ohio State delivered, rolling through Tennessee, Oregon, Texas and Notre Dame en route to its first national championship in a decade. The Buckeyes had 14 players selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, tied for the second-most ever, yet they return the two best players in the country: wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and safety Caleb Downs.
Thanks mainly to Smith, Ohio State’s receiving corps remains the best in college football — a major asset for new quarterback Julian Sayin. However, Sayin may need to overcome an offensive line that once again projects as average. The Buckeyes will also break in two new coordinators, with Brian Hartline taking over the offense and Matt Patricia stepping in on defense following the departures of Chip Kelly and Jim Knowles.
Biggest Strength: The two best players in college football
Even after a record-setting exodus to the NFL, Ohio State returns the top two players in college football. Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith earned the No. 1 spot on the PFF College 50, with safety Caleb Downs right behind him at No. 2. It marks the first time in the list’s history that the top two players hail from the same program.
Biggest Weakness: Trenches
The one glaring weakness for Ohio State last season was its offensive line. The unit earned a 69.3 grade — ranking 63rd in the FBS — and now faces even more uncertainty after losing two first-round picks in Donovan Jackson and Josh Simmons, along with Rimington Award-winning center Seth McLaughlin. All five projected starters for 2025 posted sub-70.0 PFF grades last season, including Rice transfer Ethan Onianwa, who’s expected to take over at left tackle.
Defensively, the Buckeyes also have to replace their entire starting defensive line, a dominant group that saw all four starters selected in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Three Notable Transfer Portal Additions
- TE Max Klare (Purdue): 78.8 PFF Grade
- RB CJ Donaldson Jr. (West Virginia): 70.8 PFF Grade
- EDGE Beau Atkinson (North Carolina): 77.0 PFF Grade
Three Notable Transfer Portal Losses
- EDGE Mitchell Melton (Virginia): 77.2 PFF Grade
- DI Hero Kanu (Texas): 59.0 PFF Grade
- OT Zen Michalski (Indiana): 61.7 PFF Grade
▶ Watch: Ohio State Football 2025 Season Preview: Back-To-Back National Champs?
Quarterback Spotlight: Julian Sayin
- 2024 Grade: 58.3
- Key Stat: 14 career dropbacks
Overview: Julian Sayin was a top-10 overall recruit in the 2024 class and ranked as the No. 2 quarterback behind Florida’s DJ Lagway. After a short stint at Alabama, Sayin transferred to Ohio State and saw limited action as the Buckeyes’ third-string quarterback. With Will Howard off to the NFL and Devin Brown transferring to California, Sayin is now poised to take over as Ohio State’s next starting quarterback.
Strengths: Sayin is an urgent, accurate pocket passer who throws with a compact, over-the-top motion reminiscent of Drew Brees. He gets into his drops quickly and shows a willingness to step up in the pocket to avoid pressure. In Ohio State’s spring game, he looked comfortable attacking the middle of the field and hit seam routes with confidence. As long as the Buckeyes can keep him upright, Sayin has the tools to consistently deliver on-time throws to one of the most talented receiving corps in the country.
Weaknesses: Sayin will be thrown into the fire this season with just 14 career dropbacks to his name. While he benefits from the nation’s best receiving corps, he’ll still need the game to slow down to reach the level of past Ohio State quarterbacks. Unlike some of his predecessors, Sayin doesn’t possess overwhelming arm strength or elite athleticism. Instead, his success will hinge on sharp fundamentals, timing and accuracy.
Offensive Player Spotlight: WR Jeremiah Smith
For just the second time ever — and the first since Trevor Lawrence in 2019 — a true sophomore tops PFF’s list of the best players in college football. Jeremiah Smith arrived in Columbus as the No. 1 recruit in the 2024 class and the highest-rated wide receiver prospect in history. Expectations were sky-high, and he delivered immediately.
Smith was the most valuable receiver in college football last season, according to PFF’s Wins Above Average metric. His 89.8 receiving grade ranked third nationally and was more than four points higher than any other returning wideout. He led the Power Four with 15 touchdown catches and finished second only to Tetairoa McMillan in receiving yards (1,311).
At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, Smith pairs elite athleticism with a remarkably refined skill set for someone who only just turned 19.
| Snaps | PFF Grade | PFF WAA |
|---|---|---|
| 775 | 89.7 | 0.75 |
| 24th | 4th | 1st |
Defensive Player Spotlight: S Caleb Downs
Caleb Downs enters 2025 as the top returning player at his position for the second straight year — a distinction that places him among an exclusive group of college football standouts.
Players ranked as the top returning player at their position in multiple seasons
| Name | Position | School | Seasons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trevor Lawrence | QB | Clemson | 2019, 2020 |
| Derek Stingley Jr. | CB | LSU | 2020, 2021 |
| Brock Bowers | TE | Georgia | 2023, 2024 |
| Caleb Downs | S | Ohio State | 2024, 2025 |
All three of those players went on to become top-15 picks in their respective NFL drafts, a path Caleb Downs appears well on his way to following. In fact, he currently projects as the top overall prospect in the 2026 draft and is widely regarded as the best defensive player in college football.
Since transferring from Alabama, Downs has been the most valuable safety in the country, according to PFF’s Wins Above Average metric. His 91.7 overall grade over the past two seasons ranks second among FBS safeties, while his 91.2 coverage grade sits third. He’s also excelled against the run, racking up 35 run-defense stops and an 88.5 grade in that area since 2023.
Downs is the definition of versatility, capable of excelling at free safety, slot corner or in the box. On top of that, he’s a dangerous punt returner who adds even more value in the third phase.
| Snaps | PFF Grade | PFF WAA |
|---|---|---|
| 917 | 87.9 | 0.53 |
| 5th | 10th | 1st |
Bottom Line
Repeating as national champions won’t be easy after a mass exodus of talent, but Ohio State still has enough firepower to contend for a Big Ten title and a return to the College Football Playoff.
This news was originally published on this post .
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