Re-thinking Ohio State's chances in 2025
There's a chance the Buckeyes have a better shot at a repeat as National Champions than I assumed earlier in the offseason...
The other day I was looking for examples that I had stored in my memory of how Ohio State’s D-line just does not look up for it this year in terms of run defense. I’d watched the spring game and taken note of a dozen instances where the offense just lined up and ran Duo or a CY counter (center and tight end) scheme and mauled the defense for easy yards.
They’d also demonstrated a deep room of good blockers at tight end who could pair with explosive receiving tight end Max Klare, fresh from Purdue.
It pointed to a few easy conclusions.
Ohio State’s offense may be even more run-centric and play-action oriented than usual given the physical front and relative inexperience of quarterback Julian Sayin.
The defense just does not have the size and physicality up front to be a National Championship contender.
But when I was looking back for those examples, I noticed a few contextual hiccups in my previous impressions. It’s possible that Ohio State actually has a plan under Matt Patricia that will result in a working run defense and that Sayin will be able to lead the sort of nasty spread passing attack that I’ve long written is a trump card in postseason play.