Why the Ohio State football fan base will be disappointed in 2024/2025 season is because of the financial crisis — Watkins Jimmy
Football at Ohio State ought to be ashamed. Although the Buckeyes have always had elite talent, this year’s squad is a treasure trove. The depth chart of coach Ryan Day has even embarrassed former OSU coach Urban Meyer, who assembled some of the best teams in college football history. previous week, Meyer declared, “This might be the best college football roster in the last ten years – in terms of NFL talent and depth.” Whoever is the backup running back will most likely be selected in the first round of the draft. Give that some thought for a moment. They really are loaded.
For Day’s Buckeyes, who have yet to win a national championship since Meyer won the inaugural College Football Playoff trophy in 2014, this year has got to be The Year. The new 12-team postseason system almost assures OSU of a shot at the championship. Additionally, the Buckeyes have an inherent advantage over 90% of opponents thanks to their “loaded” roster, which is ranked third in 247Sports’ composite rankings.
The finest safety in the nation, if not a defensive player, Caleb Downs, an Alabama transfer, joins a defense that returns eight starters from the previous campaign. Roughly speaking, four defensive lineman and three cornerbacks project as NFL draft selections.
previous 1,100-yard receiver Emeka Egbuka is part of an offense that is led by offensive genius Chip Kelly and surrounded by previous five-star prospects. A school with a wealth of receiving history may have its greatest receiving potential in freshman Jeremiah Smith, the top overall recruit from 2024. TreVeyon Henderson is joined in the backfield by former Ole Miss running back Quinshon Judkins, who finished with 3,000 scrimmage yards in two SEC seasons. Who is going to score enough points on that defense or slow that skill group? This season, how could the Buckeyes possibly let their supporters down?
It’s that simple: The only criterion that matters for success in 2024 is that Ohio State will not win the national title this year. There would be a Big Ten banner, but since 1947, every coach at Ohio State has claimed one. In OSU folklore, only natties are notable. Despite the talent and experience that abound on Day’s 2024 roster, I see two crucial areas where the Buckeyes lack championship caliber.
The last time we witnessed former OSU receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. looking open on a dig route was when Buckeye blockers Donovan Jackson, Josh Fryar, and Josh Simmons played a crucial snap. Kyle McCord, a former quarterback, looked for room to move toward his target. But instead he found himself up against two Michigan defenders, and his throw lacked the zip Harrison required. intercepting. The game is over. Disappointed with playoff aspirations. Season 2023? Not successful. From that same offensive line, Ohio State returns three starters (actually four, as former center Carson Hinzman now plays backup guard), including the two players (Jackson and Simmons) who gave up pressure on the game-winning play at Michigan Stadium.
Last year, the Buckeyes finished 48th in run blocking and 64th in pass blocking according to Pro Football Focus, behind Fryar, Hinzman, and the since-graduated Matthew Jones. Even though PFF’s grading system isn’t flawless, these rankings provide context for Ohio State’s blocking performance in relation to other teams that are contending for championships.
Nine out of ten national champions have finished in the top 25 in run block or pass block grade during the playoff era. Over the course of three seasons, the trio (2020 Alabama, 2021 Georgia, and 2022 Georgia) that placed at least 25th in each categories lost a total of one game (42-1).
Additionally, Ohio State in 2023 would place 10th out of 11 teams in both categories if they were compared to this ranking.
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