Ohio State Buckeyes 2023 Preview and Predictions

(Photo Credit: Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

Key Players Returning:

RB Miyan Williams, WR/RS Emeka Egbuka, WR Julian Fleming, WR Marvin Harrison Jr., OG Donovan Jackson, OG Matthew Jones, DE JT Tuimoloau. DE Jack Sawyer, NT Michael Hall Jr., LB Steele Chambers LB Tommy Eichenberg, LB Cody Simon, CB Denzel Burke, SS Lathan Ransom and PT Jesse Mirco.

Key Players Departing:

QB CJ Stoud, WR/PR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, OC Luke Wypier, OT Paris Johnson Jr., OT Dawand Jones, DE Javontae Jean-Baptiste, DE Zach Harrison, CB Cameron Brown, NB Tanner McCalister, FS Ronnie Hickman, KR Xavier Johnson and PK Noah Ruggles.

Top 10 Recruits:

Blue Chip Recruits: 
WR Brandon Inniss (Ft. Lauderdale, Florida).

4Star Recruits:  CB Jermaine Mathews (Cincinnati, Ohio), WR Noah Rogers (Rolesville, North Carolina), WR Carnell Tate (Bradenton, Florida), CB Calvin Simpson-Hunt (Waxahachie, Texas), DL Jason Moore (Hyattsville, Maryland), OL Luke Montgomery (Findlay, Ohio), TE Jelani Thurman (Fairburn, Georgia), EDGE Joshua Mickens (Indianapolis, Indiana) and CB Davison Igbinosun (Ole Miss transfer).

2022 Results:

G01  #5 NOTRE DAME  W  21-10
G02  ARKANSAS STATE  W  45-12
G03  TOLEDO  W  77-21
G04  WISCONSIN  W  52-21
G05  RUTGERS  W  49-10
G06  @ Michigan State  W 49-20
G07  IOWA  W  54-10
G08  @ #13 Penn State  W  44-21
G09  @ Northwestern  W  21-7
G10  INDIANA  W  56-14
G11  @ Maryland  W  43-30
G12  #3 MICHIGAN  L  23-45
CFP  vs. #1 Georgia  L  41-42

Team Info:

2022 Record:  11-2 (2nd in Big Ten East)

Home:  7-1
Away:  4-0
Neutral:  0-1
B10:  8-1
Non-B10:  3-1

Head Coach:  Ryan Day

Ohio State:  45-6
Career:  45-6
Bowls:  2-3

Returning Statistical Leaders:

Passing:  Kyle McCord (16-20, 190 yards, 80.0%, 10.5 avg., 1 TD, 0 INT)
Rushing:  Miyan Williams (128 car., 825 yards, 6.4 avg., 14 TD)
Receiving:  Marvin Harrison Jr. (77 rec., 1263 yards, 16.4 avg., 14 TD)
TDs Scored:  Marvin Harrison Jr./Miyan Williams (14)
Sacks:  Michael Hall Jr./Jack Sawyer (4.5)
Tackles:  Tommy Eichenberg (120)
Tackles For Loss:  Tommy Eichenberg (12)
Interceptions:  Steele Chambers/JT Tuimoloau (2)
Pass Deflections:  Denzel Burke (5)Forced Fumbles:  5 tied (1)
Kick Returns:  Xavuer Johnson (12 ret., 269 yards, 22.4 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns:  Emeka Egbuka (11 ret., 75 yards, 6.8 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking:  None
Punting:  Jesse Mirco (49 punts, 2223 yards, 45.4 avg., 17 in20)

Projected Offensive Starters

QB:  6  Kyle McCord  (JR)
RB:  32  TreVeyon Henderson  (RS SO)
WR:  18  Marvin Harrison Jr.  (RS SO)
WR:  4  Julian Fleming  (SR)
WR:  2  Emeka Egbuka  (RS SO)
TE:  8  Cade Stover  (RS SR)
LT:  71  Josh Simmons  (RS SO/TR)
LG:  74  Donovan Jackson  (RS SO)
OC:  75  Carson Hinzman  (RS FR)
RG:  55  Matthew Jones  (GR)
RT:  70  Josh Fryar  (RS JR)
KR:  10  Xavier Johnson  (GR)
PK:  38  Jayden Fielding  (SO)

Projected Defensive Starters:
 
DE:  33  Jack Sawyer  (RS SO)
DT:  51  Michael Hall Jr.  (RS SO)
NT:  58  Ty Hamilton  (RS JR)
DE:  17  Mitchell Melton  (RS JR)
LB:  35  Tommy Eichenberg  (RS SR)
LB:  22  Steele Chambers  (RS SR)
NB:  3  Cameron Martinez  (RS JR)
CB:  10  Denzel Burke  (RS SO)
CB:  7  Jordan Hancock  (RS SO)
FS:  41  Josh Proctor  (RS SR)
SS:  6  Sonny Styles  (SO)
PR:  2  Emeka Egbuka  (RS SO)
PT:  29  Jesse Mirco  (RS SO)

Team Grades:

Offense

Quarterbacks:  C
Running Backs:  A
Wide Receivers:  B
Offensive Line:  B

Defense

Defensive Line:  B
Linebackers:   A
Secondary:  C

Special Teams

Kick Returners:  B
Punt Returners:  C
Kickers:  C
Punters:  A

Schedule:

09/02 
@ Indiana Hoosiers  |  Ohio State leads the series 79-12-5.  The Buckeyes are 10-0 since 2013 and their last series loss (7-41) dates back to 1988.

09/09 
YOUNGSTOWN STATE PENGUINS  |  Ohio State leads the series 2-0.  The Buckeyes won (43-0) the last meeting between schools in 2008.

09/16 
WESTERN KENTUCKY HILLTOPPERS  |  First meeting between schools.

09/23  @ Notre Dame Fighting Irish  |  Ohio State leads the series 5-2.  The Buckeyes won (21-10) last season’s meeting between schools and their last series loss (2-7) dates back to 1936.

10/07 
MARYLAND TERAPINS  |  Ohio State leads the series 8-0.  The Buckeyes won (43-30) last season’s meeting between schools.

10/14 
@ Purdue Boilermakers  |  Ohio State leads the series 41-35-2.  The Buckeyes won (59-31) the last meeting between schools in 2021.

10/21 
PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS  |  Ohio State leads the series 24-14.  The Buckeyes are 9-1 since 2013 and their last series loss (21-24) was in 2016.

10/28 
@ Wisconsin Badgers  |  Ohio State leads the series 62-18-5.  The Buckeyes are 7-0 since 2013 and their last series loss (18-31) dates back to 2010.

11/04 
@ Rutgers Scarlet Knights  |  Ohio State leads the series 9-0.  The Buckeyes won (49-10) last season’s meeting between schools.

11/11  MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS  |  Ohio State leads the series 36-15.  The Buckeyes are 8-2 since 2013 and their last series loss (14-17) was in 2015.

11/18  M
INNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS  |  Ohio State leads the series 47-7.  The Buckeyes won (45-31) the last meeting between schools in 2021.

11/25 
@ Michigan Wolverines  |  Ohio State trails the series 52-60-6.  The Buckeyes are 7-2 since 2013 and their last series win (56-27) was in 2019.

Predictions:

Home:  5-1
Road:  3-3
Neutral:  0-0
B10:  6-3
Non-B10:  2-1

Overall:  8-4  (4th in Big Ten East)