(RB Tre’Veyon Henderson – AP Photo)
Key Players Returning:
RB TreVeyon Henderson, WR/KR Emeka Egbuka, OG Carson Hinzman, OG Donovan Jackson, OT Josh Fryar, OT Josh Simmons, DE JT Tuimoloau. DE Jack Sawyer, DT Ty Hamilton, DT Tyleik Williams, LB Cody Simon, CB Denzel Burke, CB Davison Igbinosun, NB Jordan Hancock, SS Lathan Ransom, PR Jayden Ballard, and PK Jayden Fielding.
Key Players Departing:
QB Kyle McCord (Syracuse transfer), WR Julian Fleming (Penn State transfer), WR Marvin Harrison Jr. (Cardinals R1), TE Cade Stover (Texans R4), OG Matthew Jones, NT Michael Hall Jr. (Browns R2), LB Steele Chambers, LB Tommy Eichenberg (Raiders R5), NB Sonny Styles, FS Josh Proctor, KR Xavier Johnson, and PT Jesse Mirco (Vanderbilt transfer).
(WR Jeremiah Smith – 247Sports)
Top 10 Recruits:
Blue Chip Recruits: WR Jeremiah Smith (Hollywood, Florida), DS Caleb Downs (Alabama transfer), and QB Julian Sayin (Alabama transfer).
4Star Recruits: EDGE Eddrick Houston (Buford, Georgia), RB Quinshon Judkins (Ole Miss transfer), CB Aaron Scott (Holand, Ohio), QB Air Noland (Fairburn, Georgia), WR Mylan Graham (New Haven, Indiana), RB James Peoples (San Antonio, Texas), abd CB Bryce West (Cleveland, Ohio).
2023 Results:
G01 @ Indiana W 23-3
G02 YOUNGSTOWN STATE W 35-7
G03 WESTERN KENTUCKY W 63-10
G04 @ #9 Notre Dame W 17-14
G05 MARYLAND W 37-17
G06 @ Purdue W 41-7
G07 #7 PENN STATE W 28-12
G08 @ Wisconsin W 24-10
G09 @ Rutgers W 35-16
G10 MICHIGAN STATE W 38-3
G11 MINNESOTA W 37-3
G12 @ #3 Michigan L 24-30
BOWL vs. #9 Missouri L 3-14
Team Info:
2023 Record: 11-2 (2nd in Big Ten East)
Home: 6-0
Away: 5-1
Neutral: 0-1
B10: 8-1
Non-B10: 3-1
Head Coach: Ryan Day
Ohio State: 56-8
Career: 56-8
Bowls: 2-4
(WR Emeka Egbuka – Getty Images)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Devin Brown (16-28, 217 yards, 51.7%, 7.8 avg., 2 TD, 1 INT)
Rushing: TreVeyon Henderson (156 car., 926 yards, 5.9 avg., 11 TD)
Receiving: Emeka Egbuka (41 rec., 515 yards, 12.6 avg., 4 TD)
TDs Scored: TreVeyon Henderson (11)
Sacks: Jack Sawyer (6.5)
Tackles: Davison Igbinosun (59)
Tackles For Loss: Jack Sawyer/Tyleik Williams (10)
Interceptions: Jordan Hancock (2)
Pass Deflections: Denzel Burke (9)
Forced Fumbles: Jordan Hancock/Jack Sawyer (2)
Kick Returns: None
Punt Returns: Jayden Ballard (9 ret., 49 yards, 5.4 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Jayden Fielding (16-20 fg/fga., 80%, 49-50 xp/xpa., 97 pts.)
Punting: None
Projected Offensive Starters
QB: 18 Will Howard (GS/TR)
RB: 1 Quinshon Judkins (JR/TR)
WR: 4 Jeremiah Smith (FR)
WR: 17 Carnell Tate (SO)
WR: 2 Emeka Egbuka (RS JR)
TE: 88 Gee Scott Jr. (GR)
LT: 71 Josh Simmons (RS JR/TR)
LG: 74 Donovan Jackson (RS JR)
OC: 56 Seth McLaughlin (GR/TR)
RG: 75 Carson Hinzman (RS SO)
RT: 70 Josh Fryar (RS SR)
KR: 4 Lorenzo Syles Jr. (SR/TR)
PK: 38 Jayden Fielding (JR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 33 Jack Sawyer (RS JR)
DT: 58 Ty Hamilton (RS SR)
NT: 91 Tyleik Williams (RS JR)
DE: 44 JT Tuimoloau (RS JR)
LB: 6 Sonny Styles (JR)
LB: 30 Cody Simon (GR)
NB: 7 Jordan Hancock (RS JR)
CB: 10 Denzel Burke (RS JR)
CB: 1 Davison Igbinosun (RS JR)
FS: 2 Caleb Downs (SO/TR)
SS: 8 Lathan Ransom (SR)
PR: 11 Brandon Inniss (SO)
PT: 35 Anthony Vennari (JR/TR)
(DE Jack Sawyer – Icon Sportswire/Getty Images)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: A
Running Backs: A
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: A
Defense
Defensive Line: B
Linebackers: C
Secondary: B
Special Teams
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: B
Kickers: A
Punters: B
Schedule:
08/31 AKRON ZIPS | Ohio State leads the series 8-1. The Buckeyes won (59-7) the last meeting between schools in 2021.
09/07 WESTERN MICHIGAN BRONCOS | Ohio State won (38-12) the only prior meeting between schools in 2015.
09/21 MARSHALL THUNDERING HERD | Ohio State leads the series 1-0. The Buckeyes won (45-7) the last meeting between schools in 2010, but the game was later vacated.
09/28 @ Michigan State Spartans | Ohio State leads the series 37-15. The Buckeyes are 9-1 since 2014, and their last series loss (16-17) was in 2015.
10/05 IOWA HAWKEYES | Ohio State leads the series 17-15-3. The Buckeyes won (54-10) the last meeting between schools in 2022.
10/12 @ Oregon Ducks | Ohio State leas the series 9-1. The Buckeyes lost (28-35) the last meeting between schools in 2021.
10/26 NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS | Ohio State leas the series 9-1. The Buckeyes won (26-17) the last meeting between schools in 2021.
11/02 @ Penn State Nittany Lions | Ohio State leads the series 24-14. The Buckeyes are 9-1 since 2014, and their last series loss (21-24) was in 2016.
11/09 PURDUE BOILERMAKERS | Ohio State leads the series 41-15-2. The Buckeyes won (41-7) last season’s meeting between schools, and their last series loss (20-49) was in 2018.
11/16 vs. Northwestern Wildcats | Ohio State leads the series 65-14-1. The Buckeyes won (21-7) the last meeting between schools in 2022.
11/23 INDIANA HOOSIERS | Indiana leads the series 79-12-5. The Buckeyes are 10-0 since 2014, and their last series loss (7-61) dates back to 1988.
11/30 MICHIGAN WOLVERINES | Indiana leads the series 37-15. The Buckeyes are 9-1 since 2014, and their last series loss (14-17) was in 2015.
Predictions:
Home: 8-0
Road: 2-1
Neutral: 2-2
B10: 8-1
Non-B10: 4-2
Overall: 12-3 (2nd in Big Ten/8th Seed – Eliminated in Quarterfinals)
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