The Ohio State Buckeyes are still celebrating the program’s national championship, but fans are already looking ahead to the 2025 college football season. The good news is the Buckeyes are expected to once again be among the top contenders.
Yet, Ohio State faces challenges thanks to losing players via the college football transfer portal as well as the NFL draft. Head coach Ryan Day is also in search for a new defensive coordinator after former assistant Jim Knowles bolted to join the Penn State Nittany Lions.
ESPN’s Bill Connelly offered early predictions for how the College Football Playoff will unfold next season.
Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day is a national champion.
Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
The good news is the Buckeyes are projected to once again make the College Football Playoff. Now, for the bad news.
“What was I supposed to do, not set up the angstiest first-round matchup to date?” Connelly wrote on Monday.
Here’s how the ESPN analyst projects Ohio State’s season will play out.
“First, Ohio State (No. 1 on [Mark] Schlabach’s list) is obviously in despite a challenging 2025 schedule (No. 2 Texas and No. 3 Penn State at home, No. 13 Illinois and No. 21 Michigan on the road) and the requisite loss to the Wolverines,” Connelly noted. “The Buckeyes will go 2-1 against the other headliners and advance at 10-2.”