There seem to be a lot of critics these days when it comes to the Ohio State football program. A two-year streak of losing to Michigan seems to have set the narrative that the Buckeyes are on a decline after so many years of contending for Big Ten and national titles. Nevermind the fact that OSU just made the College Football Playoff and should have probably taken home a national title save for some bad breaks against Georgia in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
Patrick Conn of College Sports Wire is ready to poo-poo that notion when it comes to the chances of Ohio State being a factor in the national championship race in 2023. He lists 12 teams considered contenders next season and explains why he’s buying or selling each. And yeah, he thinks OSU is a team to get behind.
Buy Buckeyes Tickets“Despite not winning the Big Ten, the Ohio State Buckeyes were a field goal away from playing for a national title against TCU,” wrote Conn. “There is no C.J. Stroud this season but they do have Marvin Harrison Jr and Emeka Egbuka, one of the top duos in the country at wide receiver. I expect the offense will be just fine and they should be near the top by season’s end.”
College Wire regional editor Patrick Conn breaks down the contenders and pretenders for the CFP in 2023. https://t.co/hNVe8X3T8J
— College Sports Wire (@College_Wire) April 6, 2023
You have to think it’ll all come down to three games for Ohio State. There’s the early test at Notre Dame, a home game against Penn State, and the season-ending and likely defining regular-season finale against Michigan.
The talent is there, we’ll just have to see if it all comes together and whether or not the Buckeyes get some of the breaks every team that wins a national title gets on the way to confetti and trophies.
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