On Monday of this week the USA Today Sports AFCA Coaches Poll was released. The Buckeyes came in at No. 4 in the rankings trailing only Georgia at one, Michigan at two, and Alabama at three.
The rankings had four Big Ten teams ranked in the top 25 and included three teams in the top seven as Penn State came in at seven and Wisconsin at 21.
247 Sports’ Brad Crawford wrote an article this week breaking down the rankings where he listed three overrated and five underrated teams in the poll. Included in the list of underrated teams was Ohio State. Crawford had this to say about the Buckeyes’ number four ranking:
“Perhaps the voting coaches aren’t convinced three new offensive line starters and Kyle McCord at quarterback (projected) is good enough to warrant a top-three ranking in the preseason for the Buckeyes? It’s hard to overlook Ohio State’s wealth of weaponry elsewhere. Remember — this is a team that held a two-touchdown lead on unbeaten Georgia last season in the fourth quarter. Much of that firepower returns, including Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka, and the Buckeyes will also take the field with a reputation to repair in the Big Ten following consecutive hard-to-stomach setbacks against Michigan.”
My overrated and underrated teams after looking at the preseason coaches poll … https://t.co/MlAMQ7e5b3 pic.twitter.com/ynVNYcqXja
— Brad Crawford (@BCrawford247) August 8, 2023
Crawford makes good points this season as the Buckeyes enter the season with a big chip on their shoulder after back-to-back seasons of losing to Michigan and perhaps this preseason ranking can provide more bulletin board material.
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