In a Way-Too-Early post-spring Top 25 released by ESPN’s Mark Schlabach on Wednesday, the defending champion Buckeyes slotted in at No. 5.
Schlabach, who previously ranked Ohio State at No. 1 in his first way-too-early top 25, mentioned the departures of former offensive coordinator Chip Kelly and former defensive coordinator Jim Knowles as an obstacle in front of the Buckeyes heading into 2025.
“The Buckeyes won’t have an easy time replacing the players from the senior class and both coordinators who helped lead them to their third national championship since 2002,” Schlabach wrote. “Starting quarterback Will Howard and running backs Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson were among the key losses. Freshman Julian Sayin and sophomore Lincoln Kienholz were locked in for a pretty good battle for starting quarterback in the spring, although it still seems to be Sayin’s job to lose.”
Schlabach also wrote that the Buckeyes will have “the best receiver corps in the sport,” featuring 2024 Big Ten receiver of the year Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate, but noted that the Buckeyes will have to replace several key contributors defensively and that, “depth on the defensive line, especially in the interior, was a big concern coming out of spring practice.”
Ahead of the Buckeyes in Schlabach’s rankings were veteran teams like No. 1 Penn State and No. 2 Clemson, who are returning several talented players on both ends of the ball, and talented SEC programs like No. 3 Texas and No. 4 Georgia.
Four other Big Ten programs made Schlabach’s top-25, including No. 8 Oregon, No. 11 Illinois, No. 17 Indiana and No. 21 Michigan.
The Big Ten’s six programs in Schlabach’s rankings were second to the SEC, which had nine teams ranked.
