Ohio State is coming off a national championship season where they dominated late, overpowering Tennessee and Oregon, dashing Texas’ title hopes, and defeating Notre Dame for a third straight year. Despite some challenges, including finishing fourth in the Big Ten while handing the top three teams their only losses, the Buckeyes proved their strength against tough competition.
Despite sending a nation-high 15 players to the NFL Combine, Ohio State is still ranked No. 1 in Athlon Sports’ spring 2025 power rankings by Steven Lassan, ahead of Penn State and reigning Big Ten champion Oregon. Lassan acknowledges the Buckeyes have roster gaps to fill but highlights quarterback Julian Sayin as a breakout candidate and emphasizes the star power of receiver Jeremiah Smith and safety Caleb Downs.
Julian Sayin is an intriguing name to highlight first, as Ohio State enters spring with a quarterback competition between him and Lincoln Kienholz. Sayin is the favorite, especially given the praise he received from Chip Kelly, Will Howard, and Denzel Burke during the national championship run and at the NFL Combine. If everything goes as expected, Sayin will be the only first-time starter on Ohio State’s offense, making him not just a breakout candidate but also the most crucial one.
This spring, all eyes will be on the quarterback battle, as it could determine whether Ohio State remains a title contender or takes a step back from last season’s success.
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