Ohio State Must Trek Familiar Yet Different Path to Remain on College Football Mountaintop

The landscape of college football is ever-evolving, and for a powerhouse like Ohio State, maintaining elite status requires not just tradition, but adaptation. The Buckeyes are no strangers to pressure or expectations. Since the days of Woody Hayes and the Ten-Year War, through Jim Tressel’s championship run, Urban Meyer’s dominance, and Ryan Day’s current tenure, Ohio State has consistently remained in the thick of the national conversation.

But the 2025 season presents a new challenge—one that feels familiar in ambition but unfamiliar in execution. Ohio State knows what it takes to reach the mountaintop. However, the journey now involves navigating treacherous terrain filled with NIL deals, transfer portal chaos, expanded playoffs, and a Big Ten conference that has never been more crowded with talent and ambition.

Familiar Foundation: Recruiting, Development, and Dominance

Ohio State’s strength has always been rooted in three pillars—elite recruiting, elite development, and elite performance. The 2025 Buckeyes are continuing that tradition. With a top-five recruiting class that includes potential stars at key positions, the talent level remains championship-caliber.

Quarterback Julian Sayin, a transfer from Alabama, headlines a reshaped offense. Once committed to Ohio State before flipping to the Crimson Tide, Sayin’s return to Columbus feels like destiny fulfilled. With NFL arm talent and the poise of a seasoned starter, Sayin could be the key to unlocking an offense that stumbled at times last season.

Behind him is a collection of weapons that would make any coach envious. Star receiver Jeremiah Smith, entering his sophomore year, is drawing comparisons to legends like Marvin Harrison Jr. and Chris Olave. Running back Quinshon Judkins, another prized transfer from Ole Miss, brings SEC toughness to the backfield. Add in a veteran offensive line and dynamic tight end play, and the offense is loaded.

On defense, coordinator Jim Knowles is entering his third season with momentum. The Silver Bullets defense, once defined by bend-don’t-break inconsistency, now resembles the dominant units of the early 2000s. Led by linebacker C.J. Hicks, safety Caleb Downs, and edge rusher Jack Sawyer, the defense has the experience and swagger to match its physicality.

The Portal Era: Old Challenges, New Wrinkles

Ohio State has never been shy about supplementing its roster with outside talent, but the 2025 offseason brought an unprecedented embrace of the transfer portal. In total, the Buckeyes added over a dozen players from Power Five programs, including impact defenders and offensive skill players. It’s a strategy borne out of necessity as much as opportunity.

Where the Buckeyes once thrived by developing high school talent over three to four years, the new model demands instant results. Patience has eroded. Rebuilding years are unacceptable. And in Columbus, every season is measured against Michigan, the Big Ten, and the College Football Playoff.

The flipside is that Ohio State is also vulnerable to losing depth to the same portal. Several former top recruits have left the program in search of more immediate playing time. The Buckeyes have adjusted by bolstering their player development staff and ensuring they win as many portal battles as they lose.

NIL and the Business of Football

Ryan Day has not been shy in acknowledging the financial realities of college football’s new era. A year ago, he famously remarked that it could take $13 million annually to maintain a competitive roster. While some scoffed, his point was clear—this is no longer just recruiting; it’s roster construction in a semi-professional league.

To their credit, Ohio State’s collectives and boosters have responded. The Buckeye-focused NIL group, The Foundation, has ramped up its support for athletes across all sports, with football at the forefront. The program has succeeded in retaining key players who might otherwise have jumped to the NFL or transferred for a bigger payday elsewhere.

Still, this is a new balancing act for Ohio State. Winning on the field is no longer enough—it must be paired with winning in the boardroom. Coaches are recruiters, mentors, and now, in many ways, general managers. The synergy between the athletic department, boosters, and coaching staff must be seamless.

The Michigan Factor

No conversation about Ohio State is complete without mentioning “The Game.” After dominating the rivalry for nearly two decades, the Buckeyes have lost three straight to Michigan. It’s an albatross hanging over Ryan Day’s tenure.

In 2024, Ohio State came close—losing a bitter contest by three points in Ann Arbor. The sting of that defeat, and the absence from the Big Ten Championship and CFP that followed, has fueled an offseason defined by urgency. Day and his staff have heard the noise. For many fans, beating Michigan has become not just a goal—but the only acceptable benchmark.

This year, “The Game” returns to Columbus, and with the expanded 12-team playoff, a late-season loss may not be a death blow. But the stakes remain enormous. Winning The Game is about pride, tradition, and momentum. Another loss could tip the scales against Day in the court of public opinion, regardless of playoff success.

Big Ten Reloaded: USC, UCLA, Oregon, Washington

As if Michigan wasn’t enough, the Big Ten is no longer just the Big Ten. In 2025, the additions of USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington have created a super-conference that rivals the SEC in firepower.

Ohio State’s schedule includes matchups with two of those teams, and the likelihood of meeting another in the conference championship looms large. The conference is deeper than ever. Penn State is reloading with a strong sophomore class, Iowa continues to play spoiler, and Oregon—armed with a fast, physical roster—looks like a threat to run the table.

Travel, style clashes, and time zone differences all present challenges the Buckeyes haven’t faced before. But in typical fashion, Ohio State is leaning into the chaos. The program has invested in travel planning, sports science, and recovery protocols to prepare for longer road trips and unconventional game times.

The Playoff Puzzle

The expanded 12-team College Football Playoff is a game-changer. It reduces the margin of error while increasing the physical and mental demands of a season. Ohio State, once a program where anything less than 12-0 could mean missing the postseason, now has a clearer—though more complex—path to glory.

This could benefit a team like the 2025 Buckeyes, who are expected to face multiple top-10 opponents. A two-loss Ohio State could still find itself hosting a playoff game in December, a scenario that once felt unimaginable.

But it also means the season is longer, grueling, and full of opportunities for upsets. Depth matters more than ever. So does health. And so does focus. The regular season remains critical, but so does peaking at the right time.

Ryan Day’s Legacy in Real Time

For all his success—Big Ten titles, CFP appearances, and a record that most programs would dream of—Ryan Day’s legacy remains in flux. Fair or not, he’s viewed through the lens of his predecessors. Urban Meyer went undefeated against Michigan and won a national title. Jim Tressel beat Michigan regularly and captured a championship. Day, meanwhile, is 1-3 against the Wolverines and 0-1 in national title games.

This year could define his tenure. With an elite quarterback, a revamped defense, and one of the nation’s deepest rosters, there are no excuses. Day has said all the right things about staying the course while adjusting to modern demands. He’s rebuilt his staff, leaned into analytics, and fostered player leadership.

But results are all that matter now. The Ohio State fanbase is loyal, passionate, and—perhaps—growing impatient. A Big Ten title and CFP win would likely secure Day’s job for years. A fourth straight loss to Michigan? That’s a different story.

Culture and Brotherhood: The Buckeye Identity

One thing that hasn’t changed is the brotherhood within the locker room. The 2025 team is led by a group of veterans who understand what it means to wear the scarlet and gray. Players like TreVeyon Henderson, Emeka Egbuka, and Donovan Jackson have stuck around for more than just stats—they want to bring a title back to Columbus.

Leadership council meetings, position group accountability sessions, and team-building exercises have become staples of the offseason. Ryan Day has encouraged players to take ownership of the program’s direction. The message is clear: the coaches can scheme and plan, but the players must lead.

And they are. Hicks has emerged as a vocal presence on defense. Sayin, despite being new, has won over the locker room with his work ethic and humility. The culture feels aligned with the goal.

The Road Ahead

The 2025 season won’t be easy. The Buckeyes open with a challenging non-conference slate, including a Week 2 matchup against Texas. From there, they’ll face Penn State, Oregon, and of course, Michigan.

But if any team is equipped to navigate this new era, it’s Ohio State. The program has the history, the resources, the talent, and the ambition. What it must now prove is that it can evolve—without losing its soul.

To remain on the mountaintop, Ohio State must embrace both the familiar and the new. Win the battles up front. Execute at the skill positions. Handle the noise. Beat Michigan. Survive the playoff. And do it all while navigating a college football world that changes by the day.

In the end, it’s the same mountain—but the climb looks a little different now.