Can the Ohio State Buckeyes live up to their expectations?
Each Monday this summer, we’re taking a look at Northwestern football’s opponents for the upcoming 2024 season. This week, we have the Ohio State Buckeyes, who will be making the trip to Evanston on Nov. 16. In 2023, the Buckeyes finished 11-2 with their two losses coming at the end of their season, including an embarrassing showing in the Cotton Bowl against Missouri. Now, the Big Ten favorites hope to prove doubters wrong and win not only the conference but hoist the National Championship trophy.
The Basics
Returning Production: 61% overall (61% offense, 61% defense); 70th in FBS
2023 Record: 11-2
Head Coach: Ryan Day
Preseason AP Poll Ranking: No. 2
The Stats
The following metrics are courtesy of Bill Connelly and ESPN. You can read more about the rankings and theory behind them here.
2024 SP+ Overall: Second
2024 SP+ Offense: 20th
2024 SP+ Defense: First
2024 SP+ Special Teams: 20th
2023 Capsule
Last season was definitely shaky for the Ohio State Buckeyes. Yes, an 11-1 season before a bowl game is shaky for this team. Throughout the entire season, despite being ranked only as low as No. 6 in the AP Poll before its first loss, this Ohio State team wasn’t the typical Buckeyes squad. Despite having star wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., the Buckeyes’ 2023 season was held back by their offense. They won games because of stellar defense, holding every opponent before Michigan to 17 points or fewer.
The Buckeyes had their first big test when they went on the road to face Notre Dame. Down 14-10 with less than 90 seconds remaining, Kyle McCord led the Buckeyes on a 15-play, 65-yard drive that ended in a last second walk-off touchdown, stunning the Fighting Irish. The next challenge they faced was against No. 7 Penn State. The No. 3 Buckeyes stayed strong at home and held off their Big Ten rival, winning that game 20-12 thanks to a big performance from Harrison Jr. and four sacks from the defense.
The 2023 season was going well enough for the Buckeyes, but then came The Game. The Buckeyes traveled to the Big House to take on the eventual 2024 national championship-winning Michigan Wolverines. The game was back and forth, and was tied 17-17 with five minutes remaining in the third quarter. Michigan then started to pull away, leading 27-17 with under twelve minutes to go. The Buckeyes responded with a four-minute, eight-play, 65-yard drive that culminated in a Harrison Jr. touchdown. With just about eight minutes left, the Wolverines milked the clock, ending a seven minute drive with three points. Michigan was up 30-24, but Ohio State had one last chance.
With a minute to go, the Buckeyes had the ball, needing a touchdown to prevent their third straight loss in this rivalry matchup. After an incomplete pass from McCord, Harrison Jr. reeled in a 22-yard catch. McCord then completed a pass to wide receiver Julian Fleming for a 21-yard gain. Fleming fumbled; however, teammate Emeka Egbuka’s recovery kept Ohio State’s hopes alive. Knocking on the door in Michigan territory, McCord was hit as he threw the ball on the next play. The ball landed straight into the hands of Michigan’s Rod Moore, ending the game and knocking Ohio State out of playoff contention.
After not getting into the College Football Playoff, the Buckeyes faced the Missouri Tigers in the Cotton Bowl. Mizzou, despite being underdogs, beat the Buckeyes 14-3 — the first time in seven years that the Buckeyes failed to score a touchdown. After failing to beat Michigan for the third year in a row, along with not being able to play for the Big Ten Championship, many Buckeyes decided to return to Ohio State to have another go for a title.
Offensive Overview
The Buckeyes scored 30.5 points per game in the 2023 season, but their offense wasn’t anything to write home about. This year though, it’s completely different. With McCord gone, former Kansas State quarterback Will Howard is set to take over. Howard started 27 games and played in 34 during his four year career with the Wildcats. His best season was in 2023, in which he threw for 2,643 yards and 24 touchdowns to go alongside 10 interceptions. He also ran for 351 yards, averaging over four yards per carry and finishing the season with nine rushing touchdowns. Howard will help the Buckeyes offense by adding a dual-threat element that was missing last year with McCord.
Howard also will have an elite supporting cast. With redshirt junior Egbuka, sophomore Carnell Tate, and 2024’s No. 1 ranked prospect Jeremiah Smith, the Buckeyes are set up for success in the passing game. That is if the passing game is even needed much this season.
Despite losing running backs Chip Trayanum and Dallan Hayden to the transfer portal, along with Miyan Williams to the NFL, redshirt junior TreVeyon Henderson is back. In his 10 games with the Buckeyes last season, Henderson rushed for 926 yards and 11 touchdowns on 156 carries, averaging 5.9 yards per carry. He also added 229 more yards from his 19 receptions.
Not only is Henderson back, but the new face in the running back room is junior transfer Quinshon Judkins from Ole Miss. Judkins eclipsed 1,100 yards rushing in both of his first two seasons with the Rebels. His 2022 season was better, in which he had over 1,500 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns while adding another 132 yards receiving with one receiving touchdown. In 2023, he had only 1,158 rushing yards, but still got into the end zone 17 times — 15 of those rushing, two of those receiving. The Ohio State running back room is going to be electric.
The Buckeyes also have key returners on the offensive line, including Donovan Jackson, along with Alabama-transfer, Seth McLaughlin. They also have standout left tackle Josh Simmons.
Defensive Overview
On the defensive side of the ball, Ohio State is viewed as the best in the country. In 2023, the Buckeyes let up only 11 points per game, which finished second behind Michigan. They also allowed 259.9 yards per game, the third fewest in the nation.
Even after such an incredible defensive season, Ohio State’s defense is expected to outperform that. This is largely thanks to Ohio State bringing back nine returning starters. This includes defensive linemen Tyleik Williams (53 tackles, 10 TFLs, five PBUs last season), J.T. Tuimoloau (38 tackles, seven TFLs, five sacks last season), and Jack Sawyer (48 tackles, 10 TFLs, 6.5 sacks last season). This Ohio State defensive line is back and ready to take a step up from an already stellar 2023 season.
Corners Denzel Burke and Davison Igbinosun are also expected to shut down opposing wide receivers just as they did last season. In 2023, the pair helped the Buckeyes run the nation’s top ranked pass defense that allowed just 147.4 receiving yards per game. Also returning to the secondary is safety Lathan Ransom, who is coming off his best season and only looking to improve.
Even with all these returning players, the key to this 2024 Ohio State defense is Alabama transfer Caleb Downs. Last season, the former five-star recruit and SEC Freshman of the Year became the first freshman safety to lead Alabama in tackles in the last 50-plus years.
After a stellar 2023 defensive season, the Buckeyes have basically the same group that was successful last year but added arguably the best safety in the country. The defensive expectations for this team are higher than they usually are for Ohio State. This defense has a real opportunity to be generational.