Despite a vastly different lineup and two new coordinators, the Ohio State Buckeyes are NCAAF future odds favorites to repeat as national champions. The 2024 season for Ohio State produced a national championship and saved head coach Ryan Day’s job. The end of the 2023 Ohio State season was a wake-up call for Ohio State football donors. Day aggressively worked with donors to improve the Buckeyes’ 2024 prospects. Hires such as offensive coordinator Chip Kelly made a profound branding impact that could translate to future championships. Now the winds of change have arrived.
2025 SBG College Football Futures: Ohio State Buckeyes
| Odds to Win National Championship: | +500 |
|---|---|
| Odds to Win Big Ten Championship: | +200 |
| Over/Under Win Total: | 10.5 |
2025 Ohio State Buckeyes Schedule
- Aug 30 vs. Texas Longhorns
- Sep 6 vs. Grambling Tigers
- Sep 13 vs. Ohio Bobcats
- Sep 20 OFF
- Sep 27 at Washington Huskies
- Oct 4 vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers
- Oct 11 at Illinois Fighting Illini
- Oct 18 at Wisconsin Badgers
- Oct 25 OFF
- Nov 1 Penn State Nittany Lions
- Nov 8 at Purdue Boilermakers
- Nov 15 vs. UCLA Bruins
- Nov 22 vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
- Nov 29 at Michigan Wolverines
For the fourth consecutive season, Day and the Ohio State Buckeyes lost to the hated Team Up North (Michigan). Correlate that they did so as heavy online betting home favorites. While that is never acceptable in Columbus, Ohio, at least Buckeye fans could say that OSU was the eventual national champion.
At the end of the 2023 season, Day was battered and beaten. He was tired of losing to Michigan and the price an Ohio State coach pays for doing so. He was sick of being underappreciated and hearing about the Maize and Blue. Instead of moping and pouting, Day came out fighting. And Ohio State reaped the rewards with a national championship.
Matching last year’s four-game playoff run and national championship is a tall 2025 college football futures order for head coach Ryan Day. The Buckeyes had 14 players selected in the NFL Draft. Additionally, they have new play-callers on both sides of the ball. Day handed offensive play-calling duties to Brian Hartline, while former NFL head coach Matt Patricia has taken over the defensive responsibilities. Despite all of the turnover, the upside for this team is obvious.
Former 5-star quarterback Julian Sayin takes control of Day’s high-powered offense. He inherits a Heisman candidate. And arguably the best returning player in college football, receiver Jeremiah Smith. Smith will be leading the way on the outside. Also, West Virginia transfer CJ Donaldson arrives to alleviate the loss of the 1-2 punch of Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson at running back.
In turn, Safety Caleb Downs headlines a defense returning only three starters. There was one who left spring with concerns in the trenches and doubts about the overall depth. Linebacker Sonny Styles is another stalwart for Patricia to build around on the defensive front.
Key games versus Texas and Penn State are in Columbus, but the annual showdown versus Michigan is on the road.
Ohio State has a bump, maybe two, but it’s not losing three games as it returns to the College Football Playoff. Certainly, it’ll be a tougher run than 2024. And that includes probably being the underdog at Michigan. If it loses the first game and the last game and takes everything else in between, it’s CFP-bound.