Ohio State Buckeyes Ranked No. 2 in Preseason Coaches Poll, Poised to Challenge for National Championship in 2025 Campaign
The Ohio State Buckeyes have officially been slotted at No. 2 in the 2025 USA Today Preseason Coaches Poll, a ranking that reflects both the immense respect they command nationally and the weight of expectations as the new season approaches. It’s not just a number—it’s a statement. A declaration that Ohio State is primed, loaded, and ready to make another run at college football’s biggest prize.
This ranking, though not entirely surprising, speaks volumes about the national perception of head coach Ryan Day’s program. After a 2024 season that saw the Buckeyes finally snap their losing streak to Michigan, return to the College Football Playoff, and finish just shy of the national championship game, there’s a sense in Columbus that this is the year to finish the job. And coaches around the country seem to agree.
Sitting just behind defending national champion Alabama, the Buckeyes are surrounded by elite company. But the No. 2 spot carries with it the belief that Ohio State isn’t merely one of the best teams—they might be the best team. Loaded with returning talent, a coaching staff hungry for validation, and a fanbase as passionate as any in the country, Ohio State enters the 2025 season as a legitimate title favorite.
Everything begins with the quarterback. Devin Brown, now a senior, returns for his second full season as the starter after a breakout junior year that saw him throw for over 3,800 yards and 35 touchdowns. His poise, arm strength, and mobility make him one of the most complete quarterbacks in the country. More importantly, he has fully embraced the leadership mantle, earning the trust of the locker room and the staff. Brown’s decision to return instead of entering the NFL Draft speaks to both his personal goals and the belief in what this team can accomplish together.
Brown won’t have to do it alone. The Buckeyes are absolutely loaded at the skill positions. Emeka Egbuka, the reliable and explosive wide receiver who opted to return for his fifth season, headlines a receiving corps that’s as dangerous as any in the nation. He’s joined by rising sophomore Brandon Inniss and true freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith, who is already drawing comparisons to some of the greats to come through the program. Together, they form a nightmare for opposing secondaries—speed, size, and route-running excellence all across the board.
Running back TreVeyon Henderson also returns, fully healthy and eager to remind the country of just how dynamic he can be. His combination of speed and power, coupled with his ability to catch passes out of the backfield, gives the Buckeyes an every-down weapon that can take over games. Behind him, sophomore Dallan Hayden and junior Chip Trayanum provide depth and explosiveness, ensuring that the ground game won’t miss a beat regardless of who’s in the backfield.
The offensive line, often a key concern in championship aspirations, looks rock solid. Anchored by senior left tackle Josh Fryar and featuring a mix of veteran experience and young talent, this group has the potential to be one of the most dominant units in the country. Protection for Brown will be crucial, and the early signs out of fall camp suggest the line is more than up for the challenge.
Defensively, the Buckeyes might be even more formidable. Under coordinator Jim Knowles, the defense has taken major strides in the past two seasons, shifting from a liability to a strength. That transformation is expected to continue in 2025, thanks to a core group of returning starters and some high-profile newcomers.
Linebacker Sonny Styles is the name on everyone’s lips. At 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, he’s the definition of a modern defensive chess piece—able to cover tight ends, play the run, rush the passer, and anchor the middle of the field. His football IQ is off the charts, and his versatility makes him indispensable in Knowles’ evolving schemes.
The secondary will once again be led by cornerback Denzel Burke and safety Lathan Ransom, both of whom turned down NFL opportunities to return. Their leadership, instincts, and experience give the Buckeyes a decided edge in a conference increasingly loaded with high-powered passing attacks. The defensive line, headlined by J.T. Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer, gives Ohio State the edge presence necessary to disrupt even the most polished offensive units.
All told, the Buckeyes return 16 starters from last year’s squad, including key players at every level of the defense. Continuity, depth, and veteran leadership are all in place. This is not a team in transition—it’s a team that’s ready.
What makes Ohio State’s No. 2 ranking even more compelling is the strength of their schedule. The season begins with a headline-grabbing matchup against preseason No. 1 Alabama in Arlington, Texas. It’s the kind of game that can define a season before conference play even begins. A win would catapult the Buckeyes into the top spot nationally and provide a massive early résumé boost in the race for the College Football Playoff. A loss wouldn’t end their hopes, but it would raise the stakes for every game that follows.
Beyond the Alabama clash, Ohio State’s Big Ten schedule offers no shortage of challenges. Matchups with Penn State, Michigan State, and Iowa loom large, but of course, everything still revolves around the final Saturday in November. The annual showdown with Michigan remains the heartbeat of the season. After finally breaking their losing streak to the Wolverines in 2024, the Buckeyes now look to make it two in a row and reclaim full control of The Game.
Coach Ryan Day knows what’s at stake. After years of scrutiny and whispers that he couldn’t win the big one, last year’s victory in Ann Arbor was vindication. But he’s not satisfied. Day is driven to bring a national title back to Columbus for the first time since 2014. He understands the urgency, the pressure, and the opportunity. And he’s built a team capable of delivering.
There’s also a cultural shift happening within the program—more player-led accountability, more cohesion, more urgency. Offseason workouts have been more intense. Practices have had a different energy. The standard at Ohio State has always been excellence, but this year it feels like the players themselves are carrying the torch, not just following the path laid by the coaches.
And make no mistake—the No. 2 ranking carries responsibility. It’s not just a pat on the back. It’s a target. Every team the Buckeyes face this season will treat it like their Super Bowl. The pressure, the hype, the scrutiny—they come with the territory. But this team appears ready to embrace it.
The road to the College Football Playoff won’t be easy. In addition to a stacked Big Ten and the Alabama opener, teams like Georgia, Texas, USC, and Oregon are all lurking in the national picture. But Ohio State has one of the deepest, most balanced rosters in the country. They have veteran leadership at every level. They have elite coaching. And they have a fanbase hungry for glory.
There’s a quiet confidence in Columbus, not arrogance, but assurance. A belief that this is the year all the pieces come together. That the lessons of past heartbreaks have forged something stronger. That the No. 2 ranking is not the finish line—but the starting gun.
The Buckeyes have always thrived in the spotlight, and in 2025, the lights have never been brighter. With championship dreams alive and expectations sky-high, all eyes will be on Ohio State from the moment the season begins. And if they perform the way many believe they can, that No. 2 next to their name might not last very long.
In the end, rankings in August are just paper. What matters is what happens on Saturdays in the fall. But as far as starting points go, Ohio State couldn’t ask for a better one. They are respected. They are feared. And they are ready.
Now, the only thing left to do is prove it.
