Ohio State Football Fans, It’s Your Turn to Speak: The Athletic’s 2025 Survey Asks How You Really Feel Right Now

For a fanbase as passionate, expectant, and scrutinized as Ohio State’s, few seasons ever end quietly. And in 2025, silence hasn’t been an option. With the dust settling on another college football campaign—and with the transfer portal swirling, the Big Ten redefined, and the pressure dial turned up to eleven—The Athletic is once again turning to the people who live and breathe Buckeye football: the fans.

So, Ohio State fans—how do you feel now?

It’s not just a rhetorical question. The Athletic’s 2025 college football fan survey is open, and there may be no more compelling group of respondents than those who wear scarlet and gray, who populate the Horseshoe in record numbers, and who greet Saturdays in the fall like religion.

Because right now, it’s complicated, isn’t it?

You’ve seen your team remain a perennial contender but fall short of its own national championship standard. You’ve watched rivals rise while questions continue to mount around your own coaching staff. You’ve seen elite recruiting classes come through Columbus, only to leave some wondering if the results match the talent. There’s no shortage of pride—Ohio State still commands respect nationally—but the emotional pulse of the fanbase in 2025 is anything but settled.

This is why the survey matters. It’s more than just a digital suggestion box. It’s a referendum on expectations, frustrations, hopes, and identity. It’s a mirror, and Ohio State fans—there’s no fanbase in college football more fascinating to hold one up to.

Are you confident in Ryan Day?

That’s probably where the questions begin—and they should. Since taking over from Urban Meyer, Day has posted an enviable record. He’s recruited at a top-tier level, regularly appeared in the College Football Playoff mix, and developed quarterbacks with NFL futures. But at Ohio State, winning isn’t just about beating 90% of your opponents. It’s about beating the opponent.

Three straight losses to Michigan will stain even the glossiest win-loss record. The same fans who once saw Day as the seamless heir to Meyer now debate his future with open exasperation. The 2024 loss in Ann Arbor was yet another nail—close, hard-fought, but not good enough.

And yet, the season wasn’t without promise. The Buckeyes responded to adversity, showed flashes of dominance, and looked like a team capable of greatness. But capable isn’t the same as consistent. The fan survey will ask about that gap between potential and performance—and how much more patience fans are willing to extend to a coach whose ceiling remains tantalizing but unfulfilled.

How do you feel about the quarterback situation?

Once a proud and undisputed quarterback factory, Ohio State has watched its signal-caller position become a hotbed of uncertainty in recent years. The departure of Kyle McCord, the ongoing battles for the starting job, and the changing offensive philosophies have left fans anxious for clarity. There’s talent, sure—there always is—but talent needs structure, leadership, and a plan.

The survey gives you a voice to say whether you believe the Buckeyes are developing their QBs properly or if the program’s offensive identity has grown too muddled in the post-C.J. Stroud era. If you’re unsure who the face of the team is, you’re not alone. That’s why the survey is asking.

Do you feel the program is adapting to the changing college football landscape?

Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), the transfer portal, a larger Big Ten, and the looming impact of an expanded College Football Playoff—all of it has transformed college football faster than some programs can adjust. Ohio State has been proactive in some areas but reactive in others. NIL collectives tied to OSU have made headlines, but not always for the right reasons. Retaining talent has been a challenge. Losing players to other programs stings.

How does that sit with fans? Are you confident that the athletic department is handling the off-field chaos well enough to ensure on-field stability? Do you feel like Ohio State is still at the forefront of innovation in this new age of college football—or simply trying to hold on?

The Athletic wants to know if the Buckeye brand still inspires confidence in an ever-evolving sport—or if anxiety is starting to take root.

How do you feel about the Big Ten as it stands?

With the additions of USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington, the Big Ten has expanded its footprint and fortified its reputation. For a program like Ohio State, that means more high-profile games, coast-to-coast recruiting battles, and a path to national titles that’s as complicated as it is compelling.

But how do you feel about it?

Are you excited about regular-season matchups with West Coast powerhouses? Or do you miss the more traditional midwestern schedule? Do you feel like Ohio State’s place atop the conference hierarchy is threatened—or galvanized? The answers aren’t simple, and they vary widely even within the Buckeye community. The survey exists to capture that nuance.

How would you grade the 2024 season overall?

This question is deceptively simple. On paper, it was another strong year for the Buckeyes: a high win total, elite defense, and a team that competed every week. But when you peel back the layers, it’s not that easy. The loss to Michigan cast a long shadow. The absence from the Big Ten title game stung. The postseason, while solid, didn’t deliver the kind of championship run Ohio State fans live for.

Was it a good season? A failure? Something in between?

The survey gives fans the space to define success on their own terms. And for a program with such lofty standards, it may be the most important question of all.

What’s your confidence level moving forward?

The biggest takeaway from the 2025 survey might not be about last year at all—but what comes next. Do you feel like this program is headed in the right direction? Are you excited about the players coming in? Do you trust the coaches, the coordinators, and the people in charge?

Or are you starting to feel like Ohio State is a giant that’s moving sideways while others rise?

Fan confidence is one of the most powerful indicators of a program’s health. Even the most successful teams can find themselves on shaky ground if the people who fill the stadiums and buy the gear stop believing. The Athletic’s survey is your chance to voice that belief—or lack thereof—with clarity.

So why does this matter?

Because you matter.

Ohio State fans aren’t casual observers. You are deeply invested, emotionally and financially. You are loud, loyal, and—yes—demanding. You set the tone, drive the expectations, and embody the tradition. And as college football continues to change, your voice is more valuable than ever.

This survey isn’t just about venting frustrations or celebrating wins. It’s about gauging the heart of a fanbase at a critical juncture. What do you want from your program? What worries you? What gives you hope?

So, to all the Buckeyes out there—students, alumni, diehards, critics, optimists, skeptics—take the survey. Say what needs to be said.

Because Ohio State football is more than just a team. It’s a standard. It’s a passion. It’s a conversation.

And now, the floor is yours.