Last offseason was all about championship expectations for Ohio State. The Buckeyes brought back nearly their entire senior class and had a “national championship or bust” mentality. Our 2024 fan survey showed the fan base had the same mindset.
More than 50 percent of voters last year thought Ohio State would go undefeated and nearly half said that a national championship appearance would be a successful season. Ohio State didn’t reach all of those goals — it lost to Michigan and Oregon and didn’t win the Big Ten title — but it rallied to win its first national championship since 2014.
Now, expectations are different in an offseason that brings (mostly) different storylines.
Ohio State just had 14 players selected in the NFL Draft and is looking for a new quarterback and entirely new defensive line. It also has some changes on the coaching staff. The Buckeyes will likely be a top-five team when the season begins on Aug. 30, but it doesn’t feel like championship-or-bust anymore.
Ending a four-game losing streak to Michigan is a must, of course, and as usual a Playoff berth is the baseline expectation for one of the top programs in the sport.
But could Ohio State put all of its talent together and repeat? The Athletic’s fan survey is back and invites Ohio State fans to share their thoughts and predictions heading into the 2025 season.
Submit your responses in the form below and I’ll provide analysis next week. (NOTE: Readers who are using our app on an Android device may need to use two fingers to scroll through the survey. Still unable to get to the survey? Try this direct link.)
(Photo: Jason Mowry / Getty Images)
