The Ohio State football team has one of the most talented rosters in the country. They should have the best defense in the country. EA Sports College Football 25 certainly thinks so. On offense, the Buckeyes will also be very good, so they should be a national title contender.
What makes this team so different from last year is not just the improvement in the roster. Sure, the addition of Caleb Downs, Quinshon Judkins and Seth McLaughlin helps. But the change in the coaching staff is also important. Having Chip Kelly calling the plays should give the Buckeyes more offensive diversity.
While Ohio State has plenty of talent, that doesn’t automatically mean it’s going to make it to the national championship game. It has some hurdles it needs to overcome to ensure it makes it to that final game in what is already a very long college football season.
There are three major obstacles that the Ohio State football team must overcome if it wants to win a national title. Most of them have to do with the quality of the other teams. One of them has to do with the current structure of its own team. All of them must be overcome.
We’ll rank them from three to one based on the most important issues they need to overcome. The first obstacle they must face is on the offensive line.
The biggest problem with the roster right now is the offensive line. It was the worst unit on the field a year ago and it finally reared its ugly head in the last two games. Against both Michigan and Missouri, the offensive line was a complete disaster. Frankly, it was embarrassing in the bowl game against the Tigers.
Ryan Day has tried to solve some of those problems. He went out and brought in McLaughlin from Alabama to help bolster the unit. He was the starting center in the spring game. The left side of the line appears to be settled with Josh Simmons at tackle and Donovan Jackson at guard.
The right side of the line is still to be determined. Carson Hinzman was the starting right guard and Josh Fryar was the starting tackle. Will that be the case in the fall? Or will Fryar move to guard and Luke Montgomery will slot in at tackle?
No matter what combination ends up forming the offensive line, it has to be connected and solid. How well they play could determine the potential of this Ohio State football team. If they are excellent, this team really doesn’t have any weaknesses.
Another hurdle the Buckeyes have to overcome is perhaps the best team on their schedule.
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