Ohio State Buckeyes Football: Phil Steele 2025 Forecast

After Ohio State won its first national title since 2014 last season, expectations for the Buckeyes are sky-high. Ahead of the 2025 campaign, college football expert Phil Steele weighed in on Ohio State’s upcoming season, starting with the team’s offense.

Offense

“Last year my computer called for 35.4 [points per game] and, after the regular season, they had 35.5 ppg!” Steele wrote. “[Offensive coordinator] Chip Kelly has moved on. They lose six NFL DC’s and are inexperienced at QB, but remain a top notch unit.”

Ohio State is returning six starters from last season on offense. As Steele mentioned, there will be a fresh face starting behind center this fall, with QB Will Howard moving onto the NFL this offseason.

Alas, whoever lands the QB1 title this year will have plenty of excellent targets out-wide. Ohio State is returning wide receivers Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate, who were two of the team’s top-three leading receivers last season.

Smith was particularly spectacular in 2024. As a freshman, Smith tallied 1,315 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns, tied for the second-most in the country. Most experts are predicting Smith to be the best WR in the country next season.

Defense

Ohio State’s defense will have a more difficult time filling the 2024 unit’s shoes. Alas, Phil Steele believes the Buckeyes’ defense could still be phenomenal this year.

“Last year my computer called for them to allow 242.1 [yards per game] and 11.8 ppg, a perfect forecast as, after the regular season, they allowed 241 ypg and 11.2 ppg!” Steele wrote. “They lose their [defensive coordinator] to Penn St but the new DC is [Matt] Patricia from the NFL.”

Despite winning the national title, Ohio State lost defensive coordinator Jim Knowles to Big Ten foe Penn State after the season. The Buckeyes replaced Knowles with Matt Patricia, who was the New England Patriots’ DC from 2012-17 and is a three-time Super Bowl champion.

Additionally, Patricia was the Detroit Lions head coach from 2018-20. There are few, if any, assistant coaches in the country with a better résumé than Patricia. Nonetheless, he’ll have his work cut out for him this season.

2025 Forecast

Ohio State is only returning three defensive starters from last season. All the same, Steele expects the team to be a contender for the national title again this fall.

“This year they lose 15 NFL DC’s, but have a solid schedule and still plenty of talent aided by some key portal additions,” Steele wrote. “Ohio State has not won the Big Ten since 2020!!! Despite dropping from #47 to #105 on my Experience Chart OSU could be favored in all 12 regular season games. They get Penn St and Texas at hor and are threat to repeat as National Champs.”