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What Phil Steele says about 2025 Ohio State season outlook

Spencer-Holbrookby: Spencer Holbrook07/12/25SpencerHolbrook
Ryan Day by © Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
Ohio State coach Ryan Day. (© Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images)

COLUMBUS — Ohio State is coming off a national championship win back in January, but that doesn’t really matter when training camp opens for this upcoming season in late July.

It’s preview season, and preseason college football magazine man Phil Steele has thoughts on the Buckeyes as they defend their championship and look to go back-to-back.

The Buckeyes have high expectations for themselves in the Big Ten this fall, and Steele is among those who are confident they’ll be one of the top five teams in the country this fall despite losing so much talent from the title team.

Here’s what Steele said about the Ohio State season outlook in his preview magazine:

“This year they lose 15 NFL [draft choices], 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 home and are threat to repeat as National Champs.”

Of course, it’s hard to ignore Steele’s point about both Texas and Penn State having to play in the Horseshoe, a huge advantage for Ohio State in those games. And he’s just as surprised as any that the Buckeyes are on Year 5 without a Big Ten title.

Steele also has thoughts on the outlook of the Ohio State offense and defense heading into this year. He didn’t even need to mention wide receiver Jeremiah Smith or safety Caleb Downs to showcase how good the Buckeyes can be.

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

And here’s what he said about the defense: “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! They lose their [defensive coordinator] to Penn St but the new DC is [Matt] Patricia from the NFL.”

Not much analysis from Steele about the Ohio State offense and defense. But the point remains: he’s very high on the Buckeyes heading into this season, putting them at No. 2 in the Big Ten preseason rankings behind Penn State and at No. 5 nationally.




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