Ohio State opens the 2024 college football season with a revamped roster ready to regain control of the Big Ten.
After falling to Michigan for the third straight time, the Buckeyes added quarterback Will Howard, running back Quinshon Judkins, and safety Caleb Downs through the transfer portal. Ryan Day’s program will face intense pressure to beat their division rivals en route to a conference title and national championship run.
Athlon Sports spoke to anonymous Big Ten coaches about their competitors. Two of them noted the obvious: Ohio State must defeat “The Team Up North” to consider this season a success.
“It’s not national title or bust, but it’s certainly beat Michigan or bust, and the expectation is always to win the league,” one coach said.
“Nothing really matters until they can get Michigan off their backs in November,” another coach told Athlon. “The standards here are higher than anywhere else this season.”
After spending the last four seasons at Kansas State, Howard will helm a prolific Buckeyes offense. A coach told Athlon that the new quarterback shouldn’t try to do too much.
“Howard doesn’t have to be special; he just has to be smart,” the coach said. “That signing didn’t turn heads the way some of the other flashier portal quarterbacks might have, but all he has to do is manage and distribute. They’re absolutely stacked at other positions.”
Day also added former UCLA head coach Chip Kelly as his new offensive coordinator. One colleague doesn’t anticipate the big-name hiring creating any power struggles behind the scenes.
“Day is a great collaborator. The Chip thing won’t be a nuisance or a problem at all,” the coach predicted. “If you believe what Chip’s said, that he just wants to focus on ball and not worry with the administrative stuff, this is a fantastic hire for them.”
One coach said Day might possess his “most talented roster” since replacing Urban Meyer at the end of the 2018 season. The head coach is 56-8, but another 11-win season probably won’t please fans unless it includes a victory over the Wolverines.