Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about our Biggest Concerns. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our Biggest Concerns here.
Ohio State football always has a massive target on its back. The target will be even bigger this year since the Buckeyes will enter the season as the defending national champions. Not only will head coach Ryan Day have to replace numerous starters on both sides of the football this season, but he’ll also have new offensive and defensive coordinators, along with a new offensive line coach. With all the changes Ohio State has to deal with, there are some teams that feel like this could be their year to knock off the Buckeyes.
Along with the numerous personnel changes the Buckeyes will be working through this season, they also have a number of tough games on this season’s schedule. Not only will Ohio State open the 2025 season by hosting Texas, but they’ll also have conference games against Penn State, as well as at Michigan to close out their regular season schedule. Even though the Wolverines aren’t looking like a threat to win the Big Ten this year, Buckeye fans know they can’t take anything for granted when taking on Michigan, especially after seeing what happened in last year’s game in Columbus.
Today’s question: Which Ohio State football regular season opponent concerns you most?
We’d love to hear your choices. Either respond to us on Twitter at @Landgrant33 or leave your choice in the comments.
Brett’s answer: Penn State
Recently, one of the tensest games of the season for Ohio State has been the annual clash with Penn State. Three of the last four games between the programs have been decided by less than 10 points, and the fourth game saw the Nittany Lions leading heading into the fourth quarter before a superhuman effort from J.T. Tuimoloau allowed the Buckeyes to earn a 44-31 victory in Happy Valley. Even though Ohio State has won the last eight games in the series, Penn State has made them work hard for each of those victories.
This year’s game figures to be an even tighter affair for a number of reasons. With the expansion of the Big Ten, this will be the last scheduled regular-season game for a few years, since the contest wasn’t designated as a rivalry game that would be protected in scheduling within the conference. If Penn State isn’t able to beat the Buckeyes this year, they could be holding a nine-game losing streak against Ohio State for the foreseeable future.
Penn State will be returning a talented offensive core this season, as quarterback Drew Allar, along with running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, are all back for another season with the Nittany Lions. Head coach James Franklin has dipped into the transfer portal to give Allar a couple more weapons in wide receivers Devonte Ross from Troy and Kyron Hudson from USC. After deciding to return to school rather than declare for the 2025 NFL Draft, Allar should be even more comfortable this year in offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki’s second season with the program.
Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images
After winning a national title with Ohio State last year, Jim Knowles decided to leave Columbus to take the same position at Penn State. Both Knowles as well as Ohio State will have something to prove in the November 1st contest since there seem to be conflicting accounts of what happened when it came to Knowles and Ohio State discussing a contract extension following last year’s title season. Not only did Knowles prove he is one of the top defensive minds in the game, but Penn State head coach James Franklin knew he could use some insider info on Ryan Day’s tendencies since Franklin has yet to beat Day in games with Ohio State.
In a way, this game reminds me of last year’s regular season game against Oregon since it will be a battle between two of the top teams in the country. It’s not crazy to think that Ohio State and Penn State could meet three times this season, with other matchups possibly coming in the Big Ten Championship Game and the College Football Playoff. As much as it would hurt to lose at home to Penn State in November, if the same scenario as last year plays out where the Buckeyes get revenge in the postseason, then I’ll be able to handle it.
Matt’s answer: Michigan
I get Brett’s rationale here. I, too, am concerned about an improved Nittany Lions team, especially after they poached Knowles, who will undoubtedly bring tons of Buvkeye knowledge along with him. However, until James Frankling proves that he’s not going to shit the bed in any and all big spots, I can’t be that concerned.
Conversely, until Ohio State proves that it can beat Michigan, I will never not be concerned about Ryan Day’s squad going up against their rivals. I know that over the past four years in which OSU has lost to TTUN that the Buckeyes were the better team in at least three of the four seasons, but that brings literally no solace to the matter; in fact, it makes it worse.
This game isn’t even about the individual win or loss at the end of a season — although that is obviously extremely important. As we saw last season, as long as the Buckeyes split against Texas and Penn State, it likely won’t matter whether they win or lose The Game when it comes to making the College Football Playoff.
This game, especially coming off four straight losses, is about generations of animosity between two fan bases who are not exactly known for their level-headedness. This game is about an unhealthy amount of vicarious pride that alters the way that people on both sides of the border feel about themselves and their lives for the subsequent 365 days.
And, yes, winning the national championship did wonders for Buckeye fans’ outlooks on life, but I would imagine that for many of them, there is just a little twinge of frustration that it came in a season where OSU didn’t beat Michigan. That might only be on the fringe of Ohio State fandom, or perhaps that makes Ohio State fans lunatics, but it’s real, and anyone who tries to tell you that it’s not doesn’t really get what it means to be a Buckeye.
Ohio State has not beaten That Team Up North since 2019. So, regardless of titles, regardless of NCAA investigations, regardless of records, until the Buckeyes finally beat Michigan again, there will not be a game on their schedule that has me more concerned.