Ohio St Buckeyes 2024 College Football Preview
Posted July 9, 2024
2023 Recap
Record – 11-2
ATS – 6-5-2
“Here we go again. Again.”
<Tugg Speedman, Scorcher VI: Global Meltdown>
Michigan did it again. Again. Ohio St had a chance to exorcise the demons in Ann Arbor but the Wolverines pulled it out by a score of 30-24. The Buckeyes had a chance to win the game late but threw an INT, and that was that. Ohio St finished the season with a 14-3 loss to Missouri in the Cotton Bowl which was a SNOT BUBBLER for the ages, thanks in large part to the SKELETON CREW that the Buckeyes trotted out on offense.
Several key pieces from the 2023 team are back for redemption. Can Ohio St finally win all the marbles under HC Ryan Day?
Ohio St Buckeyes 2024 Outlook
OFFENSE
The Buckeyes failed to score 40 PPG LY for the first time since 2016 (!) when they averaged a ‘pathetic’ 39.4 PPG. The THROW GAME was good (not great) and the rushing attack was pathetic (139 YPG, #8 Big Ten). Things look SPICY heading into 2024 as Ohio St picked up QB Will Howard from Kansas St who led the Wildcats to a Big 12 Championship a few years ago. The Buckeyes have the best 1-2 RB combo on the planet with the return of TreVeyon Henderson (926, 11 TD, 5.9; 229 receiving yards) and the addition of the freakishly talented Quinshon Judkins from Ole Miss (1,158, 1,567, 31 TDs L2Y). The WR/TE group looks just fine even without departed superstar Marvin Harrison Jr. WR Emeka Egbuka had a 1,000-yard season in 2022 (missed time LY), WR Carnell Tate is an emerging star, and don’t sleep on highly-regarded true freshman WR Jeremiah Smith. One bone to pick is what Ohio St will do to replace TE Cade Stover who’s also off to the NFL. The OL is one of the best in the Big Ten and note that they add veteran ROLL TIDE center Seth McLaughlin. We expect the Buckeyes to be a lot better on offense but they probably won’t get to the 40 PPG barrier.
DEFENSE
The Buckeyes were phenomenal on defense LY as they yielded an impossible 11.2 PPG (#2 FBS) whilst allowing only one opponent to score more than 17 points. Yup, Michigan scored 30. Ohio St has an elite set of bodies on the DL and a small handful of them will be playing in the NFL next season including senior DE Jack Sawyer (6.5 sacks, 10 TFL LY). The secondary looks fantastic with the return of several talented specimens including ace CB Denzel Burke, and as if that wasn’t enough, they added all-Universe safety Caleb Downs from ROLL TIDE who had a fantastic season as a true freshman LY. We’re not super-pumped about the LB corps but they’ve got plenty of raw talent on board. This is clearly one of the best defenses in college football.
SPECIAL TEAMS
MEH. The PR and KR jobs are up for grabs but at least they bring back a decent PK in Jayden Fielding (16/20 FG, 49/50 XP LY). Ohio St hopes that former Buffalo (!) punter Anthony Venneri works out, but if not, they’ve got a gigantic Australian punter waiting in the wings (Nick McLarty, 6-7, 255).
Schedule Analysis
Overall – The non-conference schedule is an absolute joke but they face all of the Big Ten BIG ‘UNS in conference play (Penn St, Oregon, Michigan, Iowa). It’s helps to have only four (!) road games and there’s a nice dead spot on the schedule before they face Michigan (Purdue, at Northwestern, Indiana).
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – Marshall (Sept 21)
Ohio St will be off a bye week but they’ll be laying a gazillion points** and a road date with Michigan St is up next.
** Fact check: Maybe. We can’t say it’s impossible.
Season Win Total
Market consensus July 9
Over 10.5 -170
Under 10.5 +140
MEGALOCKS says:
No leanage.
We don’t think this team is losing two games but there’s probably better value in the futures market. Stay tuned!
MEGAmazing Tidbits
HC Ryan Day is 21-12 ATS as a home favorite (64%).
This is borderline hilarious. The last time Ohio St lost more than two games in a season was back in 2011 (!) when they finished 6-7 under the tutelage of our boy Luke Fickell. Ah, 2011. A time when farmers weren’t being hunted by the government and men couldn’t get pregnant.
MEGALOCKS Forecast:
We don’t use the word ‘FILTHY’ very often, but this team certainly has the potential to be FILTHY. Ohio St is loaded on both sides of the football and they’re beyond hungry to win a conference title, and more. As with every team, there are a few question marks. Can QB Will Howard deliver the goods? Will the DL live up to the hype? Can Ryan Day navigate a 12-team playoff? We expect Ohio St to earn a spot in the Big Ten Championship and give them a great shot to win it all. Let’s go!