Ohio State Football: 6 players who will determine OSU’s success

For the last few years, it has been clear that there is a big talent gap between the Ohio State football program and the rest of the Big Ten. With the only losses in the Ryan Day era coming in the College Football Playoffs against Clemson and Alabama, the Buckeyes have shown they belong in the conversation as a top-tiered team (for obvious reasons Alabama is in a tier of their own). What puts Ohio State in this top tier is their combination of talent across the board with a handful of special players.

Those special players make the difference on offense and defense and are able to make a game-changing play every time they touch the ball. Justin Fields and late-season Trey Sermon were key to the Buckeyes’ National Championship Game run last year. Chase Young and the Bosa brothers demanded the opposing team plan around them each play.

So even though the Buckeyes are loaded from top to bottom again this year, these are the players who will need to be lights out for Ohio State to make another National Championship run. If they are, then the Buckeyes have a great shot at returning to that game.