Ohio State Football: Three bold predictions for the 2023 season
By Ryan Stano
![Oct 29, 2022; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Zach Harrison (9) celebrates a pick-6 touchdown by defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau (44) during the fourth quarter of the NCAA Division I football game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-The Columbus DispatchNcaa Football Ohio State Buckeyes At Penn State Nittany Lions Oct 29, 2022; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Zach Harrison (9) celebrates a pick-6 touchdown by defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau (44) during the fourth quarter of the NCAA Division I football game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-The Columbus DispatchNcaa Football Ohio State Buckeyes At Penn State Nittany Lions](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/cfd6f6395fd534c3cb08ed66b2634e3957f9469f25649f6c9bed23848a777d8a.jpg)
2. The Ohio State football team will have a top-ten defense
Talk about bold! We all know that the defense is why the Ohio State Buckeyes weren’t national champions last year. Had they been able to keep a hold of a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter against Georgia, they would have beaten TCU in the next game for the title.
Nevertheless, I expect the Buckeyes to have a major improvement on that side of the ball. Jim Knowles already improved the team drastically from the 2021 season. They were in the top-15 in every major defensive stat last year, which is much better than they were.
This year, I think they will be a top-five defense in terms of total yards allowed. Last season, they were 13th in that category. Four other Big Ten teams were in the top six in that category. I think the Buckeyes leapfrog them and end up in the top five.
Knowles’ teams have a track record of getting better every year. The defense brings back a lot of experience from a year ago, and they look like they’re actually going to play safeties who are good this year. That gives me hope that the secondary won’t suck as much as they did last year.
If Ohio State does have a top-five defense this year, they will make the College Football Playoff. Not only that, but they will be serious contenders to win the national championship. Our final bold prediction has to deal with recruiting.