The Ohio State Buckeyes are in a good position to surpass last season's regular-season win total as they enter Week 13 as a massive favorite against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in the 2025 finale at the "Shoe."
Apparently, they're already in a position to be seen as superior to last year's team, as long as they defeat TTUN in "The Game." And even if OSU doesn't win the College Football Playoff National Championship.
CBS Sports' Tom Fornelli made the claim that Buckeye fans would see this team as superior as long as they beat the Wolverines.
"Is Ohio State better than last year's national title team? In one sense, it's an impossible question to answer. Last year, Ohio State won the national title, so unless this year's team does the same, it can't be. And if it does, it's essentially the same," Fornelli wrote.
"In another sense, last year Ohio State lost twice during the regular season, including to Michigan. It's hard to imagine this year's Buckeyes matching that loss total. I'd also imagine there are some Ohio State fans who will consider the 2025 Buckeyes better than 2024, just so long as they beat Michigan -- regardless of a national title."
Talent-wise, last year's team was superior. All of this year's top contributors, minus running bck Bo Jackson and cornerback Devin Jackson, were on last year's team, even if quarterback Julian Sayin didn't start. Will Howard was worse, but he had the benefit of two second-round NFL draft picks, Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson, in the backfield.
At receiver, Emeka Egbuka was a major loss. Along the defensive trenches, last year's team had first-round DT Tyleik Williams and second-round DE J.T. Tuimoloau, among many others. That talent was pro-ready coming out of Columbus.
The guys behind the aforementioned stars have stepped up in their absence, and this year's defense is even more dominant under Matt Patricia. Certainly, one can say the product is superior this year, with Brian Hartline's play-calling perhaps limiting the team's statistical ceiling. Chip Kelly got exactly what he needed from last year's team, but one wonders what Hartline could've done with that group.
Buckeye fans would take a win over TTUN, but to say this year's squad could be more fondly remembered than a title team that ran through the Tennessee Volunteers, Oregon Ducks, Texas Longhorns, and Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the College Football Playoff is a stretch if this team doesn't also beat the Indiana Hoosiers in the Big Ten Championship.
It's hard to judge these things until years later, but champions always tend to be the most fondly remembered.
Then again, finally beating the Wolverines would feel equally sweet in the short term.