The Buckeyes come into this season with a lot of expectations. After starting last season 12-0, Ohio State ended up losing the final two games of the year. With the returning talent they have, they fully expect to compete for a national championship internally.
Of course, the Buckeyes also expect to win the Big Ten. Last season, they lost to the Hoosiers in the Big Ten Championship. Despite that, the media seems to have a lot of faith in the Buckeyes winning the conference this season, as they are the preseason favorites.
Big Ten media favors the Ohio State Buckeyes to win the conference
In a preliminary poll just ahead of Big Ten Media Day, the media seems to be favoring the Buckeyes to win the Big Ten. They have Ohio State atop the conference, followed by Oregon, Indiana, USC, and Michigan. Purdue is predicted to finish last in the conference.
It's somewhat surprising to see the Hoosiers behind the Ducks, considering they are the defending national champions. Of course, the media is giving Ohio State the proper respect. They are the preseason favorites to win the conference, mainly on the strength of their offense.
Ohio State should have one of the most dangerous offenses in the country. With Jeremiah Smith as the best player in the country, there is no reason that they shouldn't have one of the most explosive offenses in the nation. Julian Sayin should also be better in his second year, as well.
The one concern with Ohio State is the defense. After losing seven starters from a year ago, it's going to be hard to replicate that talent this year. However, they feel confident that Matt Patricia will be able to keep that unit elite for the second straight season in what will be his second year as the DC.
Ohio State has high expectations that need to be met
With the Buckeyes being the favorites to win the conference, the team is going to face a lot of pressure. Winning not just a Big Ten title, but a national championship, would put this program on another level. They would ascend to a true dynasty after winning a second national title in three years.
Ryan Day has yet to complete all three of his stated goals in a single season. He has not beaten TTUN, won a Big Ten title, and won a national championship in the same year. Those are the same three goals that the Ohio State Buckeyes state every single year.
Ohio State is getting the respect it deserves just a few weeks before the season starts. It remains to be seen if the coaches believe that the Buckeyes will win the Big Ten. They could have someone else in mind when determining who is going to win the conference.
The Buckeyes will get a firm test early to determine if they are good enough to win the Big Ten. In Week 2, they'll take on Texas, so that will be a strong, early test. Winning that game could prove that they are ready to win the best conference in the country.
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