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Looking at the Ohio State football team's case to be preseason number one

The Ohio State football team has a chance to be the top-ranked team in the preseason polls. What does their case look like for that honor?

By Ryan Stano

Nov 25, 2023; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (18) celebrates a touchdown with wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (2) and offensive lineman Carson Hinzman (75) during the second half of the NCAA football game against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium. Ohio State lost 30-24.
Nov 25, 2023; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (18) celebrates a touchdown with wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (2) and offensive lineman Carson Hinzman (75) during the second half of the NCAA football game against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium. Ohio State lost 30-24. / Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA
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No one can deny how good the Ohio State football team is going to be this season. Most of their defense comes back from last season, a unit that was elite. In fact, it got better with the addition of one of the country's best safeties. Offensively, they should be slightly better than last year.

What does all of that mean for their preseason ranking? If you trust EA Sports College Football 25, they will be ranked second in the polls. In the new college football video game, only Georgia was ranked higher than them. That seems like that could be the case in the real preseason polls too.

In my eyes, there are three teams that have an opportunity to be ranked as the top team in the country. Georgia certainly is one of them. The Ohio State football team is also one of them. Another Big Ten foe, Oregon, has a case to be the top-ranked team as well.

Looking at the Ohio State football team's chances of being preseason number one

Looking at the rosters of all of those teams, Ohio State might have the most complete roster. They are the best of those teams defensively. The biggest issue for them is the question mark at quarterback. How well will Will Howard play in his first year as the starter at Ohio State?

Howard hasn't officially been named the starter but he is the likely guy. Oregon will have a new quarterback as well, but it is Dillion Gabriel. Gabriel has played in five seasons of college football for two different programs. They feel very confident in his abilities.

Georgia is the only one of these three programs that is keeping the same quarterback from a year ago. Carson Beck is back and the defense is still going to be really good. I think it will be between Ohio State and Georgia for that number-one ranking to start the year.

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Of course, it's not where you are ranked to start the season. It's where you are when you finish the year.

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