The Ohio State football team isn't the top dog in the Big Ten until they do this

The Ohio State football team thinks they are ready to win a national championship this season. They have all of the pieces together on a roster that is experienced, hungry, and talented. Even in an expanded Big Ten Conference, they feel good about their ability to win it all.

Still, it has been four years since the Buckeyes have won the Big Ten. Now, four new teams have joined the conference. One of those teams is also a top-five team in the country. That team is Oregon and they should be the biggest challenge that Ohio State faces in the regular season.

It could be argued that the Ohio State football team has a better roster than the Ducks. If that is the case, they should be viewed as the top dog in the conference. Instead, they can't be viewed as the top dog yet because they haven't proven they can beat one particular Big Ten team.

They haven't beaten Michigan since 2019. That game is the big thing that keeps them from being the undisputed best team in the Big Ten in 2024. They have to prove that they can beat them. If they aren't able to this season, things could drastically change for the program moving forward.

Ohio State gets The Game at home this year, which definitely helps. If they are able to win this game, they will have cleared one of the big hurdles necessary to win a national title. The Buckeyes have a better roster and coaching staff than Michigan this year, so they have no excuses.

Oregon thinks they will come into the Big Ten and immediately contend for the title. They very well might. This conference should still belong to Ohio State as long as they are mentally prepared for the challenges that lie ahead.