The beginning of a breakout season for Browns DE Myles Garrett
August 21, 2018Jose Ramirez is a Hitting Savant
August 22, 2018Somehow, we are just nine days away from kicking off the 2018 college football season. With so many questions surrounding the Ohio State Buckeyes and head coach Urban Meyer, it’s crazy to think that the season is already so close. With that said, the first Associated Press Top 25 was revealed Monday afternoon. The Buckeyes were ranked No. 5 in the first AP poll of the season, behind only No. 1 Alabama, No. 2 Clemson, No. 3 Georgia, and No. 4 Wisconsin. It’s the fifth time in the past six years that they have opened the season ranked as one of the five best teams in the country.
After losing plenty of talent to the NFL, the scarlet and gray return one of their most talented rosters in recent memory. Although there are plenty of questions regarding who will lead Ohio State this fall, one thing is certain: The Buckeyes will be one of the best teams in the country no matter who their head coach is. They may have plenty of new faces on both sides of the ball, their dominance in the Big Ten will likely continue.
The Buckeyes’ 2018 slate feature four teams ranked in the preseason AP Top 25: No. 16 TCU, No. 10 Penn State, No. 11 Michigan State, and No. 14 Michigan. Along with the four ranked Big Ten teams already mentioned, Wisconsin comes in at No. 4 in the preseason poll, that highest-ranked team in the conference.
If they’re able to make the Big Ten Championship Game in Indianapolis at season’s end, it’s likely that the Buckeyes will have a rematch with the Badgers, who they beat in last year’s game. If so, the winner will all but certainly be selected to advance to the four-team Playoff to conclude the season.
They were ranked No. 3 in the Coaches poll that was revealed a few weeks ago, but quite a bit has changed for the scarlet and gray since then, including Meyer’s paid administrative leave, among other things.
Ohio State opens the season against Oregon State, with kick off set for 12 p.m. ET on September 1.