There’s an old saying that says money can’t buy happiness. 2024 Ohio State will wager whether or not you can buy a national championship. For a roster that will spend more than $13 Million dollars this season, according to Head Coach Ryan Day, there could not be more hype surrounding this team in Columbus. It’s been nearly a decade since the Buckeyes last National Championship. Or in other words, since I was 8 years old (Yikes). With future NFL talent such as DB Caleb Downs and former 5-Star Julian Sayin Alabama Quarterback joining in on this All-in Ohio State season, one would think there is no reality where the Buckeyes don’t bring home the Lombardi Trophy. Right?
Wrong.
I truly believe this 2024 Ohio State team will be one of the biggest disappointments in College Football history, next to Texas A&M and Notre Dame practically every season.
Will Howard is a Downgrade at Quarterback
After the transferring of Kyle McCord and a loss to Missouri in the Cotton Bowl Classic, who would be the leader of the Buckeye offense was up in the air. Or to some, would be up to Air. Air Noland that is. The former 5-Star is seen as being the next Ohio State Quarterback to be drafted highly into the NFL only to be a bust, but the Columbus faithful are fine with just that as long as he delivers in The Shoe. But it would seem as if the young studs time to shine in Scarlet and Gray had not yet reached its peak, as Ryan Day and his staff brought in another 5-Star Quarterback, this time from Alabama, in Julian Sayin. Well, he neither would be the one to lead a historically elite offense to another CFP appearance. If it was not a QB already on the depth chart, and it wasn’t a 5-Star transfer, then who could it be?
Enter Mr. Mid himself, Kansas State Star (?) Will Howard.
In the 2023 season, Howard was worse than Kyle McCord in virtually every statistic, losing his starting job to Avery Johnson, possibly encouraging him to use his talent elsewhere. In the Big 12, Howard struggled to even be the starter on his previous roster. He passed for nearly 600 less yards than McCord (2,643 to 3,170) and threw 67% more interceptions. If Howard will truly be the leader of the Buckeye’s offense this season, I believe we will see comparisons to Wisconsin, without the ever-so-talented Offensive Line.
Ohio State Just Isn’t Physical
The main statistic that has plagued OSU the last three seasons against Michigan is the rushing yards total. In fact, in 2021, The Wolverines outgained them on the ground 297 to 64 yards, over a 4:1 ratio, thanks to the heroic efforts of Hassan Haskins and Blake Corum. The issue with this is, in an extremely physical Big Ten, you have to play like the big boys to play with the big boys. Michigan has quite frankly dominated the line of scrimmage the past few seasons. Players such as Aidan Hutchinson and Mason Graham over the years have had no problem getting to the OSU QB, making for some quite memorable moments in The Game. If the Buckeyes cannot become more physical and willing to put their bodies on the line to win games, they will continue to fall behind in the ever-changing game of College Football; One that is dominated by giants in the SEC. Something that Ohio State experienced firsthand this past winter.
Ryan Day is Still the Head Coach
If there was ever a coach in history that made a career out of losing big games, it would be Ryan Day.
Under Day, Ohio State’s offense became even more pass-heavy than under Meyer, driven by prolific quarterbacks such as Justin Fields and C.J. Stroud. They’ve consistently ranked among the top of the country in passing efficiency, leading to the rise of elite WRs such as Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson. You would think with generational talent such as this the Buckeyes would have more than one National Title appearance under their coach, but you would be wrong.
Despite the continued success under Day, the team has yet to win a National Championship, even with immense talent. This was something that his precursor obtained as well. Meyer never lost to the Wolverines. He won three Big Ten Championships. Meyer’s teams were frequently in the Top 5 year after year. Are you noticing a trend? While Ryan Day has had continued success with the Buckeyes, it’s a simple fact that he cannot win big games. He is James Franklin if he was handed the keys to Alabama.
What it All Means for Ohio State
Overall, I have trouble believing that this is the year of the nut. Ohio State’s quarterback problem will not be solved, this team still cannot play physical ball, and Ryan Day is still the coach in Columbus. the Buckeyes must return to their roots if they ever want to return to the top of College Football. They must hire an Ohio-Man as some would say, someone who gets the culture surrounding Columbus and someone who wants to win. Not just for his own portfolio, but to make his home team the best in the land once again.