No. 5 LSU | No. 7 Stanford | Top 25
No. 6: Ohio State
Last Season: 12-1 (7-1 Big Ten East)
The Buckeyes are the least experienced team in the country, but they've had the best recruiting class in the Big Ten each of the past five years, so talent isn't an issue. OSU ranks very well in all eight position units: In particular, the LBs (10th best), QBs (11th), D-line (15th), O-line (10th), defensive backs (18th) and the special teams (11th) all crack the top 20 in my rankings. And senior QB J.T. Barrett will again provide a dangerous dual threat (22 TDs in 262 total plays last year). But they'll be 'dogs at OU (+7), draw Wisconsin (-3) and Penn State (-6) on the road in back-to-back weeks and face MSU and Michigan in the season's final two weeks.
IN IF...
It can stay unbeatable on the road. OSU is 18-0 in road games under Urban Meyer, but the Buckeyes travel to Norman, Madison, State College and East Lansing this year.
OUT IF...
Barrett isn't his 2014 self: His QBR dropped from 87.1 in 2014 (No. 2 in the FBS) to 76.9 last year (No. 18).
Ohio State's chances to win each game
09.03 vs. Bowling Green: 94.8%
09.10 vs. Tulsa: 93.4%
09.17 @ Oklahoma: 19.0%
10.01 vs. Rutgers: 91.4%
10.08 vs. Indiana: 88.9%
10.15 @ Wisconsin: 55.1%
10.22 @ Penn State: 57.0%
10.29 vs. Northwestern: 84.9%
11.05 vs. Nebraska: 71.8%
11.12 @ Maryland: 83.9%
11.19 @ Michigan State: 60.2%
11.26 vs Michigan: 51.6%
Urban Meyer's young Buckeyes will flirt with greatness at times, but their youthfulness will lead to a Week 3 loss at Oklahoma and one conference setback, landing them at 10-2 and robbing J.T. Barrett & Co. of a playoff berth. -- Brian Bennett
Get ready to learn some new household names this season. The Buckeyes return an FBS-worst six starters, but there's still no denying the talent on this team. Young players like RB Mike Weber and WR Noah Brown should help lift OSU to a 10-2 record. -- Josh Moyer
We've this seen pattern before. An Meyer-coached team returns a bevy of NFL talent from a national championship season and disappoints. Meyer's Florida team followed up a disappointing 2007 with another title in '08. An early trip to Oklahoma gives the '16 Buckeyes a chance to make the playoffs even if they finish with a 10-2 record. -- Dan Murphy
Expectations never change at Ohio State under Meyer, but returning only six starters could make life more difficult than usual. A loss at Oklahoma is likely, and a stumble in conference play seems probable, as the Buckeyes finish 10-2 while remaining in the Big Ten East race until the end. -- Jesse Temple
The Buckeyes are obviously young, but nobody in the Big Ten has a higher ceiling than Meyer's team. There could be growing pains, but just like the 2014 team, once Ohio State gets rolling, an 11-1 record and a conference crown are in reach. -- Austin Ward
No. 5 LSU | No. 7 Stanford | Top 25
