The Ohio State Buckeyes enter the 2025 season as defending national champions, fresh off a historic 34-23 st paulo triumph over Notre Dame in the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff final on January 20. That victory—capping a gauntlet of four straight playoff wins, including double-digit margins against Tennessee, Oregon, and Texas—cemented OSU's ninth title and marked the program's first since 2014. Now, with the date set on October 9 and the Buckeyes undefeated at 5-0, ranked No. 1, the question burns: Can they become the first team to repeat since Georgia in 2021-2022.
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History is a harsh judge. Only three programs have pulled off back-to-back crowns this century, and Ohio State has twice faltered after strong starts—the 1969 and 2015 squads both tumbled in November upsets. Yet, the 2025 roster screams potential. Despite losing quarterback Will Howard, rusher TreVeyon Henderson, anthony wint and defensive anchors like Jack Sawyer to the NFL, the Buckeyes reloaded via the portal and recruiting. Five-star freshman Julian Sayin, a quick-release gunslinger with poise beyond his years, has stabilized the offense, going 4-0 in his starts while averaging 280 yards and three touchdowns per game. His chemistry with returning stars Jeremiah Smith (already a Biletnikoff contender with 28 catches, 450 yards) and Carnell Tate forms college football's most explosive receiving duo, turning routine plays into highlight-reel scores.
QB: Julian Sayin (RS FR, 6'1", 208 lbs, Carlsbad, CA) – 101/126, 1,313 yds, 13 TD
RB: CJ Donaldson (SR, 6'2", 232 lbs, Miami, FL) – 45 att, 193 yds, 4.3 avg
RB: James Peoples (SO, 5'10", 206 lbs, San Antonio, TX) – 35 att, 195 yds, 5.6 avg
WR-X: Carnell Tate (JR, 6'3", 195 lbs, Chicago, IL) – 24 rec, 435 yds, 18.1 avg
WR-Z: Jeremiah Smith (SO, 6'3", 223 lbs, Miami Gardens, FL) – 35 rec, 463 yds, 13.2 avg
WR-Y: Brandon Inniss (JR, 6'0", 199 lbs, Hollywood, FL) – 9 rec, 73 yds, 8.1 avg
TE: Max Klare (JR, 6'5", 243 lbs, Guilford, IN) – 11 rec, 137 yds, 12.5 avg
LT: Austin Sierveld (JR, 6'5", 315 lbs, Cincinnati, OH)
LG: Luke Montgomery (JR, 6'5", 312 lbs, Findlay, OH)
C: Carson Hinzman (SR, 6'5", 300 lbs, Spring Valley, WI)
RG: Tegra Tshabola (SR, 6'7", 331 lbs, Lakota West, OH)
RT: Phillip Daniels (SR, 6'7", jacob bethell 331 lbs, Katy, TX)
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