Each and every season, the expectations are to win and compete for a National Championship there in Columbus, Ohio. This year, that pressure and noise may be even greater.
When last season ended how it did with another loss to Michigan and then a disappointing loss in what was a meaningless bowl game against Missouri because they couldn’t make the College Football Playoff, the demand for better trickled into the offseason.
Ohio State was able to keep a boatload of talent from going to the NFL and they were heavy hitters in the transfer portal with some big additions. With all that has happened over the offseason and all of the hype, head coach Ryan Day still has the approach you would want toward things.
“Our focus is on the preseason, it’s the next step. Sure, a lot of coaches say it, that you can’t focus on what happened the year before. You can’t get too worried about what’s coming down the road,” Day explained at Big Ten Media Days. “But we all know there is a lot of noise and a lot of hype around this team. What we can’t do is let those distractions grab our focus from what we need to do day in and day out.”
With the expanded playoff, things are going to be much tougher in college football. Teams are going to have to test their depth like never before and be ready for more games than they have played in the past if they want to go all the way.
“We know it’s going to be a long season, but we’ve gotta have a great preseason. We’ve got to have a physical preseason. We’ve got to lay that foundation for what’s going to come as we head throughout the season.”
Additions like safety Caleb Downs, running back Quinshon Judkins , and quarterback Will Howard are high-level transfers that are going to have big impacts for the Buckeyes. Add in players like wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, running back TreVeyon Henderson, defensive ends Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau, and the Buckeyes seem to be in business for the 2024 season.
“We’re very, very excited about our guys. We have great experience in that locker room and some great talent. But it is going to take more than talent. It is going to take all of the no-talent issues to get to where we want to be and reach our goals.
Related: Ohio State’s Will Howard shares one thing that he is already tired of as a Buckeye
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