Everybody has a list and/or rankings these days across multiple things; it’s just a matter of what it is and when it comes out. In this case, Paul Myerberg of USA TODAY has released his post-spring Big Ten power rankings, and as always, we are curious what is being said about Ohio State and where the Buckeyes landed.
The Buckeyes are coming off a disappointing end to the season. They were ranked No. 1 ever since the win over Texas to start the year, all the way through the end of an undefeated regular season that included a victory over arch-nemesis Michigan. But then, OSU lost the Big Ten Championship Game to Indiana in a razor-thin margin, then fell to Miami in the Cotton Bowl in a quarterfinal of the College Football Playoff.
End of the line.
In the offseason, OSU looked to improve the roster, even after losing a nation-leading eleven players to the NFL draft and having a slew enter the transfer portal. The Buckeyes have a lot of returning talent, but they also brought in 51 new faces to the program, so there are a lot of unknowns about how it will all gel.
And Ohio State isn’t alone. Many programs across the country and the Big Ten had to overhaul rosters in the new age of Name, Image and Likeness and the transfer portal, so trying to figure out a pecking order of where teams stand can be more challenging than taking a spoon to a groundbreaking ceremony.
Nonetheless, Myerberg likes what Ohio State’s roster looks like, so much so that he has OSU as the top dog in the Big Ten after all the spring shenanigans. Here’s what the USAA TODAY lead writer says about the Scarlet and Gray:
“The most loaded offense in the country has the potential to be among the most potent in school history, wrote Myerberg. “This will be the last run for superstar receiver Jeremiah Smith and potentially third-year quarterback Julian Sayin, the preseason favorite for the Heisman Trophy.”
We’ll see. To be fair, Ohio State was probably the most talented team in the country last year and didn’t get the job done. In fact, it seems like OSU wins a national championship in years when it isn’t expected to in the preseason.
So, who does Myerberg have just behind Ohio State? Rounding out the top five of the conference are Oregon (2), Indiana (3), USC (4), and Michigan (5).
You can catch the full list of eighteen teams and where they stand in Myerberg’s post-spring rankings by visiting USA TODAY and getting a look at it. For now, we like where he has the Buckeyes.
Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.
This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: USA TODAY releases post spring Big Ten rankings. Where is Ohio State?
Reporting by Phil Harrison, Buckeyes Wire / Buckeyes Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
