Ohio State Ranked No. 2 In ESPN Post-Spring Rankings
Year 5 isn't a prove-it season internally for Ryan Day, but fans of Ohio State are expecting a championship to head to Columbus sooner rather than later. Sky pie dreams could reach new heights in 2023 after an intense spring session.
At least ESPN thinks so.
The Buckeyes were listed as the No. 2 team in the country heading into the 2023 season following spring ball. Only two-time defending champion Georgia ranks ahead of the Big Ten program and for good reason. The Bulldogs are once again the betting favorite to hoist up the title in Houston at NRG Stadium come January.
According to ESPN's Bill Connelly, the Buckeyes rank second not just due to returning personnel but also recruiting metrics. Ohio State features the second-best offense behind USC, trailing the Pac-12 program by .1 point. Defensively, the program returns the 13th-ranked unit, but seventh-best defense in the Big Ten behind Iowa (No. 1), Michigan (No. 4), Penn State (No. 6), Wisconsin (No. 7), Illinois (No. 8) and Minnesota (No. 9).
The Buckeyes are 0.4 points ahead of Michigan, which ranks No. 7 overall in the SP+ standings. Penn State ranks 6.1 points behind Ohio State, while Wisconsin trails by 13.8 points. No other Big Ten program currently falls within the top 25 SP+ standings entering the summer months.
Per Connelly, the Buckeyes also return 60 percent of their offense and 77 percent of their defense, ranking No. 38 nationally. Offensively, Ohio State returns two preseason All-American receivers in Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka, while the defense will feature players like linebacker Tommy Eichenberg and defensive lineman J.T. Tuimoloau.
In the Big Ten East, Maryland and Michigan State both rank inside the top 50 at No. 40 and No. 42, respectively. The Terps return the No. 27-ranked defense and No. 49 offense, while the Spartans return the No. 25 defense and No. 56 offensive unit. Michigan State's offense could also take a step back further with the departures of quarterback Payton Thorne and receiver Keon Coleman.
Indiana and Rutgers round of the Big Ten East rankings outside the top 70 and do not feature a top 50 offense or defense returning.
Five teams trail Wisconsin in the Big Ten West rankings, with Iowa being the closest at No. 29. The Hawkeyes bolters the nation's top defensive metric, but feature the No. 81-ranked offense. Iowa's offensive production should substantially improve with the additions of Michigan quarterback Cade McNamara and tight end Erick All.
Minnesota (No. 31), Illinois (No. 44), Purdue (No. 48) and Nebraska (No. 49) all rank inside the top 50. Northwestern, which features the No. 28 returning defense and No. 121 ranked offense, comes in at No. 83.
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