Ohio State has already checked in at No. 2 in the Coaches Poll, while the AP's rankings come out Aug. 14. Those are the two polls of record for college football, but ESPN also does its own power rankings.
The Buckeyes are No. 2, behind Alabama.
Here's what Austin Ward has to say:
Urban Meyer has already made history with the Buckeyes, but not the kind that comes with a crystal football, thanks to NCAA sanctions that kept the program out of the postseason last season. Ohio State is free from those shackles now, and Meyer has traditionally done his best work in Year 2 at previous stops. His latest encore campaign is headlined by quarterback Braxton Miller, fifth-place finisher in the Heisman race last year and a truly dynamic weapon. With four senior starters on the offensive line, a deep stable of running backs and more options at wide receiver, the dangerous spread attack could help the Buckeyes overcome some defensive inexperience and do something even more memorable this year.
