We’ve almost reached the finish line.
Only eight more sleeps separate Ohio State from its Week 1 matchup against Indiana, a game that looks much more intriguing now than it did a week ago.
There’s no shortage of expectations for the upcoming year, as the Buckeyes remain a popular College Football Playoff pick by national pundits.
As Eleven Warriors’ season preview nears its end, here are the 10 biggest questions surrounding Ohio State entering the 2023 season.
Who starts/emerges as Ohio State’s quarterback?
At the end of the spring football season, Ohio State’s starting quarterback job looked to be Kyle McCord’s to lose. Not only did McCord have a leg up because of an extra year of experience on Devin Brown, but the latter signal caller suffered a small injury setback in April that kept him out of the spring game.
Fast forward to late August and there’s still no clear-cut QB1. Ryan Day said he isn’t ready to name a starter yet, acknowledging both players deserve to play. Could that competition extend into the season? It’s possible.
That revelation sent a few OSU fans into a tizzy, especially considering the last time the Buckeyes went this direction in the 2015 season, the offense sputtered. But other teams have had success with multiple quarterbacks playing before one established themselves in the past few seasons, including Clemson with Kelly Bryant and Trevor Lawrence, Michigan with J.J. McCarthy and Cade McNamara and Alabama with Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa.
Realistically, even if a starter had been named, both quarterbacks were likely to see action in the first three weeks of the season anyway considering OSU is a heavy favorite in each matchup. But ideally by Week 4 against Notre Dame, which should have a stout defense in Marcus Freeman’s second season, the Buckeyes will have a defined starter in place. Who that signal caller is and how he performs could very well dictate if the Buckeyes can achieve their lofty aspirations in 2023.
Does the defense take the next step and become an elite unit?
You might not remember it considering the last impression the 2022 Ohio State defense left was getting gashed for multiple big plays in losses to Michigan and Georgia, but the Buckeyes were a top-10 defense statistically heading into their matchup with their arch rival.
Back at Big Ten Media Days in 2022, Ryan Day said his expectations for Jim Knowles is to produce a top-10 defense nationally, which Knowles himself countered by saying he wished Day had said top five.
Well, if there’s ever a time to back up those words, it’s this season. Knowles claims to have spent his offseason studying how the Buckeyes can limit big plays in marquee matchups moving forward, an issue of critical importance if OSU wants to live up to that billing.
The Buckeyes have arguably the most collective talent on their roster defensively since the 2019 season, with linebacker, defensive line and the secondary all boasting intriguing playmakers. It’s up to Knowles and the rest of the staff to live up to their potential.
Will the Buckeyes avenge a two-year losing streak to Michigan?
After two years of being on the losing side, Eleven Warriors can confirm with 100 percent certainty Ohio State fans are sick of losing to their arch rival.
Both teams could find themselves undefeated entering The Game for a second straight year and both have been projected by many national pundits to make the final four-team College Football Playoff.
But playoff appearance or not, a third straight defeat to the Wolverines isn’t going to sit well with anybody. As always, OSU’s season will be defined by what happens in 60 minutes of action in Ann Arbor.
How will OSU divide the carries between five quality running backs?
Much is made (for good reason) about Ohio State’s wide receiving corps, but the Buckeyes also have an embarrassment of riches at running back. OSU has five running backs who likely are all capable of starting at other Power Five schools, including TreVeyon Henderson, Miyan Williams, Dallan Hayden, Evan Pryor and Chip Trayanum.
Unfortunately for the 2022 Buckeyes, OSU’s running back room was littered with injuries, forcing the workload to swing week-to-week depending on who was available. In 2023, all five are entering the year healthy.
Henderson and Williams are expected to receive the lion’s share of the carries, but Hayden and Trayanum each had flashes of brilliance last year and Pryor has impressed since coming back from his season-long injury in 2022. It’s a great problem for OSU running backs coach Tony Alford to have, but exactly how the workload will be split up remains uncertain.
Is the offensive line good enough to continue Ohio State’s elite offensive production?
OSU is charged with replacing both of its starting tackles and its center from a year ago, a task that seemed all too daunting in the spring. Nearly a week away from the Buckeyes’ opening matchup with Indiana, and the OSU coaching staff feels much better about its offensive line than it did a few months ago.
Josh (Jimmy?) Simmons has claimed the starting spot at left tackle after an impressive fall camp. Josh Fryar is the favorite to start at right tackle, the same goes for Carson Hinzman at center. Perhaps that isn’t the same offensive line the Buckeyes finish the year with, but for now, the Buckeyes are quietly confident they’ve addressed one of their biggest question marks entering the 2023 campaign.
Which freshman makes the biggest impact?
There always seems to be a true freshman who fights his way onto the field for at least some meaningful reps each season. This year, three candidates jump out.
Carnell Tate has earned glowing reviews from nearly everyone at Ohio State, with Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka lauding how fast he’s learned the offense. The Buckeyes are stacked at wide receiver with Harrison Jr., Egbuka, Julian Fleming and Xavier Johnson all expected to have meaningful roles, but Tate could be too talented to keep off the field for an entire season.
Malik Hartford has impressed Ohio State so much in fall camp he’s earned consideration to be the final starter at safety in Knowles’ defense, as he’s competing with Josh Proctor and Ja’Had Carter for the final spot. Even if he doesn’t start right away, Hartford could get an extended look in the first three weeks of the season with OSU being heavy favorites in each matchup.
Finally, Luke Montgomery will likely begin the year as a backup to Josh Fryar at right tackle, but if Fryar struggles/gets hurt, Montgomery is clearly the next man up.
Can Marvin Harrison Jr. turn in a Heisman-worthy season?
Considering six of the last seven Heisman winners have been quarterbacks, it’s going to be a tall task for Harrison Jr. to win college football’s most prestigious trophy, even if he is arguably the NFL's best wide receiver prospect since Calvin Johnson.
When former Alabama wideout DeVonta Smith claimed the trophy in 2020, he led the country with 98 receptions and 1,511 receiving yards, while his 17 receiving touchdowns were the second-best mark nationally.
In comparison, Harrison Jr. caught 77 passes for 1,263 yards and 14 touchdowns a year ago. Can he increase his numbers to Smith’s level? His talent is undeniable, but between the talent of other wideouts and running backs on the roster meriting touches and the inexperience of whoever will be throwing him the ball, it could be a challenge to reach Heisman heights.
Will Brian Hartline shifting to offensive coordinator change anything about play calling?
It was a question asked all offseason after Hartline was promoted following the departure of Kevin Wilson. Recently, Ryan Day admitted he’d be handling the majority of the play calling this season, so perhaps the offense won’t change all that much.
But even if Day keeps the majority of it, that doesn’t mean Hartline couldn’t have a big impact on the gameday installation and the scripted first few plays. Considering the wide receiver talent at OSU’s disposal, it’s fair to assume Hartline will be advocating for each of his starters to get plenty of targets throughout a game.
It’s fair to assume Day will be primarily in control of calling the game in Week 1 considering the quarterback situation and that both could play against Indiana. If the offense sputters to begin the year due to a rookie quarterback, an unproven offensive line or something else, might he re-evaluate how playing calling is distributed?
Will the defensive line be the defense’s greatest strength?
When a good chunk of OSU’s defensive linemen met with reporters earlier this month, nearly all of them couldn’t stop raving about how deep the unit was.
The Buckeyes could have up to three first-round picks in next year's NFL draft in that room alone this season between defensive ends J.T. Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer and defensive tackle Mike Hall. Defensive end Kenyatta Jackson Jr. had a dominant spring and has impressed in fall camp as well.
Defensive tackles Ty Hamilton and Tyleik Williams could be big-time contributors. Caden Curry made the most of his sparse playing time as a freshman and could see his role increase. Defensive tackle Hero Kanu was praised by Knowles earlier this week.
You get the idea.
Larry Johnson has never been afraid to rotate different players in and out, but he could have even more of a surplus of options to choose from this season.
Is this the season OSU hoists its first championship trophy since the 2014 season?
It’s the final year of a four-team College Football Playoff, so can’t hold anything back now.
Ohio State always states the same three goals before the beginning of each season. Beat Michigan, win the Big Ten and win a national championship. Anything less is usually considered a failure, and while important questions at both quarterback and the offensive line still remain unanswered, OSU arguably could have the deepest roster in the country this year.
The 2021 recruiting class was the highest-ranked class by overall score the Buckeyes have ever signed in the modern recruiting era. With a good chunk of those players likely headed to pro football after this season, this is that class’ final opportunity to bring home the championship the group envisioned when they signed with OSU.
