The 2024 college football season is nearly upon us.
In just a tad over two months from now, the games will officially begin. With the new season comes the brand-new expanded playoff field.
With 12 tickets to the dance now up for grabs, more teams than ever will be able to dream about hoisting the national title trophy come January.
Having said that, most people agree that two teams currently stand above the rest: Georgia and Ohio State.
While Texas and Oregon aren’t too far behind, the overwhelming feeling is that we could very well be on a Bulldog-Buckeye collision course.
Legendary Ohio State coach Urban Meyer took things a step further as he found his way back into the headlines.
Speaking to Adam King of 10TV, Meyer said the 2024 Buckeyes have “one of the most talented rosters in the last decade, maybe ever.”
Meyer’s sentiments were echoed by another former Buckeye head coach, Jim Tressel.
Tressel commented on the sheer number of talented players currently in the program, saying, “I don’t know if I have ever seen that many great players in that building all at once.”
“Every position, every place you turn. Ryan’s done a great job, and Ohio State has done a great job,” he added.
The current Ohio State squad, led by head coach Ryan Day, is coming off three consecutive 11-2 seasons.
The Buckeyes haven’t lost more than two games in a single season since 2011, but they are also eager to capture their first national championship since 2014, a feat achieved under Meyer.
Despite some key departures to the NFL draft, including star wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., Day successfully retained several key players.
Notable returnees include All-Big Ten selections such as pass-rusher J.T. Tuimoloau, wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, and running back TreVeyon Henderson.
In addition to retaining talent, Ohio State boasts one of the top incoming classes of recruits and transfers in the nation, ranked fifth overall by 247Sports.
This class includes significant additions at quarterback with transfers Will Howard from Kansas State and Julian Sayin from Alabama.
While Sayin is seen as the quarterback of the future, Howard is considered the clear frontrunner to start this season following the transfer of last year’s starter, Kyle McCord, to Syracuse.
Howard, who started 27 games at Kansas State, is coming off a strong 2023 season where he passed for 2,643 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.
He also rushed for 351 yards and nine scores and proved to be a fearless leader for the Wildcats.
Another star transfer that Day managed to land in the portal is explosive running back Quinshon Judkins who came over from Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss Rebels.
Judkins leaving the Rebs reportedly did not sit well at all with Heisman-contending quarterback Jaxson Dart and company.
I don’t mean to sound overly dramatic, but it’s no exaggeration to call 2024 one of the biggest seasons in Ohio State history.
After losing three straight games to the hated Michigan Wolverines, Day’s seat is getting warmer and warmer.
With such a loaded team, there’s no reason for the Buckeyes not to go on an extremely deep playoff run.
Fair or not, anything short of a national championship would be viewed as a total failure in Columbus.
Ohio State’s complete 2024 schedule goes as follows…
Aug. 31 vs. Akron
Sept. 7 vs. Western Mich.
Sept. 14 Idle
Sept. 21 vs. Marshall
Sept. 28 at Michigan State
Oct. 5 vs. Iowa
Oct. 12 at Oregon
Oct. 19 Idle
Oct. 26 vs. Nebraska
Nov. 2 at Penn State
Nov. 9 vs. Purdue
Nov. 16 at Northwestern
Nov. 23 vs. Indiana
Nov. 30 vs. Michigan
(By the way: the clip below will never, ever get old..)
What are your thoughts on Meyer’s comments?
Do you think the 2024 Buckeyes have a chance to be one of the greatest teams – if not THE greatest – in college football history?
Is this the year Day finally gets over the hump and wins the national title?
Or do you think we’re in-store for a total meltdown in Columbus that could potentially lead to Day’s firing???