ESPN’s Paul Finebaum admits his feelings about Ohio State heading into 2025 season, and Buckeye Nation isn’t going to approve of it
The Ohio State Buckeyes just won a National Championship, but there’s still plenty of uncertainty surrounding what this team will look like in 2025. Ohio State reloads year after year by recruiting at a high level and utilizing the transfer portal to fill key needs. Once again, the Buckeyes will be replacing their starting quarterback […]
The Ohio State Buckeyes just won a National Championship, but there’s still plenty of uncertainty surrounding what this team will look like in 2025.
Ohio State reloads year after year by recruiting at a high level and utilizing the transfer portal to fill key needs. Once again, the Buckeyes will be replacing their starting quarterback in 2025. Ryan Day has done a solid job of transitioning from one quarterback to the next, but not everyone is confident about this year’s outlook.
ESPN’s Paul Finebaum offers a critical take on the 2025 Buckeyes
Known for his hot takes, ESPN’s Paul Finebaum isn’t feeling great about Ryan Day’s team heading into the 2025 season.
“I’m going to say it right now, I think the Buckeyes are overrated,” Finebaum said recently. “I think you’re overrated today because I think Julian Sayin is a good quarterback, but I don’t know if he’s ready to take on what you have to do to win a National Championship.”
Ohio State had a terrific run last season after their loss to Michigan. That championship team was led by standouts like Caleb Downs, Jack Sawyer, TreVeyon Henderson, and Will Howard. The Buckeyes return Downs this year, along with star wideout Jeremiah Smith—giving them two of the best players in the country.
Still, more leaders will need to emerge for Ohio State to get to where they want to be
The Buckeyes have an ongoing quarterback battle between Julian Sayin and Lincoln Kienholz. Sayin, a former five-star recruit with a high ceiling, is expected to win the job. He may experience growing pains early in the season—but that’s not when Ohio State needs him to be at his best. The Buckeyes will need him at his best closer to the expanded College Football Playoff, where they will expected to be in the mix again.
While the 2024 roster featured a wealth of NFL-ready talent who decided to return that helped secure the national title, the 2025 squad may not be quite as loaded. Still, Ohio State has the pieces to compete for another championship—and they’ll be in the national spotlight once again.
