College football preview magazines are absolutely buzzing, hyping Ohio State as a national championship favorite, and honestly, it feels kinda wild. These predictions are dropping despite a schedule that looks like a brutal gauntlet and a program-record 51 newcomers on the roster. Athlon Sports is even picking the Buckeyes to win the whole damn thing for the second time in three years, while Lindy's Sports and Phil Steele have them locked in at No. 3. That's some serious faith when you look at the hurdles ahead.
Buckeyes' High Stakes Bet: Talent vs. Turnover
So, what's got everyone so hyped about Ohio State? It's all about that quarterback-receiver duo of Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith. Sayin, after a stellar redshirt freshman year where he was a Heisman Trophy finalist, is expected to take a massive leap. And Smith? The dude is just pure dominance, landing on all three magazines' preseason All-America first-teams. Plus, Coach Ryan Day brought in Arthur Smith from the NFL as offensive coordinator, hoping to fix those key postseason struggles, especially in the red zone, that led to losses against Indiana in the Big Ten championship and Miami in the CFP quarterfinals last December. That's a bold move, hoping his NFL head-coaching and play-calling background mirrors defensive coordinator Matt Patricia's stellar debut last fall. But here's the kicker: this team lost seven defensive starters to the NFL. SEVEN! That's a huge hit, even if they handled similar attrition last year. Athlon even wrote that the staff "will have to hustle to fine-tune a roster littered with a program-record 51 newcomers and a loaded schedule." They added, "if the defense is able to reload, all championship possibilities are on the table." It makes you wonder how quickly they can gel with what could be up to six preseason top-25 opponents staring them down.The Big Ten's Reign and the Rising Challengers
It's not just about Ohio State, though. The Big Ten has been on an absolute tear, producing the last three national champions: Michigan in 2023, Ohio State in 2024, and Indiana in 2025. That's wild. Lindy's actually picked Oregon to win it all, and for good reason. They've got Dante Moore returning at quarterback and a defensive line that's considered among the best in the country. Coach Dan Lanning did lose both his offensive and defensive coordinators to head-coaching gigs, but Lindy's says the Ducks' roster is "loaded with talent" and has "the kind of elite depth that can end games early." They feel like this is the year Oregon "finally clicks all the way through January." Then there's Phil Steele's pick, Notre Dame. They're rolling with returning starter CJ Carr at QB and a veteran-laden defense that Steele ranked with the nation’s top linebackers and defensive backs. Phil Steele said it best: "If defense wins championships then you have found your team." This Big Ten title race is gonna be intense. Can Ohio State overcome that insane roster turnover and brutal schedule, or will a team like Oregon or Notre Dame steal the spotlight? This season is going to be a pure battle for the conference crown and beyond.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.