The season is slipping away as a result of Ohio State’s significant offseason swings blowing up in their face.
In the world of college football, few programs have the prestigious reputation and history that Ohio State boasts. The Buckeyes have been a dominant force for decades, consistently competing for championships and producing NFL-level talent. However, after a promising start to the 2025 season, it seems that Ohio State’s significant offseason moves are starting to backfire, and the team’s hopes for a successful season are beginning to slip away.
Ohio State’s program has always been synonymous with success under head coach Ryan Day, whose leadership has brought the Buckeyes into the College Football Playoff picture year after year. But the 2025 season presents a different set of challenges that Ohio State is struggling to overcome. Whether it’s changes in the coaching staff, injuries to key players, or struggles in adapting to new systems, the Buckeyes have faced adversity like never before in recent memory. And now, with the season slipping through their fingers, questions are arising about how the program got here and what they can do to salvage it.
A Promising Offseason
Heading into the offseason, Ohio State’s prospects were sky-high. The team had finished the 2024 season strong, securing another appearance in the College Football Playoff, albeit falling short in their bid for a national title. With a talented roster and an experienced coaching staff, many predicted that the Buckeyes would once again be one of the top contenders in the 2025 season. But despite the optimism, a series of bold decisions in the offseason would soon begin to unravel the team’s progress.
The most prominent offseason move was the departure of long-time assistant coaches and key contributors to the Buckeyes’ success. Ohio State’s coaching staff saw a significant turnover, with several prominent coordinators and position coaches leaving for new opportunities. Jim Knowles, the defensive coordinator, had been instrumental in transforming Ohio State’s defense into one of the best in the nation. However, after a rocky final season in 2024, Knowles left for a lucrative job elsewhere. Ohio State hired a new defensive coordinator, Eric Smith, a relative unknown in the world of top-tier college football coaches, hoping he could help the team adjust to a changing college landscape.
Additionally, the Buckeyes had to replace their offensive coordinator, Kevin Wilson, who had been the architect behind the team’s potent offensive schemes. The loss of Wilson was a significant blow, and replacing him was no easy task. Ohio State opted to promote Brian Hartline, a former wide receiver coach, to the offensive coordinator role. Hartline had done wonders in developing Ohio State’s wide receivers but had limited experience with overall offensive playcalling. While his potential was clear, it raised concerns among fans about how quickly he could adapt to the new responsibility.
While Ohio State’s coaching staff had an impressive pedigree, the drastic changes to the offense and defense in the offseason set the stage for potential struggles during the season. There was a sense that the Buckeyes might be too ambitious in their decisions, assuming that everything would fall into place despite these significant personnel changes.
Injuries Strike Early
The Buckeyes also faced a rash of injuries to key players early in the 2025 season. Quarterback Kyle McCord, who had shown flashes of brilliance in 2024, was expected to take the reins as the leader of Ohio State’s offense. However, McCord was sidelined for a portion of the season due to a nagging shoulder injury, forcing backup quarterbacks to step in. While Devin Brown and Tristan Gebbia did their best to hold the fort, neither could replicate McCord’s poise and playmaking ability, which created offensive instability. McCord’s absence was particularly damaging given the change at offensive coordinator, as it disrupted the team’s offensive rhythm and forced Hartline to work with a less experienced quarterback room.
In addition to McCord’s injury, Ohio State also dealt with a number of key defensive players getting hurt. The team’s defensive line, which was supposed to be a strength, suffered injuries that forced inexperienced backups to fill critical roles. J.T. Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer, two of Ohio State’s most impactful defensive players, each missed significant time due to injuries. Without these elite pass rushers, the Buckeyes’ defense was unable to generate the pressure needed to stifle high-powered offenses in the Big Ten. The defensive struggles would only compound as the season wore on, further emphasizing the team’s inability to adjust to the loss of key personnel.
The Defensive Struggles
Despite Ohio State’s consistently high recruiting rankings, the defense has been an area of concern for the team throughout the 2025 season. The Buckeyes were once known for their stout, aggressive defense under former head coach Urban Meyer and coordinators like Greg Schiano and Luke Fickell. However, since Jim Knowles’ departure, the defensive unit has struggled to find its footing. New defensive coordinator Eric Smith’s unit has struggled to adjust to the personnel changes, and Ohio State has become vulnerable against top offenses. Against teams with potent passing games like Michigan and Penn State, the Buckeyes have shown an inability to consistently cover receivers, and their lack of pass rush has allowed opposing quarterbacks to carve through the defense.
Moreover, Ohio State’s secondary has been prone to breakdowns, with key corners and safeties struggling to match up against elite wide receivers. Jahari Rodgers, a rising star in the secondary, was expected to take a leadership role in the defensive backfield, but his inconsistency has been one of the reasons for Ohio State’s defensive issues. In a conference that has seen significant improvements in offensive firepower, Ohio State’s defense has not kept pace.
Offensive Inconsistencies
While Ohio State’s defense has been the most glaring issue, the offense has not been without its own set of problems. Ryan Day’s offensive system has long been regarded as one of the best in the country, but the changes at offensive coordinator have been far from smooth. Under Brian Hartline, the offense has struggled with consistency. Hartline’s decision-making and playcalling have left something to be desired at times, especially in critical situations when Ohio State needed to sustain drives or score quickly.
Another issue has been the offensive line, which has underperformed. Ohio State’s offensive line was expected to be one of the best in the country, with returning starters like Paris Johnson Jr. and Matthew Jones anchoring the unit. However, injuries and poor play from other players have led to a significant drop in the team’s effectiveness in the running game. The Buckeyes’ offensive line has failed to open up consistent running lanes, leaving star running back Miyan Williams with limited opportunities to make plays. As a result, the offense has been less balanced than usual, leading to struggles in the red zone and increased pressure on the quarterbacks.
In addition to the struggles on the ground, Ohio State has faced issues with its wide receiver corps. Though the team boasts incredible talent at wide receiver, including Marvin Harrison Jr., the passing game has lacked the explosive punch it’s known for. Quarterbacks have had difficulty building chemistry with the receivers, and the timing has been off on several deep passes. Ohio State’s offense has had to rely too heavily on short throws and quick passes, limiting their ability to stretch the field and create big plays. The absence of a true game-breaking wide receiver who can consistently dominate opposing secondaries has been evident.
The Michigan Game Looms Large
With the season slipping away, the Buckeyes now find themselves in a must-win situation as they prepare for their annual showdown with Michigan. Michigan, under Jim Harbaugh, has become one of the top programs in the nation, and the rivalry has taken on even more importance as both teams now sit near the top of the Big Ten standings. Ohio State’s struggles to adjust to changes in both the coaching staff and key personnel have put them in a position where a loss to Michigan would likely end their hopes of a College Football Playoff appearance.
For Ohio State to have any chance of salvaging their season, they must not only defeat Michigan but also find a way to fix their glaring issues on both sides of the ball. That will require a complete overhaul of the defense and better execution from the offense. Unfortunately for the Buckeyes, they are running out of time.
