Entering the 2025 NCAA tournament, Ohio State University Men’s Lacrosse has beaten all Big Ten teams and each of last year’s final four teams.
As the 2025 NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Tournament begins, few teams carry more momentum, confidence, and national attention than the Ohio State Buckeyes. Under the guidance of head coach Nick Myers, the Buckeyes have authored one of the most compelling seasons in program history—highlighted by a clean sweep of their Big Ten rivals and wins over each of the teams that made the 2024 NCAA Final Four. These accomplishments not only underscore Ohio State’s elite status entering the postseason, but also suggest that the Buckeyes may be poised for a deep and potentially historic tournament run.
This season has been a remarkable showcase of resilience, evolution, and execution. The Buckeyes have blended a seasoned core with exciting young talent, matched with a defensive identity and an offense that has peaked at the right time. With dominant wins, clutch performances, and statement victories over last year’s top teams, Ohio State has crafted a narrative that moves beyond regional respect—it demands national championship consideration.
This article will explore how Ohio State reached this point, key moments from the 2025 season, what sets this team apart, and how the Buckeyes are preparing to chase their first NCAA lacrosse title.
A Season Defined by Statement Wins
Ohio State’s 2025 regular season reads like a gauntlet of top-tier competition, and yet the Buckeyes emerged not only unbeaten in the Big Ten but also with marquee wins over the best teams from last year’s NCAA tournament.
The Big Ten has long been considered one of the toughest conferences in college lacrosse. With perennial powerhouses like Maryland, Johns Hopkins, Penn State, and Rutgers, sweeping the conference schedule is an extraordinary feat. But this year, the Buckeyes accomplished just that. They didn’t merely win games—they controlled them, often setting the tone early and dictating pace.
Perhaps even more impressive has been Ohio State’s performance against the teams that reached the Final Four in 2024: Notre Dame, Duke, Virginia, and Maryland. Each of these programs has multiple national titles and deep postseason experience. Ohio State took them all down in succession during the 2025 regular season.
The most symbolic of those victories came against Maryland. While the Terps were the only Big Ten team in the Final Four last year, Ohio State handled them decisively in a high-profile matchup that many dubbed a “preview of the postseason.” That win solidified the Buckeyes as the class of the Big Ten.
Against Duke and Virginia, Ohio State’s defense clamped down on two of the most explosive offenses in the country. The Buckeyes’ close defense and goaltending, paired with precise transition play, neutralized star players who had tormented other programs all season. The win over Notre Dame—widely viewed as the national title favorite heading into the season—was a gritty, physical contest that showcased Ohio State’s maturity and championship-level resilience.
Leadership and Experience: The Core of the 2025 Buckeyes
What separates the 2025 Buckeyes from previous Ohio State squads is a unique combination of veteran leadership and youthful impact. This is not just a talented team—it’s an experienced, cohesive, and deeply motivated group of athletes.
At the heart of the team is fifth-year senior and team captain Jack Myers (no relation to Coach Myers), who has been the face of the program for several years. The veteran attackman has played with precision and poise, serving as both a scorer and a distributor. Myers’ field vision, lacrosse IQ, and leadership have been essential in high-pressure moments, especially in tight conference games.
Midfield has been a source of balance and versatility. Players like Grant Mitchell and Connor Camille bring physicality, defensive grit, and offensive punch. Their ability to play two-way lacrosse has given Coach Myers the flexibility to dictate tempo and make in-game adjustments without wholesale substitutions.
On defense, senior close defender Ryan Leahy has been a lockdown presence, often drawing the toughest assignment each week. He’s part of a defensive unit that has become one of the stingiest in the country, anchored by elite goalie Tate Carlson, whose save percentage ranks among the NCAA’s best.
The Buckeyes’ faceoff unit, led by sophomore Eli Becker, has made dramatic improvements since last season. Dominating possession battles has helped Ohio State control time of possession and tempo—a key ingredient in their success against high-scoring opponents.
Coach Nick Myers: Architect of the Buckeyes’ Rise
Since taking over the Ohio State program in 2009, Nick Myers has steadily elevated the team from a conference underdog to a national contender. But 2025 may represent the pinnacle of his efforts to date.
Myers has cultivated a culture centered on accountability, team-first mentality, and relentless effort. He’s built a program that reflects not only toughness and discipline but also creativity and adaptability. Ohio State’s playbook mixes methodical six-on-six offense with transition opportunities created through aggressive rides and clearing efficiency.
His recruiting success has also been key. Myers has built rosters that blend Midwestern toughness with East Coast skill, pulling talent from traditional lacrosse hotbeds while also developing homegrown Ohio athletes. The 2025 team, in many ways, is the culmination of years of sustained growth and investment in the program’s foundation.
Myers has stressed the importance of not getting too high or too low throughout the season. His messaging has centered on staying focused, playing for one another, and keeping the bigger goal in mind: championship weekend in Philadelphia.
Big Ten Dominance: More Than Just Wins
Going undefeated in the Big Ten is no small feat. The physical and emotional toll of conference play is immense, and the parity in the league means that no game can be taken for granted.
Ohio State’s dominance in Big Ten play has had ripple effects beyond wins and losses. It’s made a statement about the program’s evolution. For years, Ohio State fought for respect in a conference where bluebloods like Maryland and Johns Hopkins often garnered the spotlight. But in 2025, the Buckeyes didn’t just beat those teams—they outclassed them, often in decisive fashion.
One particularly telling moment came in a road win against Johns Hopkins, in a game where Ohio State trailed by three goals in the fourth quarter before storming back with five unanswered scores. That comeback, fueled by team depth and mental toughness, was a microcosm of the season’s narrative: a team that refuses to fold.
Key Factors for Tournament Success
Entering the NCAA tournament, the Buckeyes have all the tools to make a legitimate championship run. Here are three key factors that will determine how far they go:
- Maintaining Possession and Pace: Ohio State has excelled in controlling pace. Whether that means pushing in transition or grinding out long possessions, they must continue to dictate terms rather than react.
- Goaltending and Defense: Carlson’s consistency in net has been a game-changer. If he stays sharp and the close defense continues its disciplined, physical play, Ohio State can limit even the most prolific offenses.
- Composure in Close Games: The postseason brings pressure that regular-season games can’t replicate. The Buckeyes have handled close contests well so far—but that focus must intensify with each round.
A New Standard for Buckeye Lacrosse
Should Ohio State advance deep into the 2025 NCAA tournament, it will mark not just a successful season but a new standard for the program. The Buckeyes have flirted with greatness before, most notably during their 2017 run to the national championship game. But this year’s team is arguably more complete, more balanced, and more battle-tested.
There’s also the intangible element: belief. The Buckeyes have beaten the best. They’ve emerged from one of the toughest schedules in the country not only unscathed but improved. They’ve shown they can win with finesse, with grit, with depth, and with star power.
They believe they belong among lacrosse’s elite—and more importantly, they’ve proven it.
The Road Ahead
As the 2025 NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Tournament begins, the Ohio State Buckeyes stand on the edge of history. With a perfect Big Ten record and wins over each of the 2024 Final Four teams, they have earned both respect and the right to dream big.
Now, the task becomes staying sharp, staying humble, and executing under the brightest lights. The road to a national championship will not be easy—but if this season is any indication, the Buckeyes are ready to finish what they started.
The lacrosse world is watching. And in Columbus, there’s a growing belief that 2025 might just be the year the scarlet and gray rise to the very top.
