Ohio State All-American safety Caleb Downs said he believes the Buckeyes’ defense in 2025 can be as good as last year’s No. 1-ranked unit.

In the storied halls of the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, greatness is both expected and demanded. The banners, the trophies, and the countless NFL alumni serve as reminders that excellence is a birthright for the Ohio State Buckeyes. But in 2024, the Buckeyes didn’t just meet that standard—they surpassed it on the defensive side of the ball. And now, with spring in the rearview and fall camp approaching, All-American safety Caleb Downs says the bar hasn’t lowered an inch.

In fact, he believes this year’s defense can match—or even exceed—the one that ranked No. 1 in the nation last fall.

“I honestly think we can be just as good, if not better,” Downs said after a recent summer workout. “I know how high the expectations are. I know what people saw last year. But with the talent we’ve got returning, and the standard we’ve set for ourselves, we’re capable of being the best defense in the country again.”

Downs isn’t just any returning player. He’s the heart and soul of Ohio State’s secondary—a rangy, physical, cerebral safety who transferred in from Alabama last year and quickly became the anchor of Jim Knowles’ elite unit.

In 2024, Downs recorded 94 tackles, 3 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles, and countless game-changing plays. He was the tone-setter, the closer, the communicator, and the enforcer for a unit that led the nation in total defense, scoring defense, and third-down efficiency.

By season’s end, he was named a unanimous All-American, Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year, and a finalist for the Thorpe Award. He considered entering the NFL Draft but opted to return for one more year in Columbus—chasing not just a national title, but a chance to leave a defensive legacy alongside the greats who came before him.

“Caleb is everything you want in a defensive leader,” said defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. “His preparation, his toughness, his ability to elevate everyone around him—it’s rare. Having him back gives us the foundation we need to reload.”

To understand the weight of Downs’ claim, you have to look at what Ohio State’s defense accomplished last season.

The Buckeyes allowed just 9.8 points per game, the fewest in the FBS. They held opponents under 300 yards in 10 of 13 games and forced 26 turnovers. They shut down explosive offenses like Michigan State, Penn State, and Notre Dame with surgical precision. And they did it with discipline and depth—rotating linemen, disguising coverages, and winning situational football.

Knowles, entering his fourth year as DC, finally had a unit that played fast, physical, and smart. With veterans like Tommy Eichenberg, Tyleik Williams, and Denzel Burke leading the charge, the Buckeyes executed at a championship level—even if they ultimately fell just short in the playoff semifinals.

Now, several of those stars are gone to the NFL. But in typical Ohio State fashion, the cupboard is far from bare.

Downs’ belief in this year’s defense isn’t blind optimism. It’s rooted in what he sees on the field every day.

Start with the front seven. While All-American DT Michael Hall Jr. and DE Jack Sawyer moved on, the Buckeyes bring back elite edge rusher J.T. Tuimoloau and breakout tackle Hero Kanu, alongside veterans like Ty Hamilton and Kenyatta Jackson Jr. True sophomore Eddrick Houston, a former five-star, is already pushing for starter snaps.

At linebacker, the Buckeyes boast versatility and experience. C.J. Hicks, once a five-star prospect himself, is expected to take a massive leap in his junior year, and Gabe Powers brings size and instincts in the middle. Both players have flashed NFL-caliber range and closing speed in spring practices.

In the secondary, Downs is joined by returning corner Jermaine Mathews Jr., who emerged as a lockdown defender last year, and graduate transfer Kool-Aid McKinstry, another Alabama import and first-round-caliber cover man. Together, they form one of the most dynamic and experienced secondaries in college football.

“I look around and see dogs everywhere,” Downs said. “Guys that want it. Guys that grind. That’s what gives me confidence to say we can be the best.”

Part of what made last year’s defense so elite wasn’t just the talent—it was the mindset. Jim Knowles preached “no gray area”—no freelancing, no hesitation, no compromise on effort or execution. And players bought in.

Downs credits that mindset with transforming the culture on his side of the ball. Now, in 2025, he sees that standard fully embedded in the DNA of the program.

“It’s not coach-led anymore. It’s player-led,” Downs said. “If someone’s loafing, they’re getting called out. If you don’t know your assignment, you’re staying after. Everyone is holding each other accountable. That’s when you know you’ve got something special.”

Defensive backs coach Tim Walton echoed that sentiment.

“We don’t have to beg for effort anymore,” Walton said. “Caleb, Jermaine, Kool-Aid—these guys police the room. And when the best players are also the hardest workers, you’ve got a shot to be great.”

For the 2025 defense to be as good or better than 2024’s unit, they’ll need to match or exceed production in several key areas:

• Points Per Game Allowed: Holding teams under 10 points per game is an almost impossible feat in the modern era. Even staying under 14 would be elite.
• Turnovers Forced: While the 2024 team had timely takeaways, Knowles wants more havoc plays. The goal in 2025 is 30+ turnovers.
• Red Zone Defense: Last year, OSU ranked second nationally in red zone TD percentage allowed. Replicating that efficiency will be crucial in big games.
• Explosive Plays Allowed: A hallmark of the 2024 unit was their ability to limit big plays. Downs says this is still priority No. 1: “Make them earn every yard.”

Downs believes the added athleticism at linebacker and the improved depth on the defensive line will help Ohio State attack more, disguise more, and create chaos.

“We can be more aggressive this year,” Downs said. “We trust our back end. That frees up the front to take more risks. And when you combine that with our communication and chemistry, we can take another step.”

If Ohio State’s defense is to validate Downs’ bold prediction, they’ll have to do it on some of the sport’s biggest stages.

In Week 2, they travel to Eugene to face the Oregon Ducks, led by quarterback Dillon Gabriel and one of the fastest offenses in the country. That game will be the first real measuring stick.

In October, Penn State and Iowa both visit the Horseshoe. Then comes the stretch everyone circles—at USC on November 1, and of course, at Michigan on November 29. Add in a likely Big Ten Championship Game and a 12-team playoff path, and the Buckeyes could play as many as 16 games this fall.

Downs isn’t looking past any of them.

“We’re taking it one week at a time,” he said. “But we know what’s ahead. We want to dominate—not just win. Dominate.

Perhaps more than anything, Downs’ return and his belief in this defense speak to a deeper truth about the 2025 Buckeyes: they’re not content.

Last year’s defense was great. But it didn’t deliver a title. It didn’t finish. And that still stings.

Now, with Downs back as the vocal leader, and Knowles building off continuity, the unit isn’t chasing stats—they’re chasing legacy.

“This group wants to be remembered,” Knowles said. “They know the history here—Spielman, Doss, Hawk, Young, Ward. They want their name in that conversation. And that only comes with rings.”

Downs agrees.

“You can have all the All-American plaques, all the draft grades—but if we don’t win a championship, none of it really matters,” he said. “We came back to finish the job. And we believe our defense can carry us all the way.

It’s not often that a player with the résumé of Caleb Downs chooses to return to college football instead of cashing in on the NFL. But for Downs, unfinished business means unfinished greatness.

His belief in this year’s Ohio State defense isn’t just a sound bite—it’s a mission statement. And if the Buckeyes can live up to the lofty standard set in 2024, and perhaps even eclipse it, they’ll not only earn their way back to the College Football Playoff—they might just finish on top.

“We don’t want to be compared to last year’s defense,” Downs said, pausing with a confident smile. “We want to set a new standard.”

And in Columbus, when someone like Caleb Downs says it—it means something.